Chapter 3

October 1875

Weeks went by, our days filled by the various chores that had to be done. He would be either working, on his music, or painting or working on woodcarvings. I would be tidying the area, cooking, or sewing; sometimes I would do some painting of my own. Our nights filled with lovemaking, gentle and wild.

One day I heard him playing that song that had so pulled at my heart but there was a difference, it didn't seem quite so melancholy. I went to him, curious, and he glanced up at me.

"I changed the words." He said. I looked at the sheet music. It had a new title. "No One Would Listen." he began to sing. He had such a beautiful voice. When he stopped playing, he then looked up at me. He took my hand, kissed it, and held it to his cheek.

"You heard me; with you I'm no longer lonely." He said softly. I gently cradled his face.

"You never need to be alone again. I am glad you changed the words. They sounded so hopeless." I told him. He pulled me into his lap and held me tight, resting his cheek against my soft curls.

A few days later, he was playing and I found myself softly singing along. I knew that there was no way my voice could ever compare to hers and I knew that he was a harsh judge but I didn't realize that he heard me. I suddenly became aware that though I was still singing he had stopped playing and I stuttered to a stop. I glanced over at him, embarrassed, to find him smiling at me.

"Don't stop. You have a sweet voice. Not operatic by any means but sweet nonetheless. Your voice reminds me of soft morning light." I smiled hesitantly but could not bring myself to continue singing. Instead, I told him I had errands to run and then I went to our room to change. I did not intend to put myself in a position to where I could be compared to her. There was something sitting on the desk with a note attached. It was another music box; this one was in walnut, oval, with a delicately carved blue and yellow butterfly on a pink flower at the top. The note read "For my angel of light, for all you have given me ". I turned and he was standing at the doorway watching me. I ran to him and threw my arms around him.

"Thank you. It's beautiful." I said as I reached for his face. He kissed me gently and then with more urgency, his hands quickly unbuttoning my blouse and releasing my breasts to his touch, his thumb gently brushing across the tip of my breast. My hands went to the buttons of his trousers releasing that, which grew at my touch. Erik reached down, sliding his hand down my leg to my ankle and then up my leg to my thigh, hiking my skirt up around my waist. With his other hand he slid my under drawers down around my ankles and I stepped out of them. I moaned as his fingers met the secret place, softly caressing and then entering, exploring and caressing, as his tongue explored my mouth. I reached out stroked his warm length, my fingers circling, sliding down and back, then brushing the tip with my fingers. He groaned at my touch and then he pushed me back against the wall, with a small grunt lifted me up, and impaled me upon him. I wrapped my legs around him as he started thrusting his hips. Then, still holding me upon him, he carried me to the desk and lay me down at its edge. Savagely he thrust himself within me, his hands circling my waist, watching my face as I cried out in pleasure and pain, my hands clutching the sides of the desk, my need matching his, his eyes heavy and drunk with passion. My hands, nails biting, reached down and clutched his arms. When finally he emptied himself within me, he gently took my mouth with his and then, with small kisses, nips, and licks, worked his way down to that very place that he had left. Tenderly kissing the bruised flesh and with his tongue found the center of my heat bringing me to the point of exquisite ecstasy and violent panting release. Slick with sweat, breathing raggedly, I pulled him up to me. He kissed me softly and lifted me up carrying me to the bed and then we lay embraced in each other's arms murmuring sweet endearments to each other.

Much later, I finally got around to running my errands. I was wandering around the market putting things in my basket when a small figure caught my eye. It was a small boy about eight or nine years, he was painfully thin, his huge brown eyes standing out in his gaunt, dirt smudged face. His dirty brown hair was rather longish and disheveled. He was trying to look inconspicuous as he edged closer and closer to the loaves of bread. Unaware of my eyes watching him he reached out, grabbed a loaf and started to run.

"Stop thief!" the merchant cried. As the boy darted past me I reached out and grabbed his arm, he looked up at me in fear and tried to wrench himself out of my grasp but I held firm.

"How dare you call my ward a thief! He was just getting me a loaf of bread and you frightened him shouting at him like that." I declared. The merchant looked at me skeptically. "Here, ring me up I don't think I will be shopping Here again!" I said haughtily as I paid the man. I still had a firm grip on the boy's arm as we marched from the store. When we reached the street, he made a brief attempt to break away again but to no avail. He had yet to utter a word. I led him away from the shop, down a maze of streets until I was sure no one was following us. We came to an alleyway and I dropped to one knee looking him in the face. He was small for his age, his face and hands were sadly filthy and he was nothing but skin and bones but something about him spoke of an inner strength.

"Where are your parents?" I asked quietly, I believed I knew the answer to that, I was proven right when he looked at me with his big, mournful brown eyes and sadly shook his head.

"Are you lost?" I asked. He shook his head. I looked at him sadly for a moment and then came to a decision. "I'm sorry. I am an orphan too. Would you like to come and stay with me? I'll make sure you get all the food you want." I asked. He looked at me his eyes wide and slowly nodded his head.

