Chapter 14

"Are you ready, my dear?" I ask after knocking softly on Marie's door.

"Please come in. I am just finishing up with Charles," she calls softly and I open the door slowly.

"Take your time," I say as I cross the room and sit on the sofa. Pandora tugs gently on my cloak and meows demandingly. I quickly pick the little kitten up and settle her on my lap while I stroke her soft fur. Content with the attention I am giving her she begins to purr.

"There, all finished," Marie says after a few minutes as she picks Charles up from the bed and waits eagerly by the door. "Can we go now?"

"I suppose you have waited long enough," I say with a smile as I gently set Pandora on the floor and cross the room to join Marie at the door. Taking her hand I lead her down the hall to the front door. Opening the door, I allow Marie to go first. I follow her out, pausing only long enough to close the door and retrieve a lantern from close by.

"Thank you, Erik," Marie says softly as I help her into the boat before carefully stepping in myself.

"You are quite welcome, my dear," I say softly as I settle down next to her before triggering the boat to cross the lake on its own. "Would you like for me to hold Charles?" I ask as I look down upon his contented face. It is still quite hard to believe that after all these years alone I am finally going to have a family of my own.

"If you would like," she says as she hands her brother to me.

"Thank you," I say softly as I cradle him in my right arm and wrap my left around Marie. As the boat quickly makes its way across the lake I simply sit here savoring the company of the two people in my life that love me.

"When are you going to tell me where we are going?" Marie asks impatiently as she leans closer to my side.

"When we get there," I answer simply, knowing that I should end her torment but unable to resist.

"Why won't you tell me now?" she asks agitatedly.

"Perhaps it is because I myself am not quite sure where we are going tonight," I say innocently.

"I find that rather hard to believe, Erik," Marie says indignantly.

"Well, then, perhaps I simply wish to surprise you. After all, you have surprised me often enough in the past six days to entitle me the pleasure of returning the favor," I say honestly. "If I were to tell you right now where we are going tonight it would no longer be a surprise to you when we get there."

"Oh, I suppose you are correct. I will not ask you again," she says reluctantly as she sighs dramatically.

"Now, now, it is not the end of the world. You will find out soon enough where we are going," I say no longer able to keep from laughing at her reaction. Just then the boat arrives on the other side of the lake. "Come, your questions will soon be answered," I say as I rise and offer Marie a hand to assist her from the boat.

"Thank you," she says softly as she takes my hand and I assist her onto solid ground.

"You are quite welcome, my dear," I say as I hand Charles to her so I am able to secure the boat.

"Can we be on our way now?" she asks hopefully as I take Charles from her arms once more.

"I suppose so," I say indulgently as I take her hand in mine and lead her out to the Rue Scribe.

"Thank you, Erik," she says as she squeezes my hand lightly.

"But whatever for?" I ask innocently as I hail a cab. When the cab comes to rest in front of us I help Marie into the back and hand her Charles before closing the door and walking to the front to speak privately with the driver. When I am satisfied that my instructions will be obeyed I join Marie in the back and close the curtains over the windows so we have complete privacy.

"You had me worried for a moment," Marie admits softly once the brougham begins its journey.

"How is that?" I ask curiously. What had I done to worry her? She looks as though she is near tears.

"When you helped me into the carriage and handed me Charles before closing the door without a word I had thought for a moment that you were sending me away from you," she says as barely more than a whisper.

"Oh, Marie," I say softly as I quickly move to sit next to her and pull her into my arms. "I would never do such a thing. I simply wished to speak to the driver privately," I explain.

"I know, Erik. It's just that you have been so secretive about this outing and for a moment I began to take your negative replies to heart. Please forgive me for thinking such a thing," she says softly.

"Oh, Marie, it is I who should be asking your forgiveness. I never meant to worry you so," I say as I pull her closer and kiss her forehead softly.

"It is alright, Erik, let us just enjoy this ride," she says as she smiles brightly as though she has completely forgotten about her worried thoughts. "After all, I will soon discover what the big secret it."

"Are you sure about that?" I ask softly knowing that there are several surprises in store for her tonight. With that thought in mind I allow a quick smile to grace my lips but am careful not to allow her to see.

"What is it that you are not telling me, Erik?" Marie questions skeptically as she eases away from me enough to look into my eyes.

"All your questions will be answered in time, my dear," I say softly as I pull her close once more. "Just relax and enjoy the evening I have planned for you," I say before lowering my lips to hers.

"I love you, Erik," Marie says softly once our lips part, "and I know that you will never forsake me."

"I love you more than anything in the world," I say tenderly. "I have never known such a wonderful feeling in my entire life," I admit sheepishly as I smile down upon her lovely face.

"Will we soon be arriving at our destination?" Marie asks inquisitively after ten minutes pass in silence.

"My, you are a curious one," I say observantly as I laugh softly at her impatience. "But, yes... we will be there shortly."

"I can hardly wait," Marie says excitedly as she looks up at me with wide eyes filled with curiosity.

"Well, your wait is over," I say softly as the brougham comes to a stop and I take Charles from Marie's arms.

"We are there?" she asks skeptically.

"Yes," I answer simply as I slowly open the door and quickly get out of the carriage before turning to offer Marie a helping hand. "What do you think?"

