It took nearly an hour for the two of them to get through all four dishes, Christine taking several minutes to explain the history of each one before she held up a piece for Erik to taste. They were all interesting in flavor and texture. And Christine offered Javert much praise after tasting each one.
Caramel and Jacques loped into the kitchen sometime during the tasting and begged to be fed. So Javert excused himself to bring them each a bowl of food, which they quickly devoured. It was nearing dinner time when they were finally finished and the plates were cleared.
Evie was just waking up and in need of feeding when they went to check on her. Erik sat in front of the fire with Christine on his lap and his arms around his two women. "I love you." He said to Christine."
"I love you too."
"I almost forgot to tell you. I received a letter today from France. Your family will be arriving here in a week for a month long visit."
Christine squealed. "Really?" Evie whined when Christine moved away from her. "Sorry my love." Christine settled back to her daughter. "We have to throw another ball in honor of their arrival. Oh please Erik. Please can we."
"Of course we will have a ball. I was planning on one anyway."
"Oh thank you Erik!" Christine could barely contain her excitement. She had to however, with her daughter latched on to her breast.
Erik ran his fingers over the soft hair on Evie's head. "When I invited your family to visit, I described our daughter to them, down to the little crown shaped birth mark on her arm."
"She has a birth mark shaped like a crown on her arm? Which one?"
"Her left one." Erik lifted Evie's arm. Extending the limb, he pointed out a small brown mark in the shape of a crown with three spikes in the crook of their daughter's elbow. "I noticed it when she was born. It was the second thing I noticed."
"And the first thing you noticed was that she was a cherub." Christine smiled when Erik kissed the tip of her nose. "Admit it. She's going to have you wrapped around her little finger."
"Just like her mother." Erik vowed. "Just like her mother."
They watched their daughter eat while they made plans for the ball for Christine's family. When Evie let go of Christine's breast and yawned, Erik volunteered to put her back in her crib so Christine could rest. It was already time for them to eat dinner when he came to collect his wife. They continued to make plans while they ate, and Erik wrote them down as the plans were made.
It was a warm night, and Erik suggested they take a walk through the gardens, which Christine quickly agreed to.
"Christine." Erik spoke in a weak voice when they stopped and sat on a bench near a patch of roses.
"Yes?" Christine looked at him after arranging her skirts.
He swallowed. "I had this made for you for when Evie was born." He held out a square box. Opening the lid, he pulled out a dainty necklace made from small diamonds with a ruby set in the middle. "The ruby signifies my eternal love for you." He explained.
"Oh Erik it's beautiful."
"Would you like me to help you put it on?" She turned and lifted her hair. Erik looped the necklace around her throat and secured the clasp. "Turn around my love." She turned back to him. The ruby rested just above her chest. "Never a more beautiful vision in all my life."
"I love it Erik. Thank you." She took his hand and kissed his palm, then took off his mask and kissed his cheek. "I love you My King." She touched the ruby, smiling.
"I love you too My Queen." He planted a kiss on that smile, catching it as his own. "It's getting late. And you look tired. Hell, I'm tired." He knew Christine didn't mind that he used that term. He replaced his mask.
Christine stood, then wobbled. Erik caught her before she fell. "I guess I really am exhausted."
"Then allow me to carry to to our room milady." He lifted her into his arms.
Christine giggled. "Are you sure you can handle it?"
"I've carried you many times Christine. I can handle it."
"Good." She wrapped her arms around his neck, playing with the hairs curling there.
Erik carried her to their room with inhuman strength. Once there, he helped her strip off her clothes and climb into bed. Taking off his mask, he slipped under the covers and lay on his side, pulling her against him so her back rested against his front.
"I love you Erik" She whispered in the dark.
"I love you Christine." He whispered back.
Christine's family arrived in the week of summer. Erik sent guards to fetch them from the docks, stating he wouldn't take any chances when it came to his in-law's safety. The castle was bustling with activity in preparation for the welcome ball. Flowers were cut and brought in from the gardens under Christine's supervision. The floors were scrubbed and polished. New linens were placed on the beds in two of the guest suites.
When the carriage finally pulled to a stop in front of the castle steps, Christine could barely contain her excitement. Her family was here. Evie was held in her arms, and Erik had his own arm wrapped around her waist.
Albert was the first to alight from the carriage. He was of medium height, stick thin, and walked with a cane. He shared Christine's brown hair, he also wore spectacles and had brown eyes. He wore a white shirt, brown vest, white cravat, and brown trousers.
Gustave was next. He had graying hair, and laughing blue eyes. He was attired much like his son, but with a traveling cloak over his shoulders. With a smile, he turned and helped his wife from the carriage. Then turned and took in his daughter and grand daughter. "Christine. You look a vision."
