Chapter 36 Companions

Gripping the sides of the boat, Jade rode the empty, still lake, and doggedly stared at the man in front of her. The lantern's amber light shifted with each stroke of the paddle as the craft shot across the water. Erik was wasting no time in getting her through this dreadful trip.

Before entering the boat, she'd stared grimly at the narrow, delicate looking craft with a lump of dread in her throat. A bitter taste coated her mouth. If he hadn't been at her side, she would have spat it out.

When they were well on their way, Erik's distant voice penetrated the murky tension.

"Jade, I have crossed this lake thousands of times, and have swam it as well. I promise you that no harm will come to you while I am here."

She nodded. Her mind told her that his promise should be enough, but fear overrode reason. As she grasped the boat's sides, her eyes remained glued on Erik's pale face.

0000

The morning had begun easily enough for her. When she awoke, Jade quickly finished her toilette, and entered the front room. There she found Erik seated at his large work table. He was turning an odd mechanical device around in his hands, and appeared to be studying its inner workings. In front of him was a diagram with notes.

Curious, she approached, and Erik looked up at her. "Good morning, my dear," he said with a smooth voice.

Taking a seat, she replied, "Good morning, Erik. What time is it?" She had yet to find a timepiece in his home.

Returning his attention to the strange contraption in his hands, he replied distantly, "I would estimate that it is nine thirty." After scribbling on the piece of paper, he set the device down, and turned alert eyes to her.

"Would you care for breakfast this morning?" His cool, assessing manner had returned.

He knows as well as I that things have changed, she pondered as she nodded her assent. The question he should be asking is where do we go from here?

They ate in comfortable silence as Jade stared at the mechanism on the table. It was like nothing she'd seen before. She wanted to ask him what it was, but hesitated. Like a number of things in Erik's home, it provoked curiosity. But it wasn't her way to ask questions. She'd learned long ago that it was best to keep her mouth shut if she didn't know exactly what was going on.

Her unfeminine interest in mechanical devices and machines stretched back to her childhood. When she was seven, her father had taken her with him to the local wineries to show off his pretty little daughter. One man had been particularly delighted by her intense interest in the machinery. He used to lift her up onto his shoulders, and carry her about as he explained the mechanisms. Jade's bright eyes had followed his gestures, as she raptly listened to him.

The next year when they'd returned, the same man had asked her if she could remember anything he'd told her from the year before. Proudly, Jade had repeated the man's explanations almost verbatim. Then she'd smiled up at him, and waited for a nod of approval. Instead, he'd frowned, and given her father an uneasy look.

On the trip home, her father had scowled at her, and then ignored her. It was the last time he took her to the wineries.

Jade knew then that if she'd only kept her mouth shut, everything would have been fine.

Erik's voice broke through her thoughts.

"After mass, will you be going to the cemetery?"

Gazing at him, she noted his warm curiosity. He seemed younger this morning. Had the music that he had played last night done him some good? Or maybe it's because he has a guest in his home.

"Yes."

His steady gaze reminded her of something else. Self consciously, she smoothed her hair which was tied tightly back with one of the satin ribbons that she'd found in the dresser drawer. The thick mass was fuller than usual, wilder, with strands of hair escaping the binding. Her hair had been damp when he'd carried her to bed last night. At the moment, she looked like a wooly, young filly.

"I will arrange for a carriage to meet you after mass and take you to and from the cemetery," he said, with a slight smile.

Finishing her meal, she dabbed her mouth with the napkin. Then pushing her plate aside, she said, "Thank you, Erik. But you have already done a great deal for me. I will be fine walking to the cemetery. Please don't trouble yourself on my account."

She waited for his reaction. His smile disappeared and his distant air returned.

After a minute, he asked quietly, "Would you like to take the painting with you?"

Her eyes widened. "May I?" she exclaimed.

"It is yours. You may do with it as you wish," Erik firmly stated. He leaned back, and watched her.

Brushing her initial excitement aside, Jade considered his offer. She wanted the painting very much but to have it in her room might mean she would have to explain how she'd acquired it. Anyone who knew her circumstances would know that she was incapable of buying it. Its presence could provoke questions.

