Chapter 20
"Christine…Christine…" Erik chanted her name over and over as he held her to his chest. Believing the worst all day, he now cherished the best as he tried to absorb her presence into his very being. He breathed in her scent, allowing her warmth to suffuse him with relief at her safety. They stood for some time, each melding to the other, until Claude cleared his throat.
"Jacques. I take it there were no problems?" Claude looked at him with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes as they waited for the couple to break.
"Ah, no, no problems. The DeChagny crest works wonders."
"Yes, I presumed it might. Now we wait for my Antoinette, and hope she arrives safely as well."
Erik had spread a blanket under the shade and they sat to eat a bit of bread and cheese, though no one seemed to have much of an appetite. Their nerves were still on edge as they awaited Antoinette's arrival. Christine sat at Erik's side, her body touching his as if she tried to absorb his strength while they waited. She related how her passing through the checkpoint had gone.
"Oh, Erik! Jacques was wonderful. He was so calm. The gendarme was a nasty fellow though. He knew Le Raincy. Said he had relatives there. I thought surely he would see past the papers."
"Oui, Monsieur Erik, but the crest on the side of the carriage did its job. Once the gendarme made sure it was real, we were allowed to continue."
As much as Erik hated to admit it, the boy had been right. No one had questioned them with a title to accompany them. He wondered also if the boy would demand thanks and hoped not. He'd been in enough uncomfortable situations the last few days, and wanted no more. If this—Raoul said anything…
"Erik, do you not think, after all he's done for us, that you should thank Raoul when he arrives?" Erik looked to Christine as if she'd been reading his thoughts and a sharp laugh escaped him.
"Christine, he did all of this for you, and you alone. If anyone thanks him, it should be you, not I. And you'd best do nothing more than say the words." He watched her face as his meaning dawned on her, the anger flaring in her eyes.
"Erik, it is only you. It's always only been you and that will never change. Why do you constantly question my love for you?" She got up and began to walk away from him. "I have told you repeatedly—" but before she could finish, he came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. She made a feeble attempt to dislodge herself but his arms only tightened further. Laying his head against her hair, he breathed in her scent.
"Christine, I know you do. I fear losing your love."
"Then don't push me away, Erik. I love you." He released his hold on her and she turned to face him. Reaching up, she pulled his face to her and kissed him. He never heard Claude and Jacques as they moved to inspect the carriages.
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Raoul and Antoinette had continued their small talk as the Victoria wended its way through the city. Although they experienced no more sudden stops, Antoinette still remained close to Raoul, trying to gain some small measure of comfort from him as she worried about her father. Finally, they quieted. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't realize at first that Raoul had asked her a question.
"…met him, but weren't you afraid?"
"I am sorry, —Raoul. My thoughts were elsewhere." His name fell easier from her lips each time she said it though she still hesitated occasionally.
"You seem uncomfortable. Even after our kiss, Antoinette. Did you find that uncomfortable as well? It was not intended as such." She looked at him and felt the slow burn move up her face. "Monsieur! You presume too much. A simple kiss is all, nothing more."
"Is that what it was then? Simple? Nothing more?" She looked into his eyes and saw so much more than amusement. This could be the beginning of trouble if I'm not careful. Pausing for a moment to collect her thoughts, she began again.
"Monsieur—"
"Honestly, Antoinette, I enjoyed our kiss very much. In fact so much so—" Leaning in to her he brushed her lips once more with a kiss she could not deny. For one brief moment, her body responded to him, the sensations overwhelming her, before she realized, not only was this something that could never go any farther, they were in an open carriage, on the streets of Paris, where anyone could watch their very public display. She placed her hand upon his chest and broke from the kiss, seeing the passion stirring in his eyes. She felt the beating of his heart beneath her fingers and found it impossible to remove her hand or look away.
"Raoul, I am the daughter of an innkeeper…and Christine's friend…"
At that, his gaze turned inward and she could see the pain as it crossed his face.
