Child of Freedom

Chapter 17- What Now?

They waved goodbye to Sophie and her mother and the four people, along with their prisoner, climbed onto the wagon. Erik sat in front with Henri. Then they set off for Paris. They reached it in good time, and went straight to the police station. Erik waited outside while Rebecca and Henri went inside with the prisoner.

As Erik leaned up against the wall outside the police headquarters, he thought about how he was going to confront Rebecca. He figured that they would finally have some time alone once they returned to Henri's establishment. He planned to confront her there.

Rebecca and Henri exited the building, and Erik pushed himself off of the wall. They climbed back onto the wagon and headed for Henri's mansion. When they reached the large, white building, Rebecca jumped down and headed for the door. Erik caught up with her.

"Can I talk to you once you've had a chance to freshen up?" He asked.

"Sure," Rebecca said, smiling. Henri's maid opened the door and let them in. Rebecca went to her room, and Erik went to his.

As he stood in front of the mirror, he wondered if he should perhaps dress up. He checked under his bed for the box. Yes, it was still there. He hoped that it was good enough.

He knew that he had only known Rebecca for about nine months, but he also knew that he loved her. He changed into something that he figured was appropriate and stood before the mirror again.

He was wearing a suit that he had borrowed from Henri. The two men were similar sizes, although this suit no longer fit Henri. The man had previously been quite tall, but for some reason, he had shrunk. Henri had told Erik that it was because of the shock of his sister's death.

The suit included a pair of black pants, a white shirt, a black coat that was lined in cold fabric on the inside, and a pair of gold cufflinks.

Erik put on a pair of black shoes and nodded at his reflection, satisfied that it was sufficient. He slipped the little box into the coat pocket, took one last look in the mirror, and left the room. He took a deep breath and headed for the parlor. On his way, he asked the maid to tell Rebecca to meet him in the parlor as soon as she was finished freshening up.

Erik sat down in the parlor and waited for Rebecca. The maid returned after several long moments. She was carrying a tray of tea. Erik smiled his silent gratitude. Obviously, she knew a thing or two about love.

"I think I should let you know," the maid said. "That Mademoiselle Rebecca will be a while. She is in a bit of a pickle." Erik looked at the maid with a confused expression on his face. "Monsieur," she said. "I have seen ladies get all hysterical about their clothing before. Usually it means they are desperate to impress whoever it is they are going to be meeting with."

Erik understood what the maid was saying almost immediately. Rebecca was trying to find an outfit that she thought would please him. He nearly laughed out loud, for that was the very thing he had been worrying about.

Erik smiled and nodded his understanding. The maid smiled in return, and left. Erik sat in silence, nursing a cup of tea. He had never been partial to tea, really, but it felt good to keep his hands occupied. Even if it was just to hold a cup of tea, he was glad to keep his hands busy. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for his mind.

Erik stared out the window at the fountain. The window in the parlor face the front of the mansion. Erik could see the fountain centered in a roundabout of roadway. He thought it made for a very pretty picture when you included the vast gardens on either side or the roundabout, and the row of trees lining the long driveway that led to the outside street. Really, the mansion was almost like a fairy tale.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" A voice asked from behind. Erik turned around to see Henri standing in front of him.

"Yes, very," Erik agreed. He put his teacup down.

"You know," Henri commented. "I was really never a fan of the whole extravagant mansion. Sure, I liked having a big house all to myself, and lots of money to spare, but I never did take to the fact that the mansion came with gardens. And, as always, gardens need to be tended." He sighed and sat down. "One of theses days I would like to sell the house and buy something a little less extravagant."

"Why not just buy something smaller and rent the house to someone?" Erik asked.

"Oh, well, you can't always find someone who only wants to live n a mansion temporarily," Henri replied. He reached for one of the two remaining cups of tea. He took a sip. "But, perhaps opportunity will present itself when I least expect it."

"Perhaps," Erik agreed, and he turned to look out the window again.

"So what do you plan on doing now that you can't go back to where you lived before, and since most people may not employ you because of your past?" Henri asked.

"Well, you certainly put it kindly," Erik commented sarcastically.

