Chapter 6: Surprise Guests
The next day Anna laid in bed, her hair draped over her shoulders and over her pillow. She did not feel like getting out of bed, but knew Erik would send Marie up. She looked to her right to see a single beam of light peeking through her close curtains and then felt a bliss of happiness.
" Perhaps Papa will see that Mademoiselle Giry is the one he wants," Anna thought, " she would make a beautiful bride for Papa."
Marie came in and looked at Anna and shook her head.
" Your father isn't happy with you young lady," Marie said, " he wishes to see you once your dress."
" When is he ever happy Marie?" Anna said
Marie pulled back the curtains and pulled out a Sapphire blue dress, with matching hair ornaments.
" Your father is happy Anna, he's engaged to a beautiful woman," Marie said, " Mean, but beautiful."
" You know as good as I, that he lacks the feelings for that woman," Anna said
Marie pulled back the covers and Anna got out and she began to dress. Anna sighed and smiled a little as Marie did her hair.
" You are smiling, what is it this time?" Marie asked
" Oh, I'm helping Papa see that he does not love Mademoiselle Murrell," Anna replied
Anna did her make-up and sprayed some foreign perfume from the East, then went on her way. She walked down to the dinning room where Erik was sitting. He held the paper up to his face so she did not see his anger.
" What angers you Papa more, the fact that I ran off to Paris, or that you can't control that woman?" Anna asked
Erik pulled the paper down and looked at his daughter then sipped his coffee.
" You are not permitted to go any further than the grounds that you stand on. Your horse is off limits and your ideas of Paris should just become nothing more than dreams," Erik said
" Papa, please I did nothing wrong," Anna pleaded, " I rode to Paris because you wouldn't let me. I found out your fear for Paris. Papa why didn't you tell me that they hated you."
Erik looked at his daughter and rose from the table. He snapped his fingers and had the servants take his plate.
" I am not discussing my personal life with you Anna," Erik hissed, " That is my business and mine alone. Do you understand?"
Anna remained quiet and Erik stopped his foot and she looked at him.
" Meg Giry is in love with you and you tossed her to the side like old boots," Anna cried
Erik's eyes filled with anger and he held it back and turned away.
" Papa your not happy with Mademoiselle Murrell, you felt she would marry you because she understood you; but your marrying the wrong woman for that. Mademoiselle Giry grieves for you and there was hope in her eyes that night when she saw you."
" Anna," Erik said
" She wants to be close to you Papa," Anna said
" Stop this at once Anna," Erik growled
" No, you listen to your heart and when you do then you will see," Anna whimpered
She rose from where she sat and took off running towards her. She shut the door hard to let her father know she was upset. She cried only wishing that she could let him see.
Erik sighed and sat down, he traced the porcelain mask then threw his napkin down.
" Damn it!" he growled
Erik climbed the grand staircase and as he did there was a knock on the door. He stopped and turned to see if the butler got it.
" Bonjour Mademoiselle," the butler's voice came
" Bonjour, is the Comte Sanxay here?" a soft voice asked
Erik waited and walked down a step one at a time.
" Yes, come in I shall get him," the butler said
Erik climbed the stairs and the butler called to him, he turned around looking stern as he did all the time.
" Mademoiselle Giry is here to see you," the butler said
" Show her in," Erik said
The butler turned and went to get Meg and brought her. Erik watched her walk in and breathed deep as she stopped.
" Bonjour Erik," she said curtsying
" Bonjour Meg," he whispered
He walked down and reached out his hand and took her small hand into his. He kissed her hand and she looked up at him with her sparkling blue eyes.
" What brings you here?" he asked
" Your daughter invited me," Meg replied softly
" She did?" Erik questioned
Meg nodded and he presented his arm, Meg wrapped her arm around his and from there they began a day together.
Anna watched from her window and smiled as the two chatted away. She felt thrilled to have Meg in her father's presence and he seemed to be the same.
