A/N: Thank you all for the reviews.

Chapter 23

"I am here to ask-"Adrian stared, but was cut off by a knock at the door.

"Bernard, could you get that, please?" Gustave asked.

Bernard nodded and headed toward the front door a second time. He opened the door to see a tired but worried, Madame Giry.

"Take me to him," she ordered.

XXX

Madame Giry walked into Gustave's room followed by Bernard. Bernard placed Madame Giry's black traveling coat on the back of a vacant chair.

"I came as soon as I heard," Madame Giry informed Gustave as she pushed her long red hair over her sholder. She ignored Adrian's scowl. She figured that she had interrupted his conversation with Gustave.

"Excuse me Madame, but do you know who I am?" Adrian asked rudely interrupting her.

"Why? Did you forget your name?" she replied without hesitation. Bernard tried to cover stifle his laughter, but failed when a small chuckle escape his lips.

Adrian sputtered in rage. "I am the Comte de Chagny," he replied coldly.

Madame Giry ignored him.

"Excuse me, but I was talking first to Gustave. It is a matter of business that is rather important," he informed her.

She glared at Adrian. "You better make it quick," she snapped. 'The faster he talks to Gustave, the faster he'll get out of here.' she thought. She turned to Bernard and made light conversation with him.

Adrian turned to Gustave. "As I was saying," he cleared his throat, "I would appreciate it if you gave my son your blessings in marrying your daughter."

The room went deathly silent. Gustave raised his eyebrow.

Madame Giry was the first to speak up. "The reason why I came here was so that I could take Christine home with me. Yes, Gustave, I know why you brought me here," she informed him when he had a how did you know look on his face. "I am, after all, her guardian and I will not have this pig of a man take care of her," she snapped.

"Why do you assume that you are her guardian?" Adrian hissed.

"I am her godmother and I am also a relative. I am her mother's cousin," she stated proudly.

"Humph!"

"Stop it, you two," Gustave said sternly. "I have made a decision. When Christine is of proper age of marriage, she will marry Raoul. For now, she will be going to France with Antoinette. Now, Chagny, you may leave. I must speak with Antionette," he added.

Adrian left without another word, leaving Madame Giry, Gustave, and Bernard alone.

"Why do you want Christine to marry the Chagny boy?" Bernard asked.

"She seems to get along with him better then any other friend of hers. Besides, I know what that boy is like. He will take care of my Christine when she is a woman," he explained.

"What if she is not happy with your decision?" Madame Giry asked Gustave.

"I shall make it clear to the Comte that my daughter will marry his son when she is twenty," he replied. "But, before that, she may find a suitor. If she finds a suitor before she is twenty, she does not have to marry Chagny."

The room became silent until Gustave added, "I don't want this mentioned to Christine, yet. I don't want her to be worried about marriage as of now." Madame Giry and Bernard nodded.

A/N: Please review!

Dove of Night's question to me is: Does Gustave have a reason for his bargain that will be revealed later?

Answer: Basically, Gustave wants Christine to be married by the time she is 20, to make sure she is (in a sense) safe with a husband.

He wants to die knowing that she will be safe with the husband of choice or Raoul. He knows that Raoul has a lot of money to make Christine's life comfy.

It's just a father's concern about their daughter's safety.

I also thank everyone for the reviews. I love hearing form you all.