"I am sorry, Raoul. But I know you still love her. And I know as well, that you and I, well, it could be a very enjoyable game, but we know it could never be any more than that. Between those two things alone, I think this is not the best of ideas, do you?" She watched as he studied her face for some time before answering her.
"I have learnt many things over these past several days, Antoinette. Not the least of which is what love does and does not do. I thought Christine was mine, to pick up where we'd left off as children, but that was a childish love, not meant to sustain adults. I do love her still, but I did not treat her with an adult love, but with a selfish, self serving love and that is not a sound basis for any relationship. I am learning, Antoinette, about the many different kinds of love, and also that my life will not end because she has chosen— someone else. I can look to others, and perhaps— I don't know what will happen ten minutes from now. I do know that I am seated in a carriage, with a beautiful woman who is vibrant and alive and who holds my interest when she should not, and I would like to explore the reason why. Is that such an awful thing for you?"
Antoinette's eyes never left his, and as he talked, he drew her into them, slowly and deeply. As she leaned forward to respond, she wondered if they would be able to weather the upcoming storm.
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When the Victoria at last reached the checkpoint, the gendarme allowed them to pass without question after only a cursory glance at Raoul. It had been so easy, which he had counted on. They now approached the meeting place. Antoinette remained as close to his side as possible. He'd felt her relief as they'd passed through and calm infused him as well. Now, as Phillipe turned the Victoria to the copse, he felt her body stiffen.
"Don't worry. Christine has the one thing that will make her life glorious and that is Erik. I think she will not begrudge me the opportunity to live." Antoinette smiled up at him as he covered her hand with his own, but said nothing.
Christine held her breath as the Victoria entered the copse, hoping all was well. As it came through, she could see Antoinette and Raoul as they sat, touching, and noticed his hand on hers. A small smile blossomed inside and she thanked God that perhaps now, he would begin to see that he had not lost everything after all.
The men stood on the other side of the carriages, discussing the final bit of the plan while Christine and Antoinette rested on the blanket. Christine realized that she was, in fact, very hungry, now that she new they were all safe. She and Antoinette shared the bread and cheese along with a bit of wine. Christine had given Antoinette a fierce hug the moment she exited the carriage, happy to have her friend with her once again and they had walked to the blanket quietly, arm in arm. Once seated, Christine watched Antoinette's face, which looked troubled, and was sure she knew the reason.
"Antoinette, I was so worried. But after enduring that terrible wait, I see your ride was quite tolerable." She had a difficult time keeping the smile from her voice and face as she watched her friend's eyes grow wide.
"Ah, it was…unremarkable, oui." A pale blush began in her cheeks.
Christine reached out and grasped her hand. "You have nothing to worry about. I saw Raoul's attention to you as you arrived and I think it's wonderful. I wanted him to be happy and I believe that, in time, he will be. And I'm glad you are helping. Now, tell me. All of it."
Antoinette hugged Christine tightly for a moment, then began to tell her everything, beginning with Raoul's gallant attempt to save her from her dress.
"No, I won't have it. We will stay to the plan. It is, I must admit, though it pains me to do so, working and any deviation may change that." Erik was vehement in his protest.
Raoul wished to continue on with them, to Le Raincy, for safety's sake, though Erik suspected an underlying reason. A lovesick boy who had turned his attention to a new conquest was the last thing he needed to worry about.
"Erik. You don't like me; that much I know. However, my plan has worked to this point. I see nothing wrong in a slight alteration. Besides, if I do not continue on, how shall I retrieve my carriages?"
"I'll leave the one! We'll travel together in the other if we have to. I do not need you tagging along."
Raoul's eyes blazed for a moment before regaining their determined gleam.
"You had my word that I would help you in this endeavor to free yourselves. I have kept my word. I cannot be responsible for anything beyond this minute."
He saw his meaning had incensed Erik.
"Besides, how would it look if I returned tonight with two carriages instead of one?"
