Chapter Summary: Raoul and Katherine meet unexpectedly in the gardens and two reserved people try to find a comfortable way to share their fears and emotions. Tomas turns to an surprising person to get the horses and carriage for which Erik asked.
CHAPTER THIRTY
She had tossed and turned the entire night. She would drift off to sleep only to find that within minutes she was awake again, haunted by nightmares she could not control. She would turn over and try to drift away again with the same results, nightmares that kept sleep at bay. She wanted to cry aloud but did not for fear of disturbing the others. Perhaps it would have been easier had it been her own bed in her own home but even that was beyond her reach. So she rolled from side to side, allowing sleep to claim her for a few brief moments, allowing the nightmares to come, allowing silent tears to fall. She watched as the night faded into morning, finally rising on unsteady feet, to dress quickly and disappear into the humid, dew-speckled gardens. She was searching for a quiet corner in which to cry aloud, a place where no one would hear her sorrow.
She found her quiet spot on a small bench underneath a tall tree. The bench was hidden from the house by the large trunk of the tree and guarded from the heavens by the thick, leafy canopy. She sat down on the small bench, looking at the empty hands held open in her lap. Her eyes began to mist over and she felt the cries growing in her chest. She raised her hands to cover her mouth and screamed. She screamed into hands that muffled the sound until the screams were silent and then she let the tears flow. She did not know how long she had screamed and cried but when she finished she felt cleansed. Still hollow, still frightened but cleansed. She raised trembling fingers to wipe away the tears and stood, closing her eyes as she composed herself, turning around and running into a huge wall.
"Oh my," Katherine squeaked out as she opened her eyes and saw the equally startled father of her friends.
Raoul took a step backwards. "I am sorry. I was looking down and did not see you. Pray, forgive me, mademoiselle."
Katherine lowered her eyes and clasped her hands in front of her. "It is my fault, sir, I should have been thinking of my actions and watching where I was going," she said in a quiet voice.
It broke Raoul's heart. "Katherine," he said as he reached out to lay a hand over hers, "would you sit with me for a moment."
Katherine kept her eyes focused on her toes and nodded. "If you please," she replied allowing Raoul to lead her back to the bench. She sat next to him and noted that Raoul kept hold of her hand.
"It is very early to be outside," Raoul said
"I know."
They sat in silence for a few moments.
"When Annalise was small," Raoul began, "she would be up early, like you and she would come skipping down the stairs to find her mother and I in the dining room. She would pester and annoy - in that sweet way that she had," Raoul paused, shaking his head, correcting himself, "has - until I would agree to walk her to the stables for a morning's ride on her pony. I would hold the reins and walk her and the pony around these gardens telling those silly stories that little girls love until she would complain that she was hungry. We would then go into breakfast and she would begin the chatter that would last all day."
"She does like to talk," Katherine agreed quietly.
"She always loved to be outside where there were no constraints on her spirit." Raoul shook his head sadly, seeming to forget that there was another human being seated with him. "Perhaps if we had raised our children differently, given them more freedom, none of this would have happened. Perhaps if I had done things differently ..."
"No," Katherine interrupted him. "I know that Annalise loves you and you must not think that she will not be coming home. You must not! If you believe that, then that means that I will need to start thinking that something has happened to Andrew and he will not be coming back. I do not think ... I will not ..." Katherine bit back the tears that were threatening.
"Again, I am sorry. I have asked for forgiveness more in the last six days than I have in my entire life." Raoul sighed. "I suddenly find myself a very old and very lonely man who only wants to see his little girl come skipping down the stairs once more."
"You are not as old as my parents and I do not believe your family would ever let you be lonely."
"The wisdom of youth." Raoul patted the hand he held. "You have been a comfort to Gustave and you have been a bright light in our darkness. Thank you."
"You're welcome," Katherine replied softly.
"If I may ask, why were you out here so early? I could not sleep and so came out here to find ..." Raoul shook his head. "I do not know what I thought to find."
Katherine thought for a long moment before answering, wrestling with her conscience. This man and his family had been so kind to her, taking her in and treating her like she was one of their own; she felt she owed him the truth. She rebelled against her normal rectitude, her affection for this family winning out. "I came out here to be by myself for I did not wish to disturb anyone."
Raoul was amazed. "I do not believe you could ever disturb anyone, Katherine."
"Please do not be upset with me," Katherine said as she turned her head away, "but I came out here to cry. I did not want to cry in my room for I did not know if the sound could be heard from the open windows. I had no wish to add to the anxiety your family is already suffering."
"My dear, are you sure you are only sixteen?"
