A Place In My Heart

Chapter Nine

"I'm taking you all out to lunch today." Nadir announced.

"Really? Where?" Meg asked excitedly, buttering her toast.

"There's a rather fine restaurant in town, if I remember correctly. You can try some proper English cuisine."

"It's very much the same as French cuisine." Erik commented and Nadir waved a dismissive hand at him.

"No, Erik, when you've travelled as much as I have, you begin to appreciate the different tastes of the countries."

"In which case, we shall leave it up to your fine tastes since Meg and Christine won't be able to read the menus." Marie commented. Nadir smiled brightly.

"I'll make sure they order something nice."

Christine smiled and sipped some tea. Erik looked down at her.

"Are you alright?" He asked quietly and she nodded with a smile.

"Yes. Stop fussing."

"Monsieur Dumas? Fussing?" Meg grinned. Erik cleared his throat.

"Little Giry, you know that you may call me Erik from now on. And I'm not fussing."

"Yes, you are." Christine said quickly. Meg giggled at the irritated look on Erik's face and Marie said,

"Girls, go and collect your outdoor things. And Meg, do tie your hair back, it's getting everywhere."

Christine and Meg left, chattering amiably. Erik finished his coffee and stood to fetch his cloak whilst Nadir and Marie stood talking about the weather and the breakfast and whether or not it was warm enough yet to wear summer things and a hundred other unimportant things that they seemed to take pleasure in discussing.

Christine and Meg returned to the entrance hall. It was early spring but it was quite sunny, so they had pulled on pretty coats and Christine had wrapped a scarf around her neck as Meg tied her hair back with a ribbon. Marie nodded.

"Much better. Come along, the carriage is waiting."

The carriage sat outside the front doors. Nadir and Marie climbed in first and Nadir helped Meg in. Erik offered his hand to Christine and she accepted it with a smile. The driver closed the door and the carriage set off. Meg sat opposite Christine, by the window and they looked out excitedly at the countryside.

"It looks just the same as France." Meg commented. Christine nodded and looked at Nadir.

"It does."

"I suppose so at first. But I'm sure we'll manage to find a few differences."

"Oh, Christine, I forgot! I learned some English!" Meg said. Christine smiled.

"What?"

Meg said something slowly, concentrating hard.

"What does it mean?" Christine asked curiously.

"It means 'Good day, my name is Meg Giry. How are you today?'"

"Let me try." Christine said. "Say it again, slowly."

Meg repeated the strange words and Christine repeated them. Erik listened in amusement as she said them over to herself.

"It sounds so… strange." She commented.

"Lucinda taught me to say it. I think we'll be able to learn it." Meg said. Christine nodded and repeated the words again.

The town was bustling and Christine found plenty to look at, although she was nearly knocked over by people rushing about their business. Erik took her hand.

"Stay by me, Christine."

They caught up to Nadir, Marie and Meg in the town centre, where Nadir was talking about the history of the town. Christine listened interestedly. They spent most of the morning wandering around the marketplace and admiring the many wares. Christine kept a hold of Erik's hand, listening to the English voices all around her. They stopped by a jewellery stall and Meg poured delightedly over the trinkets. Christine was admiring a silver necklace when the stall owner said something to her. She looked at him apologetically and then shrugged helplessly, making a mental note to learn what "I am sorry, I do not speak English" was.

Luckily Erik stepped forward and began to converse with the man. After a few minutes Erik pointed at the necklace Christine had been looking at and handed some coins to the man. Erik took the necklace and fastened it around Christine's neck. She smiled at him.

"Thank you, Erik." She reached up and kissed his cheek, hugging him. Erik smiled and the stall owner said something, winking at them. Erik looked slightly embarrassed and muttered something before pulling Meg and Christine away.

Nadir was chattering happily and insisted on buying them all small sweets, delicious toffees that glued their teeth together. Christine wrestled with it for a while before managing to swallow.

"That was… interesting."

"Glad you think so." Nadir laughed

They reached the restaurant and Christine looked up at the name of it.

"The… The Tudor Rose." She said, reading the sign. She looked at Erik. "What does it mean?"

"Its do with Henry Tudor, one of the English kings. I'll explain it to you inside." Erik said, opening the door for her.

They were all seated a table and handed menus. Christine stared down at the foreign words helplessly and glanced at Meg. She looked just as confused. Erik smiled and read the names of each dish to them. Christine smiled and then considered the choices.

