Chapter Four: Once Upon a Night
Christine felt the carriage suddenly stop and wiped the tears on her cheek. She couldn't see outside the curtained carriage windows, so she couldn't see the house. The driver came to the door and opened it. She took his hand and walked out before looking up in awe at the spectacle in front of her. A beautiful, massive castle stood in front of her. Around the castle were beautiful gardens full of colorful flowers and lush green mazes. The grounds were surrounded by steep gates, officially shutting her off from the rest of the world. She noticed how far they were from the rest of the city; they were in the moors. It was dark already. Lights lit the garden dimly, but it was still eerie, and Christine felt goose bumps on her arms tingle.
"Ma'am, the lord is expecting you," the driver said as she stared up at the mansion.
She nodded and gathered the hem of her dress as she walked up the steps to the large, black doors. She slowly took the door knocker and knocked it quietly. As if magic, the doors opened and a butler appeared, bowing to her.
"Ma'am, come in. Lord Rochford is expecting you."
Christine glanced at the butler as she walked into the beautiful castle. The foyer was several hundred feet and very dimly lit by several candles. A wide, winding staircase led to a dark, ominous upstairs. Several hallways led down different paths in the castle, but the butler led her somewhere else.
The castle was empty. She saw no signs of other maids or butlers and heard no signs of anyone in the castle. It was quiet. The butler led her through luxurious, opulent rooms that looked too expensive to touch. Even around Raoul she had never been around such wealth and beauty.
The butler stopped suddenly, however, at a door and looked towards Christine.
"Lord Rochford is waiting inside."
Christine looked at the butler warily before taking the door handle and walking into the golden study of Lord Rochford.
It was a glorious room with leather chairs and dozen of cherry wood bookcases full of thousands of books. Candles were lit and fur blankets draped the furniture. Christine could not help but gasp at the exuberant beauty of the room, at how incredible this room, a simple room, looked. She was suddenly enthralled by Lord Rochford.
"This is my favorite room, too."
Christine turned and gasped at the sound of the deep voice.
Standing in front of her was the notorious Lord Rochford, dressed simply but exquisitely in dark brown trousers and a white shirt. Christine was surprised as well to find herself excited at how attractive he looked. His shirt was a tad unbuttoned and revealed a strong, muscular chest. Christine couldn't help but notice.
"Are you well, Ms. Daae?" he asked after a lulling silence in which Christine had just stared at him.
She snapped out of her daze. "Yes?'
"Are you well?"
Christine suddenly remembered why she was there.
"Yes, as well as I can be."
Lord Rochford came closer and poured a cup of wine. He gave it to her.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"Are you hungry? I've had my cook prepare a good dinner for us."
Us, Christine thought.
"A dinner sounds fine, but…"
"But?" He stopped drinking.
"I am a little unnerved, my lord. Is this how it will go tonight?"
Lord Rochford looked contemplative and nodded.
"I will explain everything, Ms. Daae, in due time."
"My name is Viscountess de Chagny," she retorted. "Not Ms. Daae anymore."
He looked at her for a moment, but surprised her when he smiled.
"Not tonight."
Christine sat next to Lord Rochford at his long, beautiful mahogany table. The table was decorated with exotic foods and drinks; all there for them to eat. Candles lit the room dimly and luxurious red drapes covered the tall windows; hiding them from the rest of the world. The Lord Rochford's attendants had left the room after supplying the meal leaving the two of them alone in the large, empty room. It was quiet as the two ate daintily, not wanting to disturb the other.
Christine watched Lord Rochford as he ate and wondered why he had even asked her there. All they were doing at the moment was eating. He had pounced on her the moment she had come in or commanded her to get in his bed. He had instead offered her a cup of wine and a good meal. He was much kinder than she had expected. He was actually many more things.
Christine wondered why such a handsome, attractive man had to pay for company. She knew plenty of women who would willingly spend the night with him, who would love to be in her place. And although he still wore the mysterious mask, he was still unquestionably good looking. Christine was even a little horrified to discover that he was better looking than her own husband. Raoul was handsome but he lacked the rugged, sensual appeal of the man sitting next to her.
"You have a lovely home," Christine whispered quietly, hoping to break her thoughts and the silence.
He looked up at her. "I'm glad you like it."
"It's a big home…for a bachelor."
He didn't say anything.
"Is there a reason you don't have a wife or a family?"
Again, he said nothing.
Christine wondered if she was bothering Lord Rochford with her questions. Part of her reveled in tormenting someone she really wanted to hate, and the other part of her felt awful.
"Your wedding was beautiful."
Christine looked up at Rochford's comment.
"You were beautiful."
For a moment Christine felt her heart constrict and her face flush with warmth.
"Thank you."
Lord Rochford gave her a strange look and Christine felt her questions bubble up in her.
"Why are you doing this?"
Lord Rochford didn't look up at her question, as if expecting it. He just kept eating his meal.
"Lord Rochford, I just want to know. I want to know why an eligible bachelor with everything would do this sort of thing. Why would you resort to such extremes?"