Shifting in her chair, Jade glanced about the room, and then met his gaze. "I think it would be best if it remained here. Then I can see it whenever I visit you."

Erik smiled slowly, and nodded his approval.

Now that they were in agreement, Jade decided to bring up another matter.

"I'd like to return to the opera house," she said calmly.

He gave her a brief, intense look, and rose. "Very well," he replied. Immediately, he retrieved their cloaks, and handed Jade hers.

It was midmorning and pitch black in the cavern. Lighting the lantern, he took her hand and led her to the boat. In the dim light, she saw the sharp ridges of rock at her feet, and realized why he had carried her from the boat to his home last night. The cavern's floor was treacherous. Firmly, she held his hand as they walked to the lake.

0000

The boat skimmed the water, as Jade tried not to think of the dead men's bones that she knew were at the bottom of the lake. Instead, she focused on the new melody in her mind, which was akin to the one Erik had played last night.

The cave's blackness pressed in on her. Her terror warned that they were sliding towards doom. Well, at least I will have an interesting companion.

The paddling stopped, and they drifted. Then the boat touched land. He jumped out, pulled it ashore, and helped her out of it.

The solid land was glorious. Jade wanted to do a little dance of gratitude. Instead, she unwrapped the scarf from her neck, and handed it to Erik.

In the pale light, his glittering eyes stared down at her. Goose bumps rose at the thought of being back in his arms. Turning her back to him, she waited for the sensation of the thick scarf across her eyes. Then his strong arms hoisted her up, and they began to move.

For his recitation, he chose a passage from Dante.

As he held her close, she had the distinct feeling that he was taking possession of her. Or perhaps it was something else—a false intimacy caused by his pounding heart against her body. It was beating faster than before, nearly jumping out of his chest. It's because he's walking up hill quickly as he carries me, she reasoned. Still, this trip was different from the last two, and it caused her own heart to pick up its pace.

When they arrived at the passage door, Erik set her down. "I will come for you tomorrow night," he said in a low voice.

Jade looked up at him with unblinking eyes. "Can you meet me on the bridle path tomorrow night after supper? If it rains, I'll wait for you in the stable."

Taking her hand, he kissed her fingers with a gentleman's ease. A moment later, the hidden door to the storage room opened, and she was back in that small, dusty room. Turning, Jade expected to see him beside her, but the door had closed, and she was alone.

0000

After mass, Jade knelt in the church, and watched the noon rays pour through deeply hued windows. She wondered if her prayers would be stronger when blessed by such beauty.

Closing her eyes, she prayed that she would see Gillian soon, before the child forgot her.

Leaving the church, she walked east along the Boulevard Haussmann, in the direction of the cemetery of Père Lachaise. As she strolled beside the wide street, she studied the buildings. Most of them had been constructed within the last decade. Erik had told her that they were the result of the "blind vision" of the Prefect of the Seine, Baron Haussmann, who had been responsible for the destruction of much of Old Paris during the last decade.

Jade wondered why Erik regarded them with disdain. There was nothing garish about the architecture. Rather, it was a relatively simple design of restrained classicism. The five storied structures were dressed in limestone as were many of the city's older buildings. Perhaps it was their uniform appearance that he scorned.

His standard of beauty is higher than that of other men. Having been to his home, and seen its grace, she understood him a little better. Beauty was very important to Erik.

In that case, what does he see in me? By no stretch of the imagination would anyone consider her a great beauty. And yet, he was attracted to her. It was easy to see that by the way he had attended to her when she was in his home. He wants more than a companion. Perhaps he wants a mistress as well.

She shook her head, and sped up her pace. She needed to sort out her feelings before dealing with Erik's needs. As long as there were these childish longings for him, they would get in the way. In her heart, she knew that she wasn't meant to be simply his mistress, someone who would amuse him with her body. They were destined to be more to each other.

As she reached the outskirts of the city, the enormous gate of the cemetery rose before her. Passing between the tall, stone pillars, she made her way down the path to Meley's resting place. There she spent the next hour praying for his soul. When finished, she slowly walked back to the entrance, and casually viewed the decorated tombs and statues.

