The morning of Evie's Christening
"I heard that there was an attempt on your life while Christine was pregnant." Gustave inquired to Erik as they strolled through the gardens. "I'm curious as to what brought this upon you."
Erik sighed. "When Christine and I married, a woman who was infatuated with me, whom I had no interest in." He quickly added when his father-in-law looked at him skeptically. "She tried to get between Christine and myself, going so far as attempting to strike Christine at the opera. I sent her to the prison that same night. And apparently her lover wasn't happy about it and it drove him to begin killing people and leaving menacing notes to us. He killed two people and threatened to kill Christine if I didn't leave Britain." He shuddered at the thought. "Then he attempted to kidnap Christine, but her guard dog, the dog who trails behind her, was able to drive him off. Then Christine and I agreed to go into hiding until the man was caught and sent to the gallows. Now, he's dead and we have gotten on with our lives."
Gustave had stopped walking and stood watching Erik. "So the man is dead?"
Erik nodded.
"Then why do you still carry yourself as though you are worried someone will take Christine away from you?"
"I guess it's because I feel like the danger isn't entirely over." Erik sat heavily on the bench they had stopped next to. He rested his chin on his fists. "I can't lose her. I love her so much. And my daughter."
Gustave didn't know what to say to ease the younger man's sadness. "Son. I'm not good at providing guidance. But I can tell you this. Christine loves you. She loves you more than anything. She gave you a part of her that she hasn't given to anyone except her family." He sat next to Erik on the bench. "You are sworn to protect her, and your daughter. That is your top priority."
"You're right." Erik smiled. "My queen and my princess are the most important people in my life. And I do believe the guests for the christening are to arrive in an hour. We should be getting back to the castle."
Gustave looked at the sun. "I agree."
They stood and made their way back to the castle, each taking different routes to their respective rooms once they were through the castle doors.
"Evie looks beautiful darling." Erik told Christine as the carriage stopped in front of the church. "Stop fussing over her."
Christine was trying to straighten her daughter's dress for the hundredth time. "I just want her to look perfect."
"She looks lovely. And you look as fetching as a rose in bloom my love." He took her hand and kissed her gloved fingers. "I love you."
"I love you too."
The footman held open the door and Erik stepped out, holding his arms out to help his wife down.
They entered the church and passed through the two lines of palace knights lined up on either side of the middle aisle. "Breathe darling." Erik whispered.
Christine took a deep breath. Evie was looking around with her ever watchful eyes, taking in the new sights and sounds.
The same priest who had married them stood at the alter, behind a basin of holy water. Christine was so nervous that the questions she answered barely registered, and she answered them automatically.
When the priest finally drew the sign of the cross on Evie's forehead and declared: "Christ claims you for his own. Receive the sign of his cross. Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified." She let out a breath. The priest then dipped his cupped hand into the basin and poured a trickle of water on Evie's head, saying. "Evieria Amelia Delose. I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Erik turned her around and everyone in the sanctuary had lit a candle and was following the priest in the prayer he was saying. Christine let out a breath. "Is it over?" She whispered.
"Yes. It's over." Erik whispered back.
"Back to the castle?"
"Back to the castle."
Three Months Later
Fall settled on Britain once again. Christine barely noticed, she was too busy throwing up what little food she had in her stomach from the night before. Erik held her hair out of the way as she wretched. She sat back and he held out a glass of water for her to rinse out her mouth. "Christine, you've been sick for the past week. I think you should see the doctor."
"Erik. I know why I've been sick." She took his hand and pressed it to her stomach. "I'm pregnant again."
Erik stared at her in shock. "How far along do you think you are?" He swept her into his arms and carried her to their bed. Settling himself against the wall with her on his lap, he rested his cheek against her hair.
"I think he was conceived the first time we made love again after Evie was born." She drew lazy circles on his arm.
"He? How do you know it will be a boy?"
"Just a feeling. Stop scowling my love." She kissed Erik's chest, right above his heart. "He won't inherit your deformity. Evie didn't. It's not a hereditary occurrence."
Erik sighed. He was about to answer when Caramel and Jacques rushes through the half open door to the nursery. Caramel was chasing Jacques, who had a bone in his mouth. Caramel was barking as if her life depended on it. Christine scrambled off Erik's lap.
"Caramel, heel." She said to the dog sharply. The dog stopped and sat on her haunches, her head down. Christine turned to Jacques. "Jacques, put that bone down. Now." She snapped her fingers and pointed her index finger at the floor. The now fully grown fox reluctantly relinquished his prize. Christine motioned for Erik to come and take the bone off the floor. "I love you both, but you lack discipline. I can't be constantly racing after you two when you make a mess of something in the courtyard." She looked at Caramel. "Or knock over a bag of flour onto the kitchen floor." She glared at Jacques, who shrank into himself. "You two need discipline training. Like Erik's knights. And I'm going to find you a trainer in the town. Starting today. Now, go outside before you test my patience." She walked to the door and held it open while the two animals slunk out with their tails between their legs and their heads down.
An idea popped into Erik's mind, he swung his feet off the bed to the floor, pushing himself up. "Sweetheart. I already know a person who can train them." He stood behind Christine and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his chest.
"Really? Who?" She rested her head back on his shoulder, her hair falling seductively away from her shoulder.
"Well, Galvin has two dogs. And he trained both of them, why not ask him to train Caramel and Jacques?"
"That's actually not a bad idea." Christine smiled. They heard Evie yawn faintly through the open door to the nursery. "She's started teething you know." She sighed.
"I know darling. Pretty soon she'll be crawling, and she'll be talking. And then she will have a sibling soon too."
Christine disentangled herself from her husband's arms, "Mabel told me to use something frozen to help with the pain when babies are teething. But since it's not winter, I can't do it yet. Because we don't have ice." She tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. The strand fell back against her face.
"The cellar below the kitchen is cold enough to keep meat frozen so that won't go bad. Didn't Mother show you that room when you first arrived?"
"Probably, but that was over a year ago. And the castle has so many rooms that I've lost track of some of them." Christine looked up at Erik. "Why are you bringing up the meat cellar?"
"Because, there should be an icicle or two hanging from the low ceiling by the door. You can break one off and give it to Evie to suck on. It will help with the pain because it will numb her mouth." He pushed the strand of hair behind her ear and kissed her earlobe. "Try it."
"I'll give it a try. How do I get it up to her without it melting?"
"Wrap it in a rag to keep the warmth of your hand out and it should be fine." Erik gave her one last kiss. "I need to go settle a matter with Father. I'll see you at the noonday meal."
"Alright. See you then." They parted ways at the bottom of the stairs, Erik going to the library and Christine heading for the kitchens.