DISCLAIMER: Please refer to Chapter Two
I apologize it has taken me so long to update. I hope you all enjoy this last chapter.
She could hear him playing once again. She remembered how much she had missed hearing the adoring sounds of music littering her home.
The clock struck eight. She could hear Navienne downstairs ordering her grandson to help with the errands for the day and the clang of the dishes as she washed them. A faint slit of light made it through her think window drapes. She knew it was morning. She realized that she had slept an entire day almost.
She also came to the realization that today was the day. She would be married tonight. Two weeks had passed since she had confessed her love to Erik. So much had happened since Christmas. Erik was allowed to move back into the house; however, Cecilia distinctly informed him that he would not be allowed in her chamber until after they were married. Lucky to be wanted again, he agreed.
The opera was almost finished with its renovations. A new chandelier had been built, new seats installed, the stage had been completely redone, and a new opera had been commissioned. She had hired an orchestra, new ballerinas under the supervision of Madame Giry, a full technical staff, and an entire vocal department.
Cecilia had become the most talked about woman in all of France. Opening night was tonight. Erik and she had planned it as such. She wanted her happiness to overflow tonight.
She smiled as she heard Erik's music once more. Today would be a good day.
She descended her staircase into the kitchen.
"Madamoiselle! You should not be down here! Monsieur Erik cannot see you until tonight! It is tradition. Come, you are going back to your room this instant. We must begin your wedding preparations!" Navienne lectured as she led Cecilia back into her room and opened the door.
"Navienne…" Cecilia began.
"Madamoiselle, I shall return with some breakfast for you. I shall have Jacques heat up some water for your bath. Matthieu will be here any moment to make the finishing touches on your wedding dress."
Navienne closed the door with a stern look on her face. Cecilia knew she meant business, but she had no idea what to do all day. Luckily, the managers were overseeing the final rehearsals of the opera. All of Paris had been invited to opening night. Cecilia felt her pre-wedding nerves flutter in her belly.
She heard a soft knock on her door.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"It is Erik. Do not open the door. I do not want to break the tradition that Navienne has been so keen to remind me about all morning. I just wanted to tell you I am going to go out for a while, so you can come out in an hour or so. I will be taking Jacques with me, so when I return, you can be warned as to not see me."
"But… I…" she began once again.
"Do not fret, my love. I will meet you at the alter," he said with an obvious smile on his face.
She sighed. Tomorrow she would no longer be an unmarried woman. She would be a wife, and more importantly, tonight the opera house would be in her name. She grew very happy at her thought.
The carriage pulled up to the new Opera Populaire just as the sun began to set. All of the opera patrons and wedding guests were seated. The priest and his alter boys were at their places on the opera stage. The singers, dancers, and staff were seated on stage leading up to the alter. Everyone was in attendance. Navienne had ridden over with Cecilia. She was almost like a mother to her now.
"Just breathe, my dear. You are radiant," Navienne said with a smile as she handed the bouquet of blood red roses to Cecilia. As she walked to the doors of the opera house, the Vicompt opened the door.
"Cecilia, will you please allow me the honor of escorting you down the isle?" he asked with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes.
He gathered her dainty gloved hand in his and peered at her silken white dress. With one last smile, he summoned for the conductor to begin the wedding march. Erik appeared on stage as the entire audiences' eyes were on her. She could not hide the happiness she felt in her soul.
Erik's hand received hers as tears welled up in his eyes. He was in awe of her. In that moment, nothing else mattered. What was in the past was left here. He was staring a new life with Cecilia. He knew he did not deserve her or her love, but he was willing to do whatever he had to. He would not ruin this blessing.
He could not see her eyes through her veil. He was filled with joy just at the thought of her deciding to go through with this marriage. The only thing he could do was stare at her and take in all of her. His eyes did not leave her. It was not until the priest nudged him that he became aware of the situation.
"Please turn and face each other. Erik Fournier, do you promise to take Cecilia Deveraux, as your lawfully wedded wife? To guide through the dark and to stand by her side in sickness and in health, through the happy and the troubled times, until death do you part?" he priest sang.
"I do," he whispered as he held her hand in his.
The moment he heard "I do" escape from her lips his emotions become almost unbearable.
"Monsieur, you may now kiss your bride," he priest said as Erik gently lifted Cecilia's veil.
Her stunning blue eyes were filled with tears as her husband leaned over to kiss her wet face.
"I love you, Cecilia."
"And I love you, Erik."
As the priest pronounced them man and wife, they were escorted to their special box for the opening of the opera.
And so it was, Erik and Cecilia Fournier sat hand in hand. Christine de Chagney's voice rang angelically through the opera house in sweet fervor.
All the while, Erik held Cecilia close in his arms. Tonight he would show her that she was all he would ever need.
Erik carried Cecilia through the doors of her chamber. He set his wife down on the bed and gently kissed her soft face.
"Cecilia, you know that we do not have to…" he began as he sat next to her on the bed.
"Erik, will you hush now," she replied as she put her hand on his face, "love me, Erik, that is all I ask of you."
She smiled and passionately kissed him.