"You can sit here a fortnight for all that it matters. You are not coming!"
"Since it is of little difficulty to lead an empty carriage, I have no choice in the matter but to relieve you of both carriages. You shall have a long walk, Monsieur."
Claude and Jacques had been watching, first with amusement, then with trepidation as the battle between Erik and Raoul flared brighter with every word. Claude had finally moved to the women to alert them and Christine now approached the two men.
"Erik, think." She had reached him and laid her hand on his arm. She felt his flinch and knew how very angry he was but she would not allow fear to stop her. "What will it hurt if he continues on? We are free now, with nothing left to fear. You told me that. Please. Let Raoul return with the second carriage as we go on from Le Raincy. Claude and Antoinette will be able to ride with us then, when no one will recognize us. It may be better to leave the— seating arrangements as they are for now." Erik stood for several seconds, unmoving. She knew he fought with himself over what he would do and hoped her voice had persuaded him. At last, she felt him slacken and heard him sigh.
"Fine. But I will not be responsible for him." And with that he turned from her and walked away.
It was growing late in the afternoon as they departed the copse. Their journey to the first stop had started later than planned due to the argument, and Erik was not happy. He sat beside Christine in the Coupe, silent and angry. He knew she watched him but could not bring himself to look at her. He needed time to calm himself, something he'd never worried about before and now struggled with. Instead of speaking, she laid her head on his shoulder for some time, until at last, his anger dissipated and he put his arm around her, drawing her close.
"Christine…" He whispered, "I hope you are right."
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The commander pushed the horses to their limits hoping to catch them, but his quarry was nowhere to be seen. Now, lathered and exhausted, they were forced to walk the horses or walk themselves. I must get them before they leave Le Raincy or they will be out of my immediate reach. I will not let this opportunity pass. And if that Vicomte gets in my way, well…The commander's thoughts ran over each scenario, liking some and discarding others. Catching up with them on the road, finding them at camp, asleep. That was the one he liked best out of the lot. He could sneak up, eliminate the Opera Ghost first. The rest of them would be no problem once that was done. He knew from all reports who lead them. Cut off the head and the body falls A slow grin began to spread across his face.
The group neared a copse of trees and the hair on the back of the commander's neck began to rise. He had always relied on his senses, they had not failed him in the past and he trusted they weren't now. Turning his horse toward the trees, he was almost upon it before he noticed what looked to be an entry, recently used. He noted broken branches, still green at the break and knew it couldn't have been more than a day since that was done. He dismounted, as did his men and, leaving Dupree with the horses, led the other two into the opening beyond.
Some time passed before Dupree heard a roar from within and knew it was the commander. Tossing the reins over a branch, he made a dash for the clearing. Breaking through the brush, he saw the commander, arms flailing, charging around the clearing spewing epithets at the group that had once again, evaded him. He stood with the other two men, waiting until the commander's temper quelled.
"Get the horses, they can't be far. We will catch them and end this now!"
Dupree looked at the two men the commander had brought. He could see the understanding on their faces of the consequences, should they push the horses any farther, but neither man looked willing to speak up. Squaring his shoulders, Dupree took a step forward.
"Commander, Sir." He watched as the commander's eyes turned to him. The look they contained almost muted him, but he knew they could not go farther without the risk of killing the horses. "Sir, if we continue, we run the risk of the horses dropping dead in the road. They cannot be pushed any more today. Sir…" The commander glared at him. The eyes that Dupree still watched had taken on an edge of insanity which chilled him to the core. He watched the commander turn to the other two and awaited his fate.
"You men, get the bed rolls. We'll stay the night here and get an early start in the morning. They were here, and recently. If they go to Le Raincy, it will take them another night because of the carriages traveling time. We will get them tomorrow night when they will have become complacent, believing they are safe. We will get them, we will get them…"
Dupree listened to the commander mutter the phrase over and over, as if it had become his mantra, as they made camp for the night.