DISCLAIMER: Please refer to Chapter Two
During their ride into town, Cecilia could not help but question Erik.
"I never knew your last name was Fournier," she said.
"It isn't. I do not have a last name, or at least my mother never told it to me. I used Fournier during my travels. I figured it made me more of a man to have a last name."
"I like it. It sounds very debonair."
He let out a deep laugh and held her closure to him. "You, my dear, are a odd one."
"I am not Monsieur Phantom! Of all people, you are calling me odd?"
Once Erik's horse reached the market, he slowed to a trot. As he lowered Cecilia to the ground, he held her close and whispered in her ear.
"I am going to the lair to pack a few things. Since we are now "engaged" I will stay with you as long as you wish me too. I shall be back in two hours to retrieve you," he finished as he kissed her rosy warm cheek.
"Alright…if you insist," she replied.
He smiled as he pulled his hood over his head to disguise his face. He mounted his horse and waved her goodbye.
A few hours later, Cecilia arrived back home with Erik in his new carriage and horse he had purchased.
"Look at you big spender," she laughed as she stepped out of the luxurious carriage, "I must say you have impeccable taste, but Erik…can you afford it?"
He chuckled as he watched her walk in front of the horses. "My dear, I asked every single person who ever owned the Opera Populaire to pay me wages. Do you think I ever really used them?"
She smiled at him as he steered the horses to the stable. Finally, a man who does not want me for my money.
As she was storing the goods she had bought earlier, Erik walked in and sat down at the kitchen table.
"So, how was your day, dear," he said as he let out a low chuckle to himself.
"It was splendid! Not only did I have three ladies congratulate me on my engagement," she said sending a sharp look toward him, "but also, I made a rather interesting purchase."
"Oh really, and what is that?"
"I bought the Opera Populaire."
Erik almost fell out of his chair. As he attempted to regain composure, he adjusted his tie and looked at her in disbelief.
"You couldn't have purchased the Opera Populaire. You are a woman. Women cannot buy property. Even if they could, can you afford it?"
"True, women cannot buy property, but after persuading the managers that my father dearly loved the opera and that the opera house would be dedicated to him they took my offer into consideration. However, when a noblewoman walked by and congratulated me on my engagement to what she referred to as "a mysterious well-traveled man who must be exceedingly rich in order to tame my charms," they asked me to sign the documents right then and there."
Erik still looked at her in disbelief. Funny no one has asked about my mask yet.
"So, I take it Mademoiselle Suzanne neglected to inform everyone about my…rather odd, appearance?"
"I suppose that it where your "mysteriousness" comes from. Besides, she owes me a favor. She supposes that I would tell all the ladies about her philandering with the then-engaged Fredrick and expose her as a whore. I am sure she is smart enough to tell them as little as possible. Knowing her, she would tell them just enough to make herself look like the heroine. I can hear her now 'Oh yes. When she did not love Fredrick anymore, I was there to mend his broken heart. I felt sorry for the poor woman for being alone while I found such happiness. She is engaged now…' She could easily turn the situation into a battle over her."
Erik let out another chuckle. "You still have not answered my question."
"And what is that?"
"Can you afford the Opera Populaire?"
"Erik, you would be surprised what I can afford."
"And what can you afford?"
"That is none of your Phantom business," she said as she pulled a bouquet full of fresh red roses from her basket and arranged them in a crystal vase.
Later that day, Erik's belongings began to arrive as Cecilia was busy interviewing new household staff.
Erik was overseeing that the majority of his items be stored in the basement of Cecilia's grand manor. He saw to it that he would attend to them later.
Meanwhile, Cecilia finished with the interviews and was giving her new office staff a tour of her home as Erik came in to inform her that he was finished.
Quickly realizing that he did not want to embarrass Cecilia by having a strange man in her home, he leaned over and kissed her cheek in front of the office staff.
"Darling, my arrangements are completed. I shall be in the upstairs music room if you need anything," he said.
"Yes dear," she replied, "but first please do meet out new staff."
He looked at her as though she was inconveniencing him, but stood his ground per her request.
"This is Navienne," she said as she gestured to the short old woman at the foot of the stairs, "she will be our head of the house."
As she gestured to the tall lanky gentlemen in his late forties she told Erik his name was Pierre. Pierre was to be their butler. She finished introducing Erik to the new stableman, chef, maids, and gardener.
"This is my fiancé Erik," she said with a smile on her face, "this is his home now as well, and I trust you will treat him as you treat me."
Erik bowed to the company as they bowed ad curtsied back to him before ascending the stairs to the music room.
"Mademoiselle Deveraux," the young maid named Darlene asked, "why does he wear his mask?"
Cecilia could hear Navienne's "tsk tsk" as she turned to reply to Darlene.
"My fiancé is a very private man. He does not wish anyone to mingle in his affairs. He will not bother you if you do not bother him. Just know that he is a rather nice gentleman once you get to know him. Do not ask him of his affairs or anything personal."
The company nodded together and followed Cecilia for the remaining tour of the house and surrounding area.