Chapter 36
It seemed like forever until Christine received any word from Erik. She started to worry that something bad had happened to him. Nadir had vanished as well. She had seen him slip out of the room shortly after Raoul and Severine had left. The Vicomte had returned from escorting Severine home. Raoul spent much of the meal talking about the latest Paris gossip and other political issues that had cropped up in the last month. Honore sensed the younger woman's feeling of unease. She was even more uneasy because she knew what Philippe was capable of. She had shielded Raoul from all that she knew about Philippe but he was possessed of a darkness that was rooted deep inside his soul. She had seen it in him as a child. He was eight years old when she and Henri had married, and already she had feared his dark moods.
Once when Henri was away before Raoul was born she was with him and he was bitten by one of their dogs and he was so enraged that he threw the dog from the top of the battlements and watched it fall helplessly to the ground. She tried to warn her husband about his violent nature but Henri would hear nothing of it. He would never show his true face to his father, and even to his brother and sisters he masked his true nature. He showed more of himself earlier in the evening in his treatment of the girls, but she was sure that Raoul would blame it on his encounter with the Phantom. Honore saw the murderous look in Philippe's eyes when he entered the drawing room with the blood still dripping on his cheek. If Erik had anything to do with it she was surprised that he was still alive if indeed he was. Honore would expect Philippe to announce that Erik had an "accident", but perhaps he would exact his revenge at a later time. He did not like to appear as if he was the one responsible for his crimes he would always find someone else to shoulder the blame. Honore believed that Raoul had most likely unknowingly saved Erik's life earlier. Philippe did not like to show him his true face and Raoul naively believed that his brother was a good and honorable man. Honore could not tell him otherwise because she believed that Raoul was safer not knowing how monstrous that his older brother was.
Honore had not understood how truly evil Philippe was. Henri was already dead and Philippe had inherited his title at the age of 19. One night after Philippe had several friends over for a drunken card game Honore awoke to hear screaming in the house and ran to see what had happened. She found that Philippe was raping a housemaid, and tried to stop him. When Philippe looked up he gave her a murderous leer. Honore fainted from the stress, and after she woke up Philippe was in the room. He threatened that if she spoke to anyone about what had happened that he would kill her. He also promised that, as the head of the family he would make sure that she never saw her children again. The girl disappeared completely after the incident and was never again heard from by her parents who had long been retainers for the family. Honore immediately moved to the Chateau de Chagny with her two young daughters and tried to stay as far away from Philippe as she could. Raoul was in boarding school at the time of the incident and therefore was safely removed from Philippe's influence. Eventually, Honore met the Georges and they were married and she moved to the General's Chateau near Bayeux.
Honore hoped that Philippe had outgrown his youthful darkness but somehow she did not think so. She saw the same cruel glint in his eyes especially when he was speaking of holding Erik in "Guy's suite". Fortunately most of the servants were more loyal to Honore than to Philippe. She had been the mistress of the Chateau for many years both during Henri's lifetime and as the dowager Comtesse. She knew of two servants who were especially trustworthy, the parents of the young maid who had vanished. She had brought them with her from Paris after the incident and they stayed with her, under her protection, after her marriage. The couple hated Philippe with a passion and hoped that someday justice would be served. It had been Honore who had told them what happened but stayed the husband, Michel's hand when he would have killed Philippe. He was still the father of four young children at the time and they would have been destitute without their Michel. Philippe was unaware of their knowledge of his hand in the disappearance of their daughter. She decided to seek out Michel to have him check on Erik and make sure that he did not get into some sort of "accident". Her only assurance that Erik still lived, was Philippe's promise to Raoul release him. Erik did not show up to dinner neither did Nadir.
Christine was deeply concerned that Erik and now Nadir were both missing. Erik had not been seen since the Comte had announced himself hours before. That was not like him to simply disappear without a trace, and then Nadir had vanished too. She hoped that perhaps they were together and Nadir was breaking the happy news to him of his freedom from prosecution. They would not have to flee to America. Christine was actually hoping that they could stay nearby now that Erik had discovered his family. Both she and Erik had never enjoyed having a real family and suddenly they had one. She did not want to live in Boscherville but Rouen was a fairly large town and had its own Opera. It was only a short distance away, close enough for them to visit with Erik's family. Since Erik had confided in her that he was wealthy, perhaps they could have a house in Paris as well and split time between the cities. She would let Severine move in with them and help her to find a husband. She thought about Raoul's proposal to court her and smiled to herself, perhaps she already had found someone. To her surprise she found that she would not be jealous. In fact she thought that it might bind Erik and Raoul together in friendship and that would allow for her oldest friend Raoul to remain in her life. But now Erik was missing and she hoped that Philippe had not been overzealous when he captured the infamous Phantom. Clearly Raoul had not previously informed him of the identity of his houseguest.
