Thank you for the reviews! I treasure each and every one of them.
And now, I will not keep you waiting a moment longer!
Ch. 37
Henry LaCroix felt the pride swell in his heart and inflate his already-engorged ego. He was most pleased that Aurelie had just confessed that her feelings for him had remained the same.
"Then let us run away together!" he proposed enthusiastically. "I have another estate, which no one knows about, that is far from here. I will order a carriage for us straight away, and we can leave tonight!"
Aurelie giggled when she watched his excitement grow, eager to respond to his proposition.
Erik was on the verge of tears as he felt the knife of betrayal sink deep into his heart. He attempted to control his breathing, worried that he would make his presence known to them unwillingly.
He had never wished to die more than he did at that very moment. Performing his own surgery by cutting out a vital organ would have been less painful than this, and he wondered if perhaps it would not hurt as much to breathe as well.
He could not live through this scenario once more, and he cursed himself for being so weak and foolish. His faith in humanity was now lost forever.
He forced himself to swallow the lump in his throat as he watched Henry gently stroke her arm. He feared that a moment longer of watching this display, and he would not be able to control his rage.
Aurelie smiled wickedly as she thought of how very much she would enjoy this.
"Henry, when I told you that I feel the same as I did before, I think that you have mistaken me."
Erik's breath nearly caught in his throat, and despite himself, he found a small glimmer of hope in view. He listened carefully for her to explain herself, hoping that he had simply misunderstood her as well.
"You see, I never felt a regard for you that would persuade me to marry you for any other reason than convenience, and now that I no longer need to marry, I have no use for you. And I know that you share the same sentiments about me as what I have just described."
Henry was taken aback. "So you do not love me?"
"Not at all," Aurelie smiled proudly.
There was nothing that Henry could do or say that would ever even tempt her to fall in love with him, and she was determined to make this known to him.
"And you dare to call me a liar about my affections for you?"
"Precisely!" she answered. "Had you any affections for me at all, you would not have so eagerly cast me off that very day that you so quickly left the cottage and never returned. Where has your 'affection' been these past fourteen months? I have not heard a single word of it, until now! A coincidence that it has appeared when I have reestablished my position in society as a woman of fortune, even a wealth greater than your own? I think not!"
"You know that I was not in a position to act any differently this past year!" he replied angrily. "Society forbid me! You know what it would have done to my reputation!"
"Then perhaps you are a fool for allowing society to have such control over your decisions!" she retorted.
"You do not know what you speak of!"
Henry began to pace back and forth and massaged his temples. He had never had his wishes refused, and the thought of her stubborness was infuriating to him.
After a few moments and he had composed himself, he straightened up his posture and smoothed down his navy-blue waistcoat.
Aurelie observed his attire-a long blue waistcoat and pants, with an ivory button-down shirt and cravat-and remembered how she once thought him to be the most handsome man whom she had seen, with his curly dark blonde hair and blue-colored eyes.
But now, she could not look at him the same, and even the sight of him repulsed her.
"Where is this husband of yours, if you are so content with him? You and I have always been a superior match!" he challenged, unable to control his anger from returning.
This was not at all how he imagined that the night would transpire. He had been almost entirely certain that she would have eagerly accepted his offer, and that they would already be traveling to his estate at that very moment.
Of course, he had no affections for her that were not feigned, and so he was not necessarily upsetted by the fact that she did not care for him. But his intentions were entirely dishonest, and how she so adamently refused him when any other woman would have cried for joy by his proposition was, to say the least, a source of great agitation for him.
After all, who dare to refuse the handsome and wealthy gentleman known as Henry LaCroix? He had grown accustomed to women staring longingly in his direction and their flirtatious behavior, thus he did not brook Aurelie's refusal well.
Aurelie felt her own temper rising, and she narrowed her eyes at him in return.
"My husband is a far better man than you will ever be!" she spat. "And he is none of your concern!"
Erik was shocked by her remarks, and he felt the warmth spread through his chest and threaten to melt his anger. Still, he felt the overwhelming urge to protect her from Mr. LaCroix, especially since she had made it painstakingly clear that she had no desire to be in his presence, and he continued to watch in order to observe the younger man's response to her refusal.
Aurelie picked up her skirts and was eager to dismiss herself. She would never even consider the idea of running away with a man who had abandoned her for a whole year, only to return when he had heard that she had married into wealth! He was nothing better than a disgusting leech!
"Mr. LaCroix, I do hope that your marriage is as miserable as you portrayed it to be, because you deserve nothing less! There is not a single reason on this good green earth that would incline me to accept your filthy offer!"
Before she could even take two steps away from him, however; he grabbed her arm roughly and spun her around to face him. She gasped from both shock and the pain of his forcefulness.
Erik was readying himself to lash out at the man for laying hands on her, and he noticed the way in which Aurelie was searching the darkness of the foliage with her eyes, as if looking for him to see if he was there. He could see the expression on her face that silently pleaded with him not to reveal himself, and it was for this reason alone that he had not acted, yet.
