This chapter may make some of you uncomfortable, we will see. Not uncomfortable in a bad way, just left wondering what is going on this overactive imagination of mine.

Muhaaaaaahahahahahahahahah! You'll never know!

Actually, yes you will…eventually.

There are some French phrases in this chapter that are translated at the end of the chapter. For the most part, Erik converses in English. Sam and Nancy are from England, Desiree was American, so he speaks English to allow Grace to know her mothers language.

Charles Wallace, his client and business partner, is English. The surname of Destler is of British background, so it is entirely plausible that Madeline is English, as was her husband, Erik's father. They could have been in France for business reasons. Christine is Swedish by ancestry, so she could speak Swedish (although, once her father died, she may have had no need to speak this any longer), French, and English, as could Brigitte, since those who were performer often learned different languages.

Erik, however, was exposed to English at an early age, in the home of his mother; then he was exposed to the gypsies, who can speak many different dialects, these just happened to speak French. Then he was in the opera house and heard many languages. He knows several languages, such as French, English, Spanish, and Italian fluently; but prefers French and English

So, there you have it…it may help with this chapter and some in the future.

Enjoy!

THE DAWN THROUGH THE NIGHT

Book III – Getting to Know You, Chapters 11-17

CHAPTER 16

The women sat still, watching Erik, Grace, Sam, and Nancy leave the church. They were thankful they had had the chance to see him in these conditions.

"He had always said he would never get involved in church again." Brigitte stated, thinking back on a conversation she had had with him years ago.

Madeline smiled, remembering the boy that had been an up and coming scholar in the eyes of the church, "Erik was reading the Bible from cover to cover before the age of five." She stated, "He was a faithful Catholic, even more so than I…I don't know what went wrong."

They kept chatting as they left the church and rode in the carriage toward home. They stopped to pick up a few items for lunch and a paper.

"I suppose that I don't need to look at the 'help wanted' ads anymore." Christine jested, as she sat at the table reading the paper. It was Madeline's turn to cook lunch, so the other two women relaxed.

Brigitte gave her a sideways glance and smiled, "No…I suppose you don't."

"Grace seemed like such a happy child and she loves Erik." Madeline stated. "She looks like him in so many ways."

"She was so well-behaved in church this morning and Erik was loving and patient toward her…he's a natural father." Brigitte announced.

They all agreed on that fact.

"I wonder what kind of a woman her mother was?" Christine asked.

"I don't know, but she must have been very beautiful." Madeline injected, "He must have loved her very much…he has very sad eyes."

"I'm sure she was a wonderful person to have won Erik's heart and produced such a delightful little girl." Brigitte stated.

Again, they all agreed.

Christine quirked her lips and nodded, she picked up the paper and began reading again. The engagement announcements caught her eyes, as a familiar named popped out at her,

"The Count and Countess de Changy are proud to announce the engagement of their son, the Viscount Raoul de Chagny, to Baroness Victoria Raetheford, of Great Britain. The wedding is to commence on Saturday on the grounds of the de Chagny estate."

Relief flooded over Christine. The de Chagny family would no longer hold any sway over her. They would not risk the alliance the marriage would ensure with the Raetheford family to hunt down Christine and discover Jean Luc. They were finally free.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Erik sat in despondently in his study, looking over some ideas he wished to incorporate into the building plans. He had not completely recovered from the rage that raced through his body at the infringement of his well-orchestrated life by the three women he had so long tried to forget.

Church had become a necessity to him, he felt more in control of his darkness when he was in the church. He had not been on talking terms with God for many years, but he realized that was his fault and no one else's. Now, he felt the presence of God in his life helping him work through the heaviness in his heart left there by years of neglect and torture.

He barely heard the knock on his study door, until it occurred several more times.

"Enter." He stated in a booming voice.

He looked up to find Sam standing at the door awaiting his acknowledgement. Erik lifted his eyebrow and inclined his head.

"Master Erik, Mr. Wallace is here to see you, and he has with him a Miss Tempest Le Roseau." Sam quipped, with a smirk at his lips.