Christine was wary of asking the Comte about Erik because of his earlier hostility to her. She turned to Raoul instead and implored him. "Can you ask Philippe if Erik is alright?"
Raoul turned to her "I am sure Lotte that he is fine. Philippe only did what I would have done if I were attacked on my own estate by a wanted murderer. He did not know that Erik was my guest, I did not tell him. I assume perhaps that Erik might have had a wound or two from his encounter with my brother. Philippe certainly did not escape it unmarked. Even your Phantom is not immune to getting hurt."
Christine replied "Yes but I would have assumed that Erik would have sent for me or at least sent me a message letting me know that he is alright. This is not like him."
Raoul snickered "Yes, Erik is quite good at sending notes, perhaps he is out looking for red wax to seal his note to you or perhaps Nadir is busy telling him about his good fortune. I don't know the answer Lotte but I wouldn't worry, the man is more than capable of taking care of himself."
Christine creased her brow worriedly "I hope that you are right Raoul but if I don't see him soon I am going to go look for him."
Honore listened to their conversation but didn't want to reveal her worry to Philippe. Ever since she had stumbled upon the rape scene she had hidden her concerns about him well. Although all of her children were fully grown, so he could no longer take them away from her, and she was a married woman, she did not want to reawaken his ire towards her. She preferred to keep her concerns to herself, her two trusted servants and Georges. Georges would occasionally report that he had heard that the Comte patronized brothels in the more unsavory parts of Paris but that itself was not really disconcerting many well born Parisian men frequented such places. She also knew that Philippe had a mistress from the Opera Populaire, La Sorelli, and the lead ballerina but oddly, for a man of title and fortune in his mid- thirties, he had never taken a wife. He told Raoul that he was not ready to settle down and curtail the "joys of bachelorhood" and remarked to him that he, as Vicomte, could marry and provide the line with a male heir.
When Georges, Raoul and Philippe retired for cigars and brandy Honore remained with Christine and motioned to her to sit closely beside her. She told her softly so that she could not be overheard. "I sent my footman to see to Erik, his wife has reported to me that he is not greatly injured but that he and Nadir have been deep in conversation. Michel did speak directly to Erik who told him to tell you to retire to your room shortly.
He did not say why, but only that you must do so, and that you should keep your window unlocked."
Christine looked at her in puzzlement "Why would he ask me to do such a thing, my window is on the second story?"
Honore replied honestly "I do not know why, Michel had no explanation but I would do whatever your fiancé tells you to do. He is strong and will protect you." She turned to Christine and looked into her blue eyes directly "He will kill for you if he has to. Do not question his motives if he does."
Christine looked at the gentle Comtesse, startled by her words, "Are you saying that there is danger here, even after Nadir showed Philippe the cable?"
The Comtesse nodded fearfully "I do. I have sent Michel back to guard Erik's door, and Sabine will stay near you. They are both my personal retainers and deeply loyal to me, if you need assistance they will help you. Tell Erik that my coach is ready for your use should he feel compelled to take it. My husband's aide Robert has seen to its availability and readiness."
Christine gazed at her sharply "Do you think that Erik and I will have to flee?"
The Comtesse replied "I do not think that you are in immediate danger, but my stepson is a ruthless man. He is not at all like Raoul, although Raoul does not know it. I will say no more but please heed my warning and tell Erik that he has trusted allies here."
Christine nodded. "I will do so Honore."
The Comtesse smiled at her and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek "Please send me an invitation to your wedding, you will make a beautiful couple. I am glad that Erik has found you. Don't worry about my son's heart, he will be happy for you if you are. If you and Erik need anyone or anything we will help you both."
Christine looked at her gratefully "Thank you." She said with tears in her eyes. "In the past few weeks since I have met you, I have really come to love you. I hope that I can become half of the lady that you are."
The Comtesses' eyes misted too "You are most welcome darling girl. Now do as your fiancé says."
Christine left her and retired to her room. Honore prayed that the beautiful young couple would be alright.