The dining room table was set for two more and Arthur shuffled into the nursery, but he would not stay.
"Mama, do I not get to eat tonight?" he pushed the master bedroom door open and walked over to Christine's vanity where she sat securing a necklace.
"Oh, Arthur you still get dinner, you'll just be eating with Bridgette in the nursery," She lifted her hands to her low chignon, pulling out some curls. "It's adults only tonight."
"Matilda asked Bridgette if her dress was pretty. Matilda is not an adult."
Christine sighed, her exposed shoulders dropping hard. How do you tell your youngest son your oldest son he didn't grow up with is here to visit? The son that was your whole world for ten years who you now never get to see is here…
"I knew you had to be in here," Erik entered the bedroom and picked up Arthur.
"Put me down!" The boy exclaimed. "I want to go to dinner too! Don't tell me it's for adults, Dada; Matilda is going."
Erik caught his wife's eyes in the mirror and nodded. "You are correct, Arthur, it's not for adults. It is for your brother Gustave and everyone who misses him. Do you miss him?"
The boy looked up at the ceiling and then back at his father, "I love him but I don't know if I miss him. He's never lived with me. I would like to see him more."
"Exactly," Erik turned around and headed out of the room. "So you will have dinner up here and this weekend you can spend some time with Gustave."
Conversation at the dinner table stopped as soon as Charlotte walked in, her damp hair down, her dress wrinkled and ill fitting.
"Charlotte!" Christine exclaimed. "We told you when dinner was and…"
"You're still eating soup so I haven't missed much," The girl sat down. "Besides, it's just Gustave. It's not like the Queen of England is here."
"Rose is here too, young lady. This is a proper dinner and you're not…"
Charlotte pushed her hair over her shoulder, "She saw me earlier in my leotard. I was running late from rehearsal. Would you rather me here clean or in my leotard dirty?"
"I wanted you here clean and punctual," Christine quipped.
"No, it's okay," Gustave spoke up. "As Charlotte said it's just me. There's no need to get all fancy for me."
"But I wanted this to be special," Christine reached over and took her son's hand. "You've been so busy finishing college and last summer when you apprenticed instead of coming home and working," She paused. "But now after graduation you started working with Mr. Jones right away…"
"Goose, I think we should tell them," Rose sat her wine glass down.
"Tell us what?" Erik spoke. "I believe I know but I'd like to hear it from you, son."
Gustave stood and pulled Rose up with him, "I asked Rose to be my bride and she said yes!"
Matilda clapped, "Gustave is getting married!"
"It is still a special weekend indeed!" Erik stood up. He pulled the rope for the bell before walking over and embracing the engaged couple. "I knew this would happen soon but this still calls for celebration!"
A servant entered the dining room, "Yes sir?"
"Go grab one of our finest bottles of champagne! This has turned into a celebration!"
As bedtime approached, sleeping arrangements were made to keep the proper appearances of a visiting unwed couple. Rose took up residency in the master bedroom with her soon to be mother-in-law. The two women helped each other change mostly in silence. It was Rose who finally addressed the coldness she felt from The Diva.
"I hope you are not disappointed in Gustave choosing me, Christine," Rose spoke as she pulled the covers down on the bed.
"Why would I be disappointed?" Christine caught the young woman's reflection in the mirror. She finished rubbing the cold cream into her face before standing, "I was surprised I hadn't happened sooner." The Soprano removed her dressing robe, draping over the foot of the bed. "I have known you since you were fourteen, Rose. You are my best friend's daughter."
Rose adjusted herself in the bed, "Goose…Gustave told me you once said he and I were young love and that he was foolish wasting his time with me. That you compared our love to the summer you had with your first husband. How could I not believe you'd be disappointed?"
"Oh, Rose," Christine felt her cheeks' color match the girl's name as she sat down on her side of the bed. "My relationship with the Vicount was built on ideals and fantasies of each other and of love we established when we met when we were fourteen. They are not what a marriage and family should be built upon." She took the girl's hands into her, "That was what I was concerned about with my son being so in love with you. I didn't want him or you to end up like Raoul and I. Thankfully I was wrong."
She smiled at Rose. However, the young lady wasn't done discussing things with her future mother-in-law.
"Has Gustave ever asked why he doesn't look more like his father?"
"You sure picked a queer time for such talk," Christine leaned back against the pillows.
"Actually, Christine, I cannot think of a better time," Rose pushed her blonde hair behind her ears. "Such discussions are not proper in society but as I am to share a bed with you this weekend to maintain my virtue; it is just us women. It will be our little secret."
Maintain my virtue…so maybe my boy did heed our advice and not end up like us. Though why does she care? Does she not think Erik is Gustave's father? Why would she think such things? Christine played with the ribbon at the neck of her nightgown.
"Christine?"
The Diva shook her head. She returned her attention to Rose, "I guess what you mean by looking like his father is his deformity. After all, Charlotte has it, Tilta has the birthmark on her chin and now Arthur. Are you implying that I did not face gossip and scandal only for Gustave to not be Erik's son because he doesn't have birthmarks or deformities on his face?"
Rose shook her head, "No, no! I am sorry I even brought it up. It's just…just I hear people at dinner talk and mother is always defending you and I just wonder would it be easier if…" The girl trailed off observing the swift change of prejudice to hurt on the older woman's face. The younger woman sighed, "It is gossip, isn't it? I just worry now; I love Goose but what are they going to say about me?"
Christine took a deep breath and sighed, "For the first ten years of his life, Gustave was my whole world. Even as we came to America and I was reunited with his father and we had other children and my career grew; Gustave and I continued to share a special bond. We always told each other to look with our heart; the heart doesn't lie." The Soprano took the girl's hands into hers, "I now also give this to you, Rose. Whenever you doubt yourself, or doubt a situation, look with your heart. So take a minute. What does your heart say about you, loving Gustave? What does your heart say about me?"
Rose looked down at their intertwined hands. She noticed how similar her own engagement ring was to Christine's The diamond the same shape and cut, it was only a little smaller. Did Goose plan that? Soon I will have a wedding band to match. His mother is quite lovely, why has Goose been so distant about his family lately? She finally looked back up, "My heart says, none of it matters as long as I love Goose. It also says you are a lovely woman who has only been looking out for her son."
Christine smiled before removing her hands and embracing the girl. "And for future reference, Gustave does have birthmarks similar to his father in other places. Now I haven't seen them since he was a child when I bathed him, but you will see on your wedding night."
It was now Rose's turn for her face to match the color of the flower of her name, "Oh dear…I…I am sorry I asked!" She swiftly pulled away from The Soprano. "Good night, Christine," She turned and laid on her side facing the opposite direction.
