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Guest Reviews:
PhantomChristine: ha ha, once again your dialogue made me laugh - are you sure YOU should not be writing this. All their problems would be solved a LOT faster if you did. ha ha. But we kind of like Erik acting like a monkey - going bananas - at times, right?
Guest: Yes things will go much better later on - just need to get over this 'little bump in the road' ha ha.
CherryChocoholic: vicious cycle indeed...but you love it, don't ya! And I don't watch Dr. Who, but my sister does and she is having a Who party this weekend and everyone is dressing up as characters and they are having strange food from the show and everything. You should do that too. I would rather have a Phantom party. hee hee
Guest 'Happy Typing': Oh yes, going 'commando' means you are not wearing underwear under your pants. ha ha. Joey from FRIENDS taught us all that. ha ha. Erik is a boxers man in your mind...interesting. Blake IS nice...yep, hope he makes it to the end of the story. That Sponge Bob quote is also a little cartoon between Erik and Nadir on the Deviant Art site! Too funny. And yes, it IS harder on this Erik because he WAS good looking once and relied solely on his looks and money to get women - because at the time it was NOT his personality, ha ha. He was a scamp back in those days.
Guest: I am glad you like my plot twits and suspense. And if you knew what was going to happen next...why would you want to read more. ha ha. So I am pleased that I keep you guessing.
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NOW...Go get him Christine! And Erik...you better run and hide boy!
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Chapter 36
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As the morning sun rose, so did Christine's hopes. Today she would go and see Amir, praying that he might be able to help her in locating Erik. She knew she could no longer stand to wait around for him to decide it was time to return - if so, she might be waiting for the rest of her life. While she knew Erik would never truly abandon Emily and the twins, she feared that the longer things remained unresolved, the further apart they would grow…and she would not risk losing his love!
So directly after breakfast she slipped into a comfortable dress, one fit for travel, and headed to the stables. She was not surprised to find Meg there; her back leaned against one of the stalls as Peter stood in front of her, one of his hands resting on the wooden boards beside her flushed face. It looked to be quite an intimate position and Christine purposefully cleared her throat loudly as she entered, pretending not to have seen as much as she had. The two of them straightened immediately, stepping away from one another, feigning innocence.
"Good morning, Peter," Christine said with a pleasant smile. Then turning her eyes to Meg, she pretended to have just noticed her. "Meg, what a surprise, I did not see you standing there."
"I…I came down to…to…" she stammered, trying desperately to think of an excuse to explain the reason for her presence.
"She came to deliver some apples for the horses," Peter finished for her, pointing to the small sack that lay nearby – the very same sack Christine had taken fruit from the day before.
"Oh how nice," Christine replied, doing her best to not chuckle at their guilty expressions. She could honestly not care less if they wished to be in each other's company, for the two were an adorable couple, yet she was unsure what Meg's mother had to say on the subject. She would not discourage them…or encourage them, until she knew Madam Giry's thoughts on the newly discovered infatuation. "Peter, would you please hitch up the carriage, I would like to go for a ride this morning."
"Yes, my lady," he said, quickly springing into action. "Right away."
"And I should be getting back to work as well," Meg spoke up, her face still rosy from her blush of shame. Yet that did not stop her from sneaking one last glance in Peter's direction, for which she received a wink and a smile from the handsome stable hand.
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In no time at all, Christine found herself on the road to Amir's estate with Peter confidently up in the driver's seat. She felt rather lonely in the back of the enclosed carriage all by herself and she couldn't help but allow her thoughts to drift back to the last time she had rode inside the cab. She closed her eyes and allowed the memories of that evening to wash over her. The dance, Erik's touch, their heated words and her confession. She would have given him everything that night, for he had made her feel warm, protected and oh so desired. If only she could feel his arms around her now, instead of sitting there alone as the carriage rolled on.
She must have been lost in her thoughts for longer than she realized, for soon she heard Peter's voice call out to her through the separating wall of the coach.
"My lady, if you look out to your left you can see Mr. Dessan's estate coming into view," he told her, causing Christine to lean forward in hopes of doing just that. "It is somewhat smaller than Summercrest but with the dogwoods in bloom it is rather striking this time of year."
