Chapter Summary: As the doctor tends to Annalise, Raoul struggles to find the words to tell Christine her Angel saved their child. Andrew and Regine also find themselves struggling with their words to Inspector Berube as they try to keep The Phantom's name out of what happened and themselves out of custody.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
"Annalise," Christine said as the bedroom door closed and she walked over to sit on the bed where her daughter was curled beneath light linen bedding.
"Maman?" came the worried, whispered reply as a head peeked out from the sheets.
Christine gently stroked her daughter's head. "Yes, it is Maman." She smiled as Annalise focused on her face. "There is someone here to see you."
Annalise looked from her mother to the man waiting by the door. "No!" she squeaked and burrowed back under the sheets. "Andrew promised. He said I could go home. Do not let him take me away! Please, I promise to be good."
"Annalise, I am your mother and I promise you that no one will ever take you away again," Christine said with the patience only a mother knows. She laid a hand on her daughter's shoulder only to feel Annalise move further away. "No one is going to hurt you." A head once again came out from under the sheets; Annalise looked at her mother with fear and uncertainty. Christine smiled at her. "Annalise, I am going to make you a promise and you must believe me when I tell you this thing." There was no response. "Yes?"
"Yes," Annalise said nervously.
"No one," Christine said emphatically as she laid a hand on her daughter's cheek, "no one is ever going to hurt you or take you away again. I will not allow it to happen. If there is anyone who wants to get near to you, they will have to get past me and your father."
"Papa?"
"Papa," Christine sighed. "Do you believe me?" Christine held her breath as she watched Annalise study her face, seeing fear warring with longing. She finally drew a breath as Annalise nodded her head. "Thank you, my sweet. Now, I want you to know that the man by the door is Doctor Nesselien. Do you remember him? He is your doctor and fixed your runny noses when you were small. You were always such a good girl for him that he would give you little sweets. Remember?"
"I was a good girl," Annalise replied, a cross between a statement and a question.
"You were always a good girl," Christine told her and smiled a bit more broadly as Annalise slowly began to emerge from her linen cocoon. "Doctor Nesselien would like to just look at you to ensure that you are not ill. Can you let him do that?"
"You will not let me go?"
"I will not let you go." Christine sat on the bed and waited as Annalise moved next to her, wrapping her arms around her mother's waist. Christine draped one arm protectively about her daughter's shoulders and motioned for the doctor to come over.
Annalise eyed the newcomer warily and tightened her hold on her mother.
"Hello, Annalise," Dominic said softly as he approached, moving slowly and cautiously so as not to frighten the girl on the bed. He gave a quick appraisal of Annalise's overall condition and there was no doubt that she had been beaten. Annalise's movements let him know that she had no broken bones. Dominic glanced at the burns and cuts about her wrists and knew he would need to dress them. "I would like to feel your forehead so that I may see if you are running a temperature," Dominic told Annalise. "May I do that?"
Annalise looked to her mother.
"It will be fine," Christine assured her.
Annalise turned back to the doctor. "You will not hit me?" she worried.
"Your mother will not permit me to do any such thing," Dominic told her and gave Annalise a small smile as she nodded at him. He reached out and laid a hand against her forehead, drawing it away as he felt her begin to tremble. "Thank you. Would you be able to sit up for me so that I can look at your throat?"
"I am frightened," Annalise whispered, turning to her mother. "I think he tried to kill me."
Christine hugged her daughter. "I will be right here, my babe."
Annalise still was not sure.
"If I promise to only use one hand and keep the other in my pocket?" Dominic tried. He waited as Annalise moved her legs from underneath the sheets and swung them over the edge of the bed. Dominic noticed that Christine kept her arm protectively about her daughter and Annalise kept her hands wrapped around her mother's free one. He carefully placed a hand in his pocket and gently felt the swollen tissues of Annalise's throat. "Does it hurt to swallow?" he asked.
"Yes," Annalise told him. "I sound funny."
Dominic looked down her throat as Annalise opened her mouth for him. He smiled at her as he straightened. "I think you are going to sound funny for some time longer. The swallowing and any difficulty in breathing should ease as the bruising disappears and the swelling goes down." Dominic bent over, reaching into his medical bag, pulling out a stethoscope. "I would like to listen to your lungs if may?"