He had been expecting his client, Mr. Wallace; but who was the woman?

"I'll meet them in the parlor, Sam…" he continued his assessment of the work in front of him, until Sam cleared his throat. Erik looked up into impatient eyes, "…I'm coming." He remarked as he stood up.

Sam smirked again, and patiently waited until Erik walked toward the door. "She's not here to see me, Sam…don't go getting any smart ideas." Erik clipped, still smiling.

'Honestly, you'd think I had a chance at finding love, the way those two try to play matchmaker.' Erik thought, as he remembered the numerous times that Nancy and Sam had mentioned certain females they felt were worthy of his attention.

He entered the parlor, and immediately laid his eyes on Miss le Roseau. "Erik Destler, I would like you to meet my sister, Tempest Le Roseau." Charles stated with a smile, "Tempest, Erik Destler."

She was wearing a lavender gown, which emphasized the blue in her eyes so perfectly. She smiled a mesmeric smile as he came toward her. She was quite beautiful; rather curvaceous with long, blond hair. She carried herself with a great deal of confidence, something Erik found very attractive in a female.

"M. Destler, c'est un honneur pour vous rencontrer finalement." (1) Her silky voice caressed his spine.

Erik took her offered hand in his gloved one, and brought it to his warm lips for a kiss. Hearing his native French spoken from her lips was a wonderful gift. Erik had started speaking English more and more, as most of his clients and contractors were from the British Isles.

"Enchanté." (2) Erik purred, his green eyes sparkling without him being aware of it. Just knowing that this woman had been interested in meeting him, made him nervous. "M'appeler veuillez Erik." (3)

She smiled sweetly, and gave a small curtsy.

"How is that you do not share your brothers last name?" Erik asked, still speaking in his native tongue.

"He's my half-brother actually; we share the same mother." She answered with a flutter of her lashes.

Erik nodded his understanding and focused on Charles. They spent the next thirty minutes talking about a new supervisor being recommended to oversee the workers.

"I feel sure that he will be excellent in the position." Charles stated.

Erik looked over the papers once more, knowing that the man was well qualified and seemed to be a hard worker.

"I will speak with him tomorrow at my office, 9 am." Erik finally said, closing the file and getting ready to stand up.

"Am I being presumptuous by asking that you take one evening and get to know my sister?" Charles whispered. "She has really been hesitant to meet anyone, and you are the first man, in quite a while, she has seemed interested in."

"Charles, I have no idea how to proceed when it comes to the fairer sex." Erik commented, "Are you sure she is interested in me?"

Charles smirked at the unbelieving tone in Erik's voice, "Yes Erik, I'm sure."

Erik inclined his head, walked past Charles, and went to where Tempest sat, looking at some sketches of Erik's.

"Mlle Le Roseau, me feriez-vous que l'honneur de dîner avec moi le mercredi soirée... nous disent autour 7 P.M.?" (4) Erik asked.

Tempest inclined her head to the positive, allowing a smile to grace her beautiful face.

"Je vous prendrai à 6:30 P.M." (5) Erik stated, and once again placed a kiss on her hand.

He cast a questioning eye toward Charles, "I can't believe I let you talk me into this."

Charles just grinned as he led Tempest out the door.

French to English translations……

Mr. Destler, it is an honor to finally meet you.

Enchanted

Please, call me Erik.

Miss Le Roseau, will you do me the honor of having dinner with me on Wednesday…shall we say around 7 pm?

I will pick you up at 6:30 pm

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Erik lay in his bed contemplating what it was about him that would make a woman like Tempest le Roseau interested in him.

Desiree had told him many times that he was attractive, but he had never believed it; still didn't. But, Desiree had loved him, he knew that know…and Tempest wanted to spend time with him. What would possess either to them to want to be with him?

Numerous women had pursued him, on various occasions, in Spain; but he had never taken any of them seriously. Could it be that he did have something to offer a woman?

Erik shook himself out of his dream world; he certainly wasn't going to hold his breath, expecting the evening to go well. She would see him for what he really is and want nothing more to do with him, of that he felt certain.