Christine found she had to agree. The mansion was a very stately looking structure, made of brick and carved stone. It had two stories and several outbuildings surrounding it, but it truly was the flowering trees that lined the perimeter of the estate that gave it the beauty Peter had spoken of. It was not as grand as Summercrest, but in Christine's mind, there were few places indeed that could hold a candle to Erik's magnificent home. Still, she could not help but think that any woman would find this to be a very enchanting place to live…especially Emily. And as they quickly approached the front entrance, Christine only hoped that within those walls, she would find what she was looking for.
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"Christine!" Amir called in greeting, as he hurried down the stairs and into the foyer to welcome his guest. Mable had knocked on his door, waking him from his unusually late slumber to inform him he had a visitor. He blamed Erik and his stubbornness for keeping him up all night thinking of how to help the man, robbing him of his much needed sleep. He had washed and dressed quickly, not wishing to keep Christine waiting, but did not have time to locate Erik and ask if he had changed his mind about the ban of silence he had imposed upon him. "To what do I owe this wonderful surprise?" Though he knew exactly why she was there, he decided it was best to adhere to Erik's strict orders that his present location was to remain a secret.
"I am looking for Erik," she blurted out, unwilling to beat around the bush or waste her time on pleasantries. "I was hoping that he might have come to you for solace and to lick his wounds." She instantly regretted her choice of words, but once said she could not take them back. "Is he here?"
"If you are in search of Erik, I am sorry to say that your trip has been for not, my dear," Amir told her, doing his best not to lie outright. "Perhaps he has gone to London on some business, or is out visiting with the tenants. A good landowner must do such things from time to time."
Christine looked at Amir through narrowed eyes, for she could tell immediately that he was lying to her…or at least trying very hard not to. She could also sense Erik's presence somewhere in that very house, for she could feel him as her heart gave a warm and gentle tug towards its soul mate. Yet she could also tell that he was brooding, hurt and wounded both in pride and spirit, thus making it impossible for him to face her. She wished to call out to him, to run searching through the house until he was found and in her arms once more. However, her own touch of pride and the feeling that he was not yet ready to believe her words, held her back. So she went along with their little game, raising her voice just a bit so Erik would undoubtedly hear everything she said.
"I hardly believe that either one of these excuses would have kept him away from Summercrest for this long, or that such things would have required him to ride off in the middle of the night without so much as a word of goodbye," Christine argued. "However, if you claim that you have not seen him and do not know where he is, I have no recourse but to believe you. For I trust that a gentleman, such as you, would never lie to a lady."
"I…I…no…of course not," Amir stammered, certain that he had just tipped his hand.
"As his friend, I am sure that you would only wish for his happiness," she continued, acting as if she were oblivious to the fact that Erik was quite nearby, somewhere hiding and listening to every word. Well she hoped he got an ear full then! "So I ask that you give him a message for me, if you should come into contact with him in the near future."
"Of course I will," Amir assured her.
"Then please inform my husband that I am sick and tired of being lied to," she told him in no uncertain terms. "For he was the one who forbid me to run away when things became difficult, stating that together we could work out whatever troubles came our way. And yet, at the first sign of difficulties, he disappears into the night like a sulking child. Leaving me to literally pick up the pieces he left in the wake of his anger and rage. I have been forced to fabricate excuses to everyone at Summercrest when they ask about his sudden absence and believe me, that is not an easy job when faced with the pleading eyes of two adorable children, a confused sister and a formidable housekeeper! I can only keep up this charade for so long before someone starts to believe I have killed him and hidden the body…an idea I am feeling rather keen on at the moment! " Christine was breathing heavily by now, her anger spurring on her heated words. But once her frustrations had been voiced, she once again grew calm and spoke with understanding. "Amir, I do not blame Erik for feeling hurt and betrayed by what I did," she did not speak of it by name but she was quite sure Amir knew the whole sorted story by now. "Yet if he had stayed long enough to ask me why, he would have understood my reasons and not have jumped to the horrible conclusion he apparently did." She then reached out and took Amir's hand, opening his palm and placing a small piece of folded cloth into it and closing his fingers over it. "I love Erik more than life itself and I pray that when he sees this he will understand exactly what it was that caused this whole misunderstanding. Will you please see that he not only gets my message but this as well?"
