Hello readers!
Well, I had a pretty rough week. Also got in a fight with my big sister and I feel bad about it... Let's say that it will make it heavy at my birthday supper this weekend. Truthfully, I'm not looking forward to it, it makes me nervous...Why does everything has to be complicated all the time? Oh well...
Okay, let's get to serious stuff, lol. Here's your chapter for this week. Hope you will enjoy it! :D
Kaya
Chapter 54
When Catherine finally woke up, it was to find herself in her bedroom, alone. She could hear music and she knew Erik was in the music room, trying to pass his nerves on something, by the sound of what he was playing. She wanted to join him so badly, to tell him everything was going to be alright, to show him just how much she loved him and how sorry she was for being such a fool… But she could not. This bed would be the only place where Catherine would be allowed for the next three months.
Sighing, the young woman closed her eyes. She was wondering how she was supposed to survive twelve weeks of immobility, without…intimate moments with her husband. They were bound to be very frustrated… Did she deserve to be punished thus? Catherine knew she should not have gone to see the duke. Why punishing her and her baby? Closing her eyes, tears fell down her white cheeks. It was no use blaming herself, or even Reinhardt.
Just then, the bedroom door opened and Madame Giry slowly entered with a tray, trying to make as little noise as possible. As she placed what she was carrying on the nightstand, she smiled when she saw her niece was awake. Yet, that smile mixed with two feelings which were relief and sadness. What happened truly scared her. Elizabeth could not tell how she would have reacted if she had lost her niece and the little one she carried.
-"Good evening, child." Madame Giry said warmly, carefully helping her niece into a sitting position, placing the tray on her lap. "How do you feel?"
"Sore…shameful…regretful…" Catherine mumbled, staring at the food as more tears formed in her tired eyes. "Is Erik very angry at me?"
"Angry? Oh, no, child, he is not angry, but, understand, he had the scare of his life… He could never be angry with you… If anything, he is angry at himself because he was not with you…"
-"He should not…" Catherine murmured, turning away
-"You scared me too…" Elizabeth admitted and, before she could get swept with emotions, she motioned for the tray. "You should eat/"
-"I'm not hungry, aunty."
-"You will eat, Catherine." Erik said, appearing in the doorway, arms crossed, resting his back against the door frame. "You need all of your strength. Eat, unless you want me to feed you…"
Erik's voice was strong and rather cold and it was not hard for Catherine to tell he had cried. She could not see his eyes clearly from where he stood, but she knew him enough to figure it out just by the sound of his voice. Slowly, her husband approached, sitting beside her, looking straight into her eyes, practically emotionless as though he spent all he had left…
Madame Giry thought it best to leave them a moment, she would come back for the tray later. Erik took the tray, took a spoonful of broth and guided it toward his wife's slightly reluctant mouth. Catherine ate in silence, waiting for Erik to finally talk to her. Once she was finished, he rose from the bed, set aside the tray, then walked to their dresser to find one of his wife's nightgown. Erik returned to her shortly and cautiously undressed her then dressed her into her night clothes. When he was done, he braided her hair. The silence truly was heavy, the tension palpable…
-"Please, Erik, say something." She begged, worried about his silence
-"I don't want to talk, angel." He answered simply, monochord voice
He helped Catherine lay down, removed his clothes, only keeping on his briefs and slipped under the covers next to his wife, keeping his back to her. He hates me… she thought, her heart breaking, wondering if she truly needed to be punished more than she already was.
-"Erik…"
-"We'll talk on another time, Catherine." He whispered. "Now, what you need is to rest."
No more words were spoken from either of them. When Catherine finally fell asleep, it was with tears in her eyes and her heart broken.
Two days had passed since the incident between Catherine and the duke. Erik did not speak much to her other than to tell her to eat or rest. He looked like he did not get much food or sleep himself… Madame Giry was still there, often trying to convince her niece her husband was not angry with her. Catherine found it really hard to believe. She could hear her aunt arguing with Erik from time to time, but she could never decipher what they were saying.
