A/N: new chappie! enjoy!
Chapter 14: Shopping
"Meg, promise me you won't get into trouble while you're with Lord Blackwood's cousin," Erik admonished as they rode in the carriage to the site of their soon-to-be home. He was dressed in his work clothes, ready to start as soon as they arrived and Meg was dressed in one of her dresses she'd brought with her from France. A lovely dress of sky blue with white lace lining the collar and elbow length sleeves. "Let her guide you. She knows this place far better than we do, I'm sure."
"From what Elias told us last night after dinner, it sounds like you'll have to worry about her getting us into trouble more than me," she chuckled, staring out the window of the carriage, and Erik gave a small sneer as he turned to his own window.
"You shouldn't be so familiar with my patron," he grumbled, making her frown and turn to him, but he kept his gaze out the window.
Unable to help herself she gave a small smirk and shifted closer to him and leaning in to murmur, "Why, dear husband, are you jealous?"
"Perhaps, sweet wife," he shot back, only half playfully, making her give a giggle as she leaned against his arm, making him look back at her in wide-eyed wonder.
"He may resemble you, somewhat, but he is certainly not you, Erik," she smirked, making him frown at her. "That's why I stared at him the way I did last night. He looked so similar to you, almost as though he could've been your brother."
"I see," he murmured, and Meg noted the hint of realization in his tone, making her smile widen.
"Did you truly think I was taken by his looks and charm?" she wondered, looking up at him to meet his gaze. "I can see right through men like him. I prefer a mysterious man with hidden talents, rather than a man that flaunts his wealth and charms women as naturally as if it were breathing."
"Well, in any case, I'd stay away from him," Erik retorted. "Only interact with his cousin, and never be without me if you find yourself around him."
"Really, Erik, are you that jealous?" Meg shot back with a sigh of exasperation, but didn't move from leaning on his arm.
"Yes," he replied, flatly, making her sit up and stare at him in wide-eyed shock that he'd admitted it as he added, "But I also don't trust him. He's hiding something, I can feel it. I want you to stay safe, Meg. And I don't believe you'll be safe in his presence without me there."
"I wouldn't feel safe anywhere without you anyway," she smiled again, resting her head on his shoulder once more and making him turn a wide-eyed stare of shock at her. "But if it makes you feel better, I promise never to be in his presence without you."
Erik swallowed hard as his heart pounded in his chest at feeling her weight on his arm. He couldn't believe he was having this kind of discussion with anyone, let alone Meg. He never thought anyone would ever admit to feeling safe in his presence. Fear, certainly, but safety? Impossible. He had killed people, kidnapped Christine and nearly forced her to marry him and even now he was a fugitive. Meg knew it. How could she feel safe with him?
"Erik, look!" Meg grinned, pulling him from his thoughts and directing his attention out the window of the carriage. "Felix and Lord Blackwood are here already! The lady with them must be his cousin, Inez. The have a crowd of men with them!"
"The workers," Erik explained as the carriage came to a stop in front of the group. He climbed out first and helped Meg out by the hand as Felix, Elias and a young woman with short black hair wearing an expensive-looking dress approached to greet them.
"Good morning, Erik," Elias grinned, then nodded to Meg, greeting, "Mrs. Deveraux. Allow me to introduce my cousin, Inez Wilding."
The young woman held her hand toward Meg with a smile that reached her violet eyes.
"It's lovely to meet you, Meg!" Inez smiled, widely. "Elias told me a bit about you, and I'm sure after today we'll be great friends!"
"I think so," Meg agreed with a smile.
"Well, now that everyone has become acquainted, I say we get started on this project," Elias smiled, stepping between Felix and Erik to grip a shoulder each on them. "The girls can take my carriage."
"I think breakfast is in order for us before our long day of shopping," Inez smiled, wrapping an arm around one of Meg's. "I didn't eat before I left the house. I'm starving!"
"That does sound nice," Meg smiled, sweetly before turning to Erik, and she could see the concern in his eyes. Not knowing where she would be, who else she would be with or who she might see worried him.
"Well then, let's get underway!" Inez grinned, starting to pull Meg toward Elias' carriage.
However, Meg gently pulled out of Inez's grasp to step toward Erik who frowned at her in wonder. Without a word she rested a hand on his cheek and pushed up onto her tiptoes to reach up, pressing a warm lingering kiss to his lips. He stared ahead in shock for a moment before she pulled back with a smile. Without a second thought, he wrapped an arm around her waist to hug her close, his lips landing on hers in a searing kiss that made her gasp in shock. The kiss ended as quickly as it began when he pulled back to bury his face in her hair, hugging her tightly.