Christine blushed. "Thank you father."
Gustave stepped forward, looking at the baby in his daughter's arms. "And your daughter looks like an angel. Genevieve, Albert, see the newest addition to our family." He motioned for them to come see the baby.
Albert smiled when he looked at his niece. "She's a cherub. What's her name?" He asked.
"Her name is Evie." Erik said. "And I do believe it's getting chilly. Why don't we go inside and you can acquaint yourselves with her."
"Wonderful idea my love." Christine led the way into the castle and to the library. "Please, have a seat." She gestured to the chairs.
Erik poured a glass of whiskey for himself and Gustave. Albert declined, saying he was too young too drink, and that he detested alcohol. He took Evie form Christine and sat in one of the overstuffed chairs, gently rocking her. Meg arrived with a tray of tea for Christine and Genevieve.
"I see marriage agrees with you daughter." Genevieve commented when Meg left. She sipped her tea.
Christine blushed. "Oh yes. Erik and I had our differences at the beginning, but we found we have so much in common, and now, we can't live without each other." She remembered their little misunderstanding the week before. "darling, didn't you say you loved music when I first arrived?" She inquired to Erik.
Erik smiled. "Yes I did. Especially the piano."
"Would you care to play for us?" Christine indicated the piano in the corner.
Erik's smile turned into a grin. "Only if you agree to sing."
"Oh I couldn't."
"Yes you could." Erik walked over to her and took her tea cup, setting it on the table with his glass. He took her hands and pulled her to her feet. " I have a song I wrote along time ago. It's a duet. Please sing it with me."
Christine swallowed. "Erik, I can't."
"Please. Pretend you're singing to me. Pretend that we're the only ones here." He planted a kiss on her lips. "For me. And Evie. She already knows I can sing. But she's never going to know you can sing unless you start now."
"Okay."
Erik lifted the cushion of the stool in front of the piano, then sat down, arranging them on the stand. Christine stood next to him, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Sing proud. But pretend you're singing to myself and Evie." He whispered. Then he began playing.
The notes started strongly, and Christine closed her eyes, images from their relationship began in her mind. She opened her eyes and looked at the pages in front of her for her cue to sing:
There was a lad.
Strong and brave.
Kind and gentle he was too.
He had a lass, fair and sweet. Caring beautiful was she.
Then one day, he went away, to defend his home.
This fine lad, now a man, kept his lass in his heart.
There was a lad.
Strong and brave.
Kind and gentle he was too.
In May, one dreary day, he returned.
His lass was there. Waiting for him.
In the clearing by the pond.
Soon they unified, never to part.
For their love was pure.
There was a lad
found a lass.
Loved her forevermore.
There was a lass
found a lad.
Loved him forevermore.
Loved him forevermore.
Christine let the ending of the music flow through her until the final note ended and Erik looked up at her. She smiled weakly at her husband. "You really wrote that?"
Erik chuckled, taking her hand from his shoulder and kissing her wrist. "Yes my love. It's been years though." He kissed her wrist again. "And those pages have been hidden away for so long. I have practiced for hours on end though, so I didn't even need the sheet music."
"It was beautiful." She whispered. "And you play beautifully."
"Ahem." Gustave cleared his throat. "Are we interrupting a private moment?"
"Yes." Erik said.
"No." Christine said at the same time.
Evie cried. Genevieve was holding her then. "I think she's tired."
Erik stood, "I'll bring her to the nursery. Why don't you show your family to their rooms darling? I'm sure the trip was exhausting." He took his daughter from her grandmother.
Gustave smiled. "To tell the truth, it was actually. I could use a nap."
"I want to watch the knights Father." Albert said, jumping up. "Can I? Please?"
Gustave stared at his son "You should be asking the king, not me. I'm not the one in charge in the country."
Albert turned his hopeful eyes to Erik. Erik smiled back. "As long as you stay far enough away that you aren't in danger of getting injured, you can go watch. And don't try to distract my knights."
"Yes!" Albert turned as though to rush out of the room. Then turned back. "Oh, thank you Your Highness." He bowed.
Erik chuckled. "Come Christine, show your parents to their room, then join me in the nursery." He kissed her nose. "I love you."
Christine blushed. "I will. I love you too." She led her parents from the room.
Erik looked down at his little daughter, "You have a strong family my princess." He walked out of the library and up the stairs. "You have myself and your mother, and we both love you so much. You have your christening coming up in a week. You have your grandparents, and you have an uncle. And best of all, you will grow into such a beauty." Evie smiled up at him, reaching out with her tiny fists to grasp his shirt. "I love you." He said to her.
