Disclaimer: Erik is still not mine, much to my dismay. Only original creations belong to me.
AN: I know I was mean by putting a big road block in Erik and Clara's happy moment, but it was necessary to keep people's interest. Thus, the whole thing with Clara's parents not liking Erik. Enjoy this chapter full of sneakiness!
Chapter 11: The Hatching of Plots:
I was never so happy to see Haleigh's house in all my life! Although my childhood friend was married with three little ones (and several years younger than I am), she always made it clear that if I didn't visit her, she would never forgive me. Also, even though her husband, Jerald, and I had only met a few times since the wedding, he was very kind to me and offered the house as a means to escape my parents for a day or two, should I need it. Needless to say, today was one of those days.
The Winters' mansion wasn't large, as some would imagine a Southern house to be, but it was still quite spacey, and had all of the public and dining rooms required for a plantation, as well as a few guest rooms. Cotton and wheat were grown here, and the servants, though few, were hardworking and loyal to my friends, and were eager to please everyone as much as they did Haleigh. This was why an enthusiastic stableboy came out to greet us and take Henry to the barn, where a few of the stablehands were playing dice or cards. I waved Penny off after them and stepped through the front doorway.
I was barely through the door when Haleigh raced up and swept me into a giant hug. Wisps of red hair had escaped the bun she had tied it into, and her dazzling green eyes were set off by the lovely dark green gown she wore. Freckles were lightly sprinkled over her cheeks and nose, giving her a sweet look that must have been the reason why Jerald had married her in the first place. Holding back my amusement, I returned Haleigh's hug and tried not to giggle as she released me, dragging me towards the parlor and shouting for tea along the way. I quietly listened to her babble on about how sweet the new twins were, and how her daughter, Lena, was walking already and had to be watched every minute. Since I loved hearing about Haleigh's family, the chatter didn't bother me at all, and made me feel more amused than annoyed. Today, it kept me from losing my sanity as I thought about Erik and our secret love and engagement.
"Clara, are you feeling alright?" my friend suddenly blurted out, startling me from my listening trance.
"Of course I am! Why do you ask?" I tried to stay calm, since I didn't want to alarm Haleigh; after all, she had just given birth to twin boys a few weeks ago.
"Well, usually you're halfway through the tea by now and asking me to pass the cucumber sandwiches," she said, scanning me up and down as she set aside her tea cup. "Did your mother do or say something silly to you again?"
I sighed and set down my own cup as well, knowing that I wasn't acting the way I usually did when visiting. For instance, I was still on my first tiny cake and not even halfway through my first cup of tea. Also, I usually started cooing over Lena's latest accomplishments or pressing for more details about the new twins. Now that she had brought the matter up, though, it was time to tell her about my problem.
"Haleigh, do you remember Erik Rousseau?" I asked, looking down at my hands.
"Oh, the Frenchman!" she exclaimed, smiling broadly. "I liked him very much when I met him at the dessert social. He is so handsome and charming, Clara, you really are lucky to have him."
A smiled tugged on my lips before the memories of recent events cut it away. Yes, I was a lucky woman; I had the attentions of one of the most sensitive, caring, handsome men in the South, and I couldn't be with him! Unable to hold back any longer, I burst into tears, letting out the sorrows that I had tried to push down at home.
"Oh, Clara, what happened?" cried Haleigh.
Over the course of an hour, I managed to explain the whole thing to Haleigh, who wrapped her arms around me and tried to comfort me as best she could. She admitted to having heard about Erik woo me through a rather brief courtship, but was surprised to hear about him proposing so soon. When I spoke about my parents forbidding the marriage based on Erik's 'lack of income,' and of how Mama and Papa didn't want a 'freak of a Frenchman' to marry their daughter, Haleigh became enraged.
"The nerve of them!" she cried, getting up and pacing. "They have no right to judge him that way! Mr. Rousseau has acted kindly and honorably towards you this whole time, courting you as he should, and they seem determined to think the worst of him!"
I sniffed and dabbed my face with a handkerchief that Haleigh had been kind enough to provide for me. "I know," I said, my voice sounding stuffy. "But what can I do? Mama and Papa insist that Penny accompany me everywhere I go, and I'm sure they ordered the other servants to keep a close eye on me so I won't be able to sneak out to see Erik." I blew my nose very properly and delicately, as taught, and tried not to cry any harder than I already was.