"Promise me you'll be careful," he murmured, making her shock melt away before she hugged him in return, pressing her face into his shoulder with a smile, her heart swelling at the thought of him being concerned for her.
"I promise, Erik," she whispered back, lifting her head enough to press a kiss to his cheek.
She suddenly jumped when she heard a few whistles and cat-calls from the men around them, excluding Felix and Elias. She buried her face into his shoulder a little farther in embarrassment, and though he still held her close, he looked up at the men, and the glare in his eyes brought a wave of silence over them before. He looked back to Meg and nuzzled the top of her head, not caring what the men saw or thought and only caring about her embarrassment.
"Enjoy your time with Inez," he whispered, pressing one last kiss to the top of her head before lowering his arm.
"I promise to take very good care of her, Mr. Deveraux," Inez smiled, coming up next to Meg again to gently take her arm.
This time, Meg allowed her to pull her toward the carriage and climbed in after her as the driver held the door open for them. Inez settled herself and when the door closed, Meg looked out the window to Erik as Felix began speaking with Erik and Elias approached the carriage to speak with the two girls.
"Mrs. Deveraux, I plan on speaking with your husband to invite you both to dinner tonight at my home," he explained, making Meg look away from Erik and to Elias in wide-eyed surprise. "I have a feeling he will refuse, but if I can tell you accepted my invitation, I'm sure he won't be able to say no."
Elias gave her a wink, making her give a small giggle before she nodded, "I look forward to dinner with yourself and Inez tonight, Lord Blackwood."
"Excellent!" Elias grinned. "I'll break the bad news to Erik."
Meg gave a real laugh as the carriage began rolling forward. She caught sight of Erik looking toward them as they headed down the street and nearly hung out the window to wave and blow him a kiss. When she sat back again she gave a sigh with a content grin and looked to Inez.
"So, where are we headed?" she asked the dark-haired woman.
"I thought we would go to market first to see what sort of furnishings we could find for your lovely new home once it's been built," Inez smiled, slipping her gloves from her hands to slip them into her clutch. "And we must find you a dress for dinner."
"Why?" Meg frowned in wonder before looking down at herself and asking, "Is there something wrong with the one I'm wearing?"
"Oh, nothing, dear!" Inez gasped. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. This dress is perfect for an outing, but for dinner you'll need a dress that will sweep your husband off his feet all over again."
Meg felt a blush come to her cheeks before she looked away, her heart pounding in her chest, and Inez gave a small laugh.
"I remember being a newlywed," she sighed, nostalgically. "I blushed so much the first few months I thought I would surely faint! Believe me, dear, you'll get used to married life."
"Y-Yes," Meg muttered before chewing on her lower lip, remembering the kiss they had shared last night. Her heart fluttered as she remembered how tightly he'd held her, and the softness of his lips against hers. It had been their first real kiss…and it had been far more than she thought a kiss could be. She had been kissed before, by boys that fumbled around, not knowing what to do, and recalling it now she couldn't help but make a face. It hadn't been pleasant. But with Erik…
"I remember doing that, as well," Inez smirked, suddenly breaking through Meg's reverie, and making her turn to her in wide-eyed surprise.
"Doing what?" the blonde frowned in wonder.
"Thinking about him, constantly," Inez smiled. "Don't worry. You'll be back at his side before you know it."
"Oh, I'm actually very much looking forward to my day out!" Meg admitted, then honestly added, "I was just…thinking of last night."
"I would ask for all the juicy details, but I don't think we're that close yet," Inez smirked, bringing a blush to Meg's cheeks once more. "But I'm sure we will be. While we're shopping don't worry about expense. Elias told me to put everything on his bill."
"What?!" Meg gasped, then shook her head. "No, no, I couldn't!"
"He insisted," Inez assured her, reaching out to pat her hand. "Trust me."
Meg nodded, still dazed and looked out the window, wondering why Elias was being so generous. It was one thing if she saw talent in Erik, but to help her as well was another issue entirely. Unable to keep her curiosity at bay, she thought perhaps Inez knew something. After all, she was his cousin, and they did seem to be close.
"Inez, may I ask you something?" Meg asked, turning back to her.
"Yes, of course," Inez smiled. "Anything you like."
"Why is Lord Blackwood being so generous with Erik and I?" Meg wondered, cutting to the chase. "I can understand his support of Erik because of his talent, but why would he be so generous as to help me buy furnishings for our future home?"
