Chapter Six
Conquered or Surrendered?
Monsieur Dubois had returned on Monday insisting on being shown every room including all closets. Antoinette had taken him around the whole of the opera house. Some areas she made him walk over twice. He never knew the difference. Erik had followed the whole time. he had to restrain himself from leaping out from the shadows then wrapping his hands around that puny neck of that swine. Monsieur Dubois had left with the promise to return. He had not specified if he would return as a patron or as a man searching for a missing woman and two children.
A week had gone by in a flurry of adjustments for all of them. The hardest thing for Erik was surrendering his privacy. Not that he didn't enjoy each moment with them. He just could find no place to do as he had always done when the need arose. Frustration was making him irritable. When he made Julianna cry the broken look in her eyes accompanied by quivering lips and huge tears rolling down her face had almost made him grovel at her feet for forgiveness.
He had won Juliana's forgiveness by making her a doll house for her to play with. He had even made miniature furniture. The hug and kiss on the cheek had been worth all the lost sleep and splinters in his fingers from carving out tiny pieces of furniture.
The time spent on this project was a welcome distraction. His mind told him he had to stay away form Ariella but his body urged him closer to her whenever they were in a room together. He was sure she was beginning to think him strange. A whole room to sit in or stand in and he seemed to be in whatever corner she occupied. It was becoming damn irritating.
It was all Ariella's fault. All this upset was her doing. Going from room to room leaving her scent clinging to everything. Her laughter rang out at all hours of the day while she amused the children. The thought of her in his bed just a few feet chased away any hope of sleep until he was so tired he passed out from necessity. She cooked mouth watering meals. Mended his socks. Sewed on his lost buttons. Cleaned every surface until they shone brightly while reflecting the candle light. Damned if she did not behave like a wife while he did not have the privileges of a husband.
The hours she spent in the opera house although less than before she had come to live with him were enough to make hi miss her when she was not present. If not for Matthew constantly dragging him to one tunnel or another digging for treasure he was sure was just a few feet down, Erik would have been pacing around his home waiting for Ariella to return. It was ridiculous. How had she taken hold of his life so quickly?
Nadir had not come last Thursday as he had been ill. If he had come Erik could have gotten advice from him. He dared not speak to Antoinette about such a personal matter. Not that he would bring up that subject with her anyway. Women did not have that issue in quite the same way men did. Men on the other hand were born to perform in this manner. It was not any fault of his that he had to resort to self gratification. Now Erik had the problem of when and where. With so many in his household he never knew when someone would enter a room. He hesitated to use the bathroom as the length of his stay in that room may cause questions. For a man who professed to be a genius he was stymied.
If a solution did not present itself soon he would be travelling down the tunnels in search of privacy. Release was becoming an issue of paramount proportions.
Another thought had him scurrying around in a whirlwind of activity. Antoinette had reminded him that Christmas was only three weeks away. Normally this would not have made a bit of difference to him but this year he had guests. There would someone waking up when he did to share the morning. He would share his first Christmas breakfast. His first Christmas period. Not knowing all that was required he consulted Antoinette.
She advised him on everything he would need. Antoinette had told him that they were a little sad because they thought they would not be having their usual Christmas. Not wanting to force him into anything Ariella had not mentioned it. She had planned to quietly give the children their gifts the sneak his onto his desk. She had not wanted to leave him out but also did not want to disrupt his routine any more than it already was.
When Antoinette asked him why he had been so irritable he had looked at her blandly. What could he say? There is a young woman in my house driving me insane with unfulfilled desires? That he had resorted to sneaking away down darkened tunnels to find a little release from his frustrations? Should he tell her he dreamed each night of Ariella in his arms doing the most sensually stimulating things to him? Not bloody likely.
Erik settled for the explanation that he was having trouble with one of his compositions. If God were in the mood to discipline Erik he would strike Erik down for the colossal lie that he had just told. Never had his music flowed so sweetly. When he finished he did not have the urge to play on forcing music into his fingers. He had other things to do. He had a family. Or at least as close to a family as he could ever hope to have. As much as he lost when they came he gained ten times more. Erik considered it a fair trade. One he would make again even if given the chance to change things.
On a less happy note Christine and Raoul would be sharing Christmas dinner with them. He had no clue why Antoinette had agreed to this. Could he sit at the same table as that boy and not want to rip his eyes out? Just thinking about him made Erik try to remember what he had done with his Punjab lasso.
Could he be in the same room as Christine and not want to whisk her away once more to convince her she should be his? He had worshipped her as he had no other. Leaving Antoinette's room he had gone to the roof to think. Perhaps that had not been the best choice. As soon as he stepped out onto the roof memories flooded into his mind weakening him. He fell to his knees as pain stabbed into him. The wounds felt as fresh as though just opened.
