Chapter Forty-one - A Shadow of Uncertainty
As night fell, they made love again in that unlit room.
It was different in the darkness…slower, but no less urgent.
After, she held him in her arms as he slept.
One of his hands was cupped around her shoulder and she reached up to caress it, drawing one fingers softly across his knuckles.
She thought briefly of Christine and Raoul. Where were they tonight? Was Christine asleep, too? Was she wrapped her husband's arms, already forgetting her Angel?
She wondered, too, about her mother.
Poor Maman…she probably thinks I died there in the fire.
She could feel the roughness of his face against her neck and the softness of his hair on her cheek.
I could leave him now. He wanted me to go. I could find Maman…
She blinked hard, forcing herself not to cry.
No matter what happens between us, he will never learn to love me.
It would be so easy for her to leave him. Easy, but impossible.
Blindy, she touched his face, tracing the contour of his lips.
Are you dreaming of her?
"Erik," she murmured, not knowing if he heard her, "I won't leave you. I promise you."
When the dawn came, he was no longer lying beside her. But his cloak lay over her in place of the ragged blanket.
He was dressed, seated on the edge of the bed.
When he heard her move, he turned and brushed a heavy lock of hair from her face.
There was a shadow of uncertainty in his eyes as he leaned over to kiss her forehead.
The room was chilly and she wrapped the cape around herself as she sat up.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and moved to lean against his arm.
"We should leave soon, Meg. Paris is not safe for me."
We should leave…
She nodded, smiling because she knew he'd heard her whispered vow.
