Thank you once again to all my reviewers, and the lovely people who are reading, following my story or have favourited it. Thank you so much.
I do not own anything by Gaston Leroux, Susan Kay or Andrew Lloyd Webber, everything else is my own work.
Farewell La Fantome,
Nadir was finally relaxing completely, since he and Erik set up the acid accident. It was a pleasant morning, although September's early bite of autumn was in the air it was sunny, and Nadir took several deep restoring breaths as he opened the door to the office. Thomas had made coffee and there were fresh hot pastries on a plate for him to help himself to, yes today was already going so well. Nadir was enjoying his coffee when Erik walked in grabbed a plain pastry off the plate and headed into his office. Thomas followed Erik into the office with Erik's morning coffee, as Nadir sat back in his chair, certain that this was the life.
Until the first customer of the day entered the office...
Sitting suddenly bolt upright Nadir almost had a heart attack, when the Commissioner of the Surete walked through the front door, bold as brass.
"Commissioner Mifroid, Good Morning, how can we help you today?" Nadir asked pasting a professionally welcoming smile on his face, even though he felt he was sweating and suddenly very nervous.
"Ah, you must be Monsieur Khan, I would like to speak to both yourself and Monsieur Jardinier about a personal matter, I can wait if Monsieur Jardinier is busy with another client," the Commissioner said breezily waving his hand as he took a seat.
"Thomas, please ensure our esteemed guest is afforded all comforts and I shall see if Monsieur Erik is free to speak," Nadir said hoping his voice did not betray his nerves. He had visions of himself beside Erik swinging from the Gallows as an accomplice; flash through his head, as he knocked on Erik's office door using a coded knock to warn Erik that something was amiss before he walked in discreetly shutting the door behind him.
Erik was sitting at his desk looking alarmed beneath his bandages, his anxiety only increasing as Nadir put his own fingers to his lips to silence the baffled architect.
"Erik, we have a little problem sitting outside drinking coffee," Nadir whispered.
"What do you mean we have a little problem?" Erik whispered back,
"Commissioner Mifroid of the Surete is sitting in the front office calmly waiting to speak to both of us personally," Nadir informed him.
Erik sat there silent for a moment, "My friend if he is here to do what we both suspect then I am truly sorry for getting you involved. You do realise that if he is here to arrest me and you that we will both be hanged." Erik continued to whisper as he quietly reached into his pocket for a key and opened a small drawer in his desk, then taking a pen he started to write a note.
"This note will be found by Thomas he has a key to this drawer for use in an occasion that something grave should happen to me, it contains a copy of my will and other important documents. The note I shall leave on top is a request to get Christine out of the lake house and to a place of safety before she meets the same fate and to notify Darius to go with her," Erik whispered gravely. I could not allow anyone else to face the gallows for what I have done, it is bad enough that you have been dragged in" he finished sadly.
With that done and the drawer locked Erik walked over to his book case and pressed a panel disguised as three books and took out a crystal decanter and three glasses,
"I have hidden this here for such an occasion," Erik remarked as he placed the items on his desk, a final drink before we go and share another with the man who finally seems to have caught the errant opera ghost," Erik ruefully finished as he poured two large glasses of cognac and handed one to Nadir,
"To friendship," Nadir said as he clinked his glass against the one Erik was holding, with a straw in it as with the bandages he could not place the glass to his lips. "To friendship," Erik replied.
The two men drained their glasses and looked at each other, "I had better go and bring him in," Nadir remarked as Erik filled the three glasses and sat down at his desk, waiting for what now seemed inevitable.
The door opened what seemed like an eternity later and Nadir escorted, Commissioner Mifroid in and showed him to a seat.
"Ah, Monsieur Jardinier," Commissioner Mifroid said eyeing the glasses of cognac on the desk, as Nadir took a seat beside him, "I have come to speak with you directly about a most important matter," he finished,
"Please go-ahead Commissioner," Erik encouraged,
"You do realise you are the only man who I could presume capable for what I am about to ask you, in fact my wife would not here of me asking anyone but you!" the commissioner started.
Erik's expression of utter confusion was hidden under his bandages, "Your wife?" he asked trying to keep the confusion out of his voice, but for once failing miserably.
Commissioner Mifroid looked at him blankly for a moment then started to laugh, "Alas in my enthusiasm I have not explained myself." He said chuckling.
Erik shot a look at Nadir and both mean chuckled rather woodenly with the Commissioner, "Firstly, Monsieur Jardinier, I have to say how very sorry I was to hear of the dreadful accident you had, I would have been to see you sooner but that was not possible, I hope you will be completely well soon?" Commissioner Mifroid commented.
Erik gulped, "alas I have been told by my doctor I will be scarred for life," Erik lamented,
"How badly?" the Commissioner asked seemingly very concerned,
"I will have to wear a mask for the rest of my life, the acid has severely burned my face, in fact it has destroyed parts of it," Erik said as he steepled his very shaky hands in front of his bandaged visage.
"Good Lord," the commissioner commented, his face showing grave concern, "A braver soul I have yet to meet, Monsieur Jardinier, my hat is off to you for your courage and strength to continue after such an accident, that would most likely leave most men longing for the afterlife," the Commissioner finished shaking his head.
