One of many wasn't too far off. The next week, the family had dinner with the Duke. Kerri made it a point to talk about Erik.
"Kerri, that Patrick boy seems nice. And you two did go to that exhibition last Monday." Kerri's mother pointed out.
"Patrick's alright. He's a bit of a flirt."
"Well there's no harm in being personable."
"No there isn't But umm…there's actually someone I'm a bit more interested in."
"Oh? What's his name? Do we know him?"
The Duke had paled considerably. She could only imagine what he was thinking.
"Erik Delacroix. I don't think you know him, but Raoul and Christine do. Quite well, actually."
"Well, I've certainly never heard of him. Where does he live?"
"Here in Paris. He's from here, but for a good portion of his life he lived in Persia."
"Well, he certainly does sound interesting. You said he knows your brother?" The Duke attempted to make conversation.
"Yes. They met through Christine."
"Is that so? Well how does he know Christine?"
Kerri was amazed at how good she was making him sound. Now all that was left was to get past a meeting.
"He was her tutor. For her voice."
"Really? She never spoke of any Erik!" Her mother was now intrigued.
"He didn't want anyone to know. He was afraid that everyone would want lessons."
"That does make sense, but it sounds a little unsavory." Her father poured himself some more wine.
"Indeed it does. And one certainly can't support a family on a teacher's salary. What else does he do?"
The Duke was trying to shed a bad light on him. Kerri was resisting the urge to giggle and tease him like a five year old.
"He works…Well; he worked at the Opera House."
Uh-oh. Bad. In her parent's eyes, anyone who worked at the Opera House except the actors was nothing but a street rat.
"Now Kerri, I know that he may seem like a nice boy, but…"
"Daddy, I wasn't done." She said. Her father motioned for her to continue.
"He's an architect. He helped build the Opera House. He built all of the sets. He kept the whole building intact, really."
Her mother gasped. "Well, that certainly changes everything."
"Well, it certainly doesn't sound as if he was paid much."
"Twenty thousand francs a month. He was with them for almost thirty years, and had almost no expenses. Not to mention what he was paid for building it." She smiled at the Duke patronizingly. He wouldn't win this battle.
"Well that's all well and good, but what kind of man is he? What is his family like?"
"Um, that's actually something I do not know much about. I know his father was a master stonemason, and he died before Erik was born."
"Well how did you two meet? I don't remember Raoul ever taking you on his outings with him."
"We met at the Opera House, shortly before the fire."
"Hmm…that's very interesting. I'll have to ask around. See if any of the gentlemen at the club know him."
"Oh, nonsense! We should have him for dinner sometime. How about next week Andre? You're free on Tuesday, right dear?"
"Why yes, I am. That's a splendid idea, Alayna. Kerri, you should let him know that we'll be expecting him no later than six o' clock."
As the Dukes jaw dropped, Kerri tried not to appear too enthusiastic.
"But surely Andre you won't indulge this girl in her fantasy. They barely know each other!"
"Oh nonsense Reynard. How long has it been since the fire? Nine weeks? Ten? That's plenty of time. And if they've been seeing each other all of this time, it's obvious they're serious."
"Well, dinner on Tuesday is impossible." He scoffed. "I'm taking Kerri to the matinee of Romeo and Juliet, or have you forgotten?
"Lunch with the Duke and dinner with monsieur Delacroix should be eventful enough for one day, don't you think darling?" He mother smiled at Kerri, and she nodded. Her parents were actually excited about meeting Erik. This was too unreal. There ad to be a catch.
"Reynard! You should join us as well! Aren't you thinking of remodeling your house on the lake?"
There had to be a catch.
"Indeed I am. It would be wonderful to get an expert opinion."
Kerri's mother clasped her hands together.
"Wonderful! Kerri, don't you think so?"
Kerri did think so.
"Erik, you're coming to dinner next Tuesday." Kerri announced it casually, but the news still caused him to almost drop a full ink bottle. He caught it
"Pardon?"
"You. Dinner. Me. My Parents. Tuesday."
"How? Why?"
"They want to meet you. My mother loves you."
"I doubt your mother loves me. She loves the man you told her about."
"Which was you, mostly. I just gave her selective information."
"If you didn't tell them everything, that's considered lying."
"Well, forgive me if I haven't worked up the courage to tell them my lover is an ex-assassin, convict in multiple countries, and the Phantom of the Opera."
"Then what did you tell them?" Apparently, Erik viewed those three things as defining characteristics.
"Everything else."
"Everything else?"
"Well, not everything. But most of it."
"And your mother loves me? What did you do, tell her my name and where I was from?"
Kerri laughed.
"Pretty much."
Erik groaned. "Tell me they aren't expecting some young buck."
"Hardly. I told them you worked at the theater. I think they're expecting something alon the lines of Bouqet in a suit."
"Well at least I'll impress them."
"At the very least."
Kerri sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"You're going to be fine."
"I never said I was nervous."
"Neither did I."
She kissed him softly, drawing circles with her fingers on the back of his neck.
"They're not as bad as they seem."
"You say that only because they're your parents. You've grown up with them."
"I say that because they are both pushovers. As long as you look, act, and talk like you're worth something, they won't second guess you."
"That isn't as easy as it sounds."
"Sure it is! Be arrogant, articulate, charmingly witty, and kiss up to them like your life depends on it."
"Fortunately," He smirked. "it does."
Erik had to spend the rest of the week psyching himself up for the dinner. He could kill any man in cold blood, but Heaven forbid he be faced with his fiancées parents. The phrase ran through his mind over and over again like a caged animal. He could do this, just like Kerri said; be charming, well spoken, and an arrogant prat. Easier said than done.
Delia had even taken the time to make him a full suit.
"A gift, for everything you've done."
"But I haven't done anything at all." He could safely say he'd never been given a gift for anything before, let alone for no reason at all.
The jacket was made of black wool, with silver buttons. The vest inside was black silk with red embroidery.
"This is fantastic, Delia!"
She smiled, satisfied with his reaction.
"Well, as long as you're going to be there, you might as well intimidate a few people."
The suit fit perfectly. Everything fit where it was supposed to. There was even a pair of leather gloves in jackets the inside pocket.
"You're a Goddess, Delia." He kissed her forehead.
"And you're an Angel."