Chapter Nine: Meeting Him, Again
November 1st, 1910, 12:30pm
The black door labeled 'Special Guest Entry Only' quickly opened after M. Richard knocked on it twice, standing before us was the butler, Gerard. "Ah, Monsieur's...and Margarita; your presence has been much anticipated, pray come inside." Gerard said slowly, his nose never turned down, he opened the door wide enough for the three of us to walk inside arm-in-arm (which is exactly what we did); the room was magnificent! White, marble floors, oaken couches and a large oaken table stood in the middle of the room, over a brightly colored tapestry; a black, marble fireplace that was as tall as I am stood, attached to the left wall. A silky, golden fabric covered the couch cushions (this fabric also served as curtains for great, floor-to-ceiling windows on the right wall) in the very back of the room there was a great, white, marble staircase with golden and silver designs and inlays.
The three of us were led to the hand-carved, oaken, couch where we were handed pure silver champagne glasses and in was poured Château de St.-Cosme, a wine that was voted best (and most expensive) in the world. M. Richard and M. Barnabus gulped down their wine and happily asked for more, I only sipped on mine; sure it tasted sweet, but I am not a fanatic of wines or alcohol in general. "The Monsieur will be with your shortly, gentleman...madam" Gerard said slowly, he bowed to us, placing the wine on the table before us and leaving the room; I could barely hold myself together in the time that we waited, to actually meet that wonderful Opera Ghost? Oh, I nearly jumped out of my seat in excitement! M. Richard noticed my excitement, then his brows furrowed.
"Who do you think we are meeting here, Margarita?" Asked he, crossing his legs and lying back, resting on the couch as he shook his hand, making the wine slosh around in his glass. M. Barnabus remained sitting up, with me.
"The Opera Ghost, of course, who else would call for me?" I asked, then the managers gave each other a worried glance, I saw this glance and my brows furrowed as M. Richard's had only moments before.
"I would" A voice rang out, I quickly turned and saw Aaron Benjamin standing in a dark blue tuxedo on the staircase, his brunette hair was gelled back and his blue eyes sparkled with something I thought was malicious intent. The managers and I stood as the man walked down the rest of the staircase and joined us, shaking hands with the managers and just staring at me "Now, what's this about an Opera Ghost?" Asked he, staring at me.
"Oh, Master Benjamin, I assure you it's nothing, a friend of the Margarita's...that's all" M. Richard said wrapping his arm around me and hugging me with a fake smile to Aaron, Aaron gave me a sly smile and then his eyes flashed down to my hand.
"I see you've been wedded...who is the luckiest man in the world?" Asked he taking up my hand and admiring the ring.
"She hasn't been wedded...that ring only fits her marriage finger" M. Richard said, again with a fake smile to Aaron.
"Ah, so the position is still open, wonderful, here...Elizabeth, let me give you the grand tour" Said Aaron, forcing my arm into his and dragging me away from the managers, I mouthed words of help to the managers, but they only shrugged and mouthed back words of apologies. Aaron showed me all over his rooms, chatting about passed adventures, holidays to foreign countries, or mishaps in Paris; all of these stories fueled by inanimate objects in each room. "So, what do you think?" Asked he, bringing me back to the lobby room in which we started; the managers were gone, but Gerard reappeared, carrying biscuits and tea.
"I think" I started as Gerard poured my tea into a cup and added two blocks of sugar "that you've been to a lot of places" Gerard now handed me my cup and I sipped from it. Aaron wore a smile and chuckled.
"That I have...someday I hope to bring you with me" Said he, staring at me from behind his cup. Aaron didn't perform in the opera's he only watched them and bought a room to see the behind-the-scenes of a performer's life. Most of the ballet girls and chorus girls talked much of his eyes, they thought them 'dazzling' and 'memorizing'; these traits I did not see, I saw the beadiness of his pupils and the darkness of the color. I set my tea cup down and Aaron cleared his throat, setting his down as well "Elizabeth, you sang so beautifully that my heart was taken from my chest and delivered into your outstretched palms...I doubt you saw me in opera box three with my breath caught in my throat at your utter brilliance. I know I might be a little too straightforward with this, but I felt as if my heart was going to explode if I didn't tell you exactly how much I...I..I love you."
