Chapter Forty
He said nothing, but offered her his hand to lead her up the dark stairs to his apartment.
Did her husband send her here…knowing I couldn't refuse her…
In the little sitting room, he let go of her fingertips. As he did, the shawl fell back from her shoulders.
He wanted to forget…the pain, the mask, her marriage to this fool de Chagny…all the agonizing months of separation…he wanted to pull her down onto the sofa and make love to her at last.
Do they realize she is my weakness…is that why she came here?
"Christine, did you come here for the letters of transit," he asked her, surprised at the gentle tone he used.
"Erik, please give me those letters."
At least she is direct…
He slowly reached out and stroked her hair, his action causing it to loosen from the chignon.
"Did your husband send you to get them from me?"
"No, Erik. I didn't even tell him I was coming here. He doesn't know. He is at….he is at a meeting tonight."
"A meeting," Erik said with a short, hard laugh, "I know about those meetings. I suspect some of my staff attend them, too. Well, he is a fool among fools then."
Even as he dismissed these anti-German idealists, he knew that ten years earlier, he would've been one of them.
"Did your husband tell you what he offered me in exchange for the letters?"
"No. He told me only that refused all his offers."
"His offers were very…generous."
"Erik, please…I only need one of those letters."
"One, Madame? Are you planning on abandoning your husband here in Casablanca?"
"No, Erik. I want one for my husband. He must leave this city before the Nazis kill him."
Erik caught her by her shoulders, the tenderness gone from his hands.
"And why should I care if they kill him?"
"Please…there is information he has…things he knows about the resistance…he must get out of here safely!"
"And what are you prepared to offer me, Madame? Or do you think I would just give you the letters out of sentiment…because of Paris?"
"You once said you loved me, that you wanted me…Erik…if you still remember those days in Paris, please help me."