DISCLAIMER: Please refer to Chapter Two
"Tomorrow is Christmas Eve," Erik said as he finished his most recent composition. He had spent many long days in the small cottage on Cecilia's property thinking only of what an idiot he had been. He longed to sneak into the manor and tell Cecilia the truth, but he did not want to upset her. He knew she was not an ignorant woman. He knew Cecilia understood that Erik still had feelings for Christine, some feelings that would never go away.
However, Erik often pondered, during those long and lonely days, on his feelings toward Cecilia. He missed hearing her voice downstairs every morning explaining to the servants their daily chores. He missed her sweet angelic face smiling back at him when he played for her. Most of all, he missed talking to her. He had taken her for granted. He realized this the second day he spent away from her. She had been the only person he could talk to, and he had come to trust her enough to tell her about his dark past. He had intended to tell her after the wedding. He did not wish to spoil her night, and he selfishly wanted to hang onto their relationship as long as possible if for some chance she rejected him.
He kept his distance from her. He respected her decision and was patient enough to wait for her to want to see him again. He would wait forever if he needed to. He realized through those long and tedious days that he loved Cecilia.
He tortured himself endlessly with his selfishness and stupidity. He knew that Christine was nothing more than infatuation. He had come to realize that he loved her for all of the wrong reasons. She was the first person to treat him as a man. She sang like an angel. She was beautiful, and most of all, she had surrendered herself to him during their lessons and that fateful kiss. He noticed, however, that he loved Cecilia for all the right reasons. He loved to talk to her. He loved her aspirations, and most of all, he loved her strength. She was so much stronger than he was.
Cecilia would have thought he'd have died if it wasn't for Navienne nagging and forcing him to eat when she would make her daily trips out to the cottage. Erik heard a knock at the door. He set down his quill and stood up.
"Navienne, I am not hungry. Could you please just leave me alone for five minutes?" he yelled as the knocking grew louder.
Agitated, he walked to the door and flung it open. Jacques stood at his doorstep on the rather chilly morning chattering his teeth.
"Monsieur," he said with his newly deepened voice, "the Mistress requested I bring this to you."
Erik snatched the letter out of the boy's hands as he motioned for him to leave. He closed the door and walked in to the living room. As he placed another log on the fire, he sat down in a chair nestled in the middle of the room. Erik took a deep breath as he opened the letter.
Erik,
I apologize for my behavior these last few weeks. I need to speak with you about something important. Would you please join me for breakfast? The staff is going to town in order to prepare for the Christmas Ball I am having tomorrow night, so we will be alone.
I am not angry with you. Please forgive my rudeness.
Sincerely yours,
Cecilia
Erik had a puzzled look on his face as he folded up the letter. He arose with a start and dashed to tidy himself. Breakfast, he was sure, would be very soon.