Chapter 6: Father, Mentor, Lover
They arrived that evening and Christine and Roul stood outside upon their arrival. The carriage doors opened and the two old women were helped out. The children followed one by one, then Erik got out with Perle in his arms and the other girl attached to his arm. They walked over and Christine and Roul looked over at Erik, as he held the sleeping girl in his arm. He wore his mask on his disfigured half, only because he was use to it in Christine's presence.
" Erik, welcome," Christine said
She kissed his cheek and looked at the young girl in his arms.
" Who is this?" Christine asked
" My Petite Bijou," Erik said
" She's precious Erik, and this one," Christine said as the young girl hid.
" Ange," he said, " She is the youngest of them all."
" Hello Ange," Christine said
" Hello," Ange shyly replied
Christine smiled and looked at all of them. Roul gave a nod to Erik and then had some other servants take their things.
" Do you wish to have the children, have their own rooms or three to a room?" Roul asked
" They should sleep in two rooms, they are not use to sleeping by themselves," Madame Amical answered
" Very well," he said
He told the maids to prepare the rooms for the children, the butler took the young children to the music room. Madame Amical and Doux walked behind their host and hostess as Erik listened to Christine.
" You have kept up your voice haven't you Erik?" Christine asked
" Yes, I have 6 children that my voice soothes their sleeping," Erik said, " I would be a fool not too."
Christine nodded and looked at Erik, Roul opened the door for Christine and the two old women. Erik let his host enter first then he did. Perle stirred in his arms and opened her eyes. She lifted her head up and looked around and then looked at Erik.
" Erik, is this a dream?" she asked
" No, we are here," he replied
She looked over at Christine and Roul and then looked at Erik.
" Who are they?" she asked softly
Erik set her down and knelt down.
" Madame and Monsieur this is Perle," Erik said
" It's a pleasure," Christine and Roul said
" Pleasure to meet you," Perle said with a curtsy
Christine smiled and Erik stood up and looked around the music room, there were several instruments. Wood winds to strings. Piccolo to the double reeds, Violin to the Cello.
" Do you know how to play most these instruments Monsieur?" Roul asked
" I've played them all," Erik said
" So, it will be easy to teach someone how to play them," Roul said
" Yes, Monsieur," Erik said
Christine looked at the five children and then looked at Erik.
" Do they know how to play?" Christine asked
" Some of them do," Erik said, " They all are very intelligent children."
Perle looked at the harp and let go of Erik's hand, she walked over to it and studied it.
" Erik, my mother knew how to play this," Perle said
Christine and Roul looked at the girl and Erik watched her look at the harp. Christine walked over and looked at Perle.
" Do you want to learn how to play it?" Christine asked
" Yes, I would," Perle replied
" Alright, well tonight I will give you, your first lesson," Christine said
Christine sat down in the chair and began to play it and explained to Perle. Erik watched and Perle smiled as Christine finished.
Later that evening the children were shown to their rooms. The girls in one room and the boys in the other. Erik was given a schedule to when Christine wanted her lessons, Madame Amical and Madame Doux asked to help around the house. The children would continue to be tutored by Erik like in the past. Erik went to his room and looked at his things already unpacked and hanging up. Erik sighed and slipped his shoes off and prepared for the night. He looked out the window and then decided to go to bed. He turned down the bed and removed the white mask off his face. Erik read a chapter of his book and then blew out the candles that sat by his bedside. He closed his eyes and fell to sleep only minuets after he put down his book.
It was only hours later, that his door opened and a dull candle light walked in. Erik opened his eyes and saw the candle light. He sat up and Perle walked over to his bed side.
" Erik, I can't sleep," she whispered, " Can I come sleep in here with you?"
Erik nodded and set the candle down, he lifted her up and she got under the covers.
" Can you sing me a song, something from your past Erik?" she asked
Erik nodded and pulled the young girl close to him and sang a soft melody. She soon fell asleep right beside him and Erik closed his eyes. He listened to the young girl mumble in her sleep, about being happy again. He could only smile in his sleep.
