I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter...we find out a
little bit more about Jenna, about her relationship with her
sister. So let me know what you think, next chappie she tells him
about her family a little bit more in depth so we'll get the real low
down on Jenna :) Enjoy, drop me a line when you've finished
reading!
Just as Henri predicted Jenna did become ill. Two days after her ride Jenna opened her eyes and groaned. Her head felt like a lead balloon that was ready to explode at any moment and her chest felt heavy. Erik opened his eyes when he heard her groan "Are you alright my dear?" he asked sleepily.
"Yeah, I'm fine" she said, closing her eyes and rolling over trying to get more comfortable.
Erik lifted his head up and looked at her, her face was flushed. He pressed a hand to her forhead "Good lord, you're burning up" he exclaimed as he got out of bed and went to the bathroom. Jenna heard running water, then silence. Erik appeared a few minutes later with a damp cloth. He put it on her forehead, and took her hand.
"Do you think you could manage to drink some tea?"
She shook her head "If you don't mind I think I just want to sleep for a little longer…" she whispered as though any sound louder than that hurt.
He nodded "Of course my love, sleep" He lay back down and pulled her into his arms and started to hum. Jenna smiled; it was possibly one of the most beautiful things she had ever heard. But it did the trick, she soon dozed off again. Erik held her for a while longer before getting up and dressing. He went downstairs and sat down to breakfast.
"Mam'selle Jenna isn't joining you?"
"No, she is ill. When she wakes up please take her some tea and toast and be sure she eats it"
"Of course sir"
Jenna remained asleep for most of the day; she had swung her legs over the side of the bed when Henri came in with a tray.
"Ah, back in bed Miss…Monsieur Erik will have my head if you are up and about"
Jenna managed a weak smile as she complied. Henri set the tray on her lap, pouring her tea from a small pot and handing it to her after adding a smidge of honey and lemon.
"Thank You Henri" she rasped out.
He smiled at her "If you need anything, the intercom button is on the nightstand. Don't hesitate."
"Well, I would love a bath after I finish breakfast. I think it will help be feel better"
"I'll send Celeste up to run the water and assist you if you need it"
"Thank You" she said sipping her tea, relishing the warm amber liquid as it soothed her scratchy throat.
Two hours later Jenna was bathed and in new clothes and back in bed, she had tried to settle into her own room but Erik insisted she move to his own suite where he could keep an eye on her. She was too sick and tired to argue with him. Jenna was surprised when Erik appeared next to her after her small lunch.
"Erik? Why aren't you working, you said you had lots of stuff to take care of"
He brushed some hair away from her face, smiling down at her. "Nonsense my dear. Nothing is more important to me than your health."
She managed a weak smile as she maneuvered her head into his lap "Erik? Will you sing to me?"
"What would you like me to sing?"
She shrugged "I don't care, I just love hearing your voice" she replied smiling.
Erik thought for a moment before beginning. She couldn't understand the words; they were in a language that was unfamiliar to her. It sounded middle-eastern though, perhaps from his time in Persia. She closed her eyes and let his voice weave a wonderful spell around her, filling her, carrying her away to that distant place in another time.
Erik finished his lullaby and wasn't surprised to look down and see Jenna asleep. He gently lifted her head off his lap and moved off the bed, covering her up. He sat down on the sofa and began to read, not wanting to be far from her.
And so this continued for three more days, Erik remaining close to her bedside as she recovered. He refused to let her exhaust herself, not letting her out of the bed unless it was to use the bathroom. While she put on an air of annoyance she was secretly happy for someone to care for her like that. It only made her love him more.
Finally 4 days after she fell ill she was released from bed rest and allowed to move about the house. Her throat was still a bit sore, and her voice was still scratchy but Erik could no longer keep her in bed. She was becoming too persistent and petulant for him to stand. She showered and dressed in real clothes for the first time in nearly a week and went downstairs to breakfast.
She sat down and smiled at Henri "Feeling better Mam'selle?"
"Yes, much" she rasped out softly.
"Your normal breakfast today?"
"That would be fine" she replied drinking more of her tea.
After breakfast she went to her office and frowned at the amount of paperwork that was sitting in her inbox. She sat down at her desk and began to go through it, which is where Erik found her a few hours later.
"Good Lord woman! What in gods name are you doing?" he demanded.
"Working…what does it look like I'm doing?" she responded a bit snappish.
"You shouldn't worry yourself with that just yet my dear, you are still recovering."
