GRRR...sorry guys I am on crap mode lately...

CHARLES

"We will be putting on Il Muto after the New Year...this season will be a complete repeat of the 1881 season, since it's our twenty-fifth anniversary here." M. Andre said to Dad and I at our Christmas party that night. I scanned the room for Madeleine, who was standing beside Deirdre laughing at something she had said. The way she looked when she laughed...I would never forget it. She threw her head back and half closed her eyes, a magical sound emerging from her. I knew I was grinning like an idiot at her, but I didn't care. These past two days still seemed unreal to me. She'd agreed to give me a chance to prove to her that she could be happy. I turned my attention back to the managers.
"Will you be casting Benedetta as Countess?" I asked, eyeing Maddie and receiving a strange look from M. Andre and M. Firmin.
"Naturally...she is leading soprano..." Firmin replied and I almost cringed.
"Not to offend, but don't you think she's a little old to play the part? Not to mention the fact that her range isn't high enough..."

"Charles!" Dad said, a bit shocked at my bluntness. Realizing what I had said, I ran a hand through my hair.
"I'm sorry...I don't know what came over me...it isn't my place to tell you how to run your opera.." The managers chuckled.
"Quite alright dear boy..." Firmin said and I stole a look at the prima donna herself, wondering if the London opera had received my letter yet.
"Anyhow...of course, you will be playing her husband, the Count." Andre added, a bit nervously.
"That's reassuring..." I muttered as Benedetta fluttered her eyelashes at me. I wanted to wince. Dad, seeing this, chuckled.
"We were thinking of putting Miss Denton in as the pageboy..." M. Firmin stated and I looked up at him.
"The silent role?" I said, unable to hold back the disdain in my voice.

Together, they nodded.
"Have you ever heard her sing?" I asked, curiously and they both shook their heads.
"She's in the chorus..." Andre said, and I raised an eyebrow.
"Never judge a book by its cover." I said and moved away from them to join Maddie, Deirdre and Daniel.
"...Then Granny told me if she ever caught me disobeying Ma again she would beat me with her cane!" Deirdre explained as Daniel and Maddie laughed.
"Charles! Merry Christmas!" Deirdre said, kissing my cheek, a gesture I repeated before shaking Dan's hand.
"Is Gabe here yet?" I asked him and he rolled his eyes.
"He and Millie left our house fighting the whole way out. Hopefully, they haven't killed each other yet. He doesn't know what he's getting himself into."

"Oh yes I do..." A familiar male voice came from behind me. I turned to see my cousin and Gabe standing there, smiling lightly.
"He hasn't gotten into anything yet...we're just friends." Camille stated firmly and Gabe's eyes darkened a bit, but he held his smile.
"Yes, friends..." He said and Maddie smiled at him sympathetically. Camille looked at him in an odd way before moving to talk to her mother, who was standing with Uncle Garrett and Dad as Deirdre and Dan went to greet Aunt Meg.
"I don't know what to do…it's like she's afraid to trust me." Gabe said, defeated and Maddie touched his arm.
"She is Gabe, but maybe you should talk to her…about school I mean. Something happened there…and I am sure you've all heard the rumors…poor girl." Maddie sighed, "Look at her, she's just the sweetest little thing and people just ripped her to shreds."

"What did they do to her?" I said, my voice suddenly dark with worry. Maddie shook her head.
"It's not my place to tell…I promised her." She said and I couldn't hold back a smile at her innocent loyalty. She blushed and excused herself to go find Granny Giry.
"You are head over heels, struck dumb in love with that girl aren't you?" Gabe laughed, noticing me watch her walking away.
"I am not in love with her…it's much too early for that." I said. That is to say, I had feelings of love for her, but I was not in love with her…was I?
"Relax you little love struck pup…I am only kidding." Gabe chuckled, scanning the room again for Millie and sighing when he found her.
"Yeah yeah…I'm the love struck pup…" I muttered and he slapped my back heartily.
"You said it, not I…" He teased, getting a strange look when he saw my father shifting uncomfortably next to Aunt Laney.

"Hey Charles…did are Laney and your Dad fighting or something?" He asked me and I noticed Dad fidgeting with the cuffs of his sleeve. Dad never squirmed. He kept looking over at someone, but I couldn't tell who since there were so many people in the room. Something had been bothering him all day as a matter of fact. I strode over to him with Gabe close in tow.
"Dad…are you alright?" I asked and he looked at me, surprised.
"Yes Charles…of course." He said, looking confused. I followed where he had been gazing again, but all I saw was Maddie talking to Granny Giry. She waved at us and I winked at her. Finally, the orchestra began to play and people began to dance.

Camille surprised me by coming up behind Gabe and I and grabbing his hand.
"You want to dance?" She asked and speechless, he nodded smiling slightly. She did look lovely tonight with her long gold hair pulled back into a braid, a blue ribbon braided right in with it and tied into a bow at the bottom. She wore a light blue satin dress which really made the blue of her eyes glow.
"What about you Charles? Would you like to dance?" I turned around to see Aunt Laney standing there with her hand extended to me. I grinned at her and we began to dance to the slow song.
"You found your inspiration I see…" She said with a laugh and I raised an eyebrow.
"What?" She patted my cheek.
"I can see it in your eyes. I am so glad you are doing what you love now…and I am coming to opening night of Il Muto with Garrett and your father."

We danced for a few more minutes, discussing opera, when I noticed that Dad had asked Maddie to dance. I was surprised at how easily he'd grown fond of her, but I supposed that it was just because she looked so much like Mother.
"Madeleine really is a lovely girl…" Aunt Laney said, also noticing her. I nodded and Aunt Laney winked at me.
"You really like her don't you?" She said and I shrugged.
"She's nice…" I said, trying to keep it casual and she messed up my hair as the song ended.
"Merry Christmas dear Charles…and stop lying to yourself will you? It's obvious you have eyes only for her." She rejoined my uncle, kissing him on the cheek as I shook my head.

I headed straight for Madeleine after Dad had kissed her forehead and walked off with Aunt Meg and Uncle Will. Granny Giry was also standing with her.
"Oh Charles dear, Merry Christmas…I hadn't gotten over to you yet…" I kissed her cheek, trying to ignore how pale she was.
"Granny…are you feeling well?" I asked, a bit concerned for her health. She waved it off.
"Fine fine dear…nothing to worry over. I've just been a bit tired…this old body isn't what it used to be." I laughed, but remained a bit worried. I could see the worry in Maddie's eyes too. Granny, smiled, brushing a piece of my hair from my forehead and said,
"Oh Charles…you look so like your father…"

Instantly my eyes snapped open wide and I stepped back.
"What?" I said, and Maddie stepped forward.
"Are you sure about that Madame Giry?" She asked hesitantly, looking over at Dad's blue green eyes and light brown hair. Granny, realizing her mistake, brought a hand to her cheek and said,
"Oh dear me…I meant to say your mother's father…we were best friends you know, Gustave and I…" She excused herself quickly and practically ran over to Aunt Meg.
"I've seen my mother's father…" I said to myself, but Maddie heard me.
"Oh? Do you look like him?" She asked and I looked down at her big sparkling hazel eyes.
"No…no I don't."