"Where?" Annalise wondered.
Dominic laid a hand on his chest. "I need to listen to them here," he told her.
Annalise tried to pull away from her mother "No, no, no," she cried breaking into sobs that gave way to deep coughs.
Christine drew her daughter closer as Annalise buried her head in her mother's shoulder. "Annalise, what is wrong?" She watched as her daughter shook her head. "Annalise, I am your mother and I am not going to let anyone do anything to you that you do not wish." When Annalise did not move, Christine leaned in so that she could whisper in her daughter's ear. "Can you tell me why you do not want the doctor to listen to your lungs?" There was no answer. "Annalise, I am not going to let anyone hurt you."
"Maman," came the pained whisper, "he had his hands there and he tried to ... he tried to ..." Annalise cried silently into her mother's shoulder.
More pieces of her heart breaking at her daughter's words, Christine bit back her own tears. "It is all right," she whispered as she stroked Annalise's hair. She raised her eyes to Dominic and shook her head slightly.
Dominic gave Christine a slight nod of acknowledgement and put his stethoscope bag into his bag. "Annalise, I will not listen to your lungs. I would, though, like to put something on those cuts on your wrists and ankles to make them feel better."
"It will feel better?" Annalise asked as she looked at the doctor from the corner of her eye.
"I promise," Dominic replied and reached into his bag for the salve and bandages he always kept there. He worked slowly and cautiously so as not to upset his patient any more than was necessary. He could feel Annalise tremble as he worked the creamy substance into the wounds around her wrists and ankles. Dominic took extra care as he wound the bandages around the cuts and burns, not pulling them too tightly, watching the tears fall down Annalise's cheeks the entire time. "You are an incredibly brave young lady," Dominic told her as he stood.
"I am?" Annalise asked as she looked at him.
"Yes, you are." Dominic replied. "Now, may I borrow your mother for a few moments if I promise to give her back to you."
Annalise bit her bottom lip, her chin trembling. "Will you let her come back?"
Christine turned her daughter's face so that she could look at her. "I will be back, I promise." She gave Annalise a slight smile. "Would you like to see your brothers? I am sure they would like to see you. I can leave Therese here with you and have Leonie fetch them."
"I would like that." Annalise grew silent. "Where is Andrew? He said he killed him and I saw him on the floor and ..."
"Andrew is downstairs, my dear," Christine interrupted her before Annalise could panic. "He is with his sister and I promise that the doctor will see Andrew."
"May I see Katherine, too?" Annalise asked like a small child.
"I am sure that Katherine would like that. I will have her come up to say hello and when the doctor finishes with Andrew, I will bring him to you. Yes?"
"Yes," Annalise told her mother as she let Christine help her back to bed.
Christine tucked the sheets around her daughter and bent over to kiss her. "I will send Therese in; you try to rest." She walked across the room with Dominic, opened the door and called to Therese and Leonie. Christine turned back to see Annalise settle onto the bed as Therese entered the room. Christine gently closed the door behind her and turned to Leonie. "Can you please get my sons and Katherine? Annalise would like to see them but one at a time and tell them to be calm and quiet. They must do nothing to frighten her."
"I shall go at once," Leonie said happily.
"How is she?" Raoul wondered as he finally looked up from the chair where he sat.
"We must talk," Dominic told him.
Christine opened the door next to the chair where Raoul sat. "We can speak in here without interruption." Dominic entered the sitting room. Christine stopped Raoul as he entered. "Are you all right?"
"No," Raoul told her; it was the truth.
Christine sighed and closed the door behind her husband, reaching out for his hand as they faced the doctor.
"How bad is it?" Raoul wanted to know.
"You were right; she was beaten," Dominic said with a shake of his head, watching as Raoul's mouth flattened into a tense line. "I cannot see any evidence of broken bones, though, and that is a very good thing. I wish I could have listened to her lungs but by the sound of her coughs, I would hazard a guess that there is congestion; plus she is running a slight fever. I have done what I can for the burns about her wrists and ankles."
"Why is she so confused?" Christine wanted to know. She watched as Raoul and Dominic exchanged looks, Raoul lowering his eyes. "What are you not telling me?"
"She has been heavily drugged," Raoul said as he turned to look at his wife.
"Why?" Christine asked incredulously.