Amir was torn. On one hand he wanted nothing more than to grab Christine by the arm and drag her up the stairs and lock her and Erik in a room until they sorted it all out. For the woman who stood before him now was no delicate little flower that could easily be crushed. No, she was strong, brave and had the mind and heart of a lioness, one that was every bit as fearsome as Erik's. In her he had certainly met his match. Yet, as his friend, Amir knew that one more act of betrayal by someone he trusted might truly be Erik's undoing and he refused to be the one to tip the scales. So with a sigh, he reluctantly decided to honor the stubborn man's wishes and held his tongue.
"If I see him…I will be sure he receives them both," Amir promised.
"Thank you," Christine smiled. "You are a true friend…to both of us."
And with one last longing look around the room, desperately hoping to catch sight of his dearly loved amber eyes, Christine turned and left the house, climbing back into the carriage as Peter took her home.
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Amir stood at the door and watched her leave; all the while thinking to himself what a complete idiot Erik was for ever doubting such a strong young woman. It was not his place to interfere…but it was his right to give his friend a piece of his mind! So turning on his heal he marched up the stairs, ready to burst into Erik's room and give him the scolding of a lifetime. However as he turned the corner he almost tripped over Erik's outstretched legs, catching himself just in time as he stared down at the man now sitting on the floor in the hallway.
"May I assume from your odd location that you heard everything that was said downstairs?" Amir asked, stepping over to the opposite side of the hall as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.
"Yes…every word," Erik admitted, his expressionless eyes making it difficult for his friend to read him.
"If so…why did you not come down and confront her?" Amir questioned further, close to reaching his limit of understanding. "Christine wished to explain things to you. She all but screamed that there had been some misunderstanding. She even said she loved you. What more do you need to hear, you bumbling buffoon?"
"Silence from you, for starters!" Erik growled, not enjoying the scolding he was receiving from the arrogant Persian. It was not as if Amir's love life was any better, so where did he get off telling him how to handle his? "Now hand over whatever it was she gave you," Erik demanded, holding out his palm as he looked up at Amir impatiently.
"Very well, though with that attitude, you do not deserve it," he grumbled, pushing off the wall and taking a step closer to Erik, handing the piece of cloth to him before returning to his sullen position.
Erik was no longer even paying attention to Amir, instead his focus was now on the object he could feel hidden within the white linen handkerchief. Unfolding each corner slowly, he stared at the small golden medallion in complete shock, feeling as if all the air had suddenly left his body. On the shiny metal disk was the Radcliff family crest, the very emblem that was emblazoned on his right cheek. Why on earth was she in possession of this? Where did it come from? Suddenly a host of horrifying scenarios crossed his mind, none of them ending well.
"Christine!" Erik shouted, leaping off the floor and immediately racing down the stairs towards the door. Amir stared at his friend incredulously. Seriously, Erik's mood shifts were making his head spin.
"Slow down, Erik!" Amir exclaimed, as he scrambled to catch up with his friend. "Where are you going? What did she give you?"
"This medallion! It bears the Radcliff insignia!" Erik hollered, slowing down only long enough for his friend to see the little disc that dangled from the chain in his hand. "Why would Christine have such a thing unless she has somehow been in contact with Radcliff? She could be in mortal danger right now. Emily too…or even – oh God, the children!"
Erik grabbed the door handle violently, intending to ride back home immediately to protect Christine and his loved ones. They might not be on speaking terms at the moment but he still loved her more than he ever thought possible. He also had Emily and the twins to think about and even if it meant putting his own life at risk, he would gladly do so – his wounded pride be damned!
Amir finally caught up with Erik in the entryway, but was practically knocked over when he reached out a hand to stop his frantic friend.
"Erik, calm down!" he instructed, placing his other hand on the front door to hold it closed. "Christine did not appear to be concerned or frightened when she was here. And my sources informed me that Radcliff only stayed in town for a few days after the Kingsford's ball, then headed back to London."
"What about her vile uncle?" Erik asked, his breath coming out in labored gasps, yet Amir's voice of reason began to chip away at the walls of Erik's dread.
"Isn't he your father's new lap dog? Besides, you said the two of them left together from your place just the other day. And you have to agree that it's in her uncle's best interest to make sure that you two remain together. Otherwise Cedric would have no chance of you producing an heir like he demanded, right?"