"Well, we'll just have to think of something," my red-headed friend said, a determined look on her face. "After all, you deserve to be happy, despite what your foolish mother and father might think, and I intend to help you in every way that I can!"
Dabbing my eyes, I looked up at her. "How?" I asked, puzzled.
"How what?" asked a male voice from the doorway.
"Jerry!" Haleigh cried, racing to her husband.
I couldn't help but smile at the sweet picture they made before my smile turned to tears. I could imagine Erik and I standing like that, our arms wrapped around one another as we gazed lovingly into each other's eyes. I could almost feel his arms around me now, even as my mind drifted back to happier times and places where Erik had showered me with love and attention. It had all been so magical…
"Clara?"
Jerking back to real life, I glanced up and saw both Jerald and Haleigh looking at me with concern, though Haleigh looked even more worried than her husband.
"I'm fine!" I quipped, reaching for my tea and sipping it.
Once it was gone, I grabbed what was left of the tiny cake I had begun earlier and stuffed it into my mouth, not caring if I seemed uncivilized as I did so. Chewing and swallowing it down, I grabbed another cake, trying not to cry as I consumed it. As I reached for a third, the plate was whisked out of my reach and Haleigh took my tea cup from me, handing it to Jerry as I burst into tears once more.
"Oh, dear, you know that stuffing yourself with tea and cakes isn't the right way to go about this," she crooned to me as her arms wrapped around my body. "All that'll do is give you a bit of roundness in the hips, and then where would you be? Besides, I have a feeling that it'll be alright in the end. You'll see."
As I wept, Haleigh made soft, soothing noises into my hair, acting as though I were her little girl and not someone else's. Once I had calmed down, I looked up and saw Jerald standing there, looking at me with sympathy in his brown eyes. Although there was nothing truly remarkable about Jerry's features, he was a good man that possessed the uncanny ability to see the hidden significance of any given situation. The look in Jerry's eyes showed that he knew something was wrong within Erik's courtship of me, but he didn't know what.
"Would someone please explain what's happening?" he asked in a soft tone of voice. He didn't know the details of my troubles, but at least I hadn't frightened him off with my tears.
"Clara's parents won't let her marry that charming Frenchman we met at the social a few weeks ago," Haleigh said, her arms still around me as I dried my tears. "It appears that they dislike the fact that he's a musical genius and wears a mask."
Jerry snorted. "Forgive my saying so, Miss Clara, but I'm not thinking too kindly thoughts towards your parents right now."
"Join the party," Haleigh muttered as she took the soggy handkerchief from me and handed it to her husband, who grimaced as he accepted the bit of cloth.
I giggled as I watched him carry it into the hallway and hand it to a passing servant, who accepted it and scurried off after Jerry gave him a few instructions. As he walked back towards us, Jerry removed a large gentleman's handkerchief from a pocket and gave it to me, which I accepted with a nod.
"Will Mr. Rousseau be at the next ball, do you think?" she asked, looking at me.
I nodded. "I had bought my newest dress materials based on his suggestion," I replied, my tone soft and sad.
"Well, then, I guess I'll just have to do my best to get the two of you together at the ball," Haleigh said, beaming happily. "No, don't you two question me about it, you'll just ruin everything!"
Jerry and I both looked at each other and sighed.
The evening of the ball, I was a complete wreck. I was incredibly nervous about seeing Erik and not being able to speak to him, as Mama and Papa seemed determined that I was to stay by their sides all night. I secretly believed that the only two ways I could escape them was if a man asked me to dance (which I knew would never happen), or if I was securely left in the company of a great many friends (or chaperones, as my parents saw them).
Luckily, Haleigh had planned for this ahead of time. After she convinced Jerry to join in her crusade against my parents, my red-headed friend had sent out little notices to all of the ladies and gentlemen in our little 'group' so that they could help me as well. Replies had come rushing back in with nearly everyone agreeing to help, and to keep the little coupe a secret to themselves. By the time I had returned home, I felt far happier than when I had left. True, I had to explain to my parents where I had been all day, but since I had been with people that both Mother and Father trusted and liked, it had caused no difficulties other than my receiving a lecture on lady-like behavior.