"I do not have that answer for you."
Christine turned her attention back to Dominic. "What does this mean?"
"It means the next few days are going to be very difficult as the drug works its way out of Annalise's body." Dominic told her. "She is already in a weakened state from a lack of food and the fever which I am sure is a result of the night spent in the rain."
"What?" Christine interrupted. She looked up at Raoul who was shaking his head.
"He gave her nothing but the drug, Christine," Raoul said as gently as he knew how, "and he left her in the rain one night."
Christine closed her eyes in pain. "Oh, my poor baby!" she said softly.
"I have seen withdrawal before," Dominic continued, "when I was a young medical student. It is very painful for the patient. They have trouble sleeping; there are wild mood swings, nausea and fever. I would be lying if I said I did not have concerns for how this may adversely affect your daughter's continued health."
"We shall just have to see that it does not," Christine said, her determination evident in every syllable.
"I would like to stay, if I may," Dominic said. "I have a new young partner who can tend our regular patients, whether they approve or not. I would feel much better about Annalise if I were here to see her through this."
"Whatever you ask," Raoul told him, "but what of your wife?"
"She is the wife of a physician; she will understand." Dominic crossed the room and laid a hand on each of them. "Who is this Andrew you wish me to see?"
"He is the young man who brought Annalise home," Christine said.
"I shall go and see to Andrew, gather my things and be back as soon as possible. You must try to get Annalise to sleep before she cannot."
"We will do what we can," Raoul assured him. "I believe you will find Andrew in the library."
"I can see myself out," Dominic said as he left the room.
"Raoul," Christine said as the door closed and her voice broke.
Raoul gathered his wife into his arms, letting her cry into his shoulder. He did not know for how long they stood there, gathering comfort, shedding fears, the emotions of a shared lifetime flooding over and through them. Raoul was deep in his own thoughts, trying to find a way to tell Christine that her angel had saved their child, had succeeded where he had once again failed, when he heard her calling his name. "I am sorry," Raoul told Christine as he returned to the world around him. "I did not hear you."
"I want to know if Andrew told you anything else." Christine asked again, shaking her head. "Raoul, Annalise has bruises everywhere! She has said things and I am afraid that he might have ..."
"No," Raoul interrupted, softly and emphatically. "He did not."
"Andrew told you?" Christine wondered and watched as her husband nodded. "How can he be sure?"
"I believe what he says." She needed to know; she had a right to know. Raoul closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his courage. "Christine," he began, "there was someone else who aided Andrew ..."
A knock at the door stopped Raoul before he could tell Christine that there really was a guardian Angel in their daughter's life.
"Come," Christine said.
Richard opened the door. "I do not wish to interrupt but Rachel said you were in here. Inspector Berube is downstairs with Andrew and Regine; I thought you would want to know," he told his father.
"I need to be there," Raoul told Christine.
"Go," Christine replied. "Annalise needs Andrew; I do not know what it will do to her if Andrew becomes entangled with the law and cannot be with her." Christine reached out for Raoul as he walked out the door and waited until he turned to her. "We are not finished though; I know there is something you are not telling me."
Raoul laid a hand on his wife's arm. "There is something and I will tell you," he promised, "but I need to guard Andrew's interests at the moment." He walked out the door and down the stairs, grateful for the extra time gained before he needed to tell Christine the truth about who had really saved Annalise. It was time that he could use to formulate the words he needed to say. Yet Raoul had other worries at the moment; he worried about how to guard Andrew and Regine from the law while explaining the disappearance of Michaud. There was still another to guard Raoul's mind reminded him as he opened the door into the library.
I cannot believe I am protecting that man, Raoul thought to himself in amazement as he entered the library.
Inspector Berube was scrutinizing Andrew and Regine from a position of authority as he stood by the window, notepad in hand, a uniformed gendarme by his side. He raised his eyes at the sound of the door opening.
"Inspector," Raoul said as he walked into the library and went to stand behind the chairs were Andrew and Regine were seated.
It was a move not lost on the inspector. "Monsieur le Vicomte, may I say how very relieved we all are that your daughter has been returned safely. I hope she is well after her ordeal."
"Thank you, my daughter is as well as can be expected," Raoul replied with a slight incline of his head. "She is resting under her mother's care."