Erik and Nadir were now both thoroughly confused,
"It is an honour to be in your presence," the commissioner remarked as he stood up an offered Erik his hand to shake.
"The honour is mine," Erik remarked, as he also stood and shook the commissioners hand before both men sat down again. "How can we help you?"
"My dear wife is friends with the Baroness Castalot de Barbazac and saw you and your wonderful creation at the soiree and has been nagging at me mercilessly since," the Commissioner took a breath as Erik quickly recalled a tall but well-built lady he had been introduced to by the Baronne,
"Ah, yes the beautiful Madame Estelle," Erik recalled,
"Yes, that is my wife!" Commission Mifroid declared happily, "She was very distraught when she heard of your terrible accident," he said, "However when she found out you were well enough to be working again she has not given me a moments peace about it, so I have finally decided to speak to you about a design for her birthday." He finished.
Erik looked at Nadir and both men smiled, only Nadir's blush could be seen, where Erik's was hidden by his bandages, they both secretly felt like that they had barely escaped being the star turn at a drop yourself right in it party.
"So what type of design had you in mind?" Erik said immediately relaxing.
"A small sun room extension to my ground floor since I am afraid that a public official's wages do not stretch to a full refurbishment." Commissioner Mifroid told him as he leaned conspiratorially forward, "but the fact you are the Architect must be kept a closely guarded secret until it is complete, and I can ask you to unveil it to her. That is why I wanted to speak to you both personally, my wife has a way of finding things out if I am not careful, she has a habit of scaring my secretary into telling her, which is why I came to see you myself," he finished laughing.
Nadir and Erik both laughed happily at this and nodded to each other, "we would be delighted to undertake this commission for you, here have a small brandy to commemorate this moment whilst we work out the fine details I will then get my secretary Thomas to get the contract over to you as soon as it is ready for your signature," Erik said happily as he handed one of the straw less glasses to the commissioner and the other to Nadir, and the three gentlemen sat back and enjoyed their cognac as they talked.
It was a little after twelve when Erik and Nadir bid farewell to their latest client and returned to the office grinning in relief,
"You realise my past is truly dead now?" Erik told Nadir as he poured them each another brandy, the emergency knock came again,
"That has to be Thomas!" Erik stated, "Yes!" he yelled as Thomas seemingly snuck into the office,
"I realise that I might have caused some concern just now," Thomas started as Nadir and Erik glared at him, "I figured that the series of knocks on the office door must mean something…" He continued until Erik cut him off,
"Yes, it means that there is very serious trouble in the main office!" he barked, Thomas swallowed,
"Do you have a series of knocks to indicate that I have a distressed wife outside?" Thomas asked,
"No, I have not!" Erik told him, "anyway whose wife is outside distressed?" Erik asked,
"Yours!" Thomas informed him,
"Oh!" Erik remarked worriedly,
"what have you done or forgotten Erik?" Nadir said smirking.
"Madame Jardinier is also distressed regarding you!" Thomas added, "she stormed in looking worried just after the commissioner left and demanded to see the two reprobates," he finished.
Erik stood up and hurried to the door of the office, "Angel!" Erik declared as he opened the door, "What a lovely surprise to see you here," he added as Christine strode into the inner office,
"What have you two done this time?" she asked more than a hint of distress in her voice, "I have just seen the Commissioner of the Surete leaving here!"
Erik then realised, Christine had come to the same wrong conclusion about the commissioners visit as he and Nadir had earlier, the fact that Christine suspected he was in trouble again actually smarted, he decided he had better put her straight,
"The Commissioner is our latest new client, he came to request me to design a sun room for his wife." Erik told her, with quite a bit of hurt in his voice.
"Oh, Erik I am so sorry," Christine looked ashamed, "I was worried, I thought you had done something silly again," she finished lamely as she stared at the floor.
"Thank you for your vote of confidence in me," Erik said sadly.
Christine then realised what she had implied, "Erik I did not mean that you had harmed someone or worse, I thought that someone thought you were… well you know, I had visions of having to bring your lunch to you in prison as your final meal," Christine told him tears in her eyes, as she held up a covered basket.
"you left your lunch at home, so I brought it here for you, I even packed a little extra for you to share with Nadir and your secretary," she placed the basket she held in her hands on Erik's desk and placed her head in her hands.
"Oh, Erik I am really so sorry, I saw that man and steeled myself to find the office empty and I got so wound up and worried and…" Christine started to cry, "I thought I had lost you, I cannot ever see me living without you and your love and…" the tears came fast, and Christine sobbed as Erik walked over to her and held her in his arms resting her head on his shoulder.
"Please do not cry my angel, it still hurts me so much to see you cry," Erik told her as he moved his bandages away from his lips and kissed the top of her head.
"Forgive me Erik please!" Christine begged as she turned to Nadir, "Please forgive me Nadir, I am sorry!"
"There is nothing to forgive, my Angel." Erik told her kissing her.