"Perhaps," Erik reluctantly agreed. "But the medallion… what does it mean? It has to be some kind of threat!"
"Or there could be a very logical explanation for why she has such a thing. What gain would it be for Simon to threaten her now, especially using the Radcliff insignia to do so?" Amir saw the tension begin to leave Erik's shoulders and his eyes no longer seemed quite so glazed over with panic. While he wanted Erik to go home to Christine, he certainly did not want him to do so like a crazed animal. One of his insane blow-ups could only do more harm than good at this delicate juncture in their fledgling relationship. "If it helps," Amir added, still trying to further calm his friend's fears, "I will keep my ear to the ground. I still know people willing to notify me the moment Radcliff gets anywhere near here."
Erik stared at his friend, feeling his heart race but seeing that Amir had a point. He nodded, his fears alleviated…for now. He had spent so many years always looking over his shoulder for any sign that the Radcliff clan might have discovered his part in the killing of William, that it was easy to perceive danger where it might not exist. That way of thinking had kept Emily and the twins safe thus far, he only prayed it would protect Christine as well.
"Is it safe to assume that she had never shown this to you before?" Amir deduced.
"I had no idea she even knew of this symbol or the Radcliff family," Erik muttered, turning the item over and over in his hand as if by doing so it would provide him the answers he so desperately sought. "I never described it to her when I told her the tale of what happened four years ago. I assumed the first time she ever saw it was when she looked at my…" His words stopped there, his mind beginning to wrap itself around a whole new explanation for why his wife had fainted at the sight of him.
"Do you think that is why she passed out?" Amir asked, obviously following Erik's train of thought. "Could this have been the reason and it had nothing to do with your face at all?"
"It had everything to do with my face!" Erik growled, making a fist over the medallion. "It was either the fact that she could not bear to look upon my hideousness or that the symbol branded into my cheek holds more meaning and fear for her than I knew. Either way, it still does not change the fact that it was the sight of my face that frightened her!"
"But can you blame her? Especially if this medallion has anything to do with what Blake Calloway told us," Amir was quick to point out. "What if Simon was behind her parent's murder and her injuries? Perhaps she remembers more than she is telling you and seeing the symbol of that murderer on the face of her husband, was just too much for her to take?"
"If that is true…then how can I ever expect her to look at me without reliving that tragedy?" Erik demanded.
"By talking with her, you damned fool!" Amir was quickly reaching his breaking point. His friendship with Erik had been one he had never regretted and they shared a bond as strong as brothers. Yet dealing with his stubborn temper had never been an easy task and at this moment, all he wanted to do was throttle his sullen friend, beating some sense into him once and for all. "Through communication and assuring her of your love and continued protection. You are not defined by the scars on your body Erik, neither are you only the mask that you hide behind. You are Erik Morant, friend, husband, brother and uncle…and I think it is high time you started acting like him!"
Yet his words seemed to fall upon deaf ears as Erik continued to stare straight ahead, lost in the dark recesses of his tormented mind.
"William claimed that he branded me so I would remember every day, for the rest of my life, exactly who it was that broke me," his voice sounded low and sad. "Well he got his wish, for not one day goes by without me hating him and wishing him dead all over again. But now…now if his cruelty has cost me the only chance that a woman could one day look at me without this mask and still smile…then Radcliff has truly won."
"NO!" That was it, Amir had finally had enough! Grabbing Erik by the lapels and pulling him away from the door, he shook him vigorously. "He will never win! Do you hear me? Never!" The poor Persian was nearly in tears at this point, frustration bringing his emotions to a rolling boil. "I refuse to ever let that sadist win! Emily will recover, I just know she will. One day she will remember me and we will be together again just like we planned! And you will talk this over with Christine and patch things up between you two, finding your love for one another again. No Radcliff, alive or dead, will ever defeat us! We will both be happy one day and dance upon those bastard's graves!"
Erik was very still, his face now only inches from his friend's, feeling his angry breath as Amir did his best to try and calm himself. As the seconds ticked by, they both became aware of the threatening position the Persian was now holding over Erik. Amir relaxed his fingers and slowly released Erik's shirt, allowing him to gently lean back against the door once more. No words were spoken over the awkward outburst, both agreeing with a silent look to just let it pass, never speaking of it again.
