The de Chagny estate lay well outside of Paris, near the village of Chagny-sur-Marne. It took him the better part of the night to ride out there, and with the coming of the dawn, he hid in the forest on the estate, for rescues by masked men couldn't very well be done by daylight.
Anger consumed him, buoying him as he waited during those tedious hours of cruel sunlight. At times, he dozed, and he didn't fight it when sleep came, knowing that he would need all his energy once night fell again.
Thoughts of Lily, his precious Lily, ran through his head. How could have been so foolish as to let her go with that boy when he knew in his heart of hearts that the boy did not love her? He felt that he had betrayed Lily, even though his own actions had been motivated by the purest, truest love he had ever felt.
Thoughts of Christine flitted through his mind, but only when it came to comparing her with Lily. He couldn't bring himself to think ill of Christine's talent, nor could he blame her really for her reaction when the careful dream he had woven around her came crashing down at the masquerade. But with those few encomiums aside, Christine could not hold a candle to Lily's courage, strength, and gentle heart.
He found himself smiling as he thought of Lily's wit – handicapped by silence though she was. He had never been in doubt of her feelings or opinions, and she had succeeded in making him laugh, and laugh at himself without bitterness, no less!
And Lily had lain in his arms.
She had willingly given her heart, her lips, her body to him. And her love had given him the courage to give his heart, his lips and his body to her. He vowed that when she was safe with him again, there would never be another night that they were apart.
But that line of thinking brought him to thinking of what all those days would be like. He had to admit the justice of La Giry's words that the girl could not live in a cavern by a lake underneath and opera house with a man who did not exist. Lily did deserve better than that.
No, if he truly loved Lily, he would have to find a way to live in the daylight. He had enough money to provide for a lifetime of ease – that was not the worry he had. It was the question of where could they live with both privacy and yet some connection to the world, of how to assume a life of normalcy after a lifetime of being a freak. A small voice in his head said that if he truly loved Lily, he would let her help him find his way in the new life he had chosen.
Twilight fell at last, with dark clouds rolling in, promising a storm. He liked that. It suited his plans just fine. The only thing he worried about was Lily getting wet and perhaps catching cold. But he would hold her close and wrap her in his cloak to keep her as warm as he could.
He approached the mansion, studying it from various angles and determining where to make his entry. There was a wing of the house that was more modest than the others, and he guessed that would be the kitchen wing. His guess was confirmed by the presence of the kitchen garden nearby.
Someone was approaching, and he silently and swiftly crouched down behind a bush. His heart raced as he saw it was Lily – his fair-haired Lily looking so tired, so wan, that it made him want to murder that boy first before rescuing her.
Lily paused, and he could see her stiffen and look around, as if searching for a sound she wasn't sure she had heard. But before he could reveal himself, a harsh, guttural voice called her back to the kitchen.
He was enraged! To have her working so late was criminal! It was practically slavery!
He calmed himself, reminding himself that anger would do him no good in this little rescue, and would most likely only lead to him being caught.
Swiftly, he crept toward the kitchen, hugging the shadows and grateful for the bushes that were underneath the windows. Crouching low, he was able to steal glances at the kitchen where he saw a portly cook settling down to doze by the fire, while one of the footmen and a kitchen maid flirted. He caught a glimpse of Lily, carrying an armful of pots that looked far too heavy for her, toward a small room off to the side of the kitchen. He guessed that was where the dishes were washed.
It seemed like an eternity as he waited for the footman and kitchen maid to conclude their negotiations and retire to some room to conduct their business. But thankfully by that time, the cook was snoring away happily and would hardly be stirred by his silent footfalls.
He entered the kitchen, feeling like some strange, spectral creature stepping into a picture of domestic normalcy. He reached the washing room and beheld Lily, tiredly scrubbing at an unforgiving pot.
"Lily," he whispered, her name like a prayer on his lips.
She froze and slowly looked up. It took precious moments of time for her to seemingly comprehend that he was actually there. He saw her eyes finally well with tears, and the hand that held the rough scrubbing brush trembled.
He rescued it from her before she could let it fall and make a sound. Without another word, he swept her up into his arms, cradling her like a child, and carried her quickly from the kitchen. It was only when they were on the outskirts of the kitchen garden that he finally relinquished his precious burden, setting her down on her feet.
"I've come to take you away from here, Lily," he said softly, reaching out to brush a tendril of pale straw-colored hair from her flushed cheek.
His answer was a hard, questioning gaze that skewered him.
"I…I did it because I love you," he replied miserably. "I wanted you to have a good life, a…better life than what I could give you…I wanted-"
His words were abruptly stemmed by a satisfying little smack of her hand across his cheek. Before he could protest or apologize further, she had launched herself into his arms and was kissing him fiercely, with a ferocious hunger that was seasoned by the salt of her tears.
He was utterly and rapturously lost in that kiss, too lost to pay any attention to the approaching footsteps.
"Lily! Oh my God! What are you doing here?"
Raoul, holding the arm of his lady, the new Vicomtesse Christine, had come around the corner, evidently on an after-dinner stroll through the gardens.
"Release her, scoundrel!" he cried out, letting go of Christine and springing forward.
His hand was on his sword quicker than his mind could process the reasons why he shouldn't kill the boy. He was completely taken by surprise when a little body hurtled into him with such force that it knocked him backwards several steps.
As he caught his breath, he saw Raoul frantically take hold of Lily's left arm and give her a little shake. Christine was crying, verging on hysterics. Lily, however, remained calm in the raging sea of emotions that stormed around her. The sky itself seemed to reflect the turmoil on the ground, with rumbling thunder and flashes of lightning. Rain would come very soon.
She simply turned and looked at Raoul. And for the first time, he perhaps finally understood her silent language. He released her arm, staring at her as if she was some unearthly visitor. Lines of sorrow began to appear on his face. Then, Lily did the unthinkable. She raised her hand to cup his cheek, and she nodded. Forgiveness and absolution for sins he hadn't even realized he had committed.
He saw tears in the boy's eyes, and his anger abated. With a final nod, Lily turned away from Raoul and Christine and deliberately walked over to where he stood. She softly entwined her fingers with his and gave a gentle tug on his hand as if to tell him it was time to go.
Together, they walked back to the secret place where he had tethered Cesar. He mounted and then pulled her into the saddle in front of him. The first few tentative raindrops were beginning to fall as he directed the horse into a slow trot back to the road. The wind whispered secrets through the dusky trees, and the night now felt wild and free as the storm picked up strength.
"Lily," he murmured into her hair. It felt so good to have her next to him again, nestled against his body, secure in his arms. "If you will have me, I promise that I will make a new life for us, a good life."
Lily half-turned in the saddle until she faced him. Her eyes were bright, as if the raindrops had mixed their bit of heaven with her tears. She smiled and kissed him.
And in that moment, he finally felt his darkness and his bitterness lift from his shoulders. His heart had no room for them now. It was past midnight, it was a new day…a new day for a soul washed clean by the rain.
A/N: And so it ends, my friends - yet another story where the ending just suddenly announced itself to me. But keep me on your alerts, because I'll be starting my new story very soon! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story. Your words are the encouragement that keep me writing and updating!
Yours in fond mischief,
Kate September