He carried her out of the house and right into the waiting carriage. He set Helene on the bench opposite Sabine and then took up his place next to his wife. He tapped a couple times on the roof of the carriage and it lurched into motion.
As the first hour wound away, Helene fell asleep and Erik once again found himself drawn to watch the scenery pass by. He saw out of the corner of his eye as sabine pulled the light travelling rug over Helenes legs and sat back besdie him resting her head on his shoulder and Erik slipped his hand into hers.
"Where are you my husband ? You seem so far away."
He opened his mouth to answer but found that he couldn't find the words. He couldn't tell her how he was a wanted man and returning to the city could spell his death. Or how despite the fact that he was now married there was a woman in Paris, the very woman who would be tutoring their daughter. And not only did she own a piece of his heart but she is also the same woman he would willingly lay down his life for. Then it seemed as they were getting closer and closer to Paris the ghost were coming back out to claim him again.
"Nothing really," he answered, "I was just thinking about all the people and wondering how they will accept me."
"You'll be fine." Sabine said giving his hand a reasuring squeeze, "Your Helenes father and they'll just have to deal with it."
"And if they don't?" He asked giving her a side long glance.
"Then we shall plot to kill them." She said matter of factly with a coldness that even made Erik give her a double take.
If you only knew he thought then he sighed, "biensure that's exactly what we'll do."
Sabine lauged gayly, "You'll be fine please don't worry."
"Shhh, you'll wake our daughter." He said slipping an arm around her shoulders and allowed the rythym of the carriage to lull him to sleep and dream. In his dream he was standing in a room with two doors. Behind one door was Sabine standing in front of thier house. Behind the other door was a woman in white standing in a pool of brite white light; so bright in fact he had to sheild his eyes. And yet he couldn't look away as his feet moved forward of thier own volition. He stopped just inches before her and completely unable to see her face.
"Why are you always afraid to acheive your dreams? Are you afraid to be happy?" it asked.
"B-but I am happy." Erik stammered.
"Are you?"
"I-" He started then was jolted awake as the carriage crossed over a rough patch of road. He cursed silently to himself and leaned his head back. What the hell was that? He wondered, How dare they think I am not happy ! As he fought with his anger, confusion and discomfort. The carriage rolled into the out skirts of Paris.
He nudged Sabine awake, " You're going to want to see this."
"Where are we?" She asked leaning across him to look out the window.
"Paris, "He said, "Or to be precise Rue De Faubourg. We'll be at our new home in about 10 minutes."
"We should wake Helene." Sabine said.
"In a moment." He said tapping on the roof, "Michelle take us the long way through boulevard des capucines. Then over to the new house, sil vous plait."
"Oui monsieur." came the gruff reply.
"Where are we going?" She asked looking at him.
"Past the opera house." He said reaching over to wake Helene, "Cherie wake up.
"Are we there yet?" She asked.
"Not yet petite." He said as she climbed into his lap, "Regard cherie c'est la Opera National."
Her eyes greww wide as saucers, "Pappa it's enormous."
"Oui, it is."
"What's it like inside?"
"It's even more beautiful petite." He lamented as his eyes apraised the re construction and his heart twisted painfully so much of his history existed in those halls he was a legend, a myth, a mystery and most importantly ( if only to one person) he was an angel. Outside of them he was a pilgrim returning with his family to the place where it all began all those many years ago. He truned to look at his daughter and had to smile she was enraptured.
The carriage turned and headed back towards their new home. Nadir and Meg were waiting as they pulled to the gate; Nadir pushed it wide open. Revealing a stately and moderatly gothic house and just what Erik wanted.
"Pappa is that our new house?"
"Oui Helene. What do you think? " He asked as he got out of the carriage and turned to help her down.
"It's got trees." She said looking everywhere.
He couldn't help himself he had to chuckle over that one, " Didn't you think there would be ?" He said as he helped Sabine from the carriage.