Instead, he remained hidden and silent, with his nerves on-edge, as he waited for Henry to behave in a way that would deserve his punishment. It would be few minutes, or seconds even, that he could control himself.
"I will not be insulted by you! You, who had not a penny to your name until someone pathetic enough to have mercy upon you decided to marry you! You may be the most beautiful woman, but you are certainly nothing to swoon over!" he shouted.
Aurelie turned her head to the side, hoping that Erik was somewhere watching. She prayed that he would not reveal himself and put himself at risk, but part of her wished that he would, as she no longer felt safe.
Henry was further upsetted by the observation that she was seemingly ignoring him, and he grabbed her face with his free hand and forced her to look at him.
She flinched when she felt his fingers dig into her chin.
"Look at me when I am talking to you!"
Aurelie looked into his eyes to see an untamed fierceness in them that she had never seen in Henry before. She could feel his fingers holding her chin in place so that she would not move her head, and the thought that he wished to control her by force pushed her over the edge.
She would not be made victim to a man's strength ever again, and whether Erik would act in behalf of her or not, she would defend herself.
Erik felt as if he were a wild animal, ready to pounce, and his heart raced from the thoughts of how to best cause harm upon this man.
Aurelie needed few seconds in order to gain the courage to act out on her thoughts, and before either of the men had become aware of her intentions, she had slapped Henry hard across his left cheek.
The sheer force and shock of her actions had given her the opportunity to push him away from her with a hard shove to his chest, and he stumbled back and cupped his stinging cheek.
"Never touch me, again!" she yelled at him.
She would be dead before she allowed another man to take advantage of her or to make her feel weak. She would not relive the night that she had been attacked, and certainly not by the hands of Henry!
"You little wench!" he shouted.
She could see that he would lunge for her, and before he had the chance to get very far, she did the first thing that came to mind-she kicked him hard between his legs.
Henry doubled over in pain with an agonizing scream, and Aurelie's heart raced with adrenaline.
Before he could retaliate, she picked up her skirts and fled in the opposite direction. She weaved her way among the plants, not knowing where she was going but determined to put as much distance between Henry and herself as she possibly could.
When she had gone far and she could no longer see him or even hear the music, she stopped to catch her breath. The realization of what just happened hit her, and the tears flooded her eyes, but she was determined not to allow them to fall. She took a deep breath and willed them to go away. After she had taken a few moments to realize that he would not put forth the effort to find her, she felt calmer.
Erik had half the mind to make his presence known to Mr. LaCroix in a way that he would not enjoy, but searching for Aurelie had taken priority. It took him little to no time at all, to find her, surrounded by three walls of shrubbery.
"Erik!" she was relieved to see him again, and she stepped closer to him, longing to feel the strength and security that radiated from him. "I am so sorry that you had to witness that..."
He held up his hand to stop her.
"There is nothing for you to apologize for. Are you alright?"
"Yes," she nodded. "But I should like to return home."
Erik nodded his head in agreement and silently, the two made their way through the maze of bushes as he led her to the carriage that awaited them.
Though relieved to escape the presence of Henry LaCroix, both Erik and Aurelie were gravely disappointed that their pleasurable night had come to an abrupt end.
After the carriage had stopped before Erik's estate and the two had walked up to the doorstep, Aurelie was prepared to bid him goodnight.
The moon was hiding behind a thicket of clouds, and did not allow much light in the darkness that surrounded them, and she wondered how she would ever find her way to the stables.
"Erik, will you be so kind as to lead me to the stables? I can hardly see a thing!"
She knew that he had been well-acquainted with maneuvering through the darkness for the majority of his life, and he would prove to be of much assistance to her unaccustomed eyesight.
Erik hesitated before he responded, as he mentally confirmed that the decision he was about to make would be wise.
"Perhaps you should sleep in the guest quarters, tonight. I can imagine that the floor of the stables is not exactly comfortable," he suggested.
Aurelie was surprised by his offer, and it touched her heart to think that he took her comfort into consideration.
"I couldn't possibly burden you for more. You have already done so much for me, and I enjoyed our night together, before it was ruined."
Both of them shared mutual thoughts of hatred towards Henry's rude interruption.
"It is not a burden. I insist!"
Before she could argue any further, he ushered her inside and shut the front door behind them. The candles in the hallway remained lit and flickered from the disturbance in the air, causing Aurelie's gown to glimmer in the dim lighting.
Erik drank up the sight of her once more and before he would act on his foolish inclinations, he led her up the stairs and to the guest quarters.
Once he had opened the door and lit a few candles, Aurelie set eyes upon a rather large living space that held multiple pieces of furniture, which included an upright armoire, a vanity, a shelf of books beside a fireplace, and two nightstands on either side of the four-post bed.