"What are you having?" She asked Meg.

"Chicken. I know what's in it." Meg whispered. Christine smiled.

"I think I'll join you."

"I'm having the duck." Erik said decisively.

"I think I will as well." Marie decided.

"I'm going to have the roasted beef." Nadir said. He placed their orders with the waiter and Christine looked at Erik.

"Tell me about the Tudor Rose."

Erik began to explain to her about the war of the roses and she listened enraptured. Nadir smiled when he had finished.

"And there's always Henry VIII and his six wives."

"Six wives?" Meg said incredulously.

"Oh yes." Nadir said and told them all about the divorces, beheadings and deaths of the various wives. Christine and Meg stared at in amazement.

"My goodness…" Meg said faintly.

"Nadir Khan?" They looked around and saw a plump, well-dressed woman in her fifties, smiling at him.

"Lady Chanson." Nadir said, standing and kissed her hand, conversing lightly in English. They spoke for several moments, laughing and questioning until Lady Chanson gestured at the rest of the table. Nadir gestured to each person and said something after each name and they stood to greet the woman.

"And Christine Dumas." Nadir said, pointing at Erik, obviously telling the woman that they were married. Christine smiled politely at Lady Chanson who said something to her. Nadir quickly told her that Christine didn't speak English and Lady Chanson said, in fluent French,

"How are you finding England, Madame Dumas?"

"I have not seen much of it yet, but it appears to be a beautiful country." Christine said demurely.

"Well, I must be going. But you must all join me at my home tomorrow night. I'm having a few friends for dinner and I would be delighted if you would join us." Lady Chanson said blusteringly. Nadir smiled.

"We would be overjoyed to join you."

"I will you see you tomorrow."

She disappeared and Nadir sat back down.

"There you are. Formally introduced as a married couple." He told Erik and Christine. Erik raised an eyebrow.

"I notice that you neglected to tell her about yourself and Marie."

"What did you say?" Meg asked.

"I told her that Marie was my good friend, that you were her daughter and that Erik and Christine are close friends of ours." Nadir said, returning to his meal. "And this will be a good chance to meet some members of the English society. But, knowing Lady Chanson, a 'few friends' means half of the county have been invited."

The next evening, Christine pulled on the new dress that Nadir had insisted buying for her, Marie and Meg.

"You're representatives of France and you're going to look wonderful." He had said firmly. Meg laced up the dress with a smile.

"You look lovely, Christine."

"So do you." Christine replied.

"Well, don't look too beautiful, or you'll start attracting attention and Erik will get jealous." Meg winked. Christine smiled and began to brush out her hair.

"It feels so odd, pretending that we're married."

"You might as well be, you never leave his side! You look like the perfectly devoted wife." Meg said, pinning Christine's hair into an elegant style. Christine laughed.

"Perfectly devoted, yes. Wife, no. At least… well, I suppose we are in everyway except on paper."

"And what does paper mean? You love him, he obviously loves you. Who needs a piece of paper telling them what they are or are not?" Meg said firmly.

Christine looked at her reflection thoughtfully.

"You're right, Meg."

"Of course. I always am. There." She finished Christine's hair and smiled. "You look amazing."

The dress was a gorgeous creation of dark red silk. Christine's hair fell, mostly loosely with some pinned up to tumble around her face. Meg tapped her lip and then nodded.

"You look perfect."

"You look beautiful as well, Meg." Christine said, admiring her friend's pale pink dress. Meg laughed.

"Come on, or we'll be late."

They hurried downstairs and found the other three waiting in the entrance hall. Nadir smiled.

"Don't you both look lovely?" Meg and Christine exchanged a smile and as Meg fetched her stole, Christine looked to Erik for a verdict.

"What do you think?" She asked worriedly. He was staring at her. Christine felt her heart sink.

"Erik?"

"You… you look beautiful." He managed to get out eventually. Christine gave a relieved smile.

"Oh, thank God you think so. Don't make me worry like that!"

"Do come along, or we'll be late and that won't make a very good impression." Marie said sternly.

Lady Chanson's home was an enormous house a couple of miles from the town. The five of them were shown to a large room, where at least thirty people were already milling around talking. Lady Chanson spotted them and hurried over to greet them.

"Oh, you all look wonderful! Nadir, darling, the Trysons have been dying to see you again. Why don't you and your charming friend go and speak to them?" She said. Nadir smiled obligingly and offered an arm to both Marie and Meg, the three of them moving off together. Lady Chanson turned to Erik and Christine.

