Chapter Twenty-Nine

Love Broken

Paris

Delauney Manor

April 1860

Erik shook his head at the Persian Nadir as he made the most ridiculous faces with the hope of cheering Emma up. She had been down for the past few days and not even Erik could figure out the reason. Isaac had been at the Delauney estate in London for the past week and Erik thought that that would put Emma in high spirits. Apparently he had been wrong. But the faces Nadir was making were just too ridiculous and Emma let out a small giggle. Erik sighed in relief and gave Nadir a thankful look. He and the Persian had become good friends quickly and Erik looked forward to his visits all the time.

"There, that is my Emma," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her mouth. Emma sighed and gave a small, tired smile. Erik knew something was on her mind but as of yet she had not shared it with him or even Nadir apparently and it was beginning to worry him. Since he had been there Emma had always shared everything with him, why was she not now? He had turned seven a few days prior and Emma had taken him out into Paris and she had bought him anything he wanted for his special day. But he had loved just spending time with her. It was a day he would always cherish.

They had spent this particular day with Nadir and Erik had had fun, even if Emma was upset for some unknown reason. But as Nadir told both of them farewell for the evening Erik told himself that he was going to figure out what was wrong. She had to tell him. She was his elder sister; siblings shared things with one another. When Nadir had left the room Emma got up and began walking towards her room. Erik ran to catch up. Emma glanced at him and gave him a small smile, affectionately patting his head. Erik continued to look, not saying a word, knowing that his eyes often told everything he wished to say.

"I am fine, Erik, I promise," Emma assured him. Erik frowned, knowing she was lying to him.

"Would you like to go for a ride later?" she asked clearly changing the subject. Erik slipped his hand into hers as they continued walking down the long hall. Emma sighed, obviously fighting her own demons on whatever was bothering her.

"You have every right to know, Erik," she whispered. Erik did not know if he liked her tone. Was whatever she had to say really that bad? She led him to her room and shut the door behind them. Erik frowned but said nothing. She told him to sit on the bed and she sat down next to him. Emma took a deep breath and was silent for several long moments. Erik took her hand once again and gently squeezed it. Emma smiled.

"Erik...do you know when two people love each other very much...that things can sometimes happen?" Emma asked. Erik slowly nodded, not really knowing where this was going to lead. Emma's hand had begun to tremble. A tear fell from Emma's eyes and Erik reached up and with his tiny little hand wiped it away. Emma gave a sob and wrapped her arms around Erik, pulling him closer.

"I love, Nadir, Erik," she whispered into his hair. Erik pushed himself closer to her.

"I know," he whispered. She pulled away only to look into his eyes.


"How do you know?" she wondered. Erik smiled and shrugged.

"The way the two of you act with each other," he answered. Emma shook her head and pressed a kiss to his temple.

"You are far to smart for your age," she told him. Erik smiled again and said nothing for a moment.

"But if you love Nadir why are you so upset?" he wondered. She took his hand and laid it on her abdomen. Erik's eyes met hers. He knew all to well what it was she was going to tell him.

"I am going to have a baby, Erik," Emma whispered. Her smile was happy but her eyes were sad.

"Nadir's baby," Erik whispered. Now Erik realized why Emma was so upset, and it was not the fact that she was having a child. Knowing Emma she had to be thrilled about becoming a mother. But being a woman in her position of nobility the scandal of her being pregnant would be everywhere in Paris. She was not married and yet she was having a bastard. Her father and brothers would kill her if they found out and Erik was suddenly worried about Emma and the baby.

"Does Nadir know?" Erik asked. Emma shook her head and bit her lip. She wanted to tell him so badly but she was so afraid of what he might think. When they had made love for the first time she had known that it was the right time with the right man but she had not thought about the consequences.

"He is not going to find out," Michael said, his voice booming in the silent room. Both Emma and Erik turned in terror to see him standing there, the key to Emma's room in his hand. Emma had paled and she unconsciously put a hand to her stomach in a gesture of protection.

"What?" Emma whispered.

"You are not to tell Monsieur Khan about this baby, Emma," he said, his voice harsh and unrelenting.


"But why? He is the father!"

"Is he really?" Michael demanded. Emma reeled back as if she had been slapped, his words hurt so much. How dare he imply that she was some sort of trollop?

"I am going to tell him," Emma whispered defiantly. She had to tell him now. She might have been frightened of his reaction but she still wanted him to know none the less. How could her father be asking her to do such a thing?

"No, you are not," Michael said, his voice very low. Erik longed to say something but knew that it would only make the situation worse. But as he gazed at Emma's father there was a deep hatred in his young eyes.

"Or what?" Emma demanded. She had no idea what was pushing her to talk like this but she had this deep instinct to protect her new family, and she would do anything to do so.

"You tell him and I will kill that bastard growing in your stomach!" he hissed. Emma and Erik both gasped and Erik laid himself against her stomach, somehow wishing to protect the small being that he had barely found out about but already loved.