Christine sighed and snuggled closer to her husband's warmth, her cheek resting on his shoulder. A loud wailing came from somewhere in the distance, and she tried to shut it out. But it persisted. Her eyes snapped open. Evie! Scrambling out of bed, Christine knocked Erik in the stomach with her elbow in her haste to get out of the bed.
"Oomph. What's wrong?"
"Our daughter. She's putting up a fuss again." Christine raced to the wardrobe and pulled out her robe.
Erik stood, pulling on the shirt and trousers he had worn the day before. "Christine, you go back to sleep. I'll take care of Evie. And if she's hungry, I'll bring her to you. Okay?"
Christine yawned. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Thank you."
Erik nodded, then turned and swept out of the room to see Evie. "What seems to be the problem my little angel?" He asked, picking her up. She smelled like she needed to be changed. "Ah, you had an accident. Didn't you?" He carried her to the small table and pulled a fresh cloth from the stack, quickly cleaning and changing her before bundling her in a warm blanket. Lowering himself into the rocking chair, he held his squalling daughter and sang softly to her, watching as she stared at his unmasked face. He didn't feel self-conscious about the deformity around his daughter. If Christine didn't mind, he knew his children wouldn't mind if they grew up knowing what lay beneath the white porcelain.
Evie listened to her father sing a soft lullaby to her. Erik dipped his head and kissed his daughter's forehead. "I love you, Eveiria Amelia Delose. You and your mother are the reasons I get out of bed in the morning. Without you, I have nothing to live for. And don't worry, you will have many siblings soon. I promise. You both mean the world to me, and it would tear me apart if I lost ether one or both of you." He watched his daughter's eyelids drift shut, "I swear I will protect you, my little angel. You and Christine." He promised as he rose and brought her to her crib, leaning over the side and gently placing her on her back on the mattress.
"You're a knight in shining armor to me and our daughter, my love." Christine said from the doorway.
"I know Christine. How much of that did you hear?"
"I heard you singing and I got up to listen. Then I heard you talking about how much you care about us and can't live without us."
"It's true. I can't live without you. You make me so happy my love. I can barely contain my love for you sometimes." He wrapped his arms around his wife. "When can we start trying for another baby?"
"Well, I saw the doctor yesterday, and he said it's alright. So, I believe now is a good time. As well, I need you Erik. Now." She took hold of his shirt and practically dragged him through the door to their room.
"You really are my little wildcat." Erik laughed when she quickly disposed of his shirt and trousers then shoved him onto his back on the bed. He scooted backward until he was at the head of the bed, leaning back against the wall.
"And don't you forget it." She let her robe slip off her shoulders to the floor and crawled so that she sat on top of him. She looked like a lioness stalking her prey. And it looked like he was the prey.
The stretch marks from her pregnancy were fading, becoming less prominent. She was beautiful either way, with or without the marks. "Are you going to just sit there all day?" Erik asked. She wasn't doing anything.
"Hmm." She walked her fingers up the center of his chest. Then slid them downward, following the line of hair. When he shivered, she grinned, leaning forward kiss him, shoving her tongue into his mouth as he had done many times. He felt his hand reach up to tangle in her hair and so he could slant her head to the perfect angle. Her fingertips found the round disks of his pecs and she rubbed her fingers over the points. He grew harder between her legs. She must have sensed this, as she wrapped her hand around his length, but didn't guide him to where he most wanted to go. She squeezed her hand and stroked his manhood.
"Hell woman." Erik rasped.
She grinned, a wicked grin that had Erik gulping audibly. She kissed her way downward. He knew her destination, and he didn't know if he could stand the torture much longer. He had waited for her to heal from giving birth to Evie, and all he wanted to do was bury himself in her warmth.
And, hopefully, conceive another child. "Christine, stop." He pulled her back up before she could reach his shaft. "I can't wait any longer to be one with you." He said when she stuck out her bottom lip. He pulled her back down to kiss her again, keeping one arm around her waist while the other hand found her core and slid one finger into her warmth. She cried out at the invasion. He quickly withdrew his finger. "Oh, did I hurt you?"
She shook her head. "You just surprised me." She guided his hand back. "Try two this time."
He added a second finger, his lips finding the rosy peak of her breast and kissing it, running his tongue over the swollen bud. "Do you think you're ready?"
She nodded, her bottom lip drawn between her teeth
Erik withdrew his fingers and took one of her hands , which were on his shoulders. He helped her guide his manhood to her core. "You set the pace." He said.
Christine nodded.
They made love for hours, falling asleep locked in each others arms, only to wake up to repeat the process. Each time they came together was permanently etched in Erik's mind, never to be forgotten. They didn't leave their room at all that day, having their meals brought to the nursery.