It was near Moliere's grave that she heard a carriage coming up from behind her. Stepping to the side, she waited for it to pass. As the carriage window floated by, Jade spied a familiar face. It was the gentleman that she had met at the party, the one with whom she had discussed the painting, M. Raoul de Chagny.

The carriage continued a few meters down the road, and came to an abrupt halt. Its door swung open, and the man stepped out and faced her.

"Mademoiselle Bouta, what a pleasant surprise it is to see you again," he said with the same warm smile that he'd had at their first meeting. "Are you returning to the city?" Raoul had quickly closed the gap between them, and was standing in front of her.

Jade studied his face, and again liked what she saw.

"Yes, M. de Chagny. I am exercising my legs on this fine day."

He looked up at the cloudless sky, and smiled brightly at her.

"I do not wish to impose upon your solitude. However, if you find the idea of company agreeable, I will gladly offer you the service of my carriage."

Impulsively, Jade nodded.

Inside the elegant carriage, they looked across at each other and smiled. Then Raoul spoke.

"I am sorry that we missed you at Monsieur and Madame Verdi's supper a week ago. Your friends told me that you were not in Paris, and could not attend."

Looking surprised, Jade replied, "You were there as well? Yes, I am sorry that I missed it, but I was needed elsewhere. Did you enjoy the conversation that night?"

With a charming smile, he leaned slightly towards her. "It was fine enough, but I would have liked to have continued our discussion about the Impressionists. Unfortunately, no one else was interested in the subject." He paused for a moment. "Have you been to the Louvre?"

Shaking her head 'no', Jade's eyes sparkled at that name. "I have heard of it, but I've never had the opportunity to go there. Is it open to the public?"

Raoul smiled again. His hair was tied back, and its blond shade was a handsome contrast to his black suit coat. His cape lay on the seat. Apparently he was indifferent to the chill of the day.

"Yes. It is for all French citizens. If you would care to accompany me, I would gladly arrange a visit. I would appreciate your company, and hearing your impressions of the great works."

Looking at his hand, Jade noticed the wedding ring, and wondered what Mme de Chagny would think about an unknown woman visiting an art museum with her husband. Was she so indifferent to great art that her husband was forced to invite strangers to accompany him?

Following her glance, Raoul automatically touched the ring, and continued. "My wife has never been there either. In the last few months she has had her mind on other matters. You see, Mademoiselle, we are soon to have our first child."

"How fortunate for the both of you!" Jade cried. "Will it be soon?"

Shifting in his seat, he frowned slightly. She could see the worry in his eyes.

"Hopefully, very soon. The doctors say that the child could come any day. As we speak, she is in her room resting. She has been very tired lately." His voice trailed off and Jade could feel his tension. He loves her very much and is afraid he will lose her. She wanted to reach over and squeeze his hand and ease his discomfort.

"I will pray for the three of you, that you will soon have a healthy baby, and that your wife will recover quickly from giving birth," Jade said quietly. Then she gazed at him with soft, concerned eyes.

The coach passed the Place de Republique, and continued on through the tenth arrondissement. Finally it approached the street that Jean and Manette lived on.

Taking her leave, Jade stepped from the carriage. She glanced at the crest that was on the door, and sealed it into her memory. Realizing that she'd been riding with nobility, she wondered what his title was.

"Are you certain that it will be fine to leave you here?" asked Raoul as he looked about the street. "I can take you to your friend's door."

Shaking her head 'no', Jade replied, "I will be fine, Monsieur. Thank you for the ride, and the conversation."

Raoul nodded, and handed her his card. "Once our child is born, we will again be receiving visitors. I hope that you will come to our home in the near future. My wife and I would enjoy visiting with you."

Jade smiled as she looked down at the small card in her hand. Then she replied, "If you wish to contact me, I can be reached at the management offices of the Opéra Populaire."

At the mention of the opera house, a strange expression crossed her companion's face, a quick flash of surprise and pain. Immediately, she responded to its hidden meaning by saying, "Or you could send word to me through my friends who I am visiting today."

She gave him the alternate address, and they parted.

Walking up the narrow street, she was soon at her friends' door. After a firm knock, it opened and Jean stood in front of her.

"Jade, I'm glad to see you! Manette is in the kitchen tussling with the goose, and has banished me to the front room. I'm in need of a companion. Come in at once."