Christine had seen what he really was, and had ended up falling into the arms of the only other man in her life; albeit, a handsome man. But, Erik felt remorse for the fact that Raoul had obviously not been the man for Christine, and it was his fault she had married him. He would apologize to her for that.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

The next morning was full of activity, Christine had packed a great deal of her things over the last couple of days, but she still had a few things to contend with. She was not taking any furniture items, for her or Jean Luc; not that she had anything really, just a few odd pieces that Madam Giry had rounded up. Erik had stated that the house was fully furnished and all rooms were ready for occupancy.

Madeline and Brigitte were going to accompany her and help her settle in, as well as get to know where Erik lived. She knew that Erik would not be there when she got there, for he had told her so.

"My goodness, the place is a mansion!" Brigitte exclaimed, as they approached the house. Sam appeared at the door, and several men came out to unload the items from the carriage.

"Sam, this is Brigitte Giry, a dear friend of mine who is like my mother; and this…" Christine introduced Madeline, "…is Madeline Destler."

Sam did not react at first; then he looked at Madeline with inquiring, interested eyes, "Destler…are you related to Master Erik?"

Madeline smiled, and Sam saw the resemblance… "Yes, I am his mother."

The look on Sam's face said it all. His eyes were dancing with merriment, "His mother…this just keeps getting better and better."

They carried Christine's and Jean Luc's things up the stairs to the left corner of the second floor; Christine's room attached to a separate room, which was specifically designed for a small boy.

'When had Erik had time to design this?' Christine wondered.

Toys, clothes, books; everything a little boy could possibly want, was neatly displayed in the room Jean Luc was to occupy. He ran in and immediately started making himself at home.

"Did Erik do this?" Christine asked, tears in her eyes.

Nancy nodded, "Yes, he worked on it for most of the day yesterday, and part of the night before." Nancy smiled at the happy giggles of the little boy in the room, "He wanted Jean Luc to feel at home."

Christine marveled at the complexity of the man. He disguised his tenderness under a mask of austerity and somberness; and yet, he always thought of others before himself and could not prevent his true heart from being seen in his eyes.

"What time is Erik due home?" Christine asked, after they had finished putting everything up.

"He won't be home much before seven tonight." Nancy answered.

She was disappointed by the late hour in which he was expected home, but she knew she could use the time to outline Grace's day and set up a schedule of activities.

It was about that time that Grace woke up from her sleep and padded into the room where everyone was talking. She stood for a few minutes and immediately ran to Christine.

"Ms. Christine…it is so good to have you…" Grace stated with joy. "I'm sorry I didn't get to speak to at church yesterday…they wore us out in Sunday school running Bible relays…" her face lit up in an animated smile, "…but I won!"

Madeline could not believe her eyes. This child was so like Erik in many ways. Her dark eyes and hair were his as well as her mannerisms.

Grace acknowledged Brigitte and Madeline with a nod of her curly head, "Hello, I'm Grace Hannah Destler." She said, offering her small hand as an offering of greeting.

Madeline was fighting back tears as she squatted down to the child's level and introduced herself with a beautiful smile, "Hello Grace, I'm Madeline."

She chose to keep her relation to the child to herself at this time, not sure how Erik would react to her barging in and telling Grace that she had a grandmother; but she so longed to embrace this child with her arms just as she had done with her heart.

Grace accepted the introduction and moved to Brigitte, "Hello Grace, my name is Brigitte Giry."

Brigitte also chose to keep her friendship with Erik a secret. He was not going to react well to them coming to his home in his absence and making his daughters acquaintance; but she would deal with that when the time came.

Nancy watched proudly as Grace behaved as the little lady her father had taught her to be. Erik had made sure she was well educated in all things and aware of proper etiquette and behavior.

After all introductions were made, Brigitte and Madeline left, giving Christine and Jean Luc big hugs knowing they would not be together as often now.

Christine sat quietly in her new room, admiring the décor that Erik had used. He had impeccable taste that showed through in every thing he did. His clothes, his home, his speech; everything…he was the most elegant and distinguished man she had ever known.

