Chapter Eleven

Erik smoothed the letter from Adrienne and Alex out on his desk, finally reading the last part of it. Everything truly seemed to be going well for them, but he still had the nagging feeling that the invitation to visit them at Christmas was more than the want for a friendly visit. But then again, perhaps they didn't know what he knew. After all, how could they know that he kept in contact with Madame Giry, or that she had sent word to him of Raoul and Christine's decision for a winter wedding? That letter rested on the desk just above this new one.

"Alex always was a fool," he muttered, going over to his bed and laying down. Alex was a fool, but he knew that Adrienne was not.

The day after the next Erik started work at the restoration site, and though it was a welcome break from sitting in the office for hours a day, unfortunately the start of the project coincided with a week of cool and wet weather. This meant that he often found himself returning to the house damp, and with far less done than he had hoped.

"You're back rather late," Angela commented one night, her eyes glued to the pages of a book as Erik entered the house, "you missed supper."

"Terribly sorry," Erik muttered, stalking towards the cellar door.

Angela sighed and turned in the chair, "My goodness, you're soaked!"

"It has been raining all day," Erik pointed out, "if I were dry, it would be a miracle."

Angela shook her head, "I'll get you a towel. If you go to bed that wet you'll catch a chill."

"I did intend to change into something dry first," Erik retorted.

"Would you like some tea?" she asked, ignoring him.

"Fine," he grumbled, slumping into the leather armchair, "thank you."


Angela returned a few minutes later, tossing him a towel before going off to tend to the kettle. When she next returned she had a tray with two tea cups and a steaming kettle. Erik watched as she poured them each a cup, the towel draped over his shoulders uselessly.

"Dry off a bit," she sighed, handing him the cup of tea.

"I'll be just fine," Erik murmured, placing the cup down on the table, "in all honesty, all I would like is some rest."

"Well, I am not in the habit of sending people off to bed cold and wet. So, dry off, drink your tea and then you are more than welcome to go to bed."

He raised his eyebrow and sipped the tea, "And what if I chose to refuse? How would you keep me here?"

"I guess I couldn't, now could I?" she answered, "and yet, here you are."

"Yes well, I do not enjoy going to bed cold and wet."

There was a moment of silence before Angela spoke again, "You know, you've been living in my house for some time now, and I feel like I barely know you. We haven't really spoken, have we?"

Erik shrugged his shoulders elegantly, "No we have not."

"Why don't you tell me something about yourself then," she suggested.

Erik pondered the request for a moment, "Only if you tell me something about yourself."

"I was born here in Rome, grew up in Rome with my two sisters, fell in love and got married, then left the city and started my family," she said, "your turn."

"I was born in France, ran away from home to join the circus, enjoyed my time travelling Europe and then spent several years in Persia. I then returned to spend several years in Paris, went to England for work and now I am here."

"You ran away from home?" she asked.

"That is what I said."

"To join the circus?"

"Well, unintentionally. And it was a band of gypsies, actually."

Angela laughed and shook her head, "And how old were you?"

"Nine or so," he muttered, "perhaps eight…I can't really be sure."

"Such an adventure filled life," she said, "did you ever spend time in Rome, perchance?"

"For a time," he answered, "I enjoyed the city in my youth."

"Then why did you leave?"

"The city did not enjoy me," he answered, standing up and stretching as he did so, "now, if you will excuse me, I would like to get some rest."

"Of course. Sleep well, I will be getting you up early tomorrow."

"And why would you be doing that?" he queried.

"Tomorrow is Sunday, which means that there will be mass."

"Ah, it all makes sense now," Erik said, "take the atheist tenant to mass and convert him from his cursed ways. Good night, signora."

"Good night."


A/N: I found my flash drive, so you get another chapter! So sorry for the long wait...please drop me a review.