"So…" Amir began, reaching up and smoothing down his hair, as he took a few deep breaths. "What do you plan on doing with this new-found information?"
Erik opened his palm and stared at the medallion once more, deep in thought. Yet after a few more minutes of contemplation, he looked up at his friend, the sadness in his eyes replaced by the spark of an idea.
"When did Baron Bouchard say he was having that costume ball?" He asked, turning to his left and walking away before Amir could even answer.
"At the end of the week, if I remember correctly," Amir replied, a perplexed look coming to his face as he followed behind. "Yet I just assumed, with Radcliff in town and Christine being ill, you had decided not to attend."
"Well I am changing my mind," Erik informed him.
"I don't understand!" he called after in a frustrated tone.
"You will after you take down a letter for me," Erik assured him, opening the door to his friend's personal study and rifling through his desk until he found a fountain pen and paper. "Now, here is what you are to say…" Erik began, shoving Amir down in the chair as he paced around the room, contemplating his next words as if all his happiness in the world depended on them.
"I am not your bloody secretary, you know!" the Persian continued to fume. Yet as Erik began to speak, Amir found that he was helpless to resist taking down each and every word.
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To bolster her spirits when she returned to Summercrest, Christine went up to visit with Emily. The two had become very close in such a short amount of time, though Christine was very careful not to mention certain subjects when speaking with her for fear that they might stir up bad memories. She knew firsthand how horrors from the past could affect a person if presented with them quite suddenly. Her reaction to the brand on Erik's face being a prime example. So she kept things light, discussing the weather, specific hobbies and anything that Emily found exciting.
"Can I go outside again?" the young woman asked suddenly, standing up and walking to the window as she looked out longingly. "It does not look cold today and I promise to put on shoes this time."
"I am not sure if Erik would approve, especially with him not being here right now," Christine told her, but when she saw the look of utter disappointment in Emily's eyes, her resolve began to waiver. She knew the dangers of allowing Emily to be seen, that one wrong move and her presence at Summercrest could be revealed. And yet, she knew that keeping her locked in her room for the rest of her life was doing her no good either. A person needed fresh air, to be free and not always have the enclosing walls of a prison around them, no matter how beautiful that prison was. "But…I suppose if he is not here to find out, I see no reason why a trip outside can't be arranged."
Emily beamed and clapped her hands in delight, hurrying over to her closet where she drew out a simple dress, one Christine was sure she had not worn in quite a while. When she was changed and ready, a pair of shoes firmly on her feet, she walked over to the cradle and leaned down.
"Now you two be good for mommy," she whispered to the silent dolls. "Sleep well and I promise to not be very long."
Christine's heart went out to the poor woman, thinking that she was missing out on so much of her own children's lives, all because of the tragedies she suffered at the hands of her deranged husband. She vowed that if she could, she would do all in her power to help Emily fight her way back to sanity, returning her to the life she had been robbed of for the past four years.
"I think it would be best if you wore this," Christine told her, pulling out a long cloak with a spacious hood, helping her into it before snapping the clasp at her neck. "There, with the hood up, we can make it outside without anyone seeing you. And I know exactly where we can go that is secluded and will allow us a bit of freedom!"
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It did not take long for the two women to make their way out of Summercrest, completely unnoticed and down the garden path towards the walled in sanctuary Christine had been working hard to restore. When they entered and Emily removed the hood, allowing her to see where they were for the first time, she gave a gasp of delight.
"It is so pretty," she said, walking forward as she began to touch all the bushes and flowers just beginning to burst forth with new growth and blossoms.
"With the high walls surrounding this place, you can stay out here as long as you like without fear of seeing anyone or risking Erik's wrath." At the mention of her absentee husband, the smile on Christine's face faded into a frown. If only he would come back she would gladly endure his wrath, accepting every condemning word he had to offer if only to hear his voice. Shaking off her melancholy feelings she did her best to distract herself by attempting to entertain her sister-in-law. "I had the gardeners leave me some bulbs and small plants if you would like to help me work on this little bed over here."