Katherine nodded. "My parents married very late in life and I do not think they had expected another child after my brother was born. I was raised in a very strict household where I was expected to be the silent, dutiful daughter. I learned my lessons well." She sniffled and swallowed back the tears. "Andrew was my champion. He would never let me become too serious and was always doing things without our parents' knowledge. He would give me riding lessons and take me to museums and insist on sharing his schoolbooks with me. He always took all the blame and punishments, too." Katherine sighed. "When he went to England to study, I found myself going back to being the quiet child in the corner. I had lost my brother and my friend. I did my best to cause no trouble and I am afraid I became rather like a clam, all closed up and hiding. Andrew was the one who insisted on my visiting Europe." Katherine looked up at the sky. "I think he wanted me to stop being that frightened little clam. Andrew and Gustave were showing me how to do just that and Annalise was ... I so wanted to be like her - free and sure of myself. They were all helping me so much and now ... now ..." A tiny sob escaped. "I just wanted to find a quiet place to cry without bothering anyone." Katherine found herself being drawn into Raoul's embrace.
"I would never dream of taking your father's place but you can safely cry here," he said quietly.
Katherine felt the strong arms about her, their safety and security comforting her, allowing her to let go. She began to cry again, tears that Katherine thought she no longer possessed. She was not sure how long she stayed in Raoul's embrace, sobbing out her fears and anxieties but when she finally drew back, Katherine felt as if a bit of the despair that was holding onto her heart lifted. "Thank you," she told Raoul. "I really do not mean to be a bother."
"The last thing you could ever be is a bother," Raoul assured her. "You are gentle and kind and far more mature than your tender years would lead one to believe."
"Annalise said almost the same thing."
"Did she?" Raoul asked. He sat quietly for a moment. "I did not know she was so intuitive. I am finding there are a great many things about my daughter that I did not know. Now I wonder if I shall ever have the chance." Raoul turned his attention towards the gardens glowing in the summer morning. "I never realized just how much her spirit filled our lives."
"Are you sure you should be saying these things to me?" Katherine wondered.
"Perhaps not," Raoul replied, "but I find I miss having a young lady to sit with me and listen as I prattle on about everything and nothing." He turned to smile at Katherine. "It does my empty heart good."
Katherine managed a sweet but sad smile. "Then I promise to be that young lady but only until Andrew returns Annalise to your side."
"I shall hold you to that promise."
Raoul and Katherine sat together, wistfully quiet in the still summer morning. A million hopes and prayers hung like unfallen tears carried along on the light humid breeze that blew past. They swirled and danced by, moving on towards a promise that waited just beyond the horizon. They bowed the bright summer flowers in respectful homage to the One who waited above with open arms to receive them. They blew past the manicured grounds, past the cities, past the countryside, up past fluffy clouds, up past vision. They traveled beyond thought, beyond imagination. They whispered right into the ear of God.
"Did you feel that?" Katherine breathed in wonderment.
Raoul could only nod, afraid to speak aloud for fear of killing the speck of true belief that suddenly seemed to take root in his empty soul.
"Oh please," Katherine said as she bowed her head. When she raised her head she found her friend's father looking at her, his hand resting gently over hers.
"I am so very grateful that Annalise has you for her friend," Raoul told her as he leaned in and hugged Katherine. "Thank you," he whispered into her hair, drawing back to give her a weak smile. "What would you say to a cup of tea?"
"I think that would be lovely," Katherine sighed, allowing Raoul to hold her hands, and raise her to her feet. She took the proffered arm. "You'll not say anything?" she wondered. "I really do not wish to cause further trouble or distress."
"My dear, sweet child, this shall be our special memory and ours alone," Raoul assured her.
"Thank you," Katherine replied as she walked alongside Raoul through the gardens and back towards the house.
At that same moment, Tomas was also walking through gardens belonging to the de Chagny family. He had no concerns about being seen by anyone who lived in their country home for he was known and trusted. He was the one who looked in on Madame Adele to ensure that she had everything she needed. He was the one who brought her the lovely roses from her eccentric neighbor. Tomas had no fear as he moved past the house and towards the stables on the far side of the estate. He slipped easily into the building, moving past the horses who snorted as he walked by, quietly opening the door to the tack room, slipping in without notice. "Regine," he addressed the man who was bent over a saddle.
The man turned around, the astonished look on his face quickly replaced by one of irritation. "Tomas," he grumbled. "How many times do I have to tell you to knock first?"
Tomas closed the door behind him. "I did not mean to sneak in like a common thief .."
