A Place in This World

I am thankful for the reviews that I have received and hope that my story compares to the wonderful works of fiction that I have had the privilege of reading.

CHAPTER 6

Later that night…

Madam Giry had no inkling as to the events going on at the jailhouse. She was at her home answering a knock on her door about the same time that Albert was leading Erik out of the jailhouse.

Margarite was not expecting company, so she was a little curious as to who was knocking. She threw the door open to find the familiar faces of Raoul de Changy and Christine Daae standing there.

"You must have gotten the morning paper." Margarite glanced from Raoul to Christine with a contemptuous look on her face. "Why are you here…? To make sure "that thing" gets what's coming to him?" Her voice was steady but anger was evident in every word. Noticing the pained expression on their faces, Margarite softened her tone and repeated, "Why are you here?"

Raoul took a determined step toward the door and, looking down at Madam Giry, made an effort to explain their presence. "Could we just come in? We will answer all of you questions in due time. There are questions of ours that you need to answer also."

Margarite moved to the side and allowed them to enter her home. Her protective nature for Erik was foremost on her mind and she was not sure what these two wanted. She would have to be wary. They made their way to the parlor and took a seat in the small sofa that was in the corner of the room. The room was warm and inviting, but the guarded stance that Madam Giry was taking with them caused the warmth to disappear.

"Margarite, we are not here to cause problems." Raoul was the first to speak once they were settled in the room. "We have both had some time to think about the events of the other evening and we feel that things are not as they appear."

Raoul shifted in his seat and reached over and took Christine's hand. He was unsure of how to approach the subject of Erik's future.

He looked up at Christine but his words were for Margarite, "Christine felt compelled to be by Erik's side during this time." He pulled his eyes away from Christine and focused on Madam Giry, "I know this seems rather strange coming from me, but I am not entirely convinced that Erik is the criminal that everyone, including myself, has accused him of being." The only indication that Margarite found what he was saying odd, was the tilting of her head and the lifting of one eyebrow.

Raoul went on, "I am a fairly good judge of character, or so I have been told. With all that had been going on between us, I never got the chance to look into Erik's eyes for any length of time until the night of Don Juan. I saw in his eyes a deep loneliness, self-loathing, desperation and a keen mind…but I did not see the eyes of a murderer."

Raoul paused just long enough to see the tears that were forming in Madam Giry's eyes. She had a slight smile on her face, which confused Raoul, but he continued, "Has there been any indication on his part that he is innocent of the charges that have been stated?"

Margarite could not believe what she was hearing. There were so many reasons that she could think for them to be here, and this had not been one of them. Maybe, just maybe, she would not have to do this alone.

Her tears were flowing freely as she looked down at her hands, which were folded in front of her, "After Christine left him, I found him lingering in the lair, just waiting for the mob to find him…waiting to be taken. After hearing me, he found me in a tunnel and I tried to talk him out of surrendering."

Margarite was shaking her head in denial, "He would not hear anything I had to say." Her shoulders were shaking as her tears consumed her, "He told me that it was best if he were dead…that our lives…" she looked at both of them indicating that they were included in Erik's statement, "would be better off with him gone."

Christine's intake of breath and the trembling of her chin indicated that she could not believe that Erik would surrender so easily. She and Raoul both had tears in their eyes, Margarite continued, "He said that he had made provisions for Michél and me and that we would be taken care of for the rest of our lives…he told me to spare him no more thought."

Margarite took a handkerchief and wiped her eyes with a tremulous hand. She stood up and headed for the fireplace, she looked into the flames, as if she anticipated them containing the answers.

Margarite's words were barely above a whisper, "I had heard him talk of death before, but he had never sounded so resolved and determined…and defeated…I was petrified…" She looked up at the mantle that contained some pictures, "He has been many things to me; brother, friend, even son at times." She had the faintest sad smile on her face, "There was even thoughts in my head of romantic love with him…I finally settled for a brotherly/best friend love that has made him so very special to me."

Margarite turned from the fireplace and sat back down in the chair. "He gave himself over to them and I could do nothing but cry. I thought that I would be a witness to his execution; right there in his home. But…they turned him over to the police."

She looked up at Raoul and Christine, both of them completely engrossed by the story that she was telling. "I don't know how long I sat there and pondered over what had happened. I finally began wandering around the lair…into rooms that I never knew existed…I found a small room that contained a desk with letters and a journal lying open. I approached the desk and looked at the journal; the handwriting was that of Joseph Bouquet."A flash of hatred flew across Margarite's face; the next words were dripping with disdain, "I read in his own writing how he had murdered the stage hands and raped the dancing and chorus girls…I read how he was planning the murder of Erik and had discovered his lair."

She looked deep into Raoul's eyes, finding a gentle intelligence there that assured her she was safe giving him this knowledge, she gently caught Christine's gaze and saw the realization creep into her eyes, "Erik is innocent…of everything." Margarite once again bowed her head, "What shames me the most is that I thought him guilty, just like everyone else…me…" she pointed into her chest for emphasis and self-loathing was evident in her words; tears were spilling down her weary face, "…me..."

A reluctant smile invaded Margarite's pained expression, "I am probably the only person besides Michél to have been honored with Erik's smile and laughter. I have seen a side of the brilliance that no one else bothers to see; the part of the man that is seldom allowed to show."

She lifted her head and squared her shoulders; with a determined and willful tone admitted, "I gave the journal to Inspector DuBois, a very good friend of mine. He is a fair and just man, and I have shared many conversations with him concerning Erik. He will see that the wrongs are made right."

Raoul took in all the information that he had just heard and processed it. Once again, his intuition had been correct and Erik was an innocent man. "Can we go see this Inspector DuBois and see what progress he has made?"

Raoul and Christine stood, ready to head out the door and find Albert; but Margarite stopped them, "Let Albert handle it Raoul, he will let me know when Erik is free…or Erik will come to me…either way, it is best that we let things settle for now."

Margarite had moved to place a hand on Raoul's elegant sleeve. Raoul placed his hand over hers and gently squeezed it, "I'm sorry, Margarite; sorry for all that I put Erik through when I set my eyes on Christine. He has as much a right to love her as I do, perhaps more of one. I plan to do all within my power to see that he has a good life, I owe him that."

Raoul placed his arms around the shoulders of both ladies, "Well, I guess I need to take my two favorite ladies to dinner. Hopefully, when we return, there will be news of Erik." Margarite looked as though she were going to protest, but Raoul did not give her the chance, "You have to eat. I know you don't feel like preparing a meal and I would like to take you out." Margarite just stood there and contemplated her next move. She decided to accept Raoul's invitation. After grabbing her shawl, she led them out the door and into the waiting carriage.

Chapter 7 preview – Freedom