I'm sorry for having been gone for so long without updatine but the holiday season is a crazy time for my family. I hope you will be patient and continue to enjoy this.
Talia opened on gray green eye and looked at Christine who was trying to slip into her room. "What do you want Christine?" She remained in bed contemplating just rolling over and going back to sleep.
"To return the dress."
"Why?" Talia snuggled down in the blankets. "It doesn't fit me, it does you so keep it and let me go back to sleep."
"Up all night again?" Christine asked walking towards the bed.
"Most of it."
"Writing?"
"I wish. I had insomnia. I stared at the ceiling most of the night."
"I'll make sure nobody comes in except Lira."
Talia watched her walk to the door. "Christine, thank you."
Christine didn't answer she only left. She walked to her and Raoul's room and smiled at her husband when she walked in.
"I thought you were going to give that back to Talia." Raoul asked.
"She said keep it. It doesn't fit her." Christine hung the dress in the closet.
"I am surprised she speaks to you."
"You just have to learn not to push her. If she wants to be left alone leave her alone. I learned that quickly."
"Well she'll be in a better mood with Philip home. They always get along."
"Raoul she was burned in a stable fire, how did it happen?"
"Don't worry about it. It was just an accident." Raoul kissed her. "Philip and I are going into Paris we'll be back this evening." With that he turned and walked away.
This will be a very long day. Christine looked at her wardrobe and decided what she was going to do. She pulled out the riding clothes Talia had given her and started to change. Spending time with Patra is better than being bored in the house.
Nadir was taken aback to find Erik with a wine glass in his hand hunched over his desk after so long of not doing much of anything. "Something wrong old friend?"
"She knew I was there, at the concert hall she knew it."
"Who? Christine?"
"No, Natalia. Twice she looked right at me, and twice I froze like I was caught in a trap."
"Erik I find it hard to believe you are scared of a woman you've met only twice."
"She doesn't scare me, but what I feel does. I would swear just by looking at me she could tell you every crime I've ever committed, or just by asking get me to confess them."
"Erik are you ill?"
"Nadir I think I am."
Talia was just saddling Alexander when Christine came in with Patra. Trivan came forward and took the mare and put her in her stall.
"Enjoy your ride?" Talia asked finishing with the cinch and reaching for the bridle.
"Yes. I just stayed in the arena but it was fun."
"Good." Talia did the throat latch on the bridle and then led the horse out of his stall. Talia mounted the gelding and rode out of the stable.
Christine walked back to the stall Patra was in and started to brush her.
"Thank you for being a friend to Lady Talia." Trivan said cleaning the mare's hooves. "She needs somebody besides Count Philip and Lady Anna. Neither are around all the time."
"Who is Lady Anna?"
"Talia's best friend and the only person who was not afraid of her. Her father, Morice Demay, was the doctor that cared for Talia after the fire. Anna helped."
"Trivan have you always worked in the stable?"
"Yes, my father was the stable master, as his father, and so on for almost two hundred years."
"What happened?"
Trivan stopped. "The viscount hasn't told you?"
Christine shook her head.
"The count Aramis De Chagny died, and Raoul had been hurt because the count had kept calling for Talia, but she wouldn't go. They had a bad fight he wished to send her to a school for ladies. Talia didn't want to leave. After the count's death Philip gave the colt Talia had been caring for to Raoul, though it had been promised to Talia.
"Raoul was mad over his father's death and had found Talia with the colt. He yelled at her and stormed out. When he slammed the door a lamp that hung from the rafter fell on Talia."
"Oh my god." Christine gasped.
"It was an accident, they entire estate was hurt, and she had just been in the wrong place."
"No wonder Raoul feels so bad and doesn't want to talk about it."
"He gave the colt to Talia to try and make up for it."
"Alexander."
"Yes."
"Welcome Lord Masbeth." Raoul said smiling at his friend from London.
"Good to see you viscount Chagny." John said taking a seat across from Raoul. "How is your wife?"
"Well, still frightened of that monster."
"And Natalia?"
"Still hiding in the dark."
"She was such a charming girl, even scarred she must be a beauty."
"I would say you still have a crush on my sister." Raoul said.
"How could a man not find a woman such as her attractive, and besides if she would consent my father and I could remove the scars." John said.
"She won't consent to it. She despises most doctors, Louis Mour, my brother's best friend, and Morice Demay, are the only exceptions."
"But we were friends before the accident."
"You won't get her to change her mind she's too stubborn."
"As am I. Raoul she is the only girl I think about I want a chance to make her happy."
"I remember you being surrounded by beautiful women in London."
"But they don't have Natalia's presence. Don't laugh at me you married you childhood sweetheart that you hadn't seen since you were what ten?"
"Touché."
"To childhood love." John offered a toast.
"And happiness."