"Monsieur Dumas, Madame Dumas, you must come and meet my close friends."

She led them both to a group of four people, two married couples.

"This is William and Elizabeth Carroll and George and Alice Bennet." Lady Chanson told them before turning to the four and introducing them.

"Erik and Christine Dumas. I'm afraid Christine does not speak English." She told them. Christine understood the basic meaning of what she had said and was pleased when Erik spoke to them. Elizabeth Carroll, a pretty woman in her thirties smiled at Christine.

"When did you arrive in England?" She asked in French.

"Four days ago." Christine replied.

"Do you like England?" William asked. Christine smiled and nodded.

"It is very beautiful. I am trying to learn English, but have not had much chance. Erik has been helping me." She looked up at him and he smiled briefly, his hand placed possessively on the small of her back.
"Have you been married for very long?" George Bennet asked. Erik shook his head.

"But a few weeks. It was a very quick decision."

"How wonderfully romantic." Alice smiled. "George and I have been married for nearly ten years."

Christine was amazed. She must have looked it, for Alice laughed kindly.

"I can assure you, Christine, we have never been happier."

"How did the two of you meet?" Elizabeth asked. Erik and Christine had decided to paint themselves a history, to prevent awkward questions.

"Through mutual friends. We met last year and became very close." Christine said.

"You came to England with Nadir Khan, didn't you?"

"Yes, and with Marie Giry and her daughter, Marguerite." Erik said, gesturing towards the three, who were speaking with some people on the other side of the room.

"Is this your first visit to England, Christine?" Alice asked.

"No, I came once as a child. I visited London."

"And how long do you plan to stay?"

"We are staying for two years."

The conversation turned to the difficulty of the English language and Christine smiled.

"I only started learning yesterday. It is a lovely language, but difficult."

"How much can you speak now?" Elizabeth smiled. Christine laughed.

"Not very much! Some numbers, greetings, introductions. Things that I will be needing straight away."

"Whereabouts in France did you live?"

"Quite far to the South, a few days from Nice." Erik said, being deliberately vague.

"Oh, how lovely! We have friends in Nice, we visited them a couple of times. It's a delightful part of the country." Alice said. She looked at her husband.

"Do you remember, George? Beautiful weather for the whole time we were there."

"It certainly was. And the locals were charming." George agreed.

A bell rang, signalling that dinner was ready. Everyone began to move towards the dining room and the five friends discovered that they had been seated in the places of honour, beside Lady Chanson. Erik moved Christine's chair out for her and she sat with a smile as he took his place beside her.

"Tell me, what do you think of the house?" Lady Chanson asked Meg who smiled sweetly.

"It is a lovely house. You are very lucky to live in so beautiful a home."

"I am indeed, Marguerite." Lady Chanson said fondly. To her credit, Meg didn't even wince at the use of her real name. Lady Chanson's attention turned to Erik and Christine.

"Nadir tells me you've been married for a few weeks now. Did you have a very big wedding?"

"Certainly not, Lady Chanson. It was very small. Just the five of us and a priest." Erik said. Lady Chanson looked surprised.

"No family?"

"Neither Christine nor myself has family living."

"Oh, what a pity. Christine, what was your maiden name? Would I know it?"

"I doubt it, Lady Chanson. My family was not well known." Christine said.

"But what was your name?"

Christine glanced at Erik and then said calmly,

"It was Daae."

"No… no, it sounds familiar but I don't know where from." Lady Chanson said vaguely. Erik smiled down at Christine and she smiled back. His hands clasped hers underneath the table.

"And besides, I consider Nadir, Marie, Meg and Erik to be the only family I could ever need." Christine told Lady Chanson, who smiled.

"How sweet of you. Although, I expect you will be starting your own family soon."

Meg, Marie and Nadir all looked over in amusement, as did most of the table as Christine and Erik began to choke and splutter on their food and drink. When Christine had composed herself, she said,

"We really haven't discussed it yet."

"Oh, but you must start a family! I adore children." Lady Chanson said happily. Erik took a calming breath.

"No… no, we really haven't discussed anything like that yet. We have only been married for a few weeks. It's a little soon." He said firmly. Lady Chanson looked rather disappointed.

The next few weeks were filled with English lessons, seeing the countryside and it's towns and invitations to various dinner parties, teas and other events.