Although she knew that no one had occupied this room in years, it had been kept in pristine condition. The thought that she would be disturbing his solitude pulled at her conscience.
She turned around to face him, feeling the guilt consume her, as he stood in the open doorway.
"Really, it is generous of you to offer this to me, but I know how much you value your privacy and I do not wish to disturb it."
Erik flashed a toothy grin at her as he thought of how ridiculous she had sounded. Had she not been intruding upon his life from the very moment that he met her, and here she was concerned about an offer that he had conciously made, himself?
"My privacy has been disturbed for the past year, but there are some disturbances that one can grow fond of," he replied.
Aurelie's cheeks grew rosy in color and she was grateful to know that she was not entirely unwelcomed in his life. Still, she wanted to make certain that he was fully aware of his own decision, so that she would not have to suffer the repercussions, later.
"And you do not find it to be inappropriate that a man and woman are alone in this house?" she asked.
She did not care for the rules or etiquette of society anymore, but she wanted to make certain that he was not influenced by the lateness of the night, or his fatigue. She wished to draw him out a little more before she could feel comfortable with accepting his offer.
"I was not aware that a husband and wife could not sleep under the same roof," he replied with a devilish smirk.
It felt reassuring to her to know that he was asking for her to stay with him. She could not imagine that this offer ever came around often, as the Phantom of the Opera had hosted no guests whom he had not kidnapped. As morbid a thought as it was, it was true, nonetheless.
Erik inhaled sharply as he noticed how the candlelight flickered across her features and danced in her eyes, which held a look of mischief in them. It was impossible to look away from her.
"And who is know?" he added, his voice gruff.
Was this a turn in their friendship, or was she looking too deeply into the situation? She hoped, more than anything, that this was a sign that he regarded her as more than a friend. After all, if he could allow her to sleep in one of his rooms, when he so highly regarded his privacy and solitude, could it not mean that he was also capable of developing affections once more?
Aurelie's smile faded as the situation had grown serious and she noticed the same burning intensity in Erik's eyes that she had seen earlier that night. Could it be?
"Erik, I must confess that I was not enjoying myself at the party," she admitted all-of-a-sudden.
Erik's smile also faded as he listened to the words that she had spoken.
She could see the frown that had formed on his face, and she was quick to assure him otherwise of what he must have been thinking.
"That was certainly not the most tactful way to say it," she chastised herself. She took a deep breath and thought of how to better use her words.
"I simply meant that being among those people reminded me of how I did not belong, and that is why I went outside. I have nothing in common with them, anymore," she explained.
Erik felt himself relieved by her further explanation-relieved that he had not been the source of her displeasure-and he nodded his head in agreement.
Aurelie bit her lip, willing herself to have the courage to continue. Why was it that at every opportunity that she had to confess her feelings for him, she suddenly felt so nervous and lacking the strength to do so?
"I found myself longing for your company," she said slowly, waiting to see his reaction.
Though it was very difficult for Erik to believe that someone-let alone, a woman-would actually wish for his company among the society that she had once enjoyed, he wished to hear more. He found that he might never become accustomed to receiving compliments, but now he wished for her to continue, as he felt as if he could not get enough.
"Really?" he urged her on as he slowly drew closer to her.
What was it about her that made her so tempting; that made him act without common sense or thought? He felt himself drawn to her, and her confession had only fueled the flame.
"Yes," she mumbled, caught off-guard by his sudden proximity and the hungry look in his eyes. She swallowed hard and then continued, "It wasn't until you had arrived that I truly enjoyed myself."
He was surprised by her confession, and the fact that she had wanted to be with him alone, and no one else, only increased his desire to kiss her, to the point where he was certain that he would not have the self-control to behave rationally.
And this time, there would be nothing to prevent him from acting out on the one thought that had been on his mind all night.
Before she could say another word, he crushed his lips to hers. Aurelie was startled, but she closed her eyes and savored the sensation of his lips on her own.
Erik cupped her face in his hands and deepened the kiss, enjoying the softness of her lips.
He allowed himself to feel the deep sensation that spread through his chest and even down to his fingertips; that made him feel more alive than he had ever felt before. It had awakened something deep within himself; had stirred within him emotions that he never thought possible for him to feel. It was what he had been missing his entire life, and he wished that he could always feel this way.
And then, almost as quickly as it had begun, he pulled away from her when the realization of what he had done had finally brought him to his senses.
"I am...I am so sorry!" he muttered, horrified with embrazoned actions.
How could he have allowed his passions to consume him so easily? What if she had not wanted the kiss and he had forced it upon her?
He never wished to make her feel as Christine had felt-too afraid or sympathetic to displease him. But now he felt that he had given her no choice but to kiss him, and he felt his self-loathing rear its ugly head.
Aurelie was given no time to object to his reaction because he left the room and shut the door behind himself.
"Erik! Wait!" she opened the door and called out into the hallway, but by the time she had done so, he was already gone.