As Catherine tried to sit up when she woke up, alone, their maid, Brigitte, entered the room with a basin of hot water, towels and washcloths. She would give her mistress a sponge bath and Catherine welcomed the idea. As the servant settled everything on the nightstand, she suddenly remembered about something. From the pocket of her apron, Brigitte pulled out an envelope. It arrived earlier that morning. She immediately handed it to the mistress of the house, since it was addressed to her.
Catherine became anxious at the sight of the letter. The last one she received led her to pain and tears and fear… IT was sealed with the De Chagny crest. Taking a deep breath, the young mother-to-be finally opened the crisp white envelope, shaking slightly as she unfolded the letter she found inside. It was from the viscountess…
Dear Catherine,
I could not wait to tell you the great news,
I even paid the messenger twice the usual cost
to deliver this missive to you faster.
I just came back from the doctor. Gustave is
going to have a sibling! Raoul could not be happier.
The baby should be born in seven months. We cannot wait!
Also, this morning, monsieur le Duc de Reinhardt made an
appearance. He looked as good as new. He decided to
repair his mistakes, he said. Thank goodness, he came
back to his senses. La Rose Bleue will finally return to what it
was at the beginning. We can all breathe normally. It is a
great relief.
Raoul will come home for dinner now that everything
is arranged, as he used to. He will take care of his son
until it is time for him to go to bed, then he will take care of his
wife. I truly missed him during those hard times. During those
dark days, my husband would often shout at us and
return home late into the night… I even wonder how we
managed to make another baby.
Changing topic, is your husband still angry at mine? I
know Raoul is. It is strange. Do you know anything about
their feud? I often interrogate Raoul about it, but he
would never tell me. I suppose Erik did not say anything
either, he always was the silent kind…
Catherine stopped reading, sighing. Christine could not have been more right about her masked husband being the silent kind… Wiping a tear from her eye, the young woman continued to read her friend's letter.
I truly miss you, Catherine. How is the pregnancy going?
Have you any cravings yet? I know I had the strangest envies
when I was pregnant with Gustave. Now though I am
more into morning sicknesses…
Monsieur le Duc asked about you this morning. He almost
looked worried, I don't know why. Maybe he thought
you were still living with us… One thing for sure, he was
acting strangely.
Write to me as soon as you can. Maybe we could work
on you visiting us? I know my husband misses you as well.
You are more of a sister to us than a simple friend.
Take care of yourself,
Christine
By the time Catherine was done reading her friend's strange letter, Brigitte had began cleaning her legs. She put the letter back into its envelope and let the maid finish cleaning her. As Brigitte was gathering the wet cloths and basin after she was done, they heard Erik scream somewhere downstairs. Both women jumped, Catherine's hand reaching for her heart and the servant nearly dropping the basin full of soapy water.
They both stared at the door as they heard running footsteps coming from the corridor. Barely a moment later, the Phantom stormed into the bedroom. With only one cold look he ordered Brigitte to get out of there and she did as quickly as she possibly could.
When the door was closed, Erik stared at his wife, then threw a sheet of paper at her as he began pacing about the room like a caged lion, his eyes never leaving her. Worried and with a sickening feeling growing in the pit of her stomach, Catherine took the sheet he threw at her. Her heart actually skipped a beat. This was the letter Christine had sent to her a few days earlier, the one telling her about the duke making problems at La Rose Bleue.
-"Reinhardt!?" He yelled
Catherine swallowed hard, trying not to let her furious husband see her fear through her eyes. She could not help the shaking wracking all over her body though.
-"Don't think I am stupid, woman, I am no fool!" He hissed. "You went to him the other day, didn't you?"
The Phantom had puzzled out part of what happened, obviously. He unmasked her and Catherine truly was scared about what he might do now.