Aaron had gotten up and kneeled down before me, holding my right hand with both of his hands; his lips feverishly kissed my hand, I felt him gulp and look up at me with pitiful eyes. "I've never had anyone steal my heart before, Elizabeth, but you have; pray, I beg of you, tell me you feel the same! Tell me that your heart belongs to me and no other! Tell me, Elizabeth...tell me.." he cried, his yelling reduced to a whisper at the end; his soft lips connected with my hand once more, I remained mute, and then I felt a draft of cool air come about us. I sighed and turned away from him, closing my eyes as I did so.
"You don't remember me...do you?" I asked, turning back to him, his eyes looked those of a starving puppy dog who is begging for food, and for once, I felt pity for this man. His brows furrowed, but he never let my hand go back to me, he shook his head after a few moment of thinking, I sighed "Do you remember, it was about a year ago, that you walked into an apothecary and demanded medicine for your ailing uncle? By the way...how is he?" I asked softly.
"He has all but healed, the doctor gives him five more years of his life because of my speedy return with that medication" Aaron replied, no doubt, not seeing the relevance in any of this.
"Good...I am glad to hear" my eyes glassed over and Aaron sat beside me on the couch, his left hand quickly went to my cheek and gently held it. I coughed "You, no doubt, remember the woman in the trench coat" continued I, Aaron nodded.
"I regret pushing that woman out of the way...but my uncle...he was on the verge of death and I panicked...I wish I would've said sorry or gotten someone else to help; I shouldn't of done that." He whispered, his hand moving to my chin, I smiled and nodded.
"Well, you can say sorry now" Said I, a tear spilling over my eyelid "it was I in that trench coat...that haggard, weary, horrid looking girl was I; it is good to hear that your family member survived. For, both of my parents died within moments of my return, I was not speedy enough with the medication...nor speedy enough with my trek home. My father died when I was running home and my mother died five minutes after I administered her medication" tears now streamed down my cheeks and Aaron wore the face of complete and utter surprise...which quickly turned into guilt and regret. Aaron fell from the couch and landed on his knees before me, his hands were pressed together and he stared at my tear stained face.
"I know you will never forget this horrible...beyond horrible...irrefutable thing I did, but I beg of you to find it in your wonderful, beautiful heart to forgive me. I know what I did was wrong...beyond wrong...I should've been fined for ever touching a woman harmfully. Please, Elizabeth, I'm begging you...pleading you to forgive me! Elizabeth there couldn't be a more wonderful, brilliant, alluring woman in the world besides yourself, and I will do anything...anything at all that you wish...Elizabeth...let me give you what you have been deprived of...love. Let me love you and give you happiness!"
Aaron now sat again on the couch, I stopped crying and Aaron held my hands...I started to feel sick. "Elizabeth, please, let me put a smile back on your tear stricken face...let me be your haven when everything goes wrong...me, beside you to guard you and to guide you! Let me be your love...allow me to be the one you smile at every morning and every night...please...Elizabeth, my heart aches and wanes every moment you are not by my side...I've never wanted anything or anyone more! Elizabeth, all of the day and all of the night my heart cries out for you, it screams your name in my head...begging me to ask for you, please, forgive me Elizabeth, I did not know things would end up as they have...and if I did I would've demanded your medicine first and let you ride in my dogcart all those miles to your home. Elizabeth, I cannot say how sorry I am enough, please, Elizabeth, give me a chance to love you...and if that is too much, pray forgive me...please."
I began to feel dizzy and the cool draft came in much, much colder now; making my skin get goose bumps. Aaron saw this and quickly took off his tuxedo jacket, then he wrapped it around me and stared at me hopefully, I looked down and started to fumble with my ring. All of a sudden the a unseen, grandfather clock struck one and the butler, Gerard returned "Sir, the Monsieur's call for the Margarita, for the practice of Faust that they will be performing to-morrow night" I quickly stood, and as I was about to walk away Aaron's hand shot out and grasped a tight hold of my wrist.
"Please, Elizabeth, I do not want you to leave on such terms...know that I will do anything for you...anything at all, and that I am so extremely sorry, my love." I gulped and gave a small nod, with that I left the Vicomte on the couch and walked as fast as I could to the stage where I quickly rejoined Victoria.