Bonus Chapter #48: Rodger's Surprise

                                    

                                          
     Celine sent letter after letter after letter to everyone in France about the wedding. She and Erik had decided they'd have the wedding in the states and just bring Véronique, Christina and Pierre, and the Ladies over for it. The plantation had more then enough room and the family quarters would still provide privacy after the guests arrived.
                          
  What she did not tell anyone, was that she had invited Guy,who Erik might kill and who might send Rodger into a fit. She told him to come four days early as well, so that would give the boys plenty of time to work out their issues. 
                          
    She was happier then she'd been in a very long time. She couldn't wait for the wedding. To be Madame Destler. To honeymoon by the sea in the south of France. There were a few worries she had about marriage, but she had three weeks to figure them out. Then she and Erik would be together.
                          
  Well, it was kind of hard to say they weren't together now. They spent all of their time together. They took walks and talked and read and rode through thr grounds. Erik tried to keep his mask on as much as possible, not wanting to scare a passerby or servant, but she put her foot down when it came to the evenings in the parlor, when George, Nora, and usually Rodger sought their company. Nora and George would occasionally jump still when he blended into thr shadows and then suddenly spoke, unmasked and unexpected, but they had no trouble talking with him. And Nora wanted to clear one thing up right away.
                          
  "Just so that I have this awfully danging thing straight, this is the fellow who took you in as his own and then let you go who you are now marrying?"
                          
   "Yes."
                          
  "And Erik, you really don't care that she was originally going to be raised as your daughter? You didn't have any intentions of..."
                          
  "No."
                          
  "Then I'm happier for you two than a chicken who found its head. Thank you I just wanted to know."
                          
    And every night, after Nora and George left, the couple spent their time truly at peace. Erik was only comfortable around Celine. Dumbfounded, but comfortable. 
                          
  Celi loved those nights. He loved how their kisses usually got out of hand and how they quietly went up to her room, still flustered and blushing, but tired from the day. He held her every night, respectfully not taking any liberties. 
                          
   Unknown to Celi, Erik didn't even want to take liberties. He wasn't sure if she'd want him to even when they were married, and personally he would be content to just hold her in his arms forever. 
                          
   At the moment things were nice.
                          
  Then Rodger stormed into the kitchen screaming bloody murder and trying to get a butcher's knife from Willikins.
                          
   "Willikins does not believe Mr. Rodger is in the correct mentality to hold a knife," was the only reply he got from the burly butler.
                          
   Rodger looked like he was about to explode. He turned to Erik.
                          
   "Hey, good sir, pleasant buddy and handsome monsieur, might I have you use your talent as a skilled assailant -"
                          
  "No."
                          
"To dissuade a person from coming near me?"
                          
"No."
                          
  "Celi Baby," Rodger was now desperate and forcing a painful smile. "Can you please convince your man to help me?"
                          
  "No. Now you know how it feels." She winked at him. "Go to whoever's room is closest."
                          
   Rodger's hands curled as if they wished to be around her neck. Erik, having felt that same feeling towards Celi many times himself, recognized the emotion and casually draped a protective arm across the back of Celi's chair. She shoved him so hard he nearly slipped out of his own.
                          
  "Rodge," said Guy, standing at the open kitchen window, his French accent tangling his broken English. "Now that we are both here perhaps we should talk?"
                          
  "I told you when I met you that if you left after being found out, I would not take you back."
                          
  Nora and George were extremely confused. They knew Rodger favored men, but had np clue he had pursued a flame in France.
                          
  Celi got up and opened the doorfor Guy to come in before pushing Rodger into a nearby closet. Erik who had followed like a great black ghost frightened Guy into backing into the same space. They quickly shut and locked the door.
                          
  She handed the key to Willikins. "If they start getting loud in the non-angry way, let them out."
                          
  "Willikins approves of this. Mr. Rodger made Willikins uncomfortable with his constant staring and humor."
                          
  Celi patted his shoulder, far above her own head. "I know, I know."
                          
    She wiped her hands and went back to her bacon, ignoring the screecing coming from the closet and curses towards herself and the two trapped men. No one dared curse Erik.
                          
  "Nora, we need to have ice cream at the wedding. Erik's only had it once."
                          
  Nora choked on her coffee while her husband looked pitifully at Erik. "Oh you poor fellow."
                          
   There was silence in the closet. 
                          
  Then the sound of a crashing shelf and an "ow."
                          
   "Willikins will let them out now."
                          
   "Erik have you ever had hash browns?" Asked Nora.
                          
  "Excuse me?" He replied.
                          
  "Willikins, want to join us? No? Guy was just putting his shirt back on any way, the rake."
                          
   "Willikins is afraid."
                          
   And that was that.












                          
   Short Chapter, but longer ones coming. I just NEEDED to ship Gudger so badly. And yes. Horrible ship name. If you come up with anything better, I'll use it.