Persephone Unchained
Chapter 25
Sophie felt as if her heart would burst from happiness until she remembered that her mother was dead and she had a funeral to arrange and attend. It was so easy to forget about the constant needs and demands of the world above when you were down here in the comforts and the quiet of such a secluded, peaceful refuge.
She hated the busy Parisian life with all of its hustle and bustle and the constant grind to keep food on the table and oil in the lamps. She hoped that their quiet, country home in a sleepy, remote town would always feel just like this. How wonderful would it be to garden for pleasure? Maybe she'd even cut a little patch for fruits and vegetables. Emma would love it if they planted strawberries.
And then she could can and preserve the fruit and vegetables and store them for winter. Emma would never be hungry or cold again. They'd never have to plan their meals around what foods were cheapest and in season. And the baby… How different would it be to have a child whose father loved it? A baby who she was allowed to keep as her own this time? Sophie tried not to dwell on the baby too much. She'd seen how many of her mother's pregnancies had ended in stillbirths or miscarriages. But she was hopeful, even if it felt a little premature.
She had seen the range of emotions as they had crossed the unmasked portion of Erik's face. Either she was getting better at reading him or he was letting down his guard a little. Maybe it was a combination of the two.
"You're not mad, then?" she asked him. She needed to be sure. She wanted him to say the words and set her fears aside. If he was angry then she would find a way to do this on her own. She idly placed a hand on her flat stomach even though she knew that it was far too early to feel anything inside.
"I'd never expected to… I had not thought that I...but I am happy if you are happy," he reassured her.
Erik pulled her up and ushered her back to bed then disappeared back out into the main portion of the cavern.
Sophie pulled her pocket watch from the pile of clothing on the floor. It was just a little after midnight. Had they really spent the last five hours talking and… doing other things? She blushed and felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. And then she remembered that her mother was dead and the weight returned. It settled itself around her shoulders and muffled her relief and joy.
Erik stepped into the room with another cup full of tea. Sophie grimaced as he handed it to her.
"I haven't been able to keep anything down for a little while now," she admitted.
"This should help. The ginger will settle your stomach. I'll have to find some books on midwifery. My medical texts say nothing useful about childbirth or pregnancy," he explained.
"Are you going to be my nursemaid for the next eight months then ?" she joked. She took the cup from him before he could answer and sipped it slowly. The taste was a little strange and spicy, but not entirely unpleasant. It settled her stomach and she felt her mood lift as it improved even more.
Erik settled into the bed beside her and wrapped his arm around her, his hand rested lightly on her belly.
She smiled up at him between sips of tea.
"It's too early to feel anything. The baby won't move for a few more months," she told him. But he left his fingers where they were anyways. Sophie yawned and blinked her eyes sleepily.
"You should get some rest, you need it now," he said as he took the empty tea cup from her.
"I have to return before Emma wakes up. There's so much to do… and I've left it all to Nadir," she hesitated, feeling guilty.
"Nonsense. Nadir likes to be useful. He's happiest when he's being ordered about. Sleep a little. I'll wake you before dawn," he offered.
Sophie relented. She was so very tired. Sleep had come to her few and far between during the last four weeks due to her constant vigil over her mother and the never ending list of chores that needed doing. And the morning sickness that came at all hours of the day, and not just in the morning like its name said, had made her even more fatigued than usual. Sophie hadn't needed much more convincing. The bed was warm and soft as she settled down under the blankets and spooned herself into Erik's side. Minutes later she was fast asleep.
Erik was stroking her shoulder and arm until her eyes fluttered open, and then his hand stilled. She returned to wakefulness slowly. The bed was so warm and soft and comforting, and she was still so very tired. And Erik's arms were around her, and for the first time in a month she felt safe, and loved, and secure. It felt so right for his arms to be wrapped around her, and it felt so wrong to pull away as she rose and donned her clothing. But she did it anyways, even though she felt as if she could have slept for ten more hours.
"What time is it?" she asked. Erik checked the pocket watch.
"Half past four," he answered and then he disappeared quietly from the bedroom.
Sophie nodded absently and pulled her corset on over her head. She tied it loosely then settled her petticoat around her waist. She ignored her rumpled dress on the floor and pulled the clean indigo gown from the trunk where she had left it. It was the darkest gown that she could wear. She hated to taint her pleasant memories of the dress by wearing it for such a somber occasion as a funeral. But she really couldn't have dared to ask Nadir to purchase her and Emma a set of black mourning gowns. He was already doing them such a kindness, and it felt inappropriate to ask him to do something so intimate for her.