"You said we wouldn't be in the country anymore. So I thought there wouldn't be trees."
"Helene I cannot fault your logic my daughter." So therefore I humbly apologize for leading you astray."
"Helene?" Meg asked. "there is a swing in the trees would you like to see it?"
"Can I?" She asked looking up at her father.
"D'accord petite."
"Erik?"
"Nadir?"
"Well what do you think ?"
"It is satisfactory but I do believe my wife has the last say on situations like this." He said turning to Sabine. " So my darling what do you think ?"
"It will do." Sabine said cooly walking this way and that inspecting the front of the house. " I think it shall do indeed."
"Perhaps a tour is in order." Nadir sugested, " And an inroduction to the house keeper."
"Well it would be better than standing out here in the drive. Wouldn't it."
"Don't mind him Nadir he's just being difficult."
"I know Sabine." Nadir replied chuckling, " Shall we?"
"Maybe we should get Meg and Helene?" Sabine asked looking towards the trees.
"They'll be fine."Erik assured her. " Megs smart I am sure she will know where we have gone."
"Shall we then ?" Nadir asked impatiently as he headed up the stairs and opened the door.
Sabine and Erik walked past him and into the foyer. Unlike the exterior it was rather plain. Walnut panelled walls rose from floor to ceiling in the same dark hue. There were two faded oriental rugs one that ran the length of the stairs and the other disapeared down the hall. Nadir caught the look of disapointment that passed through Eriks' eyes.
"The new rugs arrive monday." He said quietly from behind him.
"I thought as much."
"Anything else you think it requires let me know. I assume, I assume correctly that you will be requiring other er. . . embelishments for the house ?"
"Need it be said." Erik said unmovingly, but Nadir caught the mirth now twinkling in his eyes, " You know me well du stœm. But don't you think for one minute of lowering yourself to the level of servant. You are not and I will not stand for it."
"He he he, " He chuckled in response, " Understood."
"It had better be." Erik said and cracked a brief grin. Nadir cleared his throat.
"Madame et Monsieur Deveaux, may I introduce your household." He said as they came into foyer to stand at the bottom of the stairs.
A rather respectable bunch. Erik thought wryly and glanced at his wife, she stood blankly but he could tell she was a little unsure of herself, he reached over and took her hand and gave it a reasuring squeeze. She smiled at him sweetly. Is this all there is? I know Erik dosen't like to have very many servants but only three? I will have to talk to him later.
Nadir motioned to the first, a rather sturdy gentleman as the door opened and Meg and Helene entered the room. Helene rushed over to Erik and took up his free hand. Meg moved over and stood beside Nadir as he began again.
"This is LeBlanc your stable and grounds master."
"Madame, Monsieur" He said sternly with a nod.
"Marie Bunn, the chambermaid." Nadir said as a young girl of no more than eighteen stepped forward and dropped a curtsy. Erik opened her mouth to speak and Nadir quickley added, "She has been given her instructions and has sworn to follow them to the letter."
"Very well." Erik said. As Nadir then motioned to a woman, Erik was unsure how to describe. She seemed young yet you could plainly read the hard hard years of work on her face. Her hair though dull was neatly coiled at the nape of her neck and belied itself the rich chestnut it had once been. Her stature was sturdy and respectable, a woman who knew her worth he decided. She stepped forward.
"Martha Buquet." Nadir said glancing in Erik's direction for a reaction, " She is head of the household, cook, and anything you require for the house or changes to be made go through her. OF course I will maintain the capacity I have always maintained."
"It is a privlege to work for you sir." She said curtsying. "Dinner will be for 4 pm. If that is to your liking."
"It is yes, merci." Erik answered. He felt he had been punjabbed by his own lasso. Did she have any idea who she was working for? Well at least her family could be provided for and he would be the one to repay his debt whether it was to her knowlege or not.