The following morning Erik woke up to the soft sunlight entering his room. He sat up and looked at Perle, as she cuddled close to a soft doll. He got up and dressed slipping the white mask on as he walked out. Erik walked down the hall and then down the stairs. He was greeted by Madame Amical as she escorted him into the dinning room.
" I see you found something to do," Erik said
" Behave yourself you," Madame Amical said
Erik smiled and looked at the 5 children sitting there, they were already eating without him and Perle. Christine and Roul soon joined them and were served.
" Have a seat Erik," Roul said, " We have matters to discuss."
Erik sat down and the children looked at him as Roul handed him some paperwork.
" This is a contract, it allows you to see what my expectations are. As well as Christine's and I have promised, a house for you and the others, but the house you have requested is not ready," Roul said, " So I ask do you wish to look for one just as that one is or wait until this one is ready?"
" I'm sure no matter what I choose it will be the same amount of time," Erik said
" So, you will wait?" Roul asked
" Yes," Erik said
" Very well, then all you have to do is sign once you have read everything," Roul said
Erik read the contract then signed, he ate the warm feast, like breakfast and then went to explore. Perle woke up and ran downstairs to find Erik, she was a little upset because she couldn't find him.
Erik was sent for and found it was Perle who wanted him. He picked her up and looked at her.
" I was scared, I thought you left me," Perle remarked
" You know I wouldn't do that my Petite Bijou," he said
He spent the day with Perle and they explored all around together. Perle was excited to do just that, she wrapped her arms around him, as he carried her. The other 5 children did the same, but went separate ways from Erik and Perle.
Madame Amical and Madame Doux did what they did best, cook and clean. They did their own singing as they cleaned away.
" I wonder what that young lady friend of his is doing now, she's probably heart broken," Madame Doux said
" Heart broken indeed, Erik, seemed to part from her for some reason or another. Perhaps it was because he did not want her life to be hard because he was different," Madame Amical stated, " What ever the case he has his reasons and we should respect his wishes."
The afternoon came and Erik was working with Christine in the music room. Perle sat by Erik as he played the piano and mentored Christine. She was amazed by Christine's beautiful voice and Erik's wonderful playing that complimented her singing. She smiled and looked all around the music room and looked at Erik. Erik nodded and Perle reached over and turned the page as he played.
After two hours of practicing Erik closed the piano.
" Very good Madame," Erik said
" I have a great teacher," Christine said
" As do I," Erik said
Perle looked up at Erik and smiled. He stood up and picked up Perle and Christine gave a smile. Madame Amical came in to announce the afternoon meal and they walked. Erik put Perle down and she went with Madame Amical.
" She's so precious, how old is she?" Christine asked
" She is 5, next month she will be 6," Erik replied
Christine looked at Erik and watched him stare off. She could see a distant look in his eyes that did not stare at Perle, but beyond this very estate.
" Erik, is there something that you left back home?" she asked
" I left nothing back in Paris, only the cruelties of human nature," Erik replied
" No, one you cared about perhaps?" Christine said
" Who would care about a disfigured person in Paris?" Erik returned the questioned
" Your not disfigured Erik, your no different than anyone out there," Christine said, " The only distortion lies in you. I have told you that. I know your afraid."
" I have found no comfort in Paris without my mask, or my hooded cloak," Erik replied bitterly
Christine looked at Erik and sighed, then looked down the hall where Perle and Madame Amical were before.
" What disfigurement does Perle have?" Christine said
" None," Erik said, " She was orphaned, 4 years ago, by the cruel acts of mankind. Her mother had the distortion, I believe it was her leg was shorter than the other. Madame Amical and Madame Doux took her in, along with the other children, they vary in disfigurement. Abandoned by friends, family; outcast to a small area where they have to hide."
" And they are not bitter Erik, they live their life like any other day," Christine said
Erik shook his head and walked on and Christine followed behind him. He opened the door for her and followed in after her. Everyone was seated and they had the afternoon meal. Perle looked at Erik, there was something bothering him, but what. Erik took a deep breath as though he was pushing the conversation away from his mind.