Nearly two months after their arrival, Erik found Christine sat in the library, reading a book in English. He smiled from the doorway as she muttered to herself, struggling to remember the meaning of a particular word.

"What are you reading?" He asked. She looked up in surprise and then smiled.

"Fairy stories."

"Enjoying them?"

"Yes. I can even understand most of it." She said happily. Erik smiled.

"You have been working hard to learn English."

She laughed and stood to put the book back in its place. Erik moved behind her, kissing her temple. She smiled and he said quietly,

"Christine… when we return to France… will you marry me?" Christine turned and looked up at him.

"Really?"

"Yes. I mean… we're married in every other sense. But I would like to make it official." He said. She smiled and flung her arms around his neck.

"Erik, of course I will!"

He laughed and hugged her tightly. She kissed him and he returned it lovingly, his hand moving to her waist to pull her closer. Although it had been some time since they had escaped Thomas, Christine and Erik had still not made love. Erik didn't like to bring it up, unsure of how Christine would react.

She made a small noise of desire as his mouth moved to her neck, caressing the skin. And then he drew his head back.

"I'm sorry." He said quietly but Christine caught his hand.

"No. No… I'm ready."

"Are you sure?" He said, frowning slightly. She nodded and smiled.

"Yes. I'm sure."

He moved to kiss her again but she placed a finger to his lips with a teasing smile.

"But not now. We have to get ready for the ball soon."

"The ball doesn't start for five hours." Erik pointed out. Christine laughed.

"I know, but if Marie comes to find me-"

"She'll have to wait." Erik said firmly. He bent, lifting her off her feet and carrying her to the stairs. Christine giggled and pressed a kiss to Erik's neck.

They reached Erik's bedroom and he locked the door.

"Just in case you change your mind." He smirked. Christine lifted an eyebrow,

"I can assure you, Monsieur Dumas, I have no intention of changing my mind."

"I'm very glad to hear that." He told her with a smile, kissing her again. She couldn't help laughing slightly as he nuzzled her neck.

"That tickles."

"Really?" He kissed the skin and she laughed again.

"Erik!"

He smirked and caught her mouth in a kiss again, parting her lips with his tongue. She ran her hands up into his hair and Erik suddenly pulled her closer to him, nipping her bottom lip between his teeth and tongue. Christine gasped and then kissed him fiercely. Erik was surprised but didn't object, undoing her dress. They pulled apart briefly as she pulled the dress off and Erik undressed quickly before lifting her onto the bed. Christine ran her fingers over the mask and Erik didn't move as she removed it, placing it carefully on the nightstand. Then she looked back at him and smiled.

"I love you." She told him gently. For a moment he didn't move and then he was kissing her again, his hands moving over her in a way that made her gasp , exciting her until she thought that she'd die.

Marie looked in on Nadir and Meg who were in the study, practising Meg's English.

"Do either of you know where Erik and Christine have got to? Christine was in the library half an hour ago but she's gone now."

Nadir and Meg exchanged an amused glance.

"I believe they're upstairs, Marie." Nadir said. Marie looked at him blankly and then her eyebrows shot up.

"Oh. Well… I won't disturb them then." She said, with a smirk.

Christine lay happily in Erik's arms and then looked over at the clock. She nudged Erik in the ribs and he grunted. She smiled.

"Erik, wake up."

He didn't open his eyes and pulled her closer, pressing his face into her mane of hair. She laughed.

"Erik, come on. We have to start getting ready."

"Urgh." He said unhappily. The county summer ball, being held at Lady Chanson's mansion was that evening. Everyone of any importance had been invited, including various important families from around the country.

Erik sat up and Christine stretched as he got up and pulled on his underclothes, throwing her gown to her. She caught it, laughing and slipped it on.

"Wager you anything that Marie's looking for us." She said, attempting to comb her hair into submission. Erik smirked.

"I don't particularly care, my dear." Christine laughed and gasped as he pulled her into a kiss.

Erik unlocked the door and held it open for her. She smiled and walked through, only to bump straight into Marie.

"There you, Christine. Come along, we'll have to do something about your hair before the ball. And Erik, do try to do something about your clothes, they're terribly wrinkled." Marie said calmly, although there was a wicked glint in her eye as she pulled Christine away.

When they arrived at the mansion, Erik didn't look particularly overjoyed to be there. He had been subjected to far too many social events of late and was tired of them. Christine looked up at him sympathetically.

