That Face in The Mask

Chapter Fifteen:Realizations


A/N: Yessss! My computer is FINALLY working correctly, so good news! I can FINALLY send out reviewer responses again! Yay!

That is, if there are a lot of reviews to respond too...(-Hint-)

Also, sorry about my grammer and spelling in the previous chap, but I forgot to proofread and it was about midnight when I submitted that, and yes, I was very exhausted.

I hope the dialogue is all right in this chap and not too modern.

Disclaimer: Don't own it.


Meg felt the ruffling spring breeze blowing through her loose hair and playfully tugging at her sheer white skirt, revealing small glimpses of her petticoats. She felt her own warm moist hand in Cedric's as they strolled along the seashore, making the casual, normally awkward conversation found among young courtiers, which had only been interrupted once when Cedric stopped to pick up a seashell for her. It had been four months since she and Cedric had begun courting. Everyone was completely used to seeing them together at work or social events. Cedric had even taken Meg out to dinner once or twice, with her mother acting as a chaperone, of course.

Meg couldn't believe how far this had come. Everyone was just waiting for the wedding, and a few of the younger orchestra members and ballet rats had made wagers on when Cedric would finally propose. Meg felt like she was locked in some horrible prison she had created. Four months had passed, and she still hadn't been able to tell Cedric about Erik or Erik about Cedric. It was absurd. She couldn't believe what a low-down, deceitful, wicked person she had become, leading two men on to her. This was like something some awful whore or prostitute would do to her customers, not something a formerly nice, kind girl like her would do to someone she loved. She was trying to please everyone all at once, especially herself.

Every time she tried to tell Cedric about Erik, she was interrupted, or bothered or just couldn't bear to tell Cedric when he looked straight at her with those honest, kind, honey-golden eyes of his. And trying to tell Erik was so much harder. She had tried on numerous occasions, but she had always lost the nerve to do it or felt so upset and nervous she couldn't tell him the truth and made up some weak, flustered excuse.

She had seen Erik when he was upset or angry before, and she didn't want to have to be the one to cause him that pain.

So, that was why now she was almost going insane from keeping all this hidden. It was impossible for her to tell anyone about this precarious situation she was in. Guilt kept gnawing at her insides, almost making her ill it was so unbearable sometimes.

She was jolted back to reality when Cedric cleared his throat.

"Meg? Did you hear me?"

"Hmm?"

"Well, what do you think? Should I ask him for that or not?"

She could feel her face turning red as she realized Cedric had been asking her something and her thoughts had rudely been elsewhere instead of listening to him.

"Oh, pardon me Cedric, I didn't hear what you said last. Could you repeat it?"

He sighed "I asked you 'do you think I should ask Monsieur Jolin for that raise in pay or not?'"

"Oh, I don't know Cedric, you know I'm useless when something concerns money. Do what you believe is best"

"Meg, come now, I wanted your opinion! That's simply a typical female answer."

"Well, I'm just a typical female"

He stopped and glanced at her, his hand slowly sliding around her waist "No, you're not. You're a beautiful, intelligent, graceful one I'm proud to call my own" he said, in an unfamiliar low, husky voice.

She lowered her eyes modestly at his seductive praise. He gently titled her chin up to face his.

"Meg, look at me"

She raised her eyes to meet his handsome face

"You know there's something between us. There's no sense in denying it any longer. I've felt it ever since the first day I've known you. You're beautiful and sweet and intelligent and kind, you have so many wonderful attributes about you, it would take a lifetime to name them all. And, oh, I had a feeling I was going to become all nervous and start babbling, so here"

He produced a sealed letter from his pocket addressed to her in his neatly scripted handwriting. She started to open it, but he stopped her

"No. Don't open it now. Wait until later. I, well, there was so much I've always wanted to say to you, but I never found the right time or possessed the courage to do it. I've written it all down here, so you can just keep it...somewhere."

She gently took it from his hands and delicately slid it into the bodice of her dress beneath her corset, feeling the unfamiliar rough texture of the paper against her soft, smooth skin.

"I'm sure I will treasure it, Cedric. It was a lovely gesture."

"I hope you'll agree with what I had written, since I assumed quite a few things."

She was slightly confused and asked "What did it say?"

He grasped her hand lightly and pulled a small, velvet box from his waistcoat pocket. Bending down on one knee while glancing up at her angelic face, he snapped open the lid, revealing a glorious diamond ring, sparkling dazzlingly when it caught a precious golden ray of the warm sun.

" I love you."

She knew she should respond to him, but she couldn't force herself to say it. There was no ease or comfort in the words when they were meant for him.

He looked at her amazed, unbelieving face and took her stunned silence as a sign to continue.

Meg felt her heart begin to race with both joy and dread as he sighed nervously and asked the greatly anticipated question every woman dreams of hearing

"Meg, will you marry me...?"