She hoped he would soften and give her a good reason; a reason she couldn't hate him for. Maybe he loved her. Maybe he was lonely. Maybe he needed her for a particular, romantic reason. Instead, however, he answered,
"Because I can."
Christine shrank back in disgust at the arrogant answer. Because he could? Was he that vile? That insidious? Did he care only for his pleasure and enjoyment so much that he'd make such an indecent proposal? Did he not care at all that she loved Raoul and that they were a newly wedded couple?
Christine felt her body surge with fury as she looked at the incredibly arrogant and selfish man. She couldn't believe for a moment she ever thought him attractive or kind.
"I want to leave," she said as she dropped her utensils.
He looked up now, startled and surprised by her sudden comment.
"You can't leave. The night's not done."
"I don't care. I want to leave."
"And lose the money?"
Raoul would be furious. Then again she was furious at him.
"Christine, you should really be angry with Raoul in this whole situation. If he had just swallowed up his pride…"
"Raoul has no pride," she interrupted.
Lord Rochford chuckled. "Yes he does. Every man has pride."
"Raoul's different," she boasted.
"He's not so much different that he'd give up love for money."
Christine glared furiously at Lord Rochford. She actually wanted to kill him.
He saw her glare. "The real reason you're furious is because you know I'm right. He sold you like a whore."
"And you bought me," she retorted.
He looked up then and glared at her in return.
"I'd be careful, Ms. Daae."
Her anger boosted her courage. "What more could you possibly do to me?"
He suddenly grabbed her wrist and she felt very frightened. His grip was like steel and his eyes bore into her like fire, burning her.
"You have no idea what I could do," he warned. He tightened his grip. "This isn't the only part of your body I could have in my hold."
Her eyes widened at his words and he quickly let go, letting her go over his threat in her mind.
She tried to gain her composure and stare back down at her plate. She felt alone and isolated.
"So you're going to do it?" she whispered.
He looked up, affected by her pitiful tone. "It?"
"You're going to…"
"Make love to you?"
She nodded, still unable to look him in the eye.
"I promise I won't hurt you…You'll actually enjoy it if you allow yourself."
"Enjoy it?" she shrieked. "How could I enjoy making love to a man who isn't my husband?"
He gave her a hot gaze. "Do you want me to show you?"
Her eyes widened again and she blushed bright red. He held back his laughter.
She didn't know why she was more embarrassed: because he had teased her so provocatively or because she had actually felt aroused by his words. She felt her body grow warm and her beat rapidly. She had to fight the sinful, strange feeling. She wouldn't allow it. But even she had to admit she found the man damned handsome and attractive and his low growl of every word was so sensual it felt like a caress.
"Come," he suddenly said as he rose.
Her eyes widened in terror.
"I want to show you something." He chuckled at her worried expression. "Don't worry. It's not my bedroom."
He led her outside behind the mansion where beautiful gardens were lit by candles and smelled of jasmine. Christine couldn't help but gasp at the beauty of it all.
Rochford suddenly whistled and a big, beautiful black horse trotted out of the garden to them.
"Oh, he's beautiful," she whispered.
Rochford smiled and led her closer to the horse to pet it.
"He's an Arabian," he said as she caressed the stallion's neck.
"How did you get him?" she asked, still enthralled by the horse.
"I bought him when I was in Egypt."
Her attention diverted back to Rochford. "Egypt?"
He nodded. "I was stationed there."
"I do remember hearing you were a captain in His Majesty's army," she said.
He nodded as he gazed at her.
She turned away from his unnerving gaze back to the horse. "He is magnificent."
"Would you like to ride him?"
"Now?" she asked, somewhat surprised.
"Yes, now."
He helped her up onto the horse and held it steady. She sat a little awkwardly and he knew she didn't have much experience with horses.
"I'm not sure what to do," she admitted.
"Here."
He shocked her by getting up onto the horse behind her and pulling her close to him. He pulled the reins and kept her body right in front of him.
Christine tried to ignore the warmth and strength of his body behind her, how hard it felt, how his strong, muscular thighs felt against her legs. And when she shifted she could feel his most intimate part and shuddered. He was too close, and it felt…too good.
They cantered throughout the gardens a few times and looked at all the beauty, but her mind was still too occupied on his body behind her. They finally had cantered throughout the garden several times and returned to the place where they had begun. Neither of them moved.
Christine could hear her breathing and his own against her neck. She had to stop it.
"We should go," she whispered.
But instead of answering her he slowly trailed his hand down her leg while the other caressed her waist.
She had to stifle a moan as his big hands swept her inner thigh and her upper waist. It felt too intoxicating…and good. She wanted him to stop, but at the same time she didn't want him to stop either. She was afraid and excited al at the same time.
He leaned in next to her. "I bet Raoul's never touched you like this."
He pushed her hair away and kissed down the side of her neck, leaving hot kisses all over. She held onto his hands unknowingly and tilted her head so he could kiss her more. Then he suddenly picked her up and placed her in front of him so they were face to face. He looked down at her with fierce, hungry eyes and descended on her mouth, as he wrapped his arms around her.