Prologue –
Satine looked out to the audience as she stood on the stage with the Argentinean, bowing to the thunderous applause. As she scanned the crowd she couldn't find Christian. She quickly looked again and her eyes fell upon the smirking Duke of Monroth. A gigantic bouquet of roses was in the seat next to him. She gave him a dazzling smile as she walked off the stage, clutching the Argentinean's hand.
"You were amazing!" he roared, lifting her off her feet.
Suddenly, everyone, cast and crew, were milling around backstage congratulating one another on the excellent performance.
Satine saw Toulouse-Lautrec rushing from a backstage door and into the middle of the stage. "Chwistian's gone!" he shouted. "He's gone and took evewything with him!"
Silence.
All eyes were on little Toulouse, shaking like mad and tears streaking his painted face. And then, everyone's eyes moved as one to Satine.
The curtain suddenly opened, revealing the Duke holding the bouquet of roses in his arms. "My Sparkling Diamond!" he grinned, exposing all his rodent-like teeth. Not noticing that the backstage was completely silent, he walked over and handed Satine the flowers. "For a wonderful performance!"
Satine grinned, wanting to throw the flowers to the floor. "Thank you, my dear Duke! Why, they're wonderful!" She inhaled the sickly sweet scent of the roses.
The Duke grinned even wider.
"My dear Duke," Satine said. "I'm ever so sorry, but I must get out of this dress. Will you excuse me for a moment?" She turned around before he could answer and made her way to her dressing room, motioning for Marie to follow her.
Satine silently closed the door behind them when they reached the dressing room.
"He's gone!" Satine breathed, still clutching the doorknob.
Marie shook her head. "But where? Where could he have gone?"
Satine sat down on the couch, her head throbbing. "I don't know, Marie... I just don't know."
Marie sat down next to Satine. "Why? Why would he just up and leave?"
"Because of me," she said quietly. "I told him I chose the maharajah."
Marie bowed her head. "I'm sorry, Satine."
"Marie," Satine said slowly. "I have something to tell you..."
"What?" she asked.
"I found out right before the show," she said. "That I'm pregnant..."
Marie gasped. "Pregnant?" A grin formed on her face. "Satine, that's wonderful!"
Satine smiled to herself, looking at her hands in her lap.
"Do you know who the father is?" Marie asked, her smile disappearing.
"Christian," Satine said immediately.
"You're sure?"
Satine nodded. "Yes, positive." She took a deep breath. "And I've decided that I'm going to start over and move to London."
"What?" Marie shrieked, her hands over her mouth. "But – But the Duke!"
"That damn Duke, I don't care about him!" Satine cried. "I'm doing this for the sake of Olivier!"
"Olivier?" Marie asked.
"My son," Satine said simply.
"But you don't know if it's a boy!" cried Marie.
"It is," Satine said stubbornly. "It's a boy."
Marie sighed, shaking her head. "But what about your career? Don't you want to be an actress?"
"That's not important right now!" Satine said impatiently. "What's important is that Olivier has the most normal childhood I can provide for him and, to me, a normal childhood does not consist of having your mother as a Duchess!"
Marie looked at her, dumbfounded.
"How are you going to explain all this to the Duke?" she asked.
"I'll just tell him that I'm pregnant and I'm going to start over in a small French village south of here."
"But you're not," said Marie. "You're going to London."
"Do you think I want the Duke to follow me there?" Satine snapped. "I dare not think what he would do to me."
"And what about your illness?" Marie cried.
"I'll find a doctor there," Satine said impatiently.
Marie looked at Satine with sad eyes. "Are you sure this is best..."
Satine nodded. "Yes."
Marie ran over and flung her arms around Satine, tears flowing freely. "Oh, I wish you the best of luck, Satine," she sobbed into her shoulder.
Satine smiled, hugging Marie back. "Marie, you've been my best friend over all these years. Do keep in touch, won't you?"
Marie started to sob even harder. A moment later she pulled away, wiping the tears off her face. "Just one question, Satine. Why Olivier?"
Satine laughed. "That's the name Christian and I thought was best for our child," she said quietly.
Marie beamed. "I think it's beautiful!"
~*~
"You're what?"
Satine stood her ground as the Duke was looking down his nose at her. He was positively livid and did not, as Satine had expected, take her news well.
"I'm going to move and start over in a small village south from here," Satine repeated. She had made sure that Harold, Marie and a few burly, muscular crew members where there in Harold's office as she told the Duke her news.
"And why would that be?" The Duke snarled.
"Because I'm pregnant and I want my child away from the city," Satine said.
"I could have a mansion built in the country –"
"No," Satine interrupted him, shaking her head. "I will not have it, dear Duke."
"Don't you want to become an star?" the Duke asked.
Satine shook her head again. "I don't want to become an actress," she lied.
The Duke's eyes flashed as he breathed heavily down his nose. "You know that this isn't the best decision –"
"Yes, it is the best decision," Satine said coldly. "It is the best decision for my child and myself." She turned on her heel and walked out of the room.