Inspector Berube took careful note of the gentle warning and knew he would not be speaking with the young woman. "I pray you will convey our wishes for her speedy recovery and our regards to Madame la Comtesse."
"I shall and I know they will be thankful for them," Raoul assured him and turned his attention to Andrew. "You have seen the doctor?"
Andrew briefly looked over his shoulder. "Yes sir, thank you. He wrapped my bruised ribs and cleansed my head wound. I am not expecting any further problems."
"I am glad to hear it." Raoul placed one of his hands on the back of each chair. "I hope I am not interrupting."
The inspector did not miss the unspoken message - these men are under my protection. "I was just inquiring of these two gentlemen how it was they were able to do what my trained men were not."
"I have the same question," Raoul lied, his voice calm and even, betraying no emotion.
It was Regine who answered. "When word reached us of what had happened, I felt as if I had to do something to aid the family who had always dealt with me in a fair and honest manner. I knew of a man who occasionally stayed in the caravans that passed through the woods. I sought him out, found him and sent him to gather what information he could."
The inspector raised a quizzical eyebrow. "This man of whom you speak, he did this willingly?"
Regine drew a breath, sitting a bit straighter. "I do not wish to admit this in front of the Vicomte but I found this man years ago sleeping in our stables. I was moved by his plight and in a moment of weakness, I agreed to let him work for food and a roof over his head. He would not remain permanently but the times he passed through Saumur I would let him stay in the stables."
"We will speak of this later," Raoul told him for the inspector's benefit and wondered if any of what he had just heard was true.
Inspector Berube turned his attention to Andrew. "What of you, Monsieur Cameron? I have heard how you chased after the coach but you have yet to say how you knew where to find Monsieur Trombley."
"I knew of the de Chagny country estate from conversations I had shared with my sister, Monsieur and Mademoiselle de Chagny." Andrew sighed. "I also have an admission that is awkward to speak. I left Paris several weeks ago in an effort to find a small vineyard to purchase. I was hoping to show Mademoiselle de Chagny that I was earnest in my wish to spend the rest of my life with her."
This was something that Raoul had not heard before.
"That is how I knew my way around the darkened country roads," he explained. "When I came to that crossroads and saw the sign for Saumur, I knew where I needed to go," Andrew ended.
"So you went to the de Chagny country estate, spoke to Monsieur Trombley who sent this unknown man into the caravan camps and that is how you knew where to find Mademoiselle; am I correct?" Inspector Berube asked. He waited as the two men nodded. "I am expected to believe this? Am I also expected, Monsieur Cameron, that you did not think to send word back to Paris regarding your actions?"
Andrew shook his head. "I am deeply sorry for my lack of consideration but I truly could not think beyond my desire to find Mademoiselle de Chagny."
"It is - perhaps - understandable," Inspector Berube said softly and finished, "but not forgivable. You have answered my first question. Now, I assume that this unknown man was the one who told you where to find mademoiselle."
"Yes," Regine replied. "He discovered through his connections how to find the place where Mademoiselle was behing held. He returned three days later. We left the day after he came to us with the news and we rode through the evening. I left that man with the horses and carriage. I went through the back door and Monsieur Cameron through the front."
"The stairs creaked as I was going up and Deschene came running down the upstairs hall," Andrew continued. "We fought on the staircase and he overpowered me. I ended up at the bottom of the staircase, my ribs bruised and my shoulder dislocated."
"I heard the noise from the back of the house," Regine went on. "I raced through and found Monsieur Cameron; he instructed me to get to Mademoiselle. I went up the stairs and struggled with Deschene, as well; I am accustomed to physical labor and overpowered him. I took Mademoiselle down the stairs to Monsieur Cameron"
"What of Deschene? Is there a name to this mysterious man aided you?" There was no answer. "I am afraid I must leave with the answers or both of you will be leaving with me." Inspector Berube looked at Raoul. "I must have answers Monsieur le Vicomte, and with all due respect, you cannot change that fact."
Raoul kept a calm outward demeanor belying his inner turmoil. He wondered how Andrew and Regine would answer the inspector to his satisfaction and without betraying Erik. That man again, Raoul thought in exasperation. I may be in his debt but I will tell the truth if it means keeping Andrew and Regine out of custody.