" I suppose your content with yourself?" Marie's voice came
" I suppose I am," Anna replied
" You should think about your actions, your father will not be pleased with this," Marie said
Anna stood up and straighten her dress out and then looked at Marie as she flipped her long blonde hair behind her shoulders. Her blue satin ribbon was tied into her golden locks.
" Marie, I will not have my new mother be that bitch," Anna said
Erik walked with Meg as they walked through the gardens, her golden locks sparkled in the sunlight which made Erik drawn to her. She pushed them back and looked at Erik as he stared.
" Is something wrong?" she asked
" No, I was just admiring your hair, it reminds me of my daughter's," Erik said
" I never knew you had a daughter until yesterday. What happen to her mother?" Meg asked
" She passed away when she was 14," Erik replied
" Did you love her dearly?" Meg asked
Erik was silent and sighed and then changed the subject about the love of his suppose dead wife. It was humanly impossible that Erik was married when Anna was 18. He was still in the opera house and he had never been with a woman at all. Erik in fact had not even slept with Mademoiselle Murrell leaving him an untouched man at his tender age of 40.
Meg looked at Erik to feel that he was in thought of something. She reached up and touched his face.
" I knew it was you that night at the de Chagny ball," Meg said, " I just didn't want to say anything that would make you pull away."
" I wouldn't have with drew…I had already made my statement to the hostess and was proud," Erik said
The two did not break for lunch and Anna sat on the veranda watching them. She told the maids to bring them a basket of wine, cheese, and bread. The maids did just that and Erik and Meg laid out a blanket by the pond behind the estate. Erik laid down and propped himself up to have bread and cheese with the wine. Meg looked at him as he ate and she smiled.
" You are much calmer here than at the Opera Populaire," Meg said
" I have more freedom here," Erik replied, " I am not trapped in despair."
Erik and Meg became more flirty after a few glasses of wine and emptied the bottle. Meg looked at Erik and reached over and touched his face, she stroked his suave cheek as she smiled.
" You're very handsome," she whispered
She got closer to Erik and Erik looked at Meg seeing the effects of alcohol in the wine. He too felt them and looked at Meg as she came close to him.
" I would gladly give myself to you," she whispered nearing his lips
" I believe you are a little drunk Mademoiselle," Erik whispered
" If I am drunk than I shall kiss you and not remember," she replied
Meg did just as she said and pressed her soft lips against Erik's to only find Erik did not hesitate in kissing her back. They were locked lips for several minuets before Erik gently laid Meg back on the blanket and leaned over her. This little passion kissing was not from the alcohol, but from deep feelings.
Meg looked at Erik as he pulled away and looked at Meg with something in his eyes.
" I should not do this," Erik whispered
" Erik," she whispered, " I understand your engaged."
Erik sat up from leaning over Meg and he looked at her as she laid there. He felt a over whelming feeling of deep desire for her. She was laying there perfectly and giving off all the right signals for him to continue. Meg sat up and touched his face and Erik looked at Meg then turned away.
" I longed for companionship," Erik whispered, " my fiancée has that aura around her. I can not deny that."
Meg slid over to Erik and wrapped her arms around him.
" I should leave, it was wrong for me to come here," Meg said
Erik grabbed her hands and kissed them and Meg looked at Erik.
" Is there a place for me in your heart," she asked
Erik turned to her and stared into her eyes.
" I barely know you as a woman Meg," Erik replied, " I know you as little Giry."
" But I am a woman Erik," Meg whispered, " I have grown into one."
" Yes," Erik whispered, " you are one, but I can not have you."
Meg nodded and Erik looked at her. She sighed as he stood up and picked up the basket and the blanket. She stood up and wrapped an arm around his free arm. They still remained in conversation as they approached the house and Erik saw Anna reading on the veranda. He opened the door for Meg and let her in then looked at his daughter. Anna looked up and smiled at her father.
