Chapter Twenty-nine
Rebuilding the Trust
Erik found his delectable wife sitting on a bench with Raoul who seemed to be enchanted by her. If Pricilla had not immediately turned toward him with a welcoming smile Erik might have let his imagination get the better of him. Pricilla always sensed when Erik was near and it was the same for him.
As hard as he tried he could not read what the look on her face meant. Raoul looked quite pleased with himself. When had his wife learned to be so unreadable?
Erik made a big show out of drapping his jacket over Pricilla's shoulders after shooting Raoul a censuring glance. Could the man not see the goosebumps on her arms?
Raoul, not to be outdone took off his jacket to wrap it around Christine who had at last joined them.
Pricilla invited Raoul and Christine to come visit before they left to return to Paris She thought Meg and Antoinette would enjoy a visit from them. There would be plenty of time before Christine needed to return to France to see her own doctor. Erik gave up trying to influence Pricilla against wanting to befriend the de Chagny's. She had her mind set and nothing would deter her from that goal.
Perhaps her facination had something to do with Christine's expectancy. Erik had wanted to ask how Christine felt but did not think such things were polite to discuss in mixed company unless among relatives and at times not even then. He could have kissed Pricilla when she boldly took matters into her own hands to inquire about Christine's health and when her baby would be expected.
He could not help but note Pricilla's concentrated look and the calculating going on behind her eyes. Erik did not know whether to be flattered or upset that she considered even for one second he had...At this point Erik thought it best not to finish that line of thinking as if Christine had been less in love with Raoul and not with child already things could well have turned out differently.
Erik thanked the Lord for his narrow escape. To be tied to Christine for the remainder of his life in that manner would have been hell. They were not meant for one another and would have made themselves and an innocent child unhappy. Since Pricilla had entered his life he began to want different things, had discovered different possibilities. With Christine, they would not have had much in common other than their music. Christine had led a sheltered life and her wants and needs were different from his own. Pricilla filled every need and want he could think of at this moment.
Pricilla had kept her promise of delights in the boudoir so Erik felt tolerant of even Raoul. Christine he had come to see as an immature young woman who needed to grow up before she could even begin to compare to Pricilla. No amount of coaxing from him would pry the conversation from her lips that she had shared with Raoul. He had a feeling it had much to do with assuring Raoul he and Christine need not ever concern themselves with any angels, phantoms or ghosts.
On the long train ride home Erik sifted through everything that had happened to him since he had met Pricilla. He had come to the conclusion that even the painful moments had been needed for him to see things as they really were.
Tenacity had been and perhaps still was a fault of Erik's as well as a positive trait. He had never been willing to let go of anything he considered his or abandon the pursuit of something he wanted. It had taken one last face to face confrontation with Christine for Erik to at last let go of the fantasy he had built in his mind of a life with Christine.
He vowed he would show Pricilla every day how thankful he was to have her in his life. He regretted profoundly all his wasted years pursuing Christine and the last two mourning her loss. On the other hand if he had not experienced Christine perhaps he would not be where he was today. Pricilla might not have come into his life.
Everyone had come out to Erik's to welcome them home. A celebratory dinner had been planned. Loretta had even invited Horace as they planned to announce their engagement. Some might say it was far too soon but neither Loretta nor Horace was going to get any younger. They felt sure about how they felt so why wait?
Dinner had been a jovial meal with much laughter and light conversation. Pricilla had wanted to say something about what she suspected but felt Erik should know first. Also she wanted to be certain of her suspicions. If something happened too soon to end things she did not want to burden Erik with anything until absolutely necessary.
If things progressed as they should then Pricilla would inform Erik of his impending fatherhood. At the moment nothing could be conclusively stated so Pricilla kept her own council. Deep in her heart though, Pricilla knew with a mother's intuition, that she carried Erik's child once more.
Erik could not help but notice the number of times he caught his sweet Pricilla casting cow eyes at him. He did not know what he had done to earn such looks but who was he to complain? Indeed why would he?
The day Erik picked up the mail that contained a letter from Christine he thought of shucking it onto the road on his way home but dare not in case Christine wrote that she and Raoul were already in route for their visit. He had hoped they would forgo further acquaintance with them but had little hope of that as Raoul had seemed quite taken with Pricilla.
As he feared Christine wrote informing them that they would be arriving in a week so as to give their hosts time to prepare for their arrival. Erik thought he could have several traps set along the rail lines that would hinder the train from arriving any time soon if at all.
This damn new conscience he had sitting on his shoulder would not allow him to travel down that avenue to prevent Christine and Raoul from coming. All he could hear in the background of his plot had been Pricilla sweetly chastising him for thinking of such things. What if someone were hurt? Someone innocent of any wrong doing? What if Christine lost her child?
