"Slowly, hesitantly, as if fighting against the warning instincts of a lifetime, he held out his gloved hand to help me ascend the carriage steps. It was the first time he had ever invited direct physical contact from me and the moment was fraught with tense significance for us both..." -Christine
"Which do you mean?' and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, "She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."
Jane Austin's "Pride and Prejudice"
Chapter Nine: To Tempt Me
Magical Lovely by Winterrose
He entered her room quietly, and did not bother waking her. Instead he took her into his arms and carried her up to the gondola. She did not wake on the journey back to the opera popular. She slept even as he carried her up to her room, and then later in the silk covered bed. He took one last look at her before returning to his home.
She awoke several hours later, to encounter Christine sitting at her bed. The first her mind was in a state of confusion, but after several seconds it cleared.
"You're awake!" exclaimed a joyful Christine.
"Yes, yes I am," Christine leaned closer to Serenity and whispered.
"We've set a date, Raoul and I, for our wedding,"
"That's wonderful Christine!" Said Serenity, a bright smile upon her face. "When is it?"
"In three weeks!" Christine replied.
"Oh, I can't wait, it's going to be wonderful!" both women embraced.
"I must go, I promise to dine with Raoul!" and with another hug, she ran off.
She sat alone in her room, not even the wind seem to move, she knew something was amiss. Something just didn't feel quite right. She quickly addressed in a light pink dress with beautifully embroidered flowers. Yet, she did not stop an admirer dress; instead she quickly walked out of the room. The small areas were almost empty, and as she turned the corner she found Madame Giry walking toward her direction.
"Serenity," she said "I must speak with you."
"All right, is there anywhere privately we may go?"
"Yes follow me, my dear," Madame Giry led her to box five.
"Please, take a seat, I must discuss him with you," Surrounded the took a seat, which had a beautiful view of the stage. The sopranos were rehearsing. A petite figure entered the stage And saying beautifully, her voice background through the hole. That tranquility was however unceremoniously broken when the Prima diva took the stage. Sir and eighties first saw was to cover her ears In anguish. Though, it wasn't a horribly sounding voice, yet it was not fit for a star. Nevertheless, she believes that it would have sounded much better in the diva's native tongue The English words Became horribly mutated when she sang.
Madame Giry's And on her shoulder brought her back to the present.
"He is not what he appears," She pointed out without interlude. Silence reigned for several seconds.
"Yes, I know," She responded. Her voice choir, but strong.
"What did he tell you?" She asked her eyes opaque.
"Not very much of anything," she sees herself in your serenity. "He told me make sure you were all right when you woke."
"Yes I am perfectly fine, do not worry over me," She responded with a force smile.
"Tell me, what have you done, since last we met?"
"I've been traveling, quite extensively."
"Oh? And where did you go?" She asked.
"Well, first to Italy, I also visited Germany and Russia. Alexander took me to Persia, it was quite fascinating. He asked of you, by the way" She responded matter of factly.
"H-he did," The normally on the motions battered. Enter "he told me to tell you that you were quite missed, and of the inclination arrives, to visit … He's still very much in love with you, you now… And, I believe, you are still very much in love with him…"
"I-I couldn't possibly visit," Madame Giry's eyes forecast were cast to the ground, Very much alike the candid woman.
"Well, it is of no consequence, he is coming year," Serenities said, while trying to repress a smile.
"Why didn't you tell me?" and Madame Giry asked, in a state of shock.
"It wasn't Uppermost in my mind." And to
"When will he arrive?"
"I believe he will arrive early tomorrow morning," Madame Giry Placed a shaky and upon her chest. "What was it you wished to know?" Serenity asked.
"I must warn you, my dear, that he is not a patient man, you should be more careful," She responded, her eyes intent on the young woman.
Laughing slightly, serenity responded, " I know and Antoinette, I will be careful, I promise."
"If only your definition of careful was that of mine," Antoinette responded laughingly. "You were always too stubborn for your own good, child."
"Then I have changed very little since last you saw me."
"Mama!" Sounded a voice along with the soft pitter patter of tiny ballerina fee.
"I am here, my child!" Madame Giry Responded while exiting the box.
"Mama, here you're" Megs bright face exclaimed. "And you had promised to come shopping with me, would you like to postpone it or should we go now?" Meg asked.
"No, Madame Serenity And I are quite finished," she said "I will speak with you later" she said to Serenity.
"Yes, goodbye," with that men and her mother exited the room. Serenity knew what Madame Giry Had implied empire dressing her as madame. She did not frequently think about the past. Nor did she do well on the thought's of her husband. Yet, as she sat there, the music and voices took control of her thoughts.
Thus, she sat motionlessly For several hours, basking in the addictive glow of the opera house. Even when the hustle and bustle stop and the people dispersed four lunch she stared off into the distance.
A sigh escaped her lips. It was not one of exasperation, nor one of contentment, It seemed to be a sign to indicate that she was, indeed, still the same person she had been several minutes ago.
Slowly, she stood and walked out of the box, all the while not noticing the glowering pair of eyes following her every step.
The man in the darkness peered at the strange woman, it seemed the longer he was in her presence, the more confusing and she became. She was not An average sort of woman. No, she was much more complicated. It seemed that the longer he tried to understand her, the more on understandable she became.
She did not seem very hurt by his actions; he knew that had she been Christine, she would have needed at least a full day to recuperate. She fascinated and perplexed him at the same time. Yet, he was intent on uncovering all her secrets. He could use here.
Yes, she could be of very great use…
To be continued...
Thanks for reading everyone! I hope you like this, it took me several math classes to complete it. Please read and review, I truly want to know what you think. I made this one a little longer though Erik appears for very short time. I hope you guys are confused, it's meant to do that!
And I would be unbelievably grateful if you edited my story Moonlightrosegoddess. You're right, You're a damn good editor! I hope you can put up with me Though, I get writer's block a lot. Thank you so much! You are truly a lifesaver!
And thank you to all my readers without You the story would not have gotten past the first chapter! Thank you! You're my inspiration! Please forgive me if I do not update frequently. I promise to try harder for now the!
With love,
Winterrose
