Chapter 15

Isabelle woke the next day to find Erik sleeping fitfully next to her. His arms were wrapped around her possessively; not wanting to disturb him Isabelle laid her head down on his chest and kissed his chest. Erik woke at that sensation on his chest and looked down at Isabelle smiling.

"Are you feeling better?" He asked, still worrying about her health.

"Much, I feel weak though, but it will go away soon," she said, "Thank you for taking care of me."

"I would never leave you alone," Erik promised. They both sat in each other's arms, lost in thoughts. Isabelle was still very weak, and Erik was still very tired, but neither would complain much about it. Isabelle sighed, a little restless now after being in bed so long.

"Isabelle, you were so sick you could have died," Erik said brokenly, "I was so scared I was going to lose you and have to live on without you. I love you so much; you mean everything to me."

"Shhh, Erik, it's alright, I am better now," she soothed, "I would never leave you, no matter how sick I am."

"The reason I say this is because, I want you to become my wife," he said. Isabelle sat up immediately after hearing this, and looked into the green depths of his eyes.

"Do you really mean that?" She whispered.

"I do," he answered praying she would say yes. He watched her as tears came to her eyes,

"Yes I will be your wife," she said collapsing against him in happiness. Erik hugged her to him tightly and kissed the top of her head.

"You have made met the happiest man on this earth, Isabelle, I hope that I can be the best husband," he said honestly.

"You will Erik, you will always be my only love," she promised. Erik reached across to the nightstand beside their bed and went to the drawer. Curiously Isabelle watched him as he pulled out a beautiful diamond ring. He took her hand in his and kissed her ring finger before slipping the new jewelry on her finger.

"Erik it's beautiful," she whispered, tears coming to her eyes. Erik was about to say something when there was a knock at the door. Quickly he got up to answer it.

"Monsieur, breakfast is ready downstairs, but I could have it brought up here." Gertie said, peeking in to find Isabelle sitting up. Erik looked at Isabelle and she took the sheet off, sitting up.

"We will be downstairs in a moment," Erik replied, closing the door. Isabelle swung her feet off the bed, attempting to stand on her wobbly legs. She sat back down immediately, embarrassed. Erik quickly washed in the basin and put on some clean clothes. He noticed Isabelle still sitting on the bed.

"Do you need help getting dressed?" He asked, Isabelle blushed and only nodded. Erik went to her old bedroom and got her some fresh clothes and helped Isabelle clean up and then dress. She was very thin from the fever and pale still, but Erik would be sure to get her healthy again.

Erik helped Isabelle down the stairs; she was still weak but insisted on eating downstairs. She leaned on him heavily for support. Erik thought her determination was endearing.

They ate breakfast quietly, Isabelle eating quite a lot of food. Erik smiled at it; glad she had an appetite again. After breakfast they went to the library. Gertie had put a fire on and Isabelle read a novel on the settee as Erik sat at the desk writing Madame Giry about he and Isabelle's new relationship.

Gertie knocked at the door and when she heard Erik say she could enter she did. Isabelle and Erik looked up; noticing that Gertie looked very nervous.

"Monsieur, Madame de Chagney is here," she said, "shall I send away?"

"No send her in," Erik said, furious that she would do this again. He looked at Isabelle; she was fidgeting and looked uncomfortable. "Isabelle, you may stay this time, Christine apparently does not understand the words stay out, even though I used the smallest words possible."

Christine entered, and Erik stood, she tried to embrace him, but Erik roughly pushed her away. She looked very affronted. Erik sighed.

"Christine why did you come again?" Erik said, "I remember telling you never to come to this property again."

"I wanted to see you." She said, her doe eyes pleading with his.

"So anytime you want to see me, you find it your place to come uninvited to my home, and interrupt anything I am doing so you can see me," Erik said, his anger growing.

"I thought you would want to see me," she replied then noticed Isabelle in the corner, "Erik, could you excuse your maid, so we can talk in private?"

That made Erik's anger explode.

"No," Erik said icily, "she is not my maid and she is more than welcome to attend any affairs that concern her as well!"

"I do not understand," Christine said, her brows knitting together.

"Well Madame de Chagny," Erik said, emphasizing her title, "this lady is Isabelle Fraser she is not a servant in this house, she lives here with me and is my fiancee." With that Erik went and helped her to her feet. He put his arm around her waist to steady her weak frame and held onto her other hand. Christine's eyes widened at the diamond ring on her finger.

"No!" Christine spat; "You cannot be engaged to her! You don't even love her!"

"I do love her," Erik said, "I love her more than I thought I loved you."

Christine mouthed wordlessly and then lunged at Isabelle, slapping her hard on the face. The force of the impact pushed Isabelle into Erik's chest, whimpering. At that moment Gertie entered, and snatched Christine by the hair as Christine meant to slap Isabelle again. Erik set Isabelle down on the settee, pushed Gertie aside and roughly grabbed Christine's arm, pulling her out of the library.

"You Vicomtesse, are no longer allowed to come near this property," Erik hissed, as he pulled her to her carriage, "Because if you do, I will not stop what my servant starts, and I guarantee you will have more than a slap on the face, and then your husband will begin wondering what you do when he is gone!"

Erik roughly put her in the carriage and slammed the door shut, "The Lady is no longer welcome here, do not bring her here again, or I will see to it that you are no longer employed with the de Chagney household."

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Erik went back into the library to find Gertie pressing a wet cloth to Isabelle's cheek. He excused Gertie and thanked her for her help, and knelt down next to Isabelle. He pulled the cloth down to reveal three red marks across her perfect cheek. Furious Erik wished he had allowed Gertie to finish whatever she was about to do to Christine.

"Oh Isabelle, I am so sorry," he whispered, "She will never disturb us, I promise. The cuts are not deep, so they will not leave any scars, so long as you let them heal on their own."

"Thank you for standing up for me," she whispered, her beautiful green eyes shining with tears.

"I would never let anyone, especially her, say such things about you, and if she ever returns she will regret it," Erik said as her tears finally broke free, "Please do not cry, it breaks my heart when you cry." He said as he wiped them away gently and helped her up, taking her to the bedroom to allow her to rest after their eventful morning.

"I love you Erik," Isabelle said sleepily.

"I love you too," Erik replied.

He helped her into a shift and laid her gently on the bed. He was about to leave and go to the music room, but Isabelle grabbed his sleeve pleading that he stay. He took his shoes off and got in the bed with her. Isabelle laid her head on his chest and Erik smoothed her hair. Erik was very tired after all and fell asleep right after Isabelle.

R/R please! Thank you to my faithful reviewers, I love hearing your opinions!