This idea appealed to Emily very much as soon the two women's hands were covered in dirt as they laughed and talked, the feel of the soil between their fingers apparently very therapeutic for the both of them. Christine was just finishing up the last of her work when Emily stood up and began to walk around the garden, touching each figurine or bench as if she were struggling to remember something. Sitting back on her heels, Christine watched her carefully, wondering what might be going on in the woman's troubled mind. When Emily came to the rope swing, her eyes seemed to brighten as she sat down and began to move back and forth, kicking out her legs and leaning back in order to make herself go higher. It suddenly dawned on her that this garden had most likely belonged to Emily when she was younger and that was why Erik had allowed it fall into such shambles. It had hurt him to see it flourishing when his sister was not, locked away in a tower prison and unable to enjoy such things any more. Well no more! Christine could see that being out and having good memories stirred in her mind was the best medicine available and she was now even more determined to help the girl recover.
"I…I remember this swing," Emily unexpectedly announced. "Erik made it for me and he would push me on it until I thought I would sail over the walls I would get so high."
Christine could tell that Emily was enjoying this memory, and she rose from her spot and joined the woman by the tree.
"Would you like me to push you now?" she offered, positioning herself behind the girl.
"Yes, please!" she laughed, holding on to the ropes tightly as Christine began to push against her back, each time she swung towards her. Soon Emily was laughing loudly, calling for Christine to make her go higher and higher still. They were having so much fun that neither one of them noticed the figure that had stepped into the garden and was now watching them with tears in her eyes. When as last their gaze did fall on Antoinette, the two women halted their fun, looking at each other and then at the housekeeper with guilt written all over their faces.
"Please, do not let me be the one to stop your fun," Antoinette assured them, wiping away her tears of joy as she approached. It did her heart good to see Emily so happy and carefree. It occurred to her that she had never seen this side of Emily, the one that Erik and Amir often talked about so fondly. For when she was first introduced to the unfortunate girl, she had just been shackled in marriage to that beast of a man, and after that, what could Emily have possibly had to smile about? She had come to love her as a daughter, very much the same way she now viewed Christine, and she knew that Erik would have been pleased to know the two were becoming fast friends.
"We…we were just getting some fresh air," Christine tried to explain; still worried that she might have overstepped her place where Emily was concerned. "We made sure no one saw us come here and we remained out of sight the whole time."
"You do not need to justify your actions to me, I am only the housekeeper and under your command," Antoinette told her mistress, making it clear that no scolding would be coming from her. "And I think Emily getting out a bit more would do her a world of good. A mind can't heal when it is cooped up like that." She had often told Erik the same thing, but he was a man with a one track mind and his word has been law.
"Then…then I can stay?" Emily asked, her eyes bright with anticipation.
"Of course you can," Antoinette smiled, leaning down and kissing the young woman's forehead kindly. "Just as long as you keep yourself to this garden and not go running off hither, thither and yon like you did last time."
"I promise!" And after a quick look back at Christine she kicked out her legs once more and began to swing with renewed joy.
Christine laughed too and stepped out of the way so that she would not be knocked over by Emily's enthusiasm, standing beside Antoinette as the two of them watched her go.
"You did a good thing with her today," the kindly housekeeper told Christine in a quiet tone. "I believe that you will be a stabilizing force for Emily and if anyone can bring her back, I am putting my money on you."
"Not that you are a betting woman, though…right?" Christine asked, repeating Antoinette's words back to her from the previous day.
"Exactly," she laughed, putting her arm around her and hugging her gently. "But you my dear…you are a sure thing."
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The three of them spent several more hours in the garden, laughing and talking until it appeared that Emily was at last becoming tired. With the promise of coming back the next day, she offered no resistance when the two women insisted that she don her cloak and hood and was again spirited back to her room.
Once there, Emily went over to the cradle and checked on her babies, smiling down at them with all the love in her eyes.
"Did you miss me, my darlings?" She asked, touching their rosy painted cheeks. "I will tell you all about the fun I had when you wake from your nap. And maybe one day I can take you out to see the pretty flowers and trees as well."
Christine and Antoinette exchanged sympathetic looks but pasted on smiles when the young woman turned back to look at them.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Antoinette said suddenly, the momentary silence recalling something to her mind. "This was delivered for you this afternoon," she told Christine, digging an envelope out of her pocket and handing it to her confused girl. "That was the reason I came searching for you in the first place, but it completely slipped my mind when I saw the fun you two were having."
