A/N: Another of my favorite chapters. Christine discovers her backbone.
Ch. 29 – Destiny Unfulfilled
Christine stood staring at the grim determination on his face. He meant it. He truly did not need or want her in his life anymore. As much as she had been aware that he might refuse her, she had always deep down believed that the love between them would eventually overcome all barriers. No, this cold rejection she had been unprepared for. Her body was still screaming for his touch, her mind longing to be his wife reading in the window seat looking out over the gardens. But it would never be. He doesn't want me. The words echoed, sounding hollow and barren in her mind. With tears in her eyes, she nodded faintly and began to walk toward the door. She had offered him everything, and was leaving with nothing.
His head was still bowed as she walked quietly past him. She stopped directly behind him and paused. There was something that needed to be said, even if it was never meant to be between them. "Erik, I just want you to know that I think you are the most beautiful, extraordinary person I have ever met, whether you have half of a face or a whole one." With her heart breaking all over again and with every ounce of her will, she turned and began to walk down the hallway, hot tears nearly blinding her. She retrieved her wrap from the cloakroom and hurried toward the front door. Just as she was about to leave, she heard him call out her name and she stopped but did not turn around, hoping desperately that he had come to his senses.
His words did not relieve her distress, however, as she had hoped. "Christine, as eager as I am to put all this behind us, I can not in good conscious allow you to return home alone at this late hour. A woman such as you would be in danger walking the streets unaccompanied at night." The formality and composure of his tone was maddening. The strain of the evening was beginning to wear on her. She was hurt and angry and felt suddenly that if she did not remove herself immediately from this place that was so full of him, she would surely go insane. "Thank you, monsieur, but I have been taking care of myself for the past three years, and I am perfectly capable of doing so now." Her voice was cool and she began again toward the door.
In three quick steps, he was behind her with his hand on her arm. "Christine, please. Despite everything that has happened between us, I do not wish you any harm. Please stay. You can have one of the guest rooms in the east wing. My own is on the opposite side of the house. There are no servants here tonight, so there will be no idle gossip. In the morning, I will have my driver take you anywhere you wish to go." He turned her to face him, and his eyes seemed gentle now and sincere.
In the end, it was the concern in his voice that finally won her over. She was really not looking forward to walking alone back to the cottage and she realized that she was in fact very tired. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "All right," she sighed in resignation.
Erik's eyebrow rose slightly, amusement playing over his fine features as his long fingers toyed idly with a wayward curl that had fallen over her shoulder. "Strange, you sound so resigned to your fate, and yet moments ago I could have sworn you wanted to stay here with me." His tone was soft and mocking, and his eyes held a wicked gleam, taunting her with her own obvious desire for him.
But Christine had had enough of his torment. She stepped forward until her body was pressed against his own, leaning up to whisper seductively in his ear "You are right, Erik. I would like nothing more than to spend this night making love to you. Imagine the pleasure we could have brought each other," she breathed gently in his ear, smiling in satisfaction as she felt his breath catch and saw his pulse quicken visibly at the side of his throat.
Backing away with a smirk to match his own she countered coolly, "But as you have made it so abundantly clear, you are no longer affected by me in that way." She watched him flinch visibly in surprise as her own barb found its mark. "So if you would kindly direct me to my room, I will reluctantly accept your hospitality for this night and leave as you requested first thing in the morning." She lifted her long skirts and began up the stairway to the east wing. Looking back over her shoulder, she had to suppress a giggle as she saw him standing exactly where she had left him staring after her in amazement. She had rendered the mighty Erik speechless! Her smile widened at her tiny victory and she carried it with her all the way up the magnificent staircase. Finally, he found his voice, "Second door on your right." She nodded without looking back. "Goodnight Erik, sleep well," she called merrily, knowing full well neither of them would sleep this night.