Presently, though, I sat in front of my vanity, watching Penny pull my hair back and secure it with little ruby hairpins. The clip and fan that Erik had given me were safely tucked away so that my parents would not be able to take them away from me. Mother had asked for one of the servants to retrieve them for her, but I had hidden them in a secret place in my desk, one which only I knew about. I had noticed that some of the things in my drawers had been disturbed, and was glad that I had managed to think ahead of time so that Erik's precious gifts would always be safe.
"You look lovely Miss Clara," Penny said as she tucked the last strand up.
I couldn't help but preen as I looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Thank you, Penny."
It was true. The red and gold colors in my dress had made me into what I had always longed to be: a Southern beauty. It was a silky, red, velvet-like material, and it appeared to have been dusted with gold, causing it to shimmer and sparkle. The neck and off-the-shoulder sleeves were trimmed with gold lace, and I felt as though I were truly beautiful.
"Clara!" my mother screamed up the stairs. "It's time to go!"
Sighing, I slowly stood and made my way to the stairs, descending the steps until I stood before my parents. To my amazement, Mother, looking elegant in gold velvet, looked at me with pride and happiness, as though I had become the Belle that she had always wanted. Papa just gave me the "happy-to-be-this-girl's-father" smile that he always wore whenever he saw me in a fancy dress. I could almost feel myself glowing as Mama took Papa's arm and led me outside and into the carriage. Looking up as we drove off, I focused on the upstairs bedrooms and gave a small wave out the window. Poor Philip, he would not be attending with us, due to a bad cold.
We finally arrived at the town ballroom, our carriage joining the line approaching the front doors. When it was our turn, the door opened and a doorman helped Mama and I out, Papa trailing behind us. Entering the ballroom, I took a deep breath, sincerely glad that I hadn't brought a shawl or wrap tonight. The heat was stifling, even though all of the windows and doors leading outside were open. There were far too many candles and lanterns lit, but the lighting made it easier for me to spot my friends in the large, chaotic press of gowns.
I felt a tug on my left arm and turned around. There stood Haleigh and Jerry, pleased smiles on their faces. Haleigh was lovely in white and emerald green silk and lace, and Jerry looked quite fashionable in deep brown velvet. As I opened my mouth to greet her, I saw Haleigh's mouth and head twitch slightly to her left, secretly telling me that I needed to come with her at once.
A quick turn of my head showed that Mama and Papa were busy socializing with friends and would not likely miss me if I left. Still, if I didn't tell them where I was, they would search for me, so it was better to err on the side of caution.
"Mama, I'm going to go with the Winters', if that's alright," I said, politely tapping my mother on the shoulder. She merely waved me off with a slight nod, not even attempting to stop her conversation.
Happily free for the evening, I quickly followed my friends into a far corner of the room. Quite a number of my friends were there, and all of them welcomed me with joyful smiles. We talked for quite some time, until one of the girls, Kari Marshall, tapped me on the shoulder and whispered that my parents were watching. Haleigh then discreetly nodded towards our gentleman friends, which was the signal that one of them was to ask me to dance. Part one of her plan was put into action.
The whole of Haleigh's plan was quite simple. To throw off my parents' guard, I would dance with as many of my gentlemanly friends as possible. After Mama and Papa were sure that I was no longer "interested" in Erik Rousseau, and was apparently having a marvelous time with my friends and 'suitors', my parents would stop looking in on me. Eventually, they would leave me alone for the rest of the evening. Once I was free, one of our male friends would take me to go and see Erik, who, Haleigh informed me, she had contacted and given strict instructions to concerning tonight.
It was a brilliantly simple plan, and should have been easy to carry out, but it wasn't. As much as I liked my gentlemanly friends, none of them compared to the way Erik made me feel whenever we were together. I smiled and laughed when I ought to during dances and conversations, but my heart and mind weren't really there; all I could think about was seeing my Erik again and wanting him to hold me in his arms as he whispered to me in his wonderful voice.
Finally, Haleigh gave a cough. "Thomas, I dare say that Clara looks absolutely flushed!" she said in a laughing tone. "Why don't you take her outside for a breath of fresh air?"
Instantly, Thomas offered me his arm and led me outside, straight into the maze of bushes that formed the gardens behind the ballroom. I followed him through twists and turns, beginning to get dizzy before I found myself pushed into a very familiar pair of male arms.