"A letter…for me?" Christine asked, turning it over several times but seeing no sign of who it might have come from. "Who would be sending me anything?"
"The messenger did not say who it was from, only that it was meant for you," the older woman explained.
Sitting down on the end of Emily's bed, she opened the card and began to read, the other two women looking on anxiously.
Dear Christine,
After your most impassioned speech at my home this morning, I was indeed able to locate your errant husband, and delivered both of your messages to him. To say he was shocked and confused by their meaning would be an understatement.
Thus it is his wish to get this matter settled and have all the details made clear. He invites you to join him at the costume ball being held at the home of Baron Louis Bouchard and his wife, the Baroness Marta, in four days' time. There he will join you, in hopes that all things can be rectified.
Your humble servant and friend,
Amir Dessan
After reading the letter she was speechless. So Erik had been there listening, for how else could Amir have forwarded her message and package to him so quickly? But how he got it did not concern her, the only thing that mattered was that he had and that he wanted to see her. She had forgotten all about the masquerade ball and now with only four days to prepare, she was not sure she could arrange a costume on such short notice.
"Well, aren't you going to tell us what it says?" Emily asked, practically dying of curiosity.
"It says that I am to meet Erik at the Baron's masquerade ball in four days," Christine answered, looking up at the two woman with panic in her eyes. "Four days!" She then handed the letter to Antoinette to read, not wishing to share all the details with Emily, especially concerning who the correspondence was originally penned by.
"A costume ball?" Emily squealed as she sat down next to Christine and hugged her tightly. "Oh what fun! May I help with your costume? I just loved playing dress up when I was a child and I know I can come up with a million ideas for an outfit."
"Right now, any help would be appreciated, for I am at a complete loss," Christine admitted.
"How about going as a Greek muse?" Emily began, standing up as she paced the floor, all kinds of ideas swimming around in her mind. "Or a princess…no…a queen! Queen Elizabeth, she was always one of my favorites!" her face then became troubled as she looked over at her sister-in-law. "Although that costume might be a bit elaborate and quite difficult to create on such short notice. Perhaps we should stick to something more…mythical, that way no one will question the authenticity of the costume." Suddenly the young woman's eyes lit up and she raced over to her nightstand and picked up a book, opening it up and turning a few pages until she found exactly the picture she was looking for. "This is perfect! You should go as one of these!" She turned the book around and held it out for both women to see.
"What is it?" Christine asked, staring at the lovely drawing of a girl in a diaphanous gown, standing inside a ring of flowers, and surrounded by a dense forest.
"A Nymph! They are the sprightly creatures of the woods, charged with the care and keeping of all growing things!" Emily explained, with great excitement. "It is perfect for you! And since no one has ever seen a Nymph, you can dress anyway you like and no one will question your choice of costume."
"I do not see any trouble creating such a gown in four days, and I think you would make a lovely Nymph, my dear," Antoinette nodded, handing the letter back to her as she moved to study the picture from the book that Emily held.
"Well, it appears to be settled then," Christine said with a laugh. "I will be going as Christine the Nymph." And as she looked down at the letter in her hand she could feel her heart become anxious at the prospect of seeing Erik again. Four days? Oh the time was sure to drag on at a snail's pace, how would she survive? And yet, given this chance to be with her love once more and to make him understand the depth of her love in return, she would endure a thousand days if needs be. For come Saturday, Christine would not leave that ball without this whole wretched matter settled. She would be forceful, tenacious, and convincing…she would be a Nymph without mercy!
.
.
Points to anyone who just got THAT reference! Did you laugh? And if you do not get the joke, ask me in your review and I will explain.
So, four days hu (which does NOT mean four chapters, by the way) and she will see him again. Oh the wait! But she and Emily will have a lot of fun till then...promise.
So what did you think of Christine's rant to Amir about Erik. Knowing all the time he was listening.
How about Erik sitting on the floor with his legs outstretched all sad and dejected...poor baby.
His reaction to the medallion?
His plan to see her at the ball? (forgot about that little party invitation, didn't ya?) And don't worry, he will NOT be going as Red Death.
Emily's trip outside to the garden and swinging on the swing?
Please tell me!