As always thanks for the reviews to those who do and to those who read but don't review, thank you for reading my story. MJ MOD your question will be addressed in the next chapter.
Chapter 19

September 1876

Autumn was arriving with a vengeance. The trees were glorious in their gold, red and yellow raiment. The breeze was blowing cold and a light mist fell. Erik was in his study going over the bills and I was putting away the laundry. I was trying to put Erik's kerchiefs away but the drawer was stuck. Finally, I laid the handkerchiefs down and gave it a yank with both hands. It suddenly slid free I almost fell and let go of the drawer. It fell to the floor with a crash, objects flying in all directions. A plain wooden box fell spilling its contents, something shiny rolling under the edge of the dresser. Sighing in frustration, I went down on all fours picking things up. I reached under the dresser to retrieve what had fallen there. It was a ring. A diamond surrounded by a cluster of smaller diamonds, the dried stem of an old red rose affixed to it by a black ribbon, the dried petals, almost black with age, scattered across the floor. Numbly I looked at it lying in my hand. I knew it was her ring. Erik refused to have any red roses in our garden. Any and all other colors grew profusely on our estate but he flatly refused to allow me to plant red ones. Anger flared within me. He still kept it. After all we've been through and he still kept her ring. I closed my hand around the ring convulsively and stormed into his study, flinging the door open.

"Why Erik!" I shouted. He looked up at me perplexed.

"Whatever are you angry about?" he said calmly. I slammed the ring down on his desk.

"Why do you keep it!" He glanced down at the ring and then looked up at me coolly.

"Where did you find it?" He asked quietly.

"Your kerchief drawer was stuck and when I opened it everything fell out, including this!" I gestured toward the ring.

"Believe it or not angel I haven't thought of that since we moved here."

"You expect me to believe that? After all it belonged to your beloved "Angel of Music." I sneered. He stood up abruptly, his eyes turning steely.

"Believe or not as you wish madam I will not be called a liar by you." He growled, his eyes dark with anger, grabbed up the ring, and sticking it in his pocket strode towards the stairs.

"You are going to get rid of it aren't you?" I asked. He turned and glared at me.

"No." He said softly and he left me staring at his back as he rushed down the stairs. I fumed to myself. How dare he walk out on me. Furiously I went back to our room slamming things in their drawers until reason finally settled in my mind. I knew that he had loved her, he had admitted that a part of him would always love her but that I was the one he wanted. I knew he loved me so why was I demanding that he get rid of a mere memento, and on top of that I had as much as called him a liar. He had never lied to me about any aspect of his past. Morosely I looked down at my feet. I owed him an apology. A profound apology. The sooner I did the better so I went in search of him only to find he wasn't in the house.

"Madeline I'm going out for a walk. Could you watch the children please?" I asked.

"Of course. Is this about the bear? I saw him storming out a moment ago. What's he done this time?"

"No Madeline this time it's what have I done." I said sadly and walked out. I headed down to the stable hoping to find him with the horses but when I got there, Shadow's stall was empty. There was no telling where he might have gone. I sat down on the bench in front of his stall determined to wait but as the sun lowered in the sky and the air turned colder I was forced to return to the house and get supper ready.

Supper came and he still hadn't put in an appearance.

"Where is Papa Erik, Mama?" Sylvie asked.

"He had some errands to run. He might be late." I lied. So now who was the liar I berated myself mentally. He must have been terribly hurt and angry to be gone so long.

It was late and everyone else had retired for the evening. I was still waiting, trying to read a book when I heard the piano. By the sound of the music he was still angry. I put my book down got up and tightened the sash on my robe. Resolutely I went downstairs to the music room, my stomach a mass of butterflies, and quietly opened the door. His hands were flying over the ivories the music crashing around him as he poured his fury into his music. I stood there silently until with a final crashing note he stopped, breathing heavily.

"Erik." I said softly. He turned his head toward me, his eyes unreadable.

"Madam." He said coldly. I winced inwardly. Gone were any endearments and even my name.

"Erik I am so very sorry. I know you have never lied to me." He sat looking at me impassively. I took a step toward him. "I don't know what came over me, why I'm still insecure when it comes to her. I know you love me. I had no right to ask you to get rid of the ring." Still he watched me, unmoving, expressionless. I looked down. "I know that what I said was unforgivable but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me." I looked up at his cold face and slowly turned to leave.

"Jenny wait." he said with a sigh. I stopped, my back to him. It was silent for a moment and then his hands grasped my shoulders. I jumped I hadn't heard him move.

"Why can't you forget about her? You know how I feel about you is so much deeper and more fulfilling than anything I ever felt for her. Ihonestly had forgotten about the ring."

"I know." I said miserably. Shaking my head I said. "I truly don't know what got into me." He turned me to him and put his finger under my chin lifting my face to his. His eyes softened as he watched my face. He put his hand into his pocket and held the ring out to me.

"So. What shall I do with this?" he asked. I looked at his face and then down at his outstretched hand. Slowly I closed his fingers over the ring.

"Put it back or wherever you think it will be safe. I won't touch it again I swear." He brushed my cheek with his finger.

"No need to swear, I believe you. Here you do with it as you like." He said and put it in my hand. I looked from him to the ring and slowly walked up the stairs through the study, to our room. Opening his kerchief drawer I placed it inside and then closed it. I turned back toward the door and Erik was standing there watching me. He put out his arms to me and I melted into them.

"Oh angel what am I going to do with you?" He murmured against my hair.

"Just love me Erik. Even when I'm being really silly and stupid." I whispered.

"You are never silly and I have never known you to be stupid about anything before today. If you can forgive me and my tempers how can I not forgive you yours.I will always will love you." He said. His hands slid down to my waist and he leaned over and kissed me. "Come its late." he said and tugging the sash of my robe free, slid it from my shoulders. He brushed my neck with his lips and nipped at my earlobe.

"Shall we make up properly?" he breathed and then captured my lips with his. His hands went to the buttons of my nightdress unbuttoning them expertly. "I don't know why you bother wearing these, they rarely stay on."He said as he slid it from my shoulders to puddle around my feet.

"But you delight in undressing me so." I laughed softly.

"So I do. I never get tired of your lovely body. It never fails to surprise me that you would share it with me." he said before his lips claimed mine.