"Excuse me," Henri apologized. "I didn't mean to be rude. I was merely stating the facts."

"No, you're right," Erik said. "Most people wouldn't hire me." Erik watched the elderly gardener water the flowers. He was hunched over and seemed to be having a very difficult time of it. Suddenly, and idea came to Erik.

"Henri," He asked. "How old is your gardener?"

"Quite old, actually. But the poor old man refuses to retire. He says that it is the only way he can provide for himself. I would pay him for pretending to do work if I could only find someone to do the real work."

"I'll do it," Erik volunteered.

"The pay is not as much as you would think," Henri warned.

"So long as it is enough to provide me with a home and extra for food and clothes, then I do not mind." Erik said.

"The home comes with," Henri replied. "There is a small house in back that the gardener never uses that is supposed to be for him. He says that it's too lonely for him in there, so he goes back home every night. He lives with his son, who is grown and has a family."

"Even better," Erik said.

"Well, if you want the job, then you can have it. I'll let the old man know tomorrow."

"Wonderful," Erik said.

"What's wonderful?" Rebecca asked as she came into the room. She was wearing a midnight blue dress that matched her coloring perfectly. It was embroidered with tiny gold stars all over the skirt, and the bodice had a full moon stitched into the fabric. Her hair had been braided, and then twisted into an elaborate bun on the top of her head. On her feet were the small slippers that Erik had bought her. He smiled broadly when he saw her.

He stood up. "I'll tell you later," he said, and led her to a seat next to him on the couch. Henri cleared his throat twice and stood up.

"If you'll excuse me," he said. "I have somewhere else that I need to be." He nodded politely in farewell and left the room.

Rebecca turned and looked out the window. Erik offered her a cup of tea, and she took it. She sipped a little from it. Erik cleared his throat and returned his cup to it's saucer. Rebecca put hers down as well.

"So," she began. "What do you plan on doing now that the excitement has died down?" Her arm was gracefully draped across the back of the couch, and tiny crystal earrings dangled on her ears. They sparkled in the fading evening light.

"That all depends on you," Erik said.

"Me?" Rebecca turned away from the window to look at him questioningly. "What do you mean?" She asked.

Erik got down on one knee and pulled the little box out of his coat pocket and held it out to her. He heard Rebecca's sharp inhale of breath. Slowly, she took it and gently opened it. She gasped. Erik knew what she was seeing: A delicate ring of silver nestled in a bed of fabric. It had a decoration of leaves all around the edges, and in each leaf was a tiny diamond. Erik knew he had had to spend a lot of money on the ring, but he also knew that Rebecca was worth every penny.

"Oh, Erik," she breathed.

"Rebecca," Erik said. "Will you marry me?"

-

Tears sparkled in the corners of my eyes, threatening to fall. I just stared at the beautiful ring in awe. I barely heard his question. I looked up. "Huh?" I whispered.

"Will you marry me?" He repeated the question. I wasn't able to answer because the next thing I knew, I was sobbing hysterically.

Erik stood up and sat down on the couch again. "Rebecca," he asked. "What's wrong?" He took my face in both hands and wiped a tear away with his thumb. I shook my head, trying to tell him that nothing was wrong.

"What's the matter?" He asked again.

I took a deep breath and steadied myself before answering. "Nothing's wrong," I sniffled. "Everything is absolutely perfect." I nodded dumbly, still staring at the ring.

"I realize you probably need some time to think," Erik said awkwardly.

I shook my head again. "No," I said. "I don't need time to think." Erik's face fell. He thought I was saying no. "Yes," I said. Erik did a double take.

"What did you say?" He asked.

"I said, yes," I repeated. "Yes, Erik. I will marry you."

Erik stared at me for a moment, then he whooped for joy and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, still holding the open box in my hand. When Erik broke the kiss, he took the box out of my hand and slipped the sliver of silver onto the ring finger of my left hand. Then he kissed me again.

"I love you," he whispered to me.

"I love you, too," I whispered back, and kissed him again. I was so happy. I was going to be married! There was nothing in the world that could make me happier. Absolutely nothing.

A/N: There it is! The final chapter. Review and let me know what you think. I welcome constructive criticism, but no flames, please.