The indigo would have to do. Sophie dressed quickly and buttoned the gown up to her neck, pausing only for a moment to tuck the golden pocket watch within the confines of the dark material. She caught herself. There was no reason to hide the necklace, now. So she fished it back out and buttoned the gown to her neck and settled the pocket watch into place on her chest.
Erik returned in that moment with a steaming tea cup in hand. Sophie took it and murmured her thanks, then sipped it slowly and took pleasure in the way that it warmed her throat and belly. It was so very nice to feel human again, even if she was still a bit exhausted and hungry. She drained its contents then set the empty tea cup aside.
He led her to the secret entrance and ignored her protests when she told him that she could make the climb alone. Erik set the torch ablaze and led her up the seemingly endless flight of stone stairs. The climb was not any easier in repetition. Sophie wondered how Erik managed it so often, and she was grateful that she would not have to get used to it. She couldn't even imagine herself trying to manage the tortuous ascent while heavily pregnant.
She was breathing hard and her legs felt weak when they finally reached the top.
"Darius is waiting for me," she reassured him when Erik paused before the mechanism.
He pulled his hand back from the hidden mechanism, unactivated, and set the torch into the sconce.
Sophie stared at him in confusion and wondered if something was wrong until he turned and pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She forgot her fatigue and sorrow as he pulled her to him and pressed his mouth to hers. He kissed her and hugged her to him, then pulled away a moment later. Her body throbbed and yearned for him again, but there was no time now to satisfy that need.
She pulled back from him and let her hand cup his cheek. Her thumb traced a path along his jaw until it reached the corner of his mouth.
"When will I see you again?" she asked him.
"I will need to make our arrangements. And there is the matter of the priest and the realtor to settle still. I've ignored the lawyer's letters in your absence. But I think that it has done us no great harm. The house needs a few more repairs than they'd anticipated, but it's habitable... if it is still for sale. Do you need me to be there for you, for the funeral, I mean?" he questioned her.
"I don't even know when it will be; today, I hope. I left nadir to make the plans for me. I think that I can manage it if you can not… find a way to attend. I suppose that Jacques will be there too unless he is drunk and passed out in some tavern. That is just as likely. Perhaps it would be best if Emma and I attended to that alone. I haven't found a way to tell her about all of this yet. It never seemed appropriate," she admitted.
"I will see what can be done. Darius can act as our go between if needed. I'll send you word about the arrangements," he advised her.
Sophie nodded and leaned forward to place one last kiss upon his lips. Erik stepped back and pressed the mechanism then watched her as she stepped out into the dark alley.
The carriage, and an asleep Darius, were waiting for her just a little ways down the street from where it had dropped her off. Sophie approached the horse and man and carriage quietly and greeted the friendly horse with a pat on the head. Darius jolted awake at the horse's low whinnie.
"I'm done here, Darius, Thank you for waiting. I'm terribly sorry to have kept you out so long. We can return now," she commanded hesitantly. It felt so very strange to be ordering another adult around.
Darius nodded in his silent way and made to hop down from his seat.
She waved him away. She was more than capable of opening a carriage door and stepping inside; Even with her skirts to manage. Darius seemed uncomfortable at her independence but she ignored it. She was not used to having servants. Once she was seated in the carriage and she'd closed the door behind her she heard the snapping of the reins and felt the carriage begin to move.
It was not so far from the opera house to the Rue de Rivoli. When the carriage finally rolled to a stop Sophie opened the door and let herself out. Darius followed behind her until they approached the door. He rushed ahead and opened it and waited until she'd let herself inside, and then he shut it and locked it behind her. He really was a curious man. Were all servants so quiet? It was a tad unnerving and she wondered how people accustomed themselves to it. Maybe it was different if one grew up with servants. Sophie was not used to it at all.
The household was dark and quiet as Darius led her to a small bedchamber. He opened the door for her and she was relieved to see Emma laying peacefully in the bed. Her limbs were flailing to different corners of the narrow guest bed, as the little girl did often whenever she was deeply asleep. Sophie quietly thanked Darius, who shut the door behind her without a reply, then she quickly disrobed and set her gown over the back of a little chair so that it would not wrinkle. She unhooked her corset and kicked her boots off by the narrow desk, then crawled into bed and pulled the little girl to her. Everything felt right again with her daughter safely tucked underneath her chin. Moments later Sophie was fast asleep.