"You wouldn't!" Emma cried. This could not be happening! She just wanted to live a normal life with Erik, Nadir, and their baby? Was that to much to ask for?

"You know I will," he growled. He left the room and Emma ran to the door, but not before he had successfully locked it from the outside. She pounded her fists against it, demanding that her father open the door. Tears choked her and she collapsed on the floor. Erik went to her and she pulled him against her. Erik allowed her to cry into his hair, not knowing what he could do to make the situation better. So he just let her hold him.

"What am I going to do, Erik?"

xXx

Erik smiled tenderly at Christine and wiped the tears that had formed in her eyes. He was becoming more and more used to telling Christine these stories of his past every night before they went to sleep. It always made him feel better afterwards that he was able to tell someone else and not have to bear it all on his shoulders. Plus, it was making him closer and closer to his wife because they had those private moments to themselves and Erik was able to let everything out and she listened with willing ears.

"Anthony is not my whole brother..." Christine whispered her voice barely above a whisper. Erik shook his head. Christine pulled away from his strong arms and moved off of the bed. She slipped a robe on and went to the window, wrapping her arms around herself. Her world was collapsing around her. Everything she had thought she had known had been one big lie and she did not know what to think or do. Nadir Khan had a son that he did not even know about up to that day and Anthony was almost going to turn twenty-five. It was not right that Monsieur Khan had not been a part of his son's life and she wondered if it would be her place to tell Anthony the truth. Erik seemed to read her expression and he got out of bed, walking over to her and standing by her side.

"Some things are better left the way they are, Christine," he told her softly. Christine turned to him.

"Erik! My brother and Monsieur Khan have a right to know!" Christine cried. Erik wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest.

"Let me finish this chapter of the past...

xXx

May 1860

Delauney Manor

"What is that, Emma?" Erik asked, indicating the parchment in her hands. Emma shrugged and sat down at the desk in the library. Erik turned back to his book and began to read. It had been a few weeks since the incident with Emma's father and no matter how hard they had tried they could not get word to Nadir and he never came to visit any longer. Whenever Emma or Erik wanted to leave the house either Isaac or Leroy were always present and the household staff had informed them that they were not to leave the estate without one of the gentlemen. Emma had not been herself ever since and Erik was beginning to worry.

He looked up sharply when Emma cried out and dropped the letter, a hand going to her mouth and her eyes going round in absolute disbelief. Erik ran to the desk as fast as his little legs could take him and he snatched up the letter, even when Emma tried to pull it away from him. He was far too curious to let this go and for a boy of his age he read amazingly well.

Mademoiselle Delauney

I found it is with great cowardice that you had to write me a letter to inform me of your sudden shunning of me. Your letter was rather cold and to the point but I understand perfectly. My money is not in great amounts and like a fool I always believed that money did not matter to you, obviously I was wrong. But when I made love to you...no, I will not dwell on the past. Do not worry, I will never see you again, as your letter clearly told me you want. I thought you were different, Emma, and I suppose that too was a lie. I hope you are happy with your gentleman friend but I find that I do not wish to see you again.

Khan

"No, Nadir, no!" Emma whispered repeatedly. What letter was he talking about? What gentleman friend? She was having his baby for God's sake and now she was never going to see him again! She could tell by the letter that he hated her and no amount of love was going to make this better.


"Your father, Emma!" Erik whispered. Emma's head snapped up to look at him and she realized the truth. Her father had written him a letter, pretending to be her, and informing Nadir that she no longer cared for him and never wanted to see him again. Emma flung herself from the chair and nearly flew from the room. Erik was not far behind her. When they reached Michael's study he was grinning from ear to ear. Emma went to him and slapped him, the sound echoing in the room. Erik could not believe Emma had just done that. Michael's face grew red in his anger and he grabbed Emma's wrist, painfully pulling it back. She cried out and he flung her to the ground.

"How could you!" she screamed.

"I told you that he was never going to find out about the baby, you little brat! Can you imagine the shame that would bring this family! My daughter has a foreigner's bastard! You are nothing but a slut!" he raged at her. Erik ran to Emma and laid her head in his lap, whispering to her that he loved her and he would help her get through this. Michael snorted and stormed out of the room...

xXx

"Oh, my God," Christine whispered. Erik sighed and nodded, suddenly very tired. All of this talk about Emma weighed heavily on his heart.

"So even now Nadir thinks that letter was from her?" Christine asked. Erik nodded. Her poor mother! How could she have been able to go through all of that? She did not think she could do so and she admired her mother greatly for her will power.

"Do you mind if we go to bed now, Christine? I am rather tired," Erik whispered. Christine glanced at him and could see the strain around his eyes and mouth from having to talk about Emma. She smiled at him and took his hand.

"Of course," she said, wanting to lighten the mood, "We have a masked ball to prepare."

Erik groaned. Every masked ball he had ever thrown had taken hours of planning and it was rather exhausting. He was looking forward to the ball itself, but not the work before.

"You know just how to cheer a man up."