Chapt 11
Scraps of news articles over the years were pasted between the pages of the first album. As Mme Giry turned each she pondered aloud, "as these were locked in the lady of the estate's desk, I wonder if only she kept up with Erik and Christine's social life?"
"The Comtess requested I go into town to obtain the daily's from abroad. She preferred to keep up on the social as well as real estate news from America and England. Even though she didn't believe the young vicomte cared at that time, she felt once he got over the hurt he would appreciate knowing what transpired during those years following the fire," explained the butler.
As the two bowed their heads together over the first two albums, they would run across happy moments such as a picture of Christine holding the hand of a younger version of herself while both smiled at the person taking their picture. Chuckling together Mme Giry and the butler shared antidotes they remembered during those years. "Madam, I would be honored if you would call me Andre," the butler offered. "Only if you call me Musette, Andre," replied Mme Giry after taking another sip from her glass.
Just as the butler got up to get another book a light knock was heard at the door. "Who is it," replied Mme Giry. "It's Erik, Aunt Giry. May I come in?" "Oh yes, please do. You may find this conversation quite interesting," Mme Giry eagerly replied.
Erik opened the door and took in the room's décor appreciatively. His look stopped at the books set on the low table in from of Aunt Giry. "I thought you'd be asleep by now after the long day's revelations," he teasingly stated to her. Aunt Giry smiled motherly at the younger version of his father, except without the facial blemish, "Ah, I thought so too, but my mind was too busy with thoughts of today's happenings." Motioning towards the butler with her hand, she continued, "Andre was kind enough to share a glass of port and reveal some interesting mementos your dear aunt had collected over the years, even before you were born, of your mother and father." Patting her hand on the space beside her, she invited, "Come, sit down beside me and have a look. Andre please bring another album over, but let's start again with these two first so Erik may see his mama and papa's famous history, shall we?"
"Sir, would you like a glass of something while we delve into ancient history?" Andre asked in a light hearted voice. It felt so good to have family back in the old house once again, he hoped the Vicomte would feel the same, after he and his cousin, Comte Erik, concluded their evening's discussions downstairs.
"The same as you both, thank you," Eric said as he settled himself beside the woman he always considered a grandmother but lovingly he and his siblings referred to as Aunt Giry.