Erik could hardly believe that she was here in his arms. He had sunk himself into his scotch bottle since that dreadful day at the Savoy mansion, but after receiving a note from a woman named Haleigh Winters, he had pulled himself back to the way he had been since meeting his beloved Clara.
The message had contained a plan of Mrs. Winters' formulating, a plan to reunite him with his fiancée at the next ball. Once he had managed to scan through the entire thing, Erik had immediately sobered himself and sent a reply, saying that he would do everything commanded of him in order to see his love once more. Mrs. Winters had replied that he would merely have to sneak into the ballroom's gardens, hide himself, and spend an hour or two waiting at a specific location for someone to bring Clara to him. Simple, but damned frustrating for a man in love. Still, he would do it if it meant seeing Clara again.
Now he sighed, burying his face in her neck as she gasped in delight, her arms wrapping around his neck even as his closed around her waist. It was all Erik could do to keep himself from whisking her away from here and to his home, but he held himself…barely.
"Oh, my love," he whispered into her ear, the tip of his nose running up and down her neck, breathing in her scent as it moved. "How I have missed you."
"Erik," she gasped as her fingers moved to caress his neck and tangle in his dark hair. "Oh, Erik!"
"Marry me," he said, brushing his lips under her right ear. God in Heaven, she smelled divine!
She laughed, a heavenly, perfect sound to his ears. "I already said I would, Erik."
Clara's words were followed by a soft kiss near the edge of his white mask, right where it stopped near his ear. The contact made him gasp, a certain part of his body reacting to the loving caress of her lips against his skin. Biting his lip, Erik managed to control himself, forcing down his need for her until he felt ready to speak again without any strain in his voice.
"Run away with me, then," he said, pulling back to look deep into her dark brown eyes. "I can take you anywhere, give you anything you desire! Please, just say…"
"Yes," was the soft interruption.
Erik inhaled sharply. "You will?" he asked, staring down at her.
Clara merely smiled up at him. "I love you, Erik," she said. "I can't bear the thought of us being separated simply because of what my family thinks of your face. If I cannot have you, I might as well be nothing."
Erik could only beam with joy before claiming her lips with his. As he began tracing his tongue along her mouth, he heard her sigh with pleasure as she opened them to him. He was only too eager to show her how true Frenchmen kissed the women they loved.
When Erik's tongue entered my mouth, I thought that I had entered both the gates of heaven and the burning fires of hell. A searing heat flowed straight through me as our kiss deepened, Erik trailing his hands down my back and to my sides, pulling me closer as he caressed my mouth with his own lips and tongue. I felt a fire burn in my stomach, shooting straight into my heart like an arrow and stealing my breath away. Just as I felt ready to faint, Erik pulled his head back, letting us both catch our breaths. A moment later, my betrothed opened his lips, this time to speak.
"We must plan very carefully, ma ange," he whispered, his hand drifting once more to my back. "It would not do for us to be caught by your parents, or worse."
"Worse?" I asked, puzzled.
He smiled faintly. "Knowing your family, they would likely say that I had stolen you away, kidnapped you and forced you to be my bride."
I sighed, knowing that very well could be the case. "Well, I supposed I could get some of my friends to help…"
Erik looked doubtful. "Are they trustworthy?" he asked, green eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Would they not say something to the police after you are discovered missing?"
I bit my lip, knowing full well that some of my friends could indeed break under the pressures of my parents, the law, and their own families. No, I could not get the whole group to help me with something this large. It was one thing to secretly help me meet with a man in the garden for one night; it was something else to help me plan my elopement with a man they didn't even know!
"Haleigh," I said, looking up at him. "Haleigh and her husband, Jerald, or Jerry, will help us."
Erik chuckled. "If they can put something like this together, then they would be very helpful indeed." He gave me another kiss before pulling away from me completely. "Now you must return before you are missed." He kissed me again. "Until later, my love."
I nodded before leaving for the edge of the tall hedge which we had hidden behind. Thomas stood quite a way off so as not to interrupt of eavesdrop. I walked up and touched his arm, and he turned around, smiling as he offered me his arm so that he could escort me inside. Inwardly, I sighed at having to have Haleigh once again plan another secret rendezvous between me and the man I intended to marry. I could only hope that she would be willing to do this for me, as any true friend would.
AN: Review and I'll post faster! I swear!