"You were never common," Regine, the estate steward, said with a snort.
"True enough," Tomas replied with a grin and then grew serious. "I need your help."
Regine cocked his head to one side.
"Are you aware of what has happened to Mademoiselle de Chagny?"
Regine looked shocked. "We know and have been instructed to keep it from Madame Adele. Her doctors do not think that her heart would take the news of what has befallen her great-niece. What do you know about it?"
"Andrew is with Erik," Tomas paused, trying to remember the social niceties. "I meant to say Monsieur Cameron is with Monsieur Lachaise at this very moment and we know where Mademoiselle is being kept."
It took but a moment for Regine to act. His face grew red and he began to twist the rag he held into a tight, possibly deadly weapon. He took two steps forward and stopped, his anger visible. "What? You know where Mademoiselle is and you have not told anyone? Do you have any idea what they are saying about the Vicomte and his wife?" He took another step forward. "Do you have any idea what this is doing to them and their family?" Another step. "And you have Monsieur Andrew hidden away in that black hole you call home with that strange man?" Another step. "And you have not returned Mademoiselle to her family?" The next step brought him face-to-face with Tomas. "Tell me why I should not wring your despicable neck?" Regine asked as he held the twisted rag in front of Tomas' eyes.
Tomas did not flinch or blink or betray any emotion. "Damn their manners," he muttered under his breath. Then more loudly, "Andrew came to our black hole of a home seeking help. His sister told him that Erik and Mademoiselle de Chagny were acquainted."
"Even if that were true," Regine spit out, "why would the young man think the two of you could help?" He snorted. "Not to mention that it is nice to know that the man who has taken you in actually has a name."
"There are things you do not know and I do not have the time to explain," Tomas explained, his patience growing thin, ignoring the last comment. "Are you going to put that thing down or shall I break your neck and do what I need to do without your help?"
Regine breathed heavily for a moment, his mouth set hard, his eyes glittering. Slowly he lowered the twisted rag he held. "Talk quickly before I change my mind."
"Andrew came through our door five mornings ago and told what happened. I was sent to discover what I could. I know where Mademoiselle is but I could do nothing at the time for if I had, she and I both might have been killed and what good would that have done?"
"None, I suppose," Regine admitted somewhat reluctantly.
"I returned last night and know that we know where Mademoiselle is, we are going to go after her. That is why we need your help."
Regine finally managed a strained smile and nodded. "You have it; there is nothing I would not do for this family. What do you need?"
"The new chaise and Diana and Mercury."
There was a stunned silence.
"Are you insane!" Regine blurted out. "Do you have any idea what you are asking? Those horses are valuable breeding stock! If anything happens to them ..."
Tomas interrupted him. "They are the fastest horse flesh within a day's ride. Erik wants to get Mademoiselle home as quickly as possible."
It took only a moment of thought for Regine to understand and accept the request. "I do not think an unknown driver will be able to get through the front gate of the main home, not now; and you would not be able to handle Diana and Mercury." Regine thought for a moment. "I shall come with you. I can drive the chaise and handle the horses. Plus I am known and trusted and would have no difficulty getting through the main gates. There is nothing I would like better than to aid in bringing Mademoiselle home."
Tomas nodded. "I think it is very wise." He gave a strange little laugh. "I do not think we had even thought of it." He gathered himself together. "Right. Mademoiselle is being held about five hours from here. We plan on leaving around three in the afternoon; be at the monastery shortly before then."
Regine extended his hand and Tomas clasped it warmly. "Count on me."
"Uh ..." Tomas started and stopped.
"What is it?" Regine wondered.
"What are they saying about the Vicomte and his wife?" Tomas asked, knowing that Erik would want to know.
"What is it you think they are saying? Their son was gravely wounded and their daughter has been missing for nigh on a week." Regine shook his head. "I do not approve of listening to gossip but I had the same question. I was told that there is a great silence at the house. They said that the Vicomte and his wife are so lost in their grief that they barely speak anymore. I hate to hear this. I truly hate to hear this. They are very good to all their retainers and I remember their children fondly." He fixed Tomas with an intense gaze. "I hope that is what you wanted to know."
"I was not asking out of mere curiosity," Tomas assured him. "I know that Andrew has been concerned." It was not the entire truth but Tomas had a benefactor to protect.
Regine ran a hand through salt and pepper hair. "Accept my apologies, Tomas. The news from Paris has been devastating and it is twice as hard as we try to keep it from Madame Adele." He pursed his lips and nodded his head. "I shall see you later this afternoon."
"Till then," Tomas said as he left as quietly as he had entered.