"I'll be honest with you, Meg," Inez sighed. "I have no idea. I asked him the same thing, but he wouldn't tell me anything. He only told me that he felt he should help the two of you. Perhaps you should ask him at dinner?"
"If he wouldn't tell you anything, I doubt he would say anything in front of Erik if I asked him," Meg reasoned. "But thank you."
"I will say, he seems very taken with the two of you," Inez admitted, making Meg frown at her. "I've never seen him invite anyone to his home for dinner so quickly, let alone someone he's giving patronage to."
"Really?" Meg breathed in surprise and Inez only nodded. "Well, he is a very nice man. In Paris our nobility tends to be…entitled."
"It sounds like there's a bit of a story behind that comment," Inez smirked, making Meg's heart jump in her throat in panic. She was sure Erik wouldn't want her telling Inez or Elias anything about what happened in Paris. Thankfully, Inez added, "But I suppose that will be a story for another day. What kind of furnishings do you think your husband will like?"
Meg was relieved she had changed the subject, and began describing all the things Erik would love to furnish the house with…starting with a piano.
Later...
"Inez, I don't think your cousin meant to be this generous," Meg suggested as she followed Inez through the clothing store with displays of gorgeous gowns that she was sure she would never be able to afford.
"It's alright, Meg," Inez insisted, looking over some of the dresses on the stands. "This is actually going to be my present to you."
Meg stopped in her tracks behind Inez, who continued through the store for a few steps before turning to Meg with a frown of wonder. The blonde only stared back at her in absolute disbelief, frozen in place, making Inez smirk and step back toward her.
"Inez…" Meg breathed in shock. "I can't…let you do this! These dresses…they're so much! Too much!"
"I said you needed a dress for dinner, didn't I?" Inez smiled, linking her arm with Meg's to lead her through the shop. "Now, choose the one you want."
"But…Erik will certainly have something to say about this," Meg objected. "And it won't be good."
"I'll make a bet with you that he won't say a word," Inez smiled, mischievously. "As soon as he sees you in the dress we'll buy today, he'll be speechless."
"Please, I don't think—"
Meg stopped in her tracks again, her gaze locked on something to her right, making Inez frown in wonder before she caught sight of what the blonde was looking at.
"I think we've found the dress," Inez sang, hugging Meg's arm slightly with a grin, and Meg only gave a slow, silent nod.
Later in the marketplace...
"I tell you, Meg, that dress is going to look absolutely gorgeous on you!" Inez grinned after they had purchased the dress and now walked the streets of Manhattan. "I had it delivered to Elias's home. You can change there before dinner."
"Thank you," Meg smiled, dreamily, making Inez chuckle as they strolled arm in arm. "I still feel as though it was far too expensive."
Inez gave a sigh and rolled her eyes before amending, "Very well, you can repay me for it after your husband builds his theatre and performs his ballet and you become rich and famous from being the lead in that ballet."
Meg looked to her in wide-eyed disbelief as she sputtered, "W-What do you mean?"
"Oh, please, Meg, you cannot tell me your own husband will not make you the lead in his ballet," Inez chuckled. "From the story of how you met, which Elias told me, it seems he recognizes your talent, and I, personally, would be ecstatic if I could see you perform."
Meg was partly surprised that Elias had told Inez the story she had told him about their meeting. Surprised because he had admitted he didn't believe the story. But, she supposed if Inez had to be told a story of how Meg and Erik met, it would be that one. In a way, she was grateful she didn't have to tell the story all over again.
"Oh, that painting is beautiful!" Inez gasped, making Meg look to her then follow her gaze to a little alcove where a man was surrounded by paintings. "Look at all these lovely ballerinas! I'll bet that's what you looked like in Paris, right Meg?"
"Yes," Meg replied, distractedly as she moved closer to the paintings, the man sitting in the middle of them distracted with a sketch. Inez frowned at Meg as she went closer to the alcove, almost in a trance, before something else caught her attention about the paintings. "I recognize these paintings…"
"Meg, isn't that you?!" Inez gasped.
The blonde turned to the painting she was staring at in wide-eyed disbelief and gave a gasp herself just as the man amidst the paintings looked up from his sketch. Meg stared at the painting of a blonde girl in a pink tutu with flowers sprinkled over the skirt and bodice, leaning against the back of a piece of scenery fixing her ballet shoe, a golden bracelet around her wrist and flowers in her hair that matched her dress.
"It is me…" she breathed in wide-eyed shock.
"Meg?"