Afterwards, Perle walked with him and she looked at him. Christine had told Perle to maybe find out what made Erik distant.
" Erik," Perle said
" Yes," he replied
" When will you go see Meg?" Perle asked
" I won't ever be seeing Meg again," Erik said
Perle looked at Erik and said, " Why not, all you have to do is go to Paris?"
Erik stopped and knelt down next to the girl. He looked at the confused girl and sighed.
" I do not wish to make her life miserable," Erik said
" You love her Erik, you can't live with out love. She loves you too and she'd probably marry you if you just asked," Perle said, " She's perfect for you."
" Perle, she is a friend no more than that and no less than that. I will not discuss this matter any further," Erik strictly answered
They walked around a little and then Erik went to read alone. Perle went off and found Christine.
" Madame," Perle called seeing Christine walking with Roul
Christine turned and Perle came up to her.
" May I speak with you alone?" Perle asked
" Yes, is there something wrong?" Christine asked
" No, it's just something I believe is an answer to a question you asked me," Perle replied
Christine excused herself and walked with Perle.
" He misses Meg," Perle said, " He wrote her a letter telling her, he had received a job and would be moving away from Paris. I don't know if he told her where. He wrote one to Madame Giry as well to thank her for the kindness she showed him."
Christine looked at Perle and nodded.
" She most likely does not know, because he wishes her to live a normal life. It was his final wishes 3 months ago when he let Roul and I go free. He told us to forget all we have seen," Christine said, " He truly cares about her."
" She loves him too, he won't admit to anyone, his deep affections for her, but I know he does," Perle said
Perle looked at Christine as she nodded, something told her that Christine knew what to do.
" Come with me," Christine said
Christine led Perle to the study and Christine pulled out some beautiful paper. She sat down with Perle began to write a letter to Meg. Once completed she read the letter out loud and Perle nodded. She sealed the letter with the de Chagny seal and she sent it on its way to Paris. She instructed that the letter be handed only into Meg's hand, the messenger was off and Christine looked Perle.
" His happiness here depends on his happiness there," Christine said, " I do no wish to see his heart be shattered again. It was my fault it was the first time and I won't let his stubbornness get the best of him."
" Thank you Christine," Perle said hugging Christine
" He is like a father to you isn't he?" Christine asked
" Yes, I go with him everywhere and he protects me," Perle said
" So, you are a child helping a parent out," Christine replied
Later, that evening supper was placed on the table and everyone joined together. Perle sitting beside Erik, a pleasant face laid on her lips as well as Christine's. Erik looked at Perle and then at everyone else. He looked at Christine and then back at Perle, he knew there was something.
" Is there something amusing between you Madame and Mademoiselle, that I do not find amusing?" Erik asked
" If we are amused Monsieur, it is because of something that has happened. For give us if the pleasantness of your company keeps us thrilled," Christine asked
Roul looked at Christine finding she had once again managed to find a soft spot in Erik's heart. Christine looked at her husband and smiled, Roul could only shake his head.
" Perle, what is amusing?" He asked
" Nothing, I had a good time with Madame today, we played harp," Perle replied
" Your lying," Erik said
" I am not, I speak the truth Erik," Perle said, " I'm only 5 what would make me lie?"
Madame Doux and Amical sighed helpless sigh as they watched a game begin. Christine sipped her wine with the same look she had before.
" Please, speak," Erik said
" We have Monsieur, there is nothing to speak of, she has spoken of what we did today," Christine said, " You are not in the dark, I assure you sir, but in light."
Meg heard the door and she got up from being curled in a book. She opened the door and saw a messenger standing there.
" Mademoiselle Giry?" the messenger asked
" Yes," she answered
He presented her the letter and she took the letter. He walked off and she shut the door as she opened it. She pulled the letter from the envelope and began to read it. She sat down in the chair and read each word, she was heartfelt by the words her dear friend wrote, but there was something in Christine's letter that made her ponder. She decided that she would go in a week to visit her. She wrote back to her letter and sent it off, with the same instructions.