Madame Buquet walked to a small table that housed a rather large flowered vase, "the que monsieur it arrived an hour before you did." She said bowing as she stepped back into line.
"Merci." Erik said taking it from the silver plate.
"Merci, you are dismissed." Nadir said and the servants quickley exited the room to continue on with thier duties. " Erik ?"
"I'm fine." He answered tucking the envelopes into his coat, " She will be paid properly will she not?"
"Beinsure, she will make more than most in her position. If that is what you mean." Nadir said quietly beside him. The others had moved off and Erik glanced around for Helene, and found a door that had not been open when they had arrived. He opened the door wider and had to smile. There she was sitting on the floor in a pool of multicolored light looking at her hands and all around her.
"Helene?" He aksed gently but he saw her jump which only made him smile more.
"Pappa it's beautiful." She exclaimed in wonder. "It makes you look like an angel."
"You look more like an angel than I petite." He said crouching down beside his daughter and running a hand over her shimmering curls.
"Where are all the colors coming from?" She asked looking up at him, and he realised she couldn't see the stained glass window high up on the wall.
"Would you like me to show you?"
"Oui, sil vous plait." she said nodding. Erik held his hand out to her and she took it to stand then he picked her up and set her on his shoulder.
"Now I see it." she exclaimed pointing."It's a window."
"Oui petite." He said smiling. Very rarely he thanked any god but he was thanking them for this moment. He was very very happy and glad that it could just be him and his petite fille.
"Can I touch it?" She asked.
"I'm not sure petite do you want to try?" Erik asked and she nodded. He moved towards the wall and found it was as high up as he was tall, so that where she was perched on his shoulder she could see out of it perfectly. She reached over and touched the surface of the glass. "Careful Helene." He cautioned.
"I've seen enough pappa. Can I come down now?"
"Of course petite." He said and lifted her down. She looked up at him. Pappa?"
"Oui cherie."
"Will you always show me things I can't see?"
"Always, petite always." Erik said understanding the innocence of her question but the poignancy of the moment was not lost on him.
"Merci pappa." she said hugging him, Erik returned her hug and allowed himself a moment to revelle in the colors around them. Then he saw it in a pool of blue a little tiny white angel. As Nadir, Meg and Sabine walked into the room.
"Ah here they are." Meg said smiling.
"So they are." Sabine said, "leave it to Erik and Helene to find their own little world of wonder."
Nadir chuckled and rocked back on his heels, " I have known him for way too long and I shall say nothing."
"I think I apreciate your silence du stœm I think." Erik said, looking down at Helene and giving her a wink. " So I am asuming my daughter and I have found the ball room ?"
"Yes, this is the ballroom I was telling you about." Meg said smiling. "or perhaps a ballet salon?"
"We'll discuss that later." Erik said laughing.
"It's very beautiful. It may be nice to host a ball, I have never done it before."
"Would you like to see the rest of the house ?" Nadir asked cutting off the remark Erik was formulating carefully. "Maybe you could arrange a recital and a dinner party. When you are settled in properly."
"I think that would be a fitting use of this space." Meg said jumping in.
"As do I."Erik agreed
Nadir led them out of the room and down the hall. He opened door after door and introduced them to the house. All in all Erik had to admidt it was a very nice house and suited most perfectly to his families needs as well as his own. Helene was thrilled at her room and the big bed with the canopy and drapes and a large music stand just for her. And Sabine was pleased with the blues of the master bedroom.
Erik and Nadir separated from the girls just shortly after showing them Helenes room.
"What do think Erik?"
"I think you have done well. I am most pleased it is more than I expected." Erik answered honestly.
"Thank you for that." Nadir said nodding, " There is somthing else I discovered but I wanted to show you it apart from the women."
"What's that ?"
"A left over from the commune," Nadir said darkly. " In the basement."
a/n oooh wonder what it could be ? Thanks for reading! Remember your reviews keep me going. . . . so let me know wht you think.