Again thank you for your reviews, I really appreciate them. This chapter gave me some trouble, any suggestions welcome.
Chapter 18

August 1876

We arrived at the Devereux's the day of the picnic, and while Erik tied the horses, we clambered out of the carriage. Madeline grabbed some blankets and the basket with the dishes.

"Children come along and help me find a place to set up and then you can go play." Madeline said. Mouse ran on ahead blowing experimentally on the whistle we had given him so he could get our attention if he needed to.

"We'll be right behind with the rest of the stuff." I said as I grabbed the basket that held our picnic lunch. The twins were still in the carriage asleep. They looked so peaceful I almost hated to wake them. Erik came over to me.

"Ready angel?" He asked and touched my cheek softly. "Lord knows I'm not, all these people…"

"Sssh love, just remember you are here to prove that you are a loving husband and father who couldn't possibly be who the rumors suggest. The most people will be able to say about us is that our babies were born awfully early and I'm sure that ours aren't the first "premature" babies ever born." I smiled up at him. He took the basket from me, sat it down, and drew me to him.

"But I am a loving husband and father." He said smiling and leaned down covering my mouth with his, kissing me deeply. "I can think of things I would rather be doing." He whispered as our lips parted. I cleared my throat and glanced around to see if anyone was near.

"Yes, well Madeline will wonder where we are. Do you mind carrying the twins?" I asked as I picked up Nathaniel who was now wide awake. Erik picked up his sister and I handed Nathaniel to him and picked up the picnic basket. We stood and looked around to see if we could find them when I heard a whistle blow. I looked around to see Mouse gesturing at us to follow him. When we reached our picnic site, the Devereux's were chatting with Madeline. I sat the basket down and reached for Nathaniel. Madame Devereux came over exclaiming over the babes.

"What beautiful babies Madame des Ombres." She gushed. I could see her shrewd eyes examining the babies and then glancing at Erik as if to verify that they were indeed his children. "Your son looks remarkably like his father." She admitted as she glanced over at her husband who was chatting with Erik.

"You must join us for the tug o war Monsieur des Ombres what do you say?" Monsieur Devereux clapped Erik on the back. Erik looked over at me somewhat grimly.

"Jenny do you need my help with the children?" He asked, his eyes pleading.

"Go ahead love. Madeline and I can manage. We will be there to cheer you on." I smiled at him, handed Nathaniel to Madeline, reached up, and took Carrie from him. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. "You'll do just fine." He looked at me grimly and then turned to follow Monsieur Devereux. He need not have thought I was getting away lightly for as soon as they were gone Madame Devereux skillfully began her interrogation of me, asking questions in a roundabout way. Madeline and I revealed all that we had planned together. When she was satisfied we all strolled over to watch the games begin.

It began with the tug-of-war. The rope stretched across a mud pit so that anyone pulled across would fall into it. They had put Erik at the very front and he was determined that he would not be the one to fall in. With grim determination his team gradually pulled the others into the mud one by one until they eventually dropped the rope in defeat. He glanced around until he saw us clapping and cheering by the sidelines. He came over to receive my congratulatory hug.

"When we get home you are in for it." He whispered to me.

"Don't think it's been roses for me. I was grilled by an expert." I whispered back, then louder. "Oh look I think they are starting the egg race. Mouse particularly wanted to do that with you." I said with a smile as Mouse came running to grab Erik's hand, tugging on it until reluctantly Erik turned to follow. He wouldn't admit it yet but I could tell he was actually beginning to enjoy himself.

The object of the egg race was for the boys, balancing an egg in a spoon to get it to the other side and pass it to their fathers as fast as they could without dropping it and for the fathers to take it back to the point of origin, again as fast and without dropping it as possible.

They lined up on opposite sides of the ring and an egg was placed in each boy's spoon. Mouse was concentrating fiercely on his egg. As the flag was dropped he started across the ring at a fast running walk, his small tongue sticking out the side of his mouth. There was a bit of a wobble and Mouse almost stopped while the egg settled back. Other boys weren't as fortunate as one after another lost their eggs. Erik shouted encouragement to Mouse as he continued across the ring neck and neck with Stephan Devereux. Finally he reached Erik and passed the spoon and egg over to Erik. With his grace and long legs Erik had no problem reaching the other side in front of the much shorter Monsieur Devereux. He and Mouse were declared the winners. Mouse was dancing around in excitement and Erik looked over at me with a grin on his face. He looked down at Mouse and ruffled his hair as they strolled over to us, Mouse waving his ribbon at us. I leaned over hugging Mouse and then reached up to hug Erik.

"Am I finished yet?" he whispered as he embraced me.

"Not yet there is still the three-legged race with Sylvie. She's been wanting to do something special with you, her Papa Erik." I glanced over at her where she was congratulating Mouse enthusiastically. She glanced up and looked at Erik almost shyly and then glanced back down to the ground. Erik went over to her and lifted her face to meet his.

"Well Mademoiselle will you do the honor of joining me in the next event?" he asked solemnly.

"But how Papa Erik? With my leg like it is. The other kids laugh and say that I can't do anything." she said mournfully. He dropped down to one knee.