"The man who I befriended is named Tomas - he never offered a last name and I did not ask. Tomas had left some of his acquaintances to watch the house," Regine told the inspector. "They were holding the horses for us. I had just gotten Monsieur Cameron and Mademoiselle into the carriage when Deschene came bursting out the door after us. The horses were startled and they were struggling to hold them."
"Deschene was crazed," Andrew said, a frown creasing his brow. "I know of no other word to describe him. He was frightening in his strength and determination. Regine was doing his best to keep him from the carriage and Mademoiselle de Chagny. She was very frightened and I could do nothing but keep her close, trusting to the others to find a way to restrain Deschene."
"How was this restraint accomplished?" Inspector Berube wondered.
"It was not," Regine replied.
"Pardon me?" Raoul interjected. He had been so intent upon his concerns regarding The Phantom that he had not been listening closely to what was being said. His outburst caused Andrew and Regine to turn for a moment to look at him. "Pray, excuse me."
"Certainly," Inspector Berube said, taking note of the unexpected reaction from the young woman's father. It boded well for the two men seated in front of him. He turned his attention back to Regine. "Please, continue."
"I was doing my best to keep Deschene from gaining access to the carriage when Tomas and another came to my assistance." Regine sat quietly for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. "I think it was too much for him to try to take on three of us and he ran into the surrounding woods; Tomas and the other man hard on his heels. That is the last that I know of him for I jumped into the carriage and raced to bring Mademoiselle home."
"I see," the inspector replied thoughtfully and turned his attention to Andrew. "Is this how you understand the facts?"
"Yes sir," Andrew replied.
There was a long, pregnant silence in the room as Inspector Berube studied his notebook. He knew that three sets of eyes were studying him, waiting and worrying as to what he was thinking, planning. The inspector closed his notebook and raised his eyes to the three men across from him. "I cannot say that I am happy that this man has gotten away. I will need Monsieur Trombley to give a detailed location of the place where Mademoiselle was kept so that we may begin searching for Monsieur Deschene. I believe I have the answers that I need," he started and held up a hand, "for the moment. I am going to report to my superiors what I have heard here today; I guarantee they will not be pleased regarding the lack of knowledge about Deschene's whereabouts. There may be further questions for Monsieur Cameron and Monsieur Trombley but I think I can keep this out of the public eye." He turned his attention to Raoul. "That is the best I can do at this point, Monsieur."
At his words, Regine nodded his head, Andrew closed his eyes and Raoul heaved a silent sigh.
"Thank you, Inspector Berube," Raoul said. He extended his hand as the inspector crossed the room, the gendarme close behind. "Rest assured that Monsieur Trombley will be available upon your request."
"As will I," Andrew added.
"Then I take my leave," the inspector said. "I shall be in touch."
"We await the results of your continuing investigation and hope that you can find this man," Raoul said. "I do not wish to have my daughter worrying over her safety. I also wanted to thank you, again, for you help through this trying time."
"I was just doing my job, Monsieur le Vicomte."
"It was done well, nonetheless," Raoul told him, "and it was greatly appreciated."
Inspector Berube gave a nod of acknowledgement and followed Raoul to the door of the library. As Raoul opened the door, allowing the inspector and the gendarme to leave, a man and a woman were coming down the hall in the opposite direction. Raoul gave them a large smile.
"Ambassador Norris," he said. "I believe there is a young man in here who you have come to see."
"Andrew is all right?" William wanted to know. Raoul nodded and William gave a curt nod. "Thank God; and your daughter?"
"She will be well given time," Raoul replied not willing to believe otherwise. "Thank you." He turned to the library. "Regine, come with me please," he said into the room, waiting as Regine joined him. "We will leave you."
"Katherine?" Abigail wanted to know.
"She is upstairs with my daughter, Madame Norris," Raoul told her. "I will send her to you." He left with Regine as William and Abigail entered the library.
"Cousin William, " Andrew said a bit sheepishly as he stood to face his two older cousins, "Cousin Abigail. I am sorry for any distress I caused you."
"Oh," Abigail said as she crossed the room to gather Andrew in her arms. "It does not matter! You are safe!"
"You are safe," William echoed softly with tight smile and a brief nod. A wave of relief washed over him as he thought of his young cousin's parents and the letter he would now not need to send.