Erik confessed his trepidation to Michael concerning having the object of his former affections as well as his former rival in close proximity to his new found happiness with Pricilla. Michael had reassured Erik that as long as he kept his head and did nothing offensive or harmful things would go well. Had he not made it through dinner with the couple with not one drop of blood being spilled?
Pricilla had confided in Charlotte of her suspicions that she carried Erik's child. Charlotte had been overjoyed to learn they would both have children so close in age. Would it not be wonderful if they were as close as their mothers had always been?
Everyone seemed to accept that Erik had changed. It did not happen over night. Gradually as Erik proved himself to Pricilla he also regained the ground he had lost with his friends. Mac, under Meg's influence had stopped keeping such a close watch on Erik's movements. Erik felt gratitude for that as he did not know if he could stand someone knowing every move he made.
It had not bothered him to do the same with the opera house personnel. Plus there was the added concern whether or not Erik could win in a fair fight against the mighty Mac Macleod. Few men intimidated Erik. Mac had been one of those few.
Raoul had only been an irritation to Erik, a fly buzzing around causing him an annoyance. Erik did not consider that Raoul had beaten him in the graveyard swordfight as his foot had slipped giving Raoul the advantage. Erik thought he could win against Raoul in any physical fight but romance needed skills other than sheer brutality and cunning.
For this reason Erik did not relish having Raoul anywhere near Pricilla as he had shown far too much interest in her the last time they had met. Pricilla Erik trusted implicitly but Raoul he had to watch closely.
Raoul being French had hot blood running through his veins. Frenchmen were not known for their fidelity. Erik counted himself among the few who would forever be faithful once their hearts were won. Raoul he could not speak for personally so Erik preferred to take the stance of being prepared by heading off a potential poacher.
Once Christine and Raoul arrived things became hectic what with showing them around then introducing them to everyone. They dined in one another's homes one after the other. Erik thought himself quite the social butterfly.
Raoul and Erik had struck up a tenuous bond involving horses. They even planned to pair one of Raoul's mares with Midnight Dream. The women learned that creating the perfect horse transcended any animosity between horse owners. That common goal came before anything else.
Pricilla could not help but notice that Christine had turned into a helpless immature young girl instead of wife and woman of maturity she had been when they met in New York. It did not take a genius to know that Antoinette and Meg had contributed to Christine's being somewhat delayed in maturing. It had not all been Erik or Raoul's doing.
Christine donned the hat of immature helpless young girl again when in the presence of all those who made her so. Charlotte, Loretta and Pricilla had to bite their tongues to keep from making some obvious comments or laughing outright when Christine went into one of her helpless acts.
Raoul seemed to be quite happy to deal with her. It may feed into his need to play shining white knight taking on the dragons of the world or rescuer of fair maidens. Pricilla had observed Erik scowling in Christine's direction on several occasions.
It would seem Erik had his eyes opened at last to Christine's true character. Not one deliberately acting childish in nature to gain attention but a woman who had let those around her keep her from growing up as she should have. Everyone sheltered her from anything distasteful and thereby allowed a man in the shadows to corrupt her innocent mind into thinking an angel had been sent to her by her father long after such childish beliefs should have still been believed.
Pricilla did not harbor any jealousy or ill will toward Christine. She had only done what they had allowed her to do. Erik had been her major crutch keeping her from seeing anything through a woman's eyes until it had been too late to change the course of events.
Having come to know Raoul much better than Erik would like, Pricilla thought Raoul would one day tire of his wife's childish displays giving her quite a shock when he forced her into the role of a woman. On that day Pricilla thought Christine would come into her own. She would be an extraordinary woman given half a chance to show her true mettle. Erik would have smothered Christine underneath his heavy hand. He would never have allowed her to grow as a human being is meant to grow.
Raoul and Christine's visit had in the beginning only been intended to be two weeks but one thing led to another and a month had flown by before anyone knew what had happened. Everyone had found the company enjoyable all around. Even Erik had dropped his gloom and doom attitude to enjoy himself.
The weather began to turn colder. Raoul began to make noises of heading home before winter set in. He had no need to return to France but did not relish getting snowed in with his new friends. Too close in proximity for too long could test any friendship to the detriment of all concerned. Best to leave while everyone had happy memories.
Christine's rounding belly brought another concern to mind. They needed to head home before her time came nearer or be stuck here until she gave birth. Raoul wished for his child to born in his ancestral home in the very bed his mother had born him.
One last dinner had been planned to send off Raoul and Christine. Mac and Meg announced their engagement at the end of the meal. Antoinette feigned concern for Meg to be marrying a crazy American but secretly she could not be happier with Meg's choice. She especially felt gratitude to Mac for turning Meg's interest away from Erik.
After dinner Pricilla tugged on Erik's hand then motioned with her head for him to follow her out into the garden. Willing to go any place his wife led Erik stepped out into the chill of the night. Pricilla felt giddy as well as nervous. Tonight she would be telling Erik about his impending fatherhood.