"Poor Erik."

"I suppose it's too late to go back now?" He asked miserably. Christine smiled and leant her head against his arm, lacing her fingers through his.

"Afraid so. Still, I'll just have to make you dance with me. Perhaps that will cheer you up."

He smiled slightly and Christine laughed, kissing him quickly.

"Come on, let's see if we can catch up to the others." Nadir, Marie and Meg had already gone inside. Christine handed her cloak to a servant, as did Erik. He smiled at her.

"How do you always manage to look so beautiful?"

"It's a burden I must bear." She said teasingly, taking his hand. She looked resplendent in a dress of ivory silk, a pearl necklace hanging from her throat. Erik looked towards the doors of the ballroom.

"The sooner we get in there, the sooner we can leave." He said.

"That's the optimistic man I know and love." She said cheerfully as they stepped towards the doors. Music was playing and couples were moving around them in dance. The air was filled with laughter and happiness. Erik and Christine barely had a chance to look around before Lady Chanson pounced upon them.

"Erik, Christine! My, don't you both look wonderful?"

"Lady Chanson, how are you?" Christine smiled. The woman waved a dismissive hand.

"Well enough, my dear. I can't get over how wonderful your English has become."

"I had a great tutor." Christine laughed, glancing at Erik.

Lady Chanson chuckled.

"Go along, my dears, go and dance! The music is exquisite tonight." Erik and Christine moved off through the crowds, standing closely together, still hand-in-hand. They greeted various people they had met in their time in England and soon found Marie.

"Where are Nadir and Meg?" Christine asked and Marie nodded towards the dancers with a smile. Nadir and Meg were moving enthusiastically among the other couples, laughing and chatting. Christine laughed and Marie said,

"Would you care for a drink?"

"Please, it's so warm." Christine nodded and Marie went to fetch some glasses. Christine looked up at Erik and smiled.

"Is it as bad as you expected?"

"Not yet. Give it time." Erik smirked. Christine laughed and said,

"Oh, don't be so silly. It will be fine."

"If anything goes wrong, I'm holding you responsible." He warned and she smiled.

"Fine."

The dance ended and Meg bounded over with Nadir.

"Isn't it wonderful?"

"Erik doesn't seem to think so."

"I'm not one for crowds, Little Giry." Erik said frankly. Meg giggled and the musicians began to play an introduction. Christine looked up at Erik.

"Come on, dance with me."

He smiled and led her onto the dance floor. She curtsied as he bowed and then stepped into his arms and they began to move to the serene flow of the song.

"See? Not so terrible." She told him. He lifted an eyebrow.

"Christine, my love, few things can seem terrible with you in the vicinity."

"Flatterer."

"And you object to flattery?" He smirked. She laughed and tilted her head.

"Not from you, Erik."

Erik smiled and said quietly,

"You realise that you're the most beautiful woman in this room and are therefore bound to receive much flattery."

"Only the most beautiful in your eyes." She said and he shook his head.

"Only to the blind or mad, could you not be the most beautiful, Christine." He told her. Christine smiled and said quietly,

"If, at any time, I forget exactly why it is that I love you so much, you somehow manage to do or say something that reminds me all over again."

"Really?"

"Yes. Although, I think I love you most in our singing lessons."

When he was not helping her with her English, Erik had taken it upon himself to insist that he tutor her in her singing.

"You have a beautiful voice and I will not allow it to become unused." He had said firmly and Christine had had no objections to that.

The song ended and Erik kissed her.

"A drink, I think my dear."

"Yes, please." Christine smiled, taking his arm. Nadir was talking cheerfully with Lady Chanson who smiled at them.

"You really are the most accomplished dancers. I was watching, you move beautifully."

"Thank you, Lady Chanson."

"Christine, dear, there's someone I want you to meet. May I borrow your wife for a moment, Erik?"

"As long as she is returned." Erik smirked. Christine laughed and kissed his cheek.

"Don't fear, I will be back soon."

Lady Chanson took Christine's arm and led her to the far side of the room, saying,

"I've got some dear friends from France staying and I'm sure that they'd adore to meet you. They're from Nice, so not too far from your own origins."

"Really?" Christine said interestedly. She nodded and took her to a group of people. "Christine, may I introduce the de Chagny family and their friend, the Viscount de Fenz?"

A/N: Double update. Evil cliffhanger. You can't have it both ways. Got to take the good with the bad. Evil Grin

Love

Katie