The season had come and gone proving Phantasma was just as successful under the control of The Young Mister. However, things continued to change for the families as the year drew to a close.
"Mrs. Christine! Please let Julie and I finish this!" Ada their faithful cook exclaimed.
"But it's Christmas dinner and I always help," Christine said firmly one hand pushing out the croquette crust.
"You have an almost four-month-old baby in your other arm sucking from your breast!" Julie exclaimed. "Mr. Y will be furious seeing you in here like that. Why did you even insist on hosting a Christmas dinner?"
"We always do, and it's more important now with Gustave having his own little family."
"And you still have yours!" Ada snapped. "Take Marie and sit down and finish feeding her. If you must return give her to Bridgette. She's always talking that Arthur watches himself."
Christine adjusted the infant in her arm before wiping her dirty hands off on her apron. She sighed, "I'm leaving, Happy?"
She entered the parlor where she found three of her other children decorating the tree. Soon all five will be together again, my family whole.
"No, Arthur! Ornaments do not go on until we finish putting the popcorn strand on!" Matilda exclaimed en pointe passing part of the strand to Charlotte.
"But the popcorn strand is already on the lower half of the tree," Arthur hung another bauble.
"Matilda, let him decorate the bottom," Christine sat down on the couch.
"I thought you were helping with dinner," Charlotte walked over to her mom.
"They kicked me out because of Marie."
"Thank God," Bridgette spoke up from the large leather chair. "No offense Mrs. Christine but she should be first priority. She's your miracle. At your age, a month premature and she looks just like you…"
"She has her father's eyes and his silver blond hair," Christine looked down at the infant now pulled away and just pushing her little hands on her mother's breast.
"That's my hair too!" Arthur stood tall.
Christine smiled at her youngest son, "Yes, it is." She readjusted her dress top before pulling a cloth out of the pocket of the apron she wore. "Time to burb you."
"Let me, Mama," Charlotte held her arms out. "I know you want to go back and help cook."
"No, no, Bridgett is correct," Christine slung the towel over her shoulder, placed the baby stomach first against her shoulder, patting her back. "Marie is my miracle. And all of you are a blessing. I should be spending this time with you while you are all home."
However, preparation for the Christmas party wasn't so pleasant in another household…
"You know they are going to expect to see him," Rose held the bedpost as her maid laced her S-Shaped corset.
"But they won't, it's too cold to bring out such a precious bundle," Gustave held his son close, placing a soft kiss on the baby's forehead.
Rose smiled before letting out a breath.
"Mrs., that is the tightest I can get it."
"Yes, Harriet, I still have some post-pregnancy weight!" Rose snapped. Tears then filled her eyes as she turned and took her maid's hands, "Forgive me, it's just…I don't want to be fat! Mother had three babies and always kept her figure!"
"Mrs., Mrs., don't cry, it's ok."
"No it's not! I'm fat and lactating is ruining all my dresses!" Tears now ran down her cheeks.
Gustave held in his sigh as he gently placed their son down on their bed. He rushed to pull his wife into his arms, "Rose, Rose, Rose, it's only been a month since you had our baby. Everything has changed; you, me, our life. I will love you, no matter what."
"But I don't want to be changed, Goose!" She buried her face into his chest. "I'm tired, my breasts sore, and I'm fat! And we haven't made love in how many months?"
"Almost three."
She looked up at her husband, eyes narrowed, "I knew you'd know! I knew you've been pleasuring yourself in the bathroom! I have no desire and you don't even have the decency to ask me if I would even consider…"
"Harriet, give us a minute!" Gustave looked at the maid.
The maid curtsied and made a quick exit.
Rose pulled away from her husband and threw up her arms, "Oh so you'll pleasure yourself but you don't want the help to hear about it!"
"Rose please!" He firmly grabbed her upper arms. He spoke soft yet firm to her, "Forgive me for pleasuring myself. I..I won't…I'll only do it in front of you until you're ready for us make love again. But this isn't about that. This is about making sure you feel better." He let go of one of her arms and dried her tears with his thumb, "It's only been a month. I remember when my mama had my sisters, because I was a decade older. Mama was changed in the months after, especially after Charlotte, and that was only what I saw. But she returned to herself, and you will too."
Whimpers were now heard from the bundle on the bed.
"Oh now he's crying too!" Rose put her hands over her face.
Gustave pulled her hands away, "I will take Albert to the wet nurse. You finish getting ready. Tonight, we're going to enjoy our first outing as just husband and wife. During ladies' time talk to your mother and my mama about how you're feeling. As a man I only know so much." He kissed her lightly on the lips before disappearing from the room with the new born.
Rose turned and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes swollen from crying, her complexion still splotchy from the pregnancy, her hair had fallen out so much that she had used it to make hair pieces she clipped back onto her scalp. Where is my whitening cream and powder? Maybe I can make myself look like myself as a start.
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