36

Madame D'Arcy was relieved when the message arrived and tipped the boy more than she would have in her right mind.

If it calmed her, it only served to agitate the Lefevre's. They gave her heartfelt thanks for seeing to them the better part of the day, and took their leave. She vowed to ask Helen about it later, or Marie. Whichever would comply and tell her what was happening.

They took a cab to a park near the river, one that was not much used during the week. Children played there on fine days, or on free ones. This was turning into neither, so it was deserted and still.

A fog was starting to roll in; clouds indicating rain might not be far away. The three of them stood there, looking around, and feeling desolate as the hack pulled away. It was about ten minutes before they glimpsed another figure in the mist, dressed in a bulky cape, hat and muffler. His walking stick was gripped firmly in one hand and the other was hidden.

He stopped several feet away and said, "I understand you have been looking for me."

Sophie let out a cry and started to run to him, but her legs gave way. He stepped forward and caught her, taking her to a bench. After settling her, he moved a little apart, allowing Jean to attend to her. As he did so, Erik and Stephan looked each other over in utter silence.

Jean at last turned his face to his son, and rubbed his moustache fitfully. "Did you get a letter from Sarah as well?"

"I did."

"Do you know how they came to arrive at last?"

"I do."

"Is Katrina really her child?"

"Yes."

The silence settled again, and at last Stephan could endure it no longer.

"I've been a monstrous fool; I can't tell you what I've learnt about my deeds, Erik. It was you, wasn't it, who stopped those men near the opera?" He received no answer, so went on. "I owe you more than an apology, but I'm afraid that's all I've got. If you'll take it." He held out his hand, shaking from the cool air and anguish.

Erik slowly took it, and said softly, "I have no choice."

Jean seemed to feel the words as a blow, but offered, "If you'd rather wait, we'd understand,"

Erik turned to study his father. The unseen eyes stilled him. "No, I don't think you do understand. For Katrina's sake alone I might have considered it. But there are other reasons. I have a wife and child to think of. There are some things that must be done while I may."

They stood there, silent. There were words, but nothing was said. Sophie at last regained her mobility and stood as well. "You are welcome home at any time, you know that."

The smile was felt rather than seen. "Perhaps one day, but not now. I am sure Katrina has ransacked the music room and library by now, at any rate. It would be more pain than I can bear to see that after a day such as this."

Stephan managed a weak upturn to his mouth. "Agard is there, he'll take care of it before you arrive."

"That old goat still lives?" The words slipped out impulsively, and the quiet following them signaled the end of the meeting. It was too soon to bridge all of the gaps, too soon to try and converse as equals again. "I will write when it is time to have you see Katrina again."

He went to the street, signaled a cab to take them back to the horse and buggy they had left at Madame D'Arcy's. With a touch to his hat, he vanished.

Andre was sitting up when they returned. He had a pot of tea hot, and waited for indication that he was to listen or remove himself.

Sophie and Jean drank their tea and went to bed. It had drained them dry, seeing Erik again.

Stephan, however, felt he owed his friend an explanation, and sat down across the fire from him. "Thank you for this, old comrade, I needed something."

Andre smiled lopsidedly. "I can add something stronger if you want." Stephan held out his cup, and Andre poured some whisky into it from a flask.

"The reason we had to leave so suddenly," Stephan began, but a large hand on his arm stopped him.

"It is none of my business. I don't need to know."

"Do you not want to know?"

The massive shoulders shrugged, and the thick voice replied, "Want, need, care, does it matter? You look more at ease that when you left. Those letters, they had something urgent, yes? I thought so, but as I said to Monsieur Agard, it is of no concern unless they make it so. It is clear you are not happy right now, Stephan, but I think perhaps, you are a little better?"

The smaller man allowed his face to relax, and he nodded. "Much better. I'd still feel more at ease if I explained it to you."

Andre waved his hands. "As I said, it is your business. You may speak or keep it to yourself."

Drawing a breath, Stephan asked, "Did I tell you I had a brother?"

"I was aware. A sister too, yes?"

"Yes. She is gone now, but the letters were from her, sent only recently. They told us of her child and the brother we had given up as dead. Today we went to Paris to try and find them. We met with Erik, but not my niece. Perhaps it was best so." Stephan took a long draught of tea, and Andre waited patiently. "Erik may come back; this is why you need to know. He is not like anyone else that I have ever met. He was born deformed, awful, but brilliant. I drove him and Sarah away, Andre. I nearly ruined our family. I did for a time. Is it not fitting that I nearly ruined myself in the process?"

Andre turned to the fire and lost himself in thought. He was not a thinker that dealt in leaps and bounds, but he was a solid thinker. He was, in his own way, brilliant, though few chose to see that in him. His size, looks, and lack of a formal education had labeled him as the buffoon and potential bully. Andre Moreau was no more or less inclined to violence than any other man, and had found it trying to be considered a beast of burden or riot control.

It had never occurred to him, however, that Stephan had not looked at him in that light because he had already learned that there is always more to a person. It was, clearly a bitter lesson and one still in progress.

"So, you see me for what I am." Stephan said after a few moments of quiet. "If you are uncomfortable with me, I would understand."

"Uncomfortable? No, I think not. I was just reflecting. But yes, it is something you have hidden. An action once made cannot be taken back."

Stephan smiled bitterly. If only Andre knew how truly he had summed up the flaw in his friend.

Katrina listened as he explained the story to her, much as he had to Helen. Katrina needed fewer details, only the stings that tied them together. She studied the toes of his shoes for a few minutes.

"So they are my grandparents?"

"Yes."

"And Stephan is my uncle?"

"Yes."

Her great brown eyes turned back to his face. "Do I have to leave?"

"No, child, though you may visit their home more often."

"Will you come with me next time?"

"Perhaps."

This seemed to content her, and she looked at Helen rocking Roberto. "Will Roberto come along?"

Helen smiled hugely. "I think that there would be a lot of disappointment if he didn't."