Chapter Six

Winter Wonderland

Christine opened her eyes slowly the following morning. A shaft of light came through the window to land softly on her face and she sighed. The events of the night before caused her to moan in disbelief. Her thoughts immediately went to the Black Wolf.

In a way he was exactly as she had expected such a man to look like and how he would behave. But for just a moment before he had left her room she had seen that glimpse of pain in his eyes. It was a pain she was far too familiar with, loneliness. Could the infamous Black Wolf be lonely? She highly doubted it.

Christine became aware of how cold it was and shivered. It had not been this cold last night and she frowned. On sleepy legs she got out of bed and went to the small window. Oh, it was snowing! Christine giggled in delight, loving the snow. But the more she looked the more she realized it was not snowing it was storming. The blizzard had to have started in the early hours of the morning but now everything was covered in the white slush. How was she supposed to get home in this?

Putting her cloak on Christine left the room and realized that she could get lost in a house this big. She walked slowly down the large, dark hallway looking for any signs of life. The first door she came upon Christine opened and peered inside. She heard a muttered curse and saw the Black Wolf hurriedly pull up his trousers before she could see more then her eyes needed.

Christine blushed, realizing this was his room and turned around hastily. She had made it halfway down the hall when she heard his footsteps behind her and she tried to quicken her steps.

"Mademoiselle," he said, halting her immediately. She turned around and stared at the floor, to embarrassed to look him in the eyes.

"Were you looking for me?" he wondered.

"I-ah, yes…but not like that!" she whispered to the floor.

"Well I am quite decent, I think you can look up now," he said. She heard amusement in his voice and she looked up to see him smirking at her. Her blush turned crimson.

"Um…I think it is quite impossible for me to find my home through that snow," Christine said finally.

"Yes, I was going to say the same thing, you will have to stay here until the storm dies down," he said.

"But that could take days!" she gasped. He raised his only visible brow.

"Is there some pressing business that you must go to?" he asked.

"No," she admitted.

"Then I fail to see the problem," he said. The problem was he scared her out of her right mind and she did not want to stay here any longer then was necessary. She did not like being frightened and no matter what this man made her feel that way.

"I do not know what you heard about me, Christine, I can assure you that most of it is true, but I offered my hospitality to you and therefore I will not harm you as long as you are under this roof," he said. She wanted to say that his comment relieved her but in all honesty it didn't. He was still going to be around and that in itself was harmful.

"Thank you, monsieur," she whispered, trying to sound sincere.

"Erik," he said suddenly. Christine looked at him in confusion.

"Pardon me?"

"My name is Erik," he replied. The ghost of a smile crossed her lips.

"A pleasure to meet you, Erik," she said. He nodded and left.

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Erik watched her through the shadows as Rupert walked her through the manor. He had offered her a look around and though she had been hesitant she had eventually accepted. He noticed the hesitant way she talked and walked with Rupert and he finally realized why she was so shy; she was afraid of men.

What in the world had happened to cause that to happen? She seemed so innocent and unsure, just like someone who had barely been forced to face the world alone. That must have been why she was so reluctant to stay there until the storm passed. He wanted to get to know her better and even though this was surprising for him he did not care. He allowed them to see him and Rupert looked at his lord in surprise.

"My lord," he said with a bow. Erik ignored him.

"You will join me for dinner," Erik said to Christine. It was not a question, it was a statement. Rupert looked at him in surprise but he only had eyes for Christine.

"I…I mean-"

"It would be the polite thing to do," he said. Christine sighed.

"Yes, I would like that," she said.

"Good, join me in the hall in one hours time," he said gruffly, walking away.