"Likewise, Christine there is nothing to forgive," Nadir said, "alas forgive me but I will not kiss you, I think that Erik would have my neck in a noose if I even tried!" Nadir said with a little chuckle.
"Too damn right I would," Erik replied as he took out his handkerchief, "So you now know that the police do not link me to the opera house anymore, we are safe." Erik told her, wiping her tears away as she grinned at him. "Now my angel what are you planning to do for the rest of the day?" Erik asked smiling at Christine.
"I have got to go shopping for Madame Giry's birthday present, it is her birthday today and we are going to a surprise dinner for her that Meg has organised this evening" Christine told him a smile of excitement appearing on her face.
Erik then stared into his lovely wife's eyes they seemed glazed, "Have you taken your pain relief today by any chance?" Erik asked grinning,
"yes why?" Christine answered him,
"Your eyes are a little glassy, but that is not a problem," Erik replied giving Christine another kiss before replacing the bandages over his lips, "just please do not go crazy when shopping, I know what you are like on your pain relief, I do not think that Madame Giry will appreciate anything too big so do not decide to buy her an elephant or some other such silliness," Erik playfully told her as he lead her giggling back to the front door of the office.
And as Thomas hailed her a brougham, Erik his face fully bandaged, bent his lips and bandages to her hand as he helped his giggling wife into the brougham and waved to her as she left.
"That explains the odd over emotional behaviour," Erik noted as the brougham disappeared from sight.
"It is special medical supplies week." He quietly explained to a puzzled Nadir,
"Ah! Now I realise what you mean!" Nadir replied as the two went back into the office.
"Just think Nadir, when you marry Delphine, you have all that to deal with all over again!" Erik remarked wistfully.
"Yes but at least Delphine will not throw my own unsheathed scimitar at me if I come home drunk!" Nadir said as he shook his head and sighed, the pain of losing his first wife fading slowly, but still there.
"Lunch old friend?" Erik asked,
"Yes, and another brandy for me I think," Nadir responded as Erik invited Thomas to share the bounty Christine had packed for them all.
ooo
That evening Erik Nadir and Christine met up with Delphine and Jean to arrive at Madame Giry's for dinner, who seemed very shocked when she opened her front door to see them all standing there, especially when she was in her slippers and nightwear with rags in her hair, after deciding to get ready for bed early.
Meg stood in the parlour door watching her mother go several shades of red with embarrassment, killing herself laughing.
"I tried to tell you maman not to get ready for bed!" Meg said as Madame Giry scowled at her and dashed off to get dressed again.
When Madame Giry returned to the parlour, Meg had got everyone a drink and they were all sitting there trying not to laugh.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" everyone shouted. Madame Giry just looked at everyone,
"Oh, I feel so silly," she said, "I was cross because Meg and Christine appeared to have forgotten my birthday, we normally go to my favourite restaurant, and when Meg told me that she had not booked a table there, I…" Madame then wiped her eyes on a scrap of lacy handkerchief and smiled,
"Madame Giry," Christine said as she stood up, Meg and I decided that instead of us going to the restaurant the restaurant would come to us!" Christine told her as there was another knock on the door and Jean opened it to see a delivery boy from the restaurant with a huge hamper.
Jean took the hamper and closed the door before bringing the hamper to the dining table.
With everything they could want in the hamper including plates and cutlery, the friends set their meal out and tucked in. Then came the presents, a new beautifully jewelled hair pin from Meg, a book on ballet from Delphine and Nadir, Jean paid for the meal as his gift.
Erik had sat in his office after Christine left and had done a drawing from his memory, a drawing of a beautiful tall thin young woman with her straight knee length black hair in a long plait down her back in ballet rehearsal attire using a cane to support her doing an arabesque and a young baby girl in a pink trimmed Moses basket just beside her. In Erik's handwriting the title on the picture was La Giry.
As Madame Giry unrolled and stared at the picture she promptly burst into tears and handing the picture to Meg grabbed Erik giving him a huge hug. "I never thought you remembered that night," Madame Giry said in tears and Erik wrapped his arms around the sobbing ballet Mistress,
"Maman, is that you?" Meg asked, staring at the drawing, Erik helped Madame Giry sit down and gave her his handkerchief,
"Yes, Meg that is me and you are the baby in the Moses Basket, that is the night you and I first met a young Erik." Madame Giry told her, turning back to him, Madame Giry cleared her throat, "I am so very proud of you Erik, you had your problems, but you have come so far and have exceeded what even I thought you could do."
Erik smiled and nodded as Christine gave Madame Giry the actual present from her and Erik, a pair of black diamond stud earrings, "You always said you wanted diamond earrings, so Erik and I got you a pair, she smiled, they will look gorgeous with your new hair pin." Christine said as Madame Giry put the earrings in and placed her new comb in her hair.
"Thank you all for such a wonderful surprise birthday party," Madame Giry said beaming at them all. The friends carried on laughing and talking long into the night.
ooo
The following day, Erik and Nadir went to Commissioner Mifroid's house whilst his wife was out and took the details ready for the design, then returned to the office to sort out a few things before Erik headed back to the lake house to start work on this latest design. Life was good now, he just had to keep going in the same direction and enjoy it.