"I have learned something today..."Erik pondered.
I waited breathlessly for him to continue.
"Beauty can be its own curse. For I am certain that if you had not looked a vision in that ballroom, you never would have had to suffer at the hands of that boy. And you never would have had to live up to the high expectations of your mother."
With a sad smile, he reached over and touched my hand.
"Poor child...I know all too well what is like to suffer a mother's contempt...and to be lonely..."
So great was my relief that he was not angry with me that more tears rolled down my cheeks.
"I never thought of it that way, but I suppose you are right."
Erik shook his head.
"But, Angelica, couldn't you have gotten a divorce? You certainly had grounds for such after the way he had deserted you!"
"Yes, I probably could have. And for some time, I had seriously thought to do so. But once I became my grandmother's heir, everything changed."
He looked at me uncomprehendingly.
"Divorce is not as easy for a woman as it is for a man, Erik," I explained. "Often, when a woman seeks a divorce, she can no longer keep control of her own property. I did not want to take the risk of losing my money to the courts or to Franklin. I needed Paris too much, don't you see?"
"Yes," he nodded. "I can see your point."
"Besides I never thought I should want to want to marry again," I admitted. "Until now..."
With an agonized sigh, Erik rose to his feet and stared out the window. After a few moments, his back straightened and his expression became stern.
"All my life, I have had to fight, Angelica. Sometimes just for my right to exist. I fight all the harder for the things I truly want in life. And if I desire something badly enough, I am not too particular with the methods that I choose to employ in order to attain it."
He whirled to face me.
"I want you for my wife, Angelica, and I shall have you as such."
"But, Erik, how can we!"
"I set little store by the stupid laws of God and man. The Creator and I have never been on good terms since he was kind enough to bless me with this cursed face." With a derisive chuckle, he added, "And my relations with mankind are even worse. I say we ignore all of their laws and follow our hearts' desire."
"You mean live as man and wife anyway?" I asked, shocked. "Without the benefit of a clergyman? Without a license?"
"Yes, my dear, that is exactly what I mean."
I shook my head. "No, Erik, I cannot do that. Why, we would not only be living in sin but committing adultery as well..."
"As if your husband would give a damn about it after he deserted you! As far as I am concerned, he forfeited all claims on you with his behavior. And besides, since when do you care about what is proper? If you were so concerned about such, you never would have agreed to live with me in the first place."
"Well, that was different..."
"I do not see why you are allowing such small matters to stand in the way of our happiness. Why are you showing such respect for these worthless laws? What use were laws of religion or marriage to you when that cur cruelly left you? What use are they to you now when you cannot attain a divorce without great personal sacrifice?"
Although much of what Erik said made sense, I could not seem to justify it to myself. His suggestion was outrageous.
I was startled at the feel of his hands upon my shoulders.
"That man may be bound to you legally but he is not worthy to be your husband. Not in the true sense of the word...not in the way that matters. I would be a true husband to you. I would provide for you and care for you as if you were part of my own being. If we were to have children, I would claim responsibility for them and care for them dearly. I would commit to you the way a husband is supposed to, Angelica, for the rest of my life."
I bowed my head, overwhelmed.
"That is so beautiful, Erik. No woman could ask for more. But I don't know..."
For a moment, we were both silent.
"Very well," Erik stated, sitting down beside me. "I have a proposition for you. As soon as Beauty and the Beast had opened, we shall go to America together. We shall find your husband or hire barristers or do whatever it takes to get you legally free. As I understand it, most of your money is gone now so that cad has no more hold on you anymore. Then we shall be married in the way that matters to you. Would that please you?"
"Oh, yes!" I jumped up and hugged him.
"Good. Now that that is settled, let us eat. I'm starved!"
By late afternoon, the storm had passed.
After having washed and dressed, I managed to purchase some bread, cheese and a bottle of wine from the innkeeper. Then Erik and I had an impromptu picnic out in a secluded area by a copse of trees. No one was around to notice the man in black with the mask. And the innkeeper and his wife were well paid to keep their silence and ask no questions.
Erik laid his cape out like a blanket so that we could lie back upon it and look at the clouds. We talked of which books were our favorites and why. We discussed the idea of writing another opera together. We spoke of places that we dreamed of visiting...exotic foreign places like Egypt.
By early evening, we walked together about the countryside, admiring the wildlife around us. As the stars came out, Erik picked a daisy from the ground and placed it in my hair, kissing me tenderly.
Then taking me by the hand, he led me back to our room at the inn.