"That's an easy fix Sylvie. We just tie your bad leg to mine and let my leg do all the work. Don't worry I won't let us fall." he said gently. "We'll show the others that you can do anything that you set your mind to. Don't let what they say trouble you love. You are my beautiful, darling daughter and you can do anything, anyone who says otherwise will have to deal with Me." she looked at him with determination and adoration.

"Lets go then." she said smiling and took his hand in hers, solemnly handing me her crutch.

Mouse and Sylvie shared a special look that made me start thinking. They were elevenalmost twelve andthey weren't really brother and sister, and in a year or two… I decided that Erik and I would have to have a talk with them soon. My parents had believed in information unlike a lot of girls who never found things out until they happened. I smiled to myself thinking of what Erik might say to my suggestion. All his information had come from overhearing and observing first the gypsies and then the dancers and singers at the opera. Not the best education at all. Then I flushed realizing that I would have to tell Sylvie about it. Well I would discuss it with Erik once we were home and alone. Right now they had just finished tying their legs together and were lining up at the starting line.

Erik was leaning over so he could put his arm around her waist and she had hers holding on to the back of his shirt. The flag was dropped and they were off. Erik was concentrating on shortening his stride to match Sylvie's and it seemed he was half supporting her as they sped away from the rest of them. Two pairs only made about five strides before falling flat on their faces. Again the Devereux's were right behind Erik and Sylvie when they passed the finish line. Sylvie's eyes shone when she was presented with the ribbon. Erik untied their legs and lifted her up in his arms, kissing her cheek with a smile and then sat her back down. Mouse went running out to add his congratulations. When Mouse kissed Sylvie's cheek like Erik had I saw a troubled and thoughtful look on Erik's face. He had the same thought that I had.

Carrie started fussing at my feet, letting me know that it was time for lunch. I picked her up as Erik and the children approached, and handed her to her father while I hugged Sylvie and admired her ribbon. Madeline had Nathaniel in her arms as I gave Sylvie her crutch.

"Come its time for lunch so these two can take their naps." Madeline said. Mouse and Sylvie scampered off ahead of us and I wrapped my arm around Erik's waist as we strolled over to our spot. He looked down at me smiling.

"Enjoying yourself angel?" he asked.

"Yes I am and I believe that you are too even if you won't admit it. You are naturally competitive and you don't like to lose, even a child's game." I said as we reached our picnic blanket.

Picnicking with twin toddlers was a challenge. Trying to feed them, eat yourself and keeping them from crawling into or playing with the food. Finally they dropped off to sleep and the children ran off to see what other games were being played. Madeline chose to stay with the twins while Erik and I strolled arm in arm to watch some of the other events, enduring some curious and speculative stares and ignoring the whispers. The pie eating contest was in full swing when we arrived, some of the observers commented that it was to bad Erik had arrived to late but I knew that there was no way that he would ever compete in this particular event. We were clapping as they announced the winner when we heard Mouse's whistle blowing frantically. Erik took off at a run in the direction of the sound with me close behind. A few curious people following with increasing speed as they realized something was wrong.

Mouse, Sylvie and several other children were milling around the bank of the stream. Recent heavy rains had swollen the stream and the current was dangerous. In the lee of a boulder a young girl was clinging to the boulder in danger of being swept away. When Mouse saw Erik he gestured to another boy who was running towards us carrying a rope. Erik took the rope from the boy and tied it to a tree and wrapping it once around his waist, waded out into the stream.

"Oh no my poor baby!" I heard a woman gasp. Twice Erik was nearly swept off his feet but managed to recover. Finally he reached her. He lashed the end of the rope around her waist and lifted her up. She threw her arms around his neck nearly choking him wrapping her legs around his waist. Hand over hand he pulled himself slowly to the shore. As he reached the shore her parents ran to him taking their daughter and hugging her to them, making sure she was alright. Someone handed Erik a blanket and there was much clapping on his back by the other men. After shaking hands and accepting thanks from the distraught parents he looked around for me.

"Erik lets go home before you catch your death." I said wrapping the blanket around him tighter. "Mouse, Sylvie run ahead and tell Madeline we will be leaving. Erik and I must make our excuses to our hosts."

The sun was touching the tops of the trees when we finally arrived home. By the time everyone was bathed and fed the overtired children were put to bed and I could finally relax. It had been a long day.

I was sitting at my vanity brushing my hair when I saw him enter the room in the mirror. He watched me for a moment and then came and stood behind me.

"Here let me do that Jenny." he said taking the brush from me. I sighed and closed my eyes contented as he continued gently brushing my hair. Finally he laid the brush aside and dropping to his knees he wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on my shoulder.

"So Erik how do you feel now that the day is over." I asked smiling.

"Thankful that the ordeal is over, yet somehow, pleased." he said reluctantly.

"You should be, you saved a young girl's life today, and gained everyone's respect in the process. You're a hero and not just mine and Sylvie's now." I turned my head and kissed his check. He sighed and softly rubbed his cheek against mine.

"I don't think that I ever will be comfortable among crowds angel. Come lets go to bed its been a long and tiring day." He said and led me to the bed.