"Oh, Erik! It is beautiful," she says reverently as though she believes it will disappear at the slightest sound.

"I thought you would like to see where we will be joined in a few short days," I say as I lead her to the massive doors of the Notre Dame Cathedral. "And while we are here I thought it would be the perfect time to make the arrangements for a priest to wed us," I add as I release her hand long enough to open the door.

"This will be the perfect place to be wed," Marie says wistfully as she takes in the breathtaking beauty of the inside of the building. She looks like a little girl who has just found her most treasured possession.

"I knew you would like this place," I say softly. "I have occasionally found solace in the upper tiers of this spectacular building." A sudden thought comes to me... she has never seen this place before so why would she wish to be wed here? "Marie? Why did you think to be wed here?" I ask softly as I turn her to face me.

"I have often heard of how beautiful this place is and I also saw some sketches of it when I was away at school," she says softly. "The sketches do not do justice to the true beauty of this place."

"Yes, I have seen some sketches and I would have to agree that what I have seen could not hold a candle to the real thing," I say honestly. "Come, let us find the priest."

"That sounds like a splendid idea," Marie says happily as I lead her to the front of the isle before handing her Charles.

"Pardon me, Monsieur, but is there a priest available?" I ask quietly as I approach an elderly man kneeling at the front of the sanctuary.

He starts slightly by the sound of my voice and quickly stands, turning to face me. A moment of shock crosses his face as he sees my masked face and I catch sight of him crossing himself quickly. "Forgive me, Monsieur, but you startled me," he says after regaining his composure. "There is a priest in the confessional over there," he says as he points to a door along the one wall.

"Thank you," I reply before leading Marie to the wooden door the man had indicated, unsure of what to expect for I have never in my entire life been inside a confessional.

"Would you like me to enter first, Erik?" Marie asks softly when she notices my reluctance.

"There is no need for that, my dear," I say softly as I slowly open the door, not wishing to appear weak in front of Marie. I am, however, quite nervous and am unable to avoid hesitating a moment longer.

"There is nothing to fear, Erik," Marie whispers in my ear as she brushes past me and quickly pulls me into the small room behind her.

"How can I help you?" the priest asks softly after sliding a small door aside.

After finding my voice I reply, "we have come to make arrangements to be married on Monday."

"This is rather short notice, Monsieur," the priest replies slowly. "I do not know if such arrangements can be made this quickly."

Not liking this answer I reply with an air of authority, "it is to be a simple ceremony with only the few necessary people present. I am sure that there is a priest who could find the little bit of time needed to perform the ceremony."

"I do not know, Monsieur," the priest hesitates a moment and I am sure that it is a result of him seeing my masked face.

"I can assure that you will be paid well for your time," I answer sternly, knowing that everyone has a price.

Blatantly ignoring my last remark the priest says, "Why is it that you need to be wed so quickly?"

"You see, Father," Marie speaks up quickly, "my parents were killed and my infant brother has been left to my care," she says as she indicated the baby she is holding in her arms. "If not for this kind man we surely would have perished on the streets. He has taken us into his home without hesitation and over time we have fallen in love. It is only proper for us to be wed since we are living together and are truly in love," Marie says persuasively.

"I can see your point, Mademoiselle," the priest says after pondering her words for a few moments.

"Does that mean you will marry us on Monday?" Marie asks excitedly as she watches the priest intently.

"Well, I suppose it can be arranged. There is a small fee for the use of the cathedral and for the ceremony," the priest says slowly.

"How much would it take?" I ask in return as I pull a handful of francs from inside my cloak prepared to pay as much as it will take to speed the process.

"Two hundred francs," the priest replies after a few moments of deep thought. "I will need one hundred francs in advance," he adds.

"That will not be a problem," I say as I count out one hundred francs and pass it through one of the small holes in the ornate window.

"What time would you like the ceremony to take place?" the priest asks after he counts the money to be sure that I did not cheat him.

"At sundown," I reply after a moment's thought. "Is that alright with you, Marie?" I ask as I gaze down upon her dimly lit face.

"That sounds perfect, Erik," she says happily as she smiles brightly. I return her smile as Charles reaches for me to hold him. I take him lovingly into my arms as the priest takes in this exchange.

"Sundown it is," the priest says as he writes something down in a big book. "My name is Father Renaulda and I will personally see to the ceremony."

"Thank you, Father Renaulda," Marie says softly.

"Yes, thank you, Monsieur," I say respectfully.

"There is no need to thank me. It is quite obvious that the two of you are very much in love," the elderly priest observes with a nod. "I am sure you have much to plan. Go with God my children," he says quietly before sliding the little wooden door back in place.

After we leave the cathedral and I assist Marie into the waiting brougham, Marie turns to me and says softly, "Oh, Erik, this was the best surprise anyone has ever given me! Thank you for not giving into my persistent nagging."

"You are quite welcome, my dear. I thought you would be pleased," I say with a smile... if only she knew that this was only the beginning of the surprises I have planned for tonight.

"I love you so very much, Erik," Marie sighs softly as she curls up against my side and I quickly drape my left arm around her shoulders while I cradle Charles in my other.

"I love you, my sweet Marie," I say as I brush a kiss to her brow. As the carriage moves down the streets of Paris I sit back and enjoy holding the two people that mean the most to me.