" Mademoiselle Giry is here," Erik said
" I know Papa," Anna replied with a smile
Anna stood up and walked over to him and kissed her father's cheek. Erik looked at her as she walked in then followed her into the second grand hall way of his estate. Meg and Anna started a conversation and Erik was suddenly left out. He sighed and followed the two young women.
It was 3 o'clock when there was a second knock. The butler opened the door and a young man asked for Erik. The butler went off to retrieve him and found him in the library bored out of his mind as the women talked.
" Monsieur there is someone here to see you," the butler said
Erik nodded and excused himself from the women's presence. He was relieved to not hear about the local gossip that the women were into.
" Bored monsieur?" the butler asked
" Yes," Erik replied, " Women cackle like hens when they are together and a man can stand so much."
As they came to the foyer Erik saw the gentleman and the young man gave a bow.
" Monsieur Sanxay," the young man said
" Monsieur Dautry," Erik replied
" I didn't disturb anything did I?" he asked
" No, in fact you saved me from the common woman's gossip. What can I do for you Monsieur?" Erik remarked then asked
The young man lifted a letter from his coat jacket and Erik took it.
" Its from another contractor which asked for your expertise, I spoke with him over dinner yesterday in Paris. He wishes for you to look over his plans in Berlin," Monsieur Dautry informed
" I suppose he wishes me to leave soon," Erik sighed
" He knows you just got back from your last trip in the East a month ago," Monsieur Dautry remarked, " But he said he is in need of your services and will pay greatly if you come to his aid."
" How long?" Erik asked
" 6 weeks," Monsieur Dautry replied
Erik sighed and stuck the letter in his coat pocket.
" I will leave only if I may take my daughter with me," Erik replied, " I can not leave until after the engagement party. Tell him that and I will leave soon after."
" Yes, Monsieur," Dautry replied
Anna and Meg walked out the library and walked down the hall to see what was taking Erik so long.
" Papa," Anna said
Erik turned and put out his hand to welcome Anna and she glided towards her father.
" Monsieur Dautry, My daughter Anna," Erik introduced, " My dearest little treasure."
" Pleasure Mademoiselle," he replied
She looked at him and smiled and giggled.
" Roland isn't it?" Anna remarked, " A man of such fine standards."
" Anna," Erik sternly said
" It's alright Monsieur Sanxay, we have informally introduced ourselves," he replied
Anna looked at Erik as he looked at her.
" Monsieur Dautry helped me find Mademoiselle Giry's place in Paris. He told me he was a servant," Anna said
Erik looked at Roland, then Anna as they looked at each other.
" I see," Erik said
A maid walked out and waited for them.
" Will the young man be staying for dinner Monsieur Sanxay?" she asked
" It is up to Monsieur Dautry," Erik said
Erik turned to the young man and he nodded, the maid gave a nod then walked off.
" Come, there is much to see," Erik said
He presented his arm to Anna and Meg.
" Papa, if you don't mind I would like to walk with Monsieur Dautry," Anna said
Erik looked at his little treasure and said, " Very well, Monsieur would you escort my daughter?"
Roland nodded and presented his arm to Anna, she gladly took his arm and the four of them went for a walk. Erik escorting Meg and Roland escorting Anna.
" Is that your father's fiancée?" Roland whispered
" No, she is his affair," Anna whispered back
" Oh, I see," Roland said, " she's much younger than he, but they seem to enjoy each other's company."
Anna smiled and looked at Roland then stopped and he looked at her. She gestured to take another path around the house and let the affair continue without company.
" You couldn't fool me," Anna said, " I recognized your face right away."
" You are a very sharp girl, your father has taught you well," Roland remarked
As the evening was setting in, there was much to say, but little sunlight to say it. Roland and Anna spent their evening out on the veranda while Erik and Meg sat beneath the starts on a bench. Meg looked at Erik and stroked his cheek and then this time there was no hesitation in their kiss. Erik kissed Meg with love and compassion and she did the same.