She had wanted to shout out during dinner her happy news but felt Erik should know first other than Charlotte who already had been told.
Erik wrapped his arms around Pricilla when he felt her shiver against his shoulder as they came to a stop just beyond where the light from the dining room doors let the light shine out onto the garden patio.
"Pricilla this is not the night for intimate moments stolen in the dark. You are freezing. Let us go back in before you catch your death."
"Erik I am perfectly fine. Your arms provide all the warmth I need. Do you think I would endanger myself or our child by letting myself catch a chill?"
"If I had known we would be coming outside I would have…Wait one moment. I thought I heard…did you say…a child? I am with child…I mean, you are with child? My child?" Erik felt certain his ears had deceived him. This would be a gift beyond anything he could ever hope for if it were true.
"Yes Erik you heard correctly. I am to give you an heir. A child born from our love."
Erik shouted so loudly it echoed through the hills. Everyone within fifty miles more than likely heard his joyous shout.
Picking Pricilla up Erik whirled her around then set her on her feet asking if he had perhaps harmed the child with his exuberance. He placed his hands protectively over Pricilla's still flat stomach.
"Erik neither the child nor I are so fragile that a little twirl will do more than make us both dizzy. I will take precautions but I am far from fragile."
Everyone having naturally heard Erik's shout had come running out prepared to do battle if need be. They quickly were reassured by Pricilla that everything was just fine, more than fine really. Erik did not let Pricilla finish. He blurted out the news that Pricilla would be presenting him with a child. For once Erik felt God had smiled on him.
Congratulations were exchanged as well as wishes for the future. Christine could not find it in her heart to feel any jealousy toward Erik's newfound happiness. Over this last month she had been observing and taking stock of everything.
She had not liked what she had found out about herself. Without knowing it Christine had let herself be treated as a child again. She had relinquished control of everything to all those around her.
With her own child on the way Christine had begun to think it would be an opportune time to grow up as she should have all along. Others should not be guiding her every choice in life. When she and Raoul returned home or perhaps when they reached New York they would have a serious talk, a grownup discussion.
Erik remained on top of the world throughout Pricilla's pregnancy. Antoinette had been convinced to stay. Erik built her and Meg a small cottage within shouting distance of his own home. He would not let Antoinette move so far away leaving him alone with Pricilla once Loretta married Horace.
Loretta still came out three or four times a week to help with the household chores and they still had their maid but Erik felt better knowing Antoinette could be called on at a moment's notice. He would take no chances losing another child or his wife due to careless handling.
By the time Pricilla went into labor she felt as if she had been born of royal blood. Erik had treated her in such a manner she felt cherished as only someone born into the higher ranks of society would normally feel.
Anything she mentioned she might like to have he presented to her as soon as humanly possible. She could only do that which Erik deemed not harmful or stressful to her or their unborn child. At times Erik seemed overbearing but Pricilla knew he had her best interests in mind as well as their child's.
Who could blame him for wanting to wrap them both in cotton wool? To lose another child would leave them both devastated. Erik especially as he still blamed himself for the loss of his first child even after Pricilla had Mac explained the intricacies of childbearing and the many things that could go wrong which no amount of care could prevent.
Christmas had come upon them without anyone really taking notice until only two weeks before the day. Charlotte had come out with Michael just after a major snowfall had kept them confined for a little over a week.
Pricilla had always jumped with joy to have someone other than her elderly parents to share this special time with. They had not believed in the exchanging of gifts as that seemed too pretentious as well as looking as if they were flaunting their wealth in the poorer people's faces. Consequently they had only ever had a quiet dinner at home to celebrate the occasion.
Erik had never really taken any interest in the holiday other than as it concerned Christine. He had bought Antoinette and Meg gifts as well. They had never had the funds to buy him anything but Antoinette had managed to bake him a pie or fill a plate with special foods for him to enjoy even if they had to be eaten alone. Pricilla's excitement had been contagious. Before long everyone had good cheer in their hearts and matching cheer upon their faces and in their greetings to one another.
For the first time in his life Erik enjoyed a real Christmas as it should be. He had family and friends around him. Pricilla had secretly corresponded with Raoul asking him to search for a fine mare that would please Erik.
Raoul had diligently attended many auctions as well as sent out many enquiries. In the end he sacrificed a mare he himself had purchased for his own stables in France. He cared for Pricilla enough that he would let go of one of the finest proven mares on the continent. Erik's gift would be arriving shortly after the new year.
When Erik discovered Raoul's kind gesture he wrote a letter himself promising Raoul one of the future foals. Pricilla had rewarded Erik's magnanimous gesture most satisfactorily. He had protested faintly using her condition as his reason but Pricilla had not been swayed much to Erik's pleasure.
The year of 1873 could be said to be a year of struggles and of wonderful changes. The following spring in the year of 1874 would bring even more glad tidings for the one time ghostly phantom.