He had remembered her love of the color lavender, and had used it as the main color for her room, accented by rose pink and sage. The room was friendly and warm, just as Christine would have made it…why would he go to so much trouble?

She was finishing hanging up clothes and putting her stockings and underclothes in her drawers, when she heard Erik and Grace in the hallway.

"It was wonderful, Papa." Grace exclaimed, "I got to meet two new people when Christine moved in."

"Did you! Were these people young children like you or old grumps, like me?" Erik responded, a smile in his tone. Christine smiled at the teasing beauty in his voice.

Grace giggled at his words as well. Christine was so wrapped up in the moment that the panic took a few minutes to hit. Grace was going to tell him about Madeline and Brigitte!

She raced to the door just in time to hear, "Papa, you're silly…they were two nice ladies named Brigitte and Madeline."

The look on Erik's face was one of sheer fury. He lifted his angry eyes to Christine as she leaned against the doorframe. His features spoke volumes. Not only did Christine see the fury in his eyes, there was something else lurking in their depths…

"Papa, I missed you…why do you have to be away?" Grace asked, still not aware that Erik was seething.

Erik turned toward her, all fury gone from his eyes and face. His daughter had never seen him mad, and Lord willing, she never would.

"Mon Joli, I have to be at the site where my building is being built, they require my input on many things and it is easier if I am there." He cooed, pulling her closer.

Grace accepted that answer, but Christine could tell that she was not pleased with it. "Do you suppose I could come down there with you some time and see it?" She asked with hope in her little voice.

Erik stood up and lifted her effortlessly into his arms. She hugged his neck and kissed his left cheek.

"I will see to it, Mon Joli." Erik stated, kissing her back. "Now, let me talk to Ms. Daae in private…I'll be down in a little while to eat dinner."

He watched as she ran down the stairs to the music room, she wanted to play the piano and enjoy some time with music; Erik, again, reflected on how like him she was.

He turned his eyes from Grace's retreating figure to the woman watching him from the entrance to her room.

Christine had watched him be so tender and fatherly with Grace, she marveled at the difference in him when he was in her presence. 'How could I have ever been afraid of him?' Christine thought to herself.

Although, the man looming down on her was enough to make her heart skip a beat. Even in fury, he was graceful and elegant and his movements were uncannily agile and svelte.

Erik, moving like lightening, pushed her against the doorframe, pinning her between him and the hard surface of the wood.

"How dare you." He seethed, "Bringing those two into my home without my permission…" he was so close that Christine could feel the warmth of his breath on her face, and smell the intoxicating scent of his cologne. "I never said I wanted them in my home."

"It was only Brigitte and your mother…" Christine started, but was stopped by the threatening way he lowered his eyes and voice; its ominous beauty leaving feathery touches of foreboding up her spine.

"Don't even speak of them to me…" he stood over her as a predatory bird guarding its prey, "…all of you joining league to drive the final nail in my coffin."

Christine was strangely aroused by the closeness of his hard body. He was the single, most powerful man she had ever known; he did not need the persona of the Phantom to accomplish that. He oozed power and superiority from every pore in his body.

Christine looked baffled and shook her head to clear her mind, "What are you talking about Erik?" She asked, not understanding his venomous tone.

Erik knew this had been a mistake…pinning her beneath him like this. He reacted to her supple, female curves in a very male fashion, and it sickened him. His accursed body had betrayed him many times over the years, and more often than not, this woman was involved….Erik was losing his patience.

He pulled away from her, as though burned, lifted his chin defiantly, and glided down the hallway toward his room. He would deal with this later; right now, he wanted to be with his daughter.

Christine watched his stubborn, retreating back and smiled. She had felt the arousal in him and had seen desire burn in his eyes. This was going to be a challenge; her feminine charm against his formidable willpower…and in the end, she prayed he would end up in her arms.

She could not understand why he reacted as he did, but she would continue to push his buttons, if for no other reason than to get a rise out of him. She laughed at the double meaning her thoughts held.

TBC