"It was a cold Erik, not the plague. I assure you I'm fine. And these documents won't file themselves…" she said not looking up at him.
He opened his mouth to argue, but shut it quickly knowing it would be useless. He turned and left, going to his study. Jenna smiled as she rifled through the stacks of paper that had been strewn on her desk. Finally she managed to get it all put away, her desk cleared. She stood up and looked around, before going into Erik's study. Without looking up he asked "Feeling better?"
She smiled triumphantly "Yes, much"
He shook his head "You'll be the death of me yet" he muttered.
She laughed, not responding to his teasing. He smirked at her but set aside the sketch he had been working on. He stood up and walked around his desk to take her in his arms.
"I wish you would take better care of yourself, I don't like to see you unhappy" he said softly.
She smiled "Why take care of myself when I have someone who takes better care of me?"
He shook his head, sighing as he kissed the top of her head. "Monsieur Loren's sister has withdrawn her request for our business…" he said softly.
"I know, I saw the memo. I'm so sorry Erik; I would never want to do anything to interfere with your work. I should have kept my temper in check"
He lifted her chin up to look her in the eye "You did nothing wrong. I would never take a client that made you uncomfortable like that. You are the one who has to deal with them on a regular basis…I would never put you in that position"
She nodded "I know, but…"
"There are no 'buts' I would have gladly refused her had I known about the meeting."
"Alright" she said finally as she contemplated his words. "I'll let you get back to your work"
He looked back at his desk and frowned "I'm afraid I just don't feel like working on that any longer. Would you like to go for a walk?"
"That would be great, let me just go grab a jacket"
He nodded "Of course, I'll wait in the foyer for you" he said as he kissed her lightly.
She walked out of the room, hurried to her own to grab her fleece jacket and gloves and a scarf. She hated the cold and even though it wasn't really all that bad out, she still managed to freeze. She pulled the jacket on, zipping it up as she walked down the stairs. She stood before Erik, looping her arm with his as they walked outside.
They made a pass through the rose gardens before wandering about the grounds. Both lost in their own thoughts. Jenna was thinking about how different Erik was, how much he had changed. When she had met him he had seemed resigned and broken, now he was full of energy and life.
She had adjusted to her new life very well, she enjoyed her job, and she had a boyfriend and a home. She smiled to herself; she wished her sister could see her now. Her perfect younger sister who had always been the belle of the ball when they were together, always with the perfect boyfriend, the perfect grades, the cheerleader…the stereotypical spoiled rich girl who took advantage of their parent's wealth, always asking for a new car, going shopping and spending outrageous amounts of money…She always looked down on Jenna for being more of a homebody, although that didn't say much.
Jenna was always very popular herself, but while her sister ran with people in their own situation…financially Jenna made friends with everyone. She was always going out to lunch, or dinner with friends. And her sister was horrified when she found out that if a friend couldn't pay for their own meal Jenna would often pick up the tab herself without a second thought. That was what made Alyssa and Jenna different. Alyssa was greedy and spoiled, not being able to see below her station and being rotten to anyone who she deemed 'Lower Class'. Jenna wouldn't bring herself down to that level.
Jenna had always considered herself very lucky that her parents had been blessed with a good fortune. She was never want for anything, however when she was 16 she went and got a part time job, to pay for her activities. Her parents tried time and time again to tell her she needn't work while she was in school but she would hear none of it. When her parents bought her a brand new Mercedes for her birthday she tried to give them some of her savings to help pay for it, saying she hadn't earned it.
When Jenna had gone away to college she thought she would be able to escape the whirlwind that was her younger sister. She was a bit disappointed when she found out that Alyssa had chosen to attend Penn State University as well. She contented herself with finding an apartment in town, while her sister was forced to live in the dorms on campus. They would often meet in the HUB or at Irving's Bagels downtown for lunch or dinner but that was the extent of their contact while they were in college together. She had also insisted on going on her European vacation alone, knowing if she let her sister tag along she would have ruined it. And she might never have met Erik…she glanced over at him, smiling and resting her head on his shoulder for a moment.
Erik looked down when he felt the weight of her head on his shoulder; he slipped his arm around her waist and held her to him. "What are you thinking about?"
"Mmm, nothing really earth shattering. Just thinking about stuff…you know from the past. About my sister, my family, college. That sort of thing"
He nodded "I see…you are your sister are close?"
"Kind of…it's complicated…"
"I have time," he offered.
She sighed and sat down on a bench, looking around wondering when they ended up back in the gardens. Trying to collect her thoughts so she can begin to tell him about her family…
