A/N: Two updates in one day? I'm on a roll!
"Careful now, watch your step. Do you need to rest mon amour?" Raoul held tightly to Christine's arm, leading her through the house. She was still very weak, but with his help she was able to move about fairly easily. They were making a second round past the main door, when someone on the other side began to knock. Michelle smiled shyly as she stepped past Raoul and Christine to answer it. As she swung the door open, Raoul could see Inspector Reinard standing outside, absentmindedly glancing about the house.
"Bonjour, Mademoiselle. I have come to see…" Reinard trailed off as he noticed Raoul and Christine standing before him. "Why, Madame la Vicomtesse! I was unaware that you had returned." He glared accusingly at Raoul.
"Michelle, assist my wife back to her room please," Raoul instructed, offering Christine's arm to Michelle. He pulled Christine's hair back and placed a light kiss on her forehead. "I shall be in shortly."
He watched as Michelle and Christine walked away, waiting until they were behind closed doors to turn his attention to Reinard.
"Why did you not inform me that she was here?" Reinard asked crossly.
"My wife has been through quite an ordeal, Monsieur. She recently lost the child that she was carrying. She did not need you badgering her about an escape that she was not involved in," Raoul said defiantly.
"I am the one who will decide whether or not she was involved, Raoul. But I have come here today on an entirely different matter."
"And what is that?"
"You are acquainted with the Duchess de Anjou?"
Raoul's heart sank into his stomach. He was here about Nicole? If he believed Christine had helped Erik escape, could he think that she also had a hand in Nicole's murder? He cleared his throat, "Yes, we were childhood friends." What was I thinking? He cannot know that Erik was involved in Nicole's death. He cannot use this to get to Christine.
"I see. Are you aware that the Duchess was murdered last night?"
"She's dead?" Raoul asked, feigning surprise.
"Her maid found her last night, strangled in her bed."
"That's terrible. I will have to send my condolences to her family."
"According to her maid, she departed sometime in the afternoon to come here for dinner, but returned not long after she left. Can you explain to me why she did not stay very long?"
"We were preparing for dinner when Christine fainted and fell down the steps. That was when she lost our child. You can understand why we had to suspend the social engagement."
"Yes, I see. I'm very sorry for your loss, Raoul. But now I must ask if I can come in and have a look around the house." Reinard said, gazing inside.
"You certainly may, when you have the proper authority to do so," Raoul said curtly, closing the door in Reinard's face.
Reinard pounded the door with closed fists. "Raoul! You are only making things more difficult!" Raoul leaned back against the door, his eyes turned up towards the ceiling. "I will be back!" Raoul moved the curtains from the widow to watch Reinard mount his horse and ride away.
"Darling, what's going on? Who was that man?" Christine asked, standing in the doorway to the guest room.
"Mon amour, you should be resting. There's no need to worry," Raoul said soothingly as he approached her.
"Well I am already worried, and telling me not to be will do no good. You may as well answer me."
Raoul let out a heavy sigh. "Very well. But first you must get back to bed."
Christine held out her hand for him, and he wrapped it in his own. She leaned against him as she lifted herself onto the bed. Raoul began to speak as she made herself comfortable. "His name is Inspector Reinard. He is an old friend of mine, though we are not very friendly anymore. He suspects that you helped Erik escape."
Christine looked up in alarm. "Did he come to find Erik?"
"I don't believe so. He said he was here to ask about Nicole. But it's only a matter of time until he comes to search the house."
"Mon dieu," Christine sighed.
"He has to leave Christine," he said softly. "For all our safety."
"No, Raoul. He…he can't. He's not safe anywhere…"
"We are not safe with him here."
Christine averted her eyes from Raoul's. "I'm not ready to let him go," she said sadly.
Raoul nodded slowly, his eyes dropping to the side. After a moment of silent thought, he stood and left the room without glancing back at Christine.
I have upset him. I shouldn't have said that. Oh Raoul, forgive me! Christine sat in her room, silently pleading for Raoul's pardon, when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," she called excitedly, hoping that Raoul had returned to hear her apology.
"It is time to say good-bye, mon ange," Erik said as he entered.
"Good-bye? Erik I don't understand."
Erik sat down and held her hands, his thumbs gently rubbing her knuckles. "I know that the Inspector has come for me. I will not put you or your family in danger."
"But Erik, where will you go?"
"I…I don't know. But surely there is a place where I could make use of my extensive talents."
"No, I won't let you leave like this. Raoul will think of something, he always does. You don't have to go," she pleaded.
"Christine-"
"No! Just give me a few hours. Please, Erik, I beg you. Go to your room for just a short time. Please."
Erik grudgingly relented. "Very well, Christine. I will be in my room for one hour. But please, don't let your hopes up too high." His hands slowly slid from hers, leaving an icy cold upon her fingers.
"Please, Raoul," she breathed. "Please find a way to save him."
No more than twenty minutes had passed, but Christine was certain that it had been hours, that Erik was gone. Silent tears were forming in her eyes when Raoul slowly opened the door, peaking inside.
"I didn't want to wake you if you were sleeping," he said softly. "Why are you crying chéri?"
"He's gone, isn't he mon amour?"
"Erik? No, he is in his room, reading."
"He gave us an hour, Raoul. Only an hour! He is leaving us!"
"Christine, I have to go into the city. I will be gone only a short time. I want you to take this paper and pen and write down your most important possessions."
"Raoul, what is going on?"
"There is no time to explain right now. You must pick only the things most important to you. Give the list to Henriette and have her pack them up. Make sure to include Christophe's things as well. Say nothing of this to anyone but Henriette. Do you understand?"
"Yes, but-"
Raoul placed a hurried kiss on her lips then dashed from the room. Christine's face was still contorted in bewilderment as she heard the door slam shut and the pounding of hooves outside her window.