"My name is Jenny what is your name?" I asked him. He looked at me for a moment and then he covered his mouth with his hand and then grabbed his throat and shook his head. He was mute. He looked around until he saw a mouse darting along the wall. He pointed at it and then at himself. He was called Mouse. Not even a proper name. I wondered how long he had been on his own.

"Come we need to get you some new clothes and then we need to get Monsieur des Ombres' permission. Where I take you, you must never show or tell another soul without my or Monsieur des Ombres express permission understand?" I said sternly. He solemnly nodded his head. We went and bought him several changes of clothing, shirts, and trousers, under things, nightshirts and robes. Erik was very fastidious about cleanliness and Mouse's clothing and person were filthy. I led him to one of the entrances to the underground passages and looked around. No one was around so I opened it and led him in. We traveled down many passages and at last, I stopped and turned to him.

"Okay Mouse. I have to go and get Monsieur des Ombres now. Wait here and I'll be back in a few minutes okay?" He nodded hesitantly. "I promise I won't be gone long." I went rather nervously to get Erik, trying to decide just how I was going to tell him. When I found him, he was sitting at the piano, engrossed in what he was doing.

"Erik, could you please come with me?" I asked as I sat my purchases down. He turned to me, puzzled.

"To where?" he asked.

"Please no questions yet. I have found a poor little Mouse that needs help." I said. He looked at me as if I were insane.

"Please." I asked and held out my hand. He put his hand in mine and followed me, still looking at me as if I had lost my mind. As we neared where I left Mouse, I stopped and turned to him.

"Now please don't get angry, but I found someone in desperate need of help. He's just ahead." I led him forward. For the first time ever I saw his face darken in rage.

"You brought someone HERE!" he shouted as we turned the corner. He glared at me, his hands clenching and unclenching as he tried to contain his rage but then his gaze shifted and he saw Mouse cringing against the wall. He looked at the small figure huddling in fear and anger seemed to melt away. He stood there; his eyes seemed to be looking inward at himself. He looked back at me.

"Erik he's mute and he's an orphan." I said pleading.

"Forgive me." He whispered and again looked at the boy, his eyes softening.

"Mouse, come here. It is all right. This is Monsieur des Ombres." I said and Erik looked at me, startled at the name I had given him and then looked back at the boy.

"Come here boy. Before you join us, you must promise certain things. Understand? Breaking your promise has dire consequences. You must never let anyone know of this place, that is the most important thing. One of your duties will be to accompany Madame when she goes above on her errands, it will be your responsibility to help her in whatever manner she needs help and to make sure she comes to no harm. The rest of your duties we will figure out as we go along and first thing for you to do will be to bathe. And burn those clothes that you are wearing, they are beyond saving." Mouse looked at him and nodded solemnly.

I looked at Erik oddly. He had called me Madame not Mademoiselle. He had named me as his wife not his mistress. Why? Erik held his hand out to me and when I placed my hand in his he pulled me to him.

"You do seem to collect wounded birds little angel, first me now the boy." He said gently. "Come we have work to do if the boy is to stay." With that, he led the way back home.

While I was heating water for Mouse to bathe in, Erik went to the alcove that had been mine briefly and started to put screens up again. Soon he reappeared.

"I'll be back shortly." He said as he put his cape and hood on and left. The water was hot so I put a screen around the old brass tub and told Mouse to get in and bathe while I prepared supper. I heard much splashing about as I cooked and finally a much cleaner little boy presented himself before me. His light brown hair stood up in wet spikes. He was wearing a light blue shirt and brown trousers I had bought him. The way the shirt hung you could tell how painfully thin he was. He shivered slightly and I told him to stand by the fire to get warm. When Erik returned he was lugging a narrow feather mattress, a couple of comforters and a small pillow. He disappeared behind the screen again and we heard some banging. Just as I was going to call him to supper, he reappeared. We ate in silence. Erik seemed preoccupied with his thoughts. After supper, Mouse helped me clean up the dishes. Then Erik took him by the hand and led him to the alcove.

"This is your room now Mouse." Erik said. Mouse looked around with round eyes. Erik had made him a small bed with a soft mattress and pillow and nice warm comforters in dark blue velvet. The desk and chair were still there but the tapestries that were hanging were different from the ones that he had hung for me. These were in a dark blue with gold trim. He had moved the settee to the area by the piano. Mouse went to the bed and sat down with a look of wonder on his face. It was as if he had never had a bed before. He ran to Erik and wrapped his arms around Erik. Erik stiffened at first, with conflicting expressions crossing his face, first dismay and shock, then wonder. He leaned over and hugged the small boy to him. Finally, he stood up, turning his face away so we couldn't see the tears that had come to his eyes and the small boy came to me to hug me as well.

"Come, its time to sleep." I said as I hugged him back and turned him to his bed. Erik and I left for our room. That night as he held me in his arms he told me about another small boy who had suffered abuse and more, without a single person to love him and he swore that this boy would never suffer as he did.

"I love you Erik." I whispered as I wiped his tears, kissing him gently and snuggled my head against him, my arm across his broad chest. I longed to hear him return the words but knew he wouldn't. I drifted into sleep.