Chapt 8
The room became very silent after Raoul made his request. Raoul stood up and humbly extended his hospitality, "I would be honored if you would stay the night, as the weather is quite miserable and the roads can be quite treacherous when wet. I have enough staff in the house, as I had not the heart to let any go after mother and father . . ., well, it wouldn't be an imposition and I'm sure you will be quite comfortable here."
Erik looked at his watch fob, turned to Mme Giry and his son, said quietly, "As I wouldn't be doing the driving I will leave that decision to you both. I personally don't care either way at this point." Mme Giry bent to whisper into the young Vicomte's ear, "I'm fine with staying the night, and it might give our host and your father a chance to clear up matters that have long been simmering." She winked at him before he turned to his cousin, "Thank you for your gracious offer, we accept."
"Good, then it's settled," Raoul smiled broadly and motioned for the butler, "Please have the servants open up the three rooms at the top of the stairs, and I trust the cook can round up some of the kitchen staff to serve us a light repast?" The butler was so pleased to see the positive change in his Master, that he nodded and quickly existed to fulfill the requests.
A few minutes later the butler brought a couple of the staff to escort the guests to their rooms to refresh themselves before supper, "Please return to this salon and you will be shown to the supper hall."
Mme Giry was given a maid to assist in whatever necessities she would need. Shortly a night gown, robe and ladies toiletries were brought for her use. "Thank you so very much for your assistance at this late notice." "Not at all mom, as we have not had lady guests here since the Mistress of the house sadly did not return from her ocean voyage," the maid replied as she curtsied and left Mme Giry to prepare for the evening meal. Thinking as she prepared herself before rejoining the group downstairs, "So much has transpired today. I wonder what further revelations will come to light this dark and gloomy night?"
About 30 minutes later, the small group gathered back into the salon. The butler arrived and escorted them to the dining hall, which was brightly lit with more gas lights. A beautiful arrangement of fresh flowers from the hot-house off of the backside of the estate was placed on the dining table. "I thought these flowers would help to brighten up the room. They are peonies that my mother dearly loved and grew in the estate glasshouse. These are from Fuenterrabia, Spain, where they visited many years ago.
Erik had been staring at the flowers and didn't look up until Raoul had mentioned Fuenterrabia. He and Christine had spent part of their honeymoon visiting the region and remembered these luscious bushes. Christine had a pension for them so each morning Erik would bring her an armful he'd purchased from a street vendor during his early morning walks before she would awaken.
"They are most beautiful," was all he felt obliged to say at that time to Raoul. Since Christine loved these flowers and two of their children had been born in Spain, he felt moved to carve them into her monument.