Her gaze shot to the man with dark hair and a beard, his dark, large, sunken eyes staring at her in just as much shock as she was in. But she instantly recognized the man.
"Monsieur Degas!" she grinned as he stood, towering over both women, but Meg only threw her arms around the man as he gave a chuckle and returned her hug. "I had no idea you would be in America! It's so wonderful to see you again!"
"Likewise, Meg," Degas chuckled as they released each other and he looked to Inez in wonder.
"Oh! Forgive me! Monsieur Degas, this is my friend, Inez," Meg introduced, pulling Degas toward her. "Inez, Monsieur Degas."
"An immense pleasure to meet you, monsieur," Inez smiled, shaking the man's hand. "Your work is astounding."
"You're too kind," he nodded, then turned their attention back to the painting they'd been looking at. "Do you like it?"
"It's gorgeous," Inez nodded, stepping next to Meg. "I was just asking Meg, doesn't it look like you?"
"I should hope so," Degas smiled. "It is her, after all."
"Truly?!" Inez gasped, stepping closer to the painting as Meg nodded in agreement.
"You know, Monsieur Degas, you claim to be a Realist, but you have more of the hand of an Impressionist, since you made me look so beautiful," Meg smirked, making Degas narrow his gaze at her.
"You know I don't like that term," he warned, making her give a shrug and giggle, mischievously. "I paint what I saw, and what I see when I see you is beauty."
Meg blushed profusely as she looked away, making him chuckle, knowing that he had gotten to her the way she had to him.
"You seem very familiar," Inez noticed, stepping back toward the two.
"Monsieur Degas came to the Opera Populaire several years ago to paint the dancers," Meg explained. "Of course he had to get past my mother. We couldn't allow some strange man backstage with the girls if he had ill intentions."
"Your mother was strict," Degas recalled, making Meg laugh.
"But you won her over in the end," Meg recalled. "So much so that she wouldn't stop talking about you after you left."
"Oh, dear," Degas sighed, making Meg laugh again.
"I'm going to buy this painting, Monsieur," Inez reported, making both of them turn to her in wonder.
"Which painting?" he asked as she reached into her reticule to thumb out some money.
"The one of Meg," Inez replied, making Meg stare at her in absolute disbelief. "I'll have someone come for it later. Will you be here all day?"
"Yes," Degas drawled, seeing Meg's reaction.
"Perfect," Inez smiled, handing him the money. "That should be enough, yes?"
"Uh…yes," he nodded, taking the money and counting it, his eyes widening before he said again, "Yes, more than enough. I feel as though it's too much."
"If you like, pay the men when they come to take the painting," Inez suggested.
"Inez, why are you buying it?" Meg wondered, still in disbelief.
"I thought it would look wonderful in that music room your husband plans to make in your home!" Inez grinned, and Meg's heart thumped in panic again as Degas looked up in wide-eyed shock.
"Meg! You're married?!" he questioned, coming closer to the blonde.
Meg began chewing on her lower lip in panic as Inez frowned at her, wondering why she wasn't explaining herself right away. Meg was sure Erik would be upset if she told anyone the truth…but she wasn't sure she could even think of lying to this man, a very good friend.
"Yes," she finally nodded, her stomach turning at the lie, but she quickly followed up with vague truths. "His name is Erik. He's a very good man. I think you would like him. He does a bit of drawing as well. Though he's far more interested in architecture and music. He's building the house that will be our home!"
"Yes, with funding from his new patron," Inez added with a smile. "My cousin, Lord Elias Blackwood."
"Well, he must have talent if Lord Blackwood is backing him," Degas nodded in approval. "I can't wait to meet him, Meg. If you permit it."
"Perhaps you would like to come to dinner tonight?" Inez grinned, stepping next to Meg to link her arm with the blonde's. "You can catch up with them!"
"Oh, I don't think—"
"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Meg smiled back, cutting Degas off and sending his wide-eyed stare of surprise to her. "Of course, if Lord Blackwood won't mind. Perhaps you should check with him first?"
"Trust me, he knows I wouldn't invite anyone not worth inviting," Inez smiled, giving Degas a wink, making swallow and avert his gaze.
Meg couldn't help but laugh at Degas's reaction, and part of her was looking forward to dinner with him, Elias, Inez and Erik. She was sure Erik and Degas would get along perfectly.
A/N: it came to me as i was looking at Degas's paintings of the ballerinas. it fits perfectly for me. so...who is Elias Blackwood? why is he being so generous? stick around and you'll find out! ;) reviews?