Smiling at Jean's impish face, Jade stepped in, and left the afternoon's chill behind.

0000

After dinner, the three friends sat around the fire and talked. Manette was knitting clothes for the baby while Jade busily worked on a blanket for the cradle. Jean sat across from them with his feet up as he sipped absinthe.

"Well Jade, I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have someone here whom I can drink with again. In the last couple of weeks, Manette has developed an intense dislike for anything that resembles alcohol. Lately, I've been feeling very much alone." He put on a sad clownish grin.

Manette wrinkled her nose in disgust. "I am having enough trouble keeping my breakfast down. The thought of that vile, green liquid is enough to bring it up. Now, if you could offer me a good Beaujolais, I might join you."

At the mention of morning sickness, Jade quickly looked her over. She was relieved to see that Manette didn't appear to be wasting away. Her cheeks had color, and she still had her soft curves.

Manette caught her eye, and dropped her knitting long enough to squeeze her friend's hand.

"Do not worry about me, Jade. I really am doing quite well. The morning sickness will soon pass. My mother and my sisters also had it, and they survived," she said with a slight smile.

Jean was watching the two women with warm eyes. Suddenly, Jade wanted them both on the couch beside her. Their happiness was balm for her aching heart.

"I was walking in the cemetery of Père Lachaise this afternoon and admiring the statues when I saw a man that I met at the party for Monsieur and Madame Verdi. It was Monsieur Raoul de Chagny. I rode with him from the cemetery to your home."

At the sound of that name, both Manette and Jean's eyes brightened, and they leaned a little closer to her.

"I forgot to mention it to you," Jean said. "He was at the dinner party that the Verdis gave last week, and he asked about you."

"Yes," Manette added.

Sitting back in his chair, he stared at the fire for a moment, and then turned to his companions.

"He seems like a fine enough fellow. He appears to have recovered from last year's disaster."

"Disaster?" Jade queried.

"Yes. Didn't you know? It was he, the Vicomte de Chagny, who married the lead singer, Christine Daae after she left the Opéra Populaire in '73. She was the one that the mad man kidnapped from the stage during the last performance at the opera house, the night the fire was set."

The room had become quite cold, and Jade's stomach suddenly felt queasy as she stared at Jean.

Erik. The woman that he's in love with was named Christine Daae. She is now the wife of Raoul de Chagny, and is about to have a child.

Quickly she assessed the time between the present date and March 1873. The child inside of her can't be Erik's. Knowing that helped calm her rebellious stomach.

The remainder of the evening was uneventful as Jean talked about the staff's excitement over the new music director. He would be arriving tomorrow. Then they listened intently to Jade's story about Pierre's illness and her days with his family.

They only mentioned Gillian once, and when Jade remained silent, the couple gingerly moved the conversation to another topic.

On the ride back to the opera house, Jade thought of Monsieur and Madame de Chagny, Erik, and the card in the pocket of her cloak. Suddenly, she realized it would be foolish to keep it. As the carriage turned a corner, and approached the opera house, she ripped it into tiny pieces, and tossed it into the street.

Her chilly bedroom seemed particularly cold that night. As she laid out her robe, she recalled the warm bath and lovely chamber that she'd slept in last night. Sighing deeply, she looked at the bare wall where there once had hung a golden tapestry with red birds and deer. Gillian had adored it.

Tomorrow I'll go to the prop department and borrow something that will brighten this room.

Opening the armoire, she took out the soft, camel colored cloak and the violet scarf. After draping them over the bed, she slipped under the covers, and huddled next to the cold sheets.

In the past three days the scope of her life had changed, ushering in new limits and possibilities. Tomorrow loomed ahead.

She was unsure how to proceed. However, Jade now knew that there were two things that she needed to do. First, she must find a way to see Gillian again, and secondly, she must meet the Vicomtess de Chagny.

She is the key to understanding the ghost that haunts him. Once we meet, it will become clearer to me what my purpose is in being here.

The sheets had lost their chill, and it was getting late. Rolling onto her side, she thought of Erik's handsome features and expressive eyes. A warm hand stroking her hair would have felt good at that moment.

"Tomorrow," she whispered, as she drifted off.