He relived each kiss Christine and her young lover had shared as he hid behind the statue watching. Each tender caress pushed the dagger further into his bleeding heart. Their tender words robbed him of the ability to move. He had stood frozen with his life draining down into the freshly fallen snow just as if he had actually been stabbed. The wound could not have been any more maiming. The cuts could not have bled any more than they had as he heard their profession of love and their pledge to be together. In those moments he had felt as if he had indeed been dying. What brought him back had been the growing hatred and need for revenge. If Erik had not clung to his hatred he would have laid down and died while the falling snow had covered his body in a blanket of white.
Wiping his eyes to remove the tears he had not known he shed he stood up. Gathering himself together Erik straightened his clothes. He had things he had to do. He had a family that would be needing a Christmas and damn it he would give them one they would not forget. He had already made arrangements with Antoinette to have the three of them go to her room for tea and conversation so he could get the tree into his lair without them seeing it. As soon as Erik knew when it would be delivered he would let Antoinette know.
Nadir would be shocked to see him. Not only was it not Thursday but it was daylight. He was going to be presenting himself on Nadir's doorstep to whisk him away for a shopping trip around Paris.
An hour later Erik knocked on the door to Nadir's flat. He leaned his shoulder against the door frame crossing his legs at the ankles. He pulled out his pocket watch. He unclipped the chain so he could twirl the chain around. He knocked again. If Nadir were not at home and he had risked his life and limb for nothing Erik decided he may just go to the Counts home and pay him and his new family a visit. Trying as hard as he might he could not envision himself strangling that twit. Perhaps because Raoul now had a child and it would not be right to deprive a child of his father.
The door rattling brought his attention back to the opening door. To say the man before Erik was surprised was an understatement. Nadir blinked several times as if to clear his vision. If Erik had not stepped forward forcing him to move back he was sure Nadir would have closed the door thinking he was hallucinating.
"Erik! By all that's holy has Madame or someone dear to you passed? Has the opera fallen? What have you done? I thought we agreed after the last fiasco you would change your ways? Come in before the whole neighbourhood sees you." He pulled Erik into the apartment by gripping his left arm. He stepped out looking both ways then stepped back into his apartment then shut the door with a loud click.
"I am so glad you have so much faith in me Nadir. I hate to disappoint you but none of those things have happened. Do you remember Antoinette's assistant, Ariella?" Erik looked at the man in front of him. Nadir had not changed much in the intervening years since his arrival in Paris. His black hair was just beginning to show a sprinkling of grey. From some Anglican ancestor he had inherited light blue eyes. A thin moustache grew across his upper lip. His chin sported a beard trimmed neatly. He was a tall man although Erik stood three or four inches taller. The man never seemed to deviate one ounce in his weight even while indulging in the Parisian pastries he had come to enjoy since coming to France.
Nadir was as close to being a friend as Erik would ever have. He was Erik's only male acquaintance. That boy did not count. Even if he were to be considered as an enemy no longer Erik could never call him friend.
"Pretty young woman with beautiful blue eyes, an alluring figure smells of the most wonderful heavenly scent known to man? Yes I remember her. Who would not after once meeting her?"
Erik had not expected him to give such a detailed response. Maybe he should watch Nadir when he came to the house next week. He couldn't imagine Nadir doing anything inappropriate but who's to say he could not seduce her with words? Nadir was a reasonably handsome man. He was only a few years older than Antoinette. He had money to provide for a family. Erik could not say with certainty as he was a man therefore he was not objective but he thought women may find Nadir an attractive proposition.
"If you remember her you will remember her troubles. It seems things were worse than we first thought. Her uncle had acted in an inappropriate manner just before Ariella left. The man who once claimed to be her uncle is now claiming to be her fiancée. He came to the opera house looking for her. He has men searching for her. One of them must have seen her and the children on one of their outings. Antoinette thought it best if they came to stay with me. Monsieur Dubois came on Monday looking from top to bottom. He will more than likely return. If it were me looking for her I know I would move heaven and earth to find her."
Nadir looked at Erik with speculation clouding his eyes. So Erik has not only allowed a woman into his domain but two children as well. The old Erik would have ranted and raved. Refused them sanctuary. No one would have been allowed to live with him other than Christine. Nadir tried to recall his recent conversation with Erik. As he recalled they did not speak without references to Ariella. Her name cropped up at least once on every occasion. Erik did not refer to Ariella by her by her given name. He always called her Little Mouse. Now he calls her Ariella. Her given name. Not Mademoiselle.
He had always pretended not to remember her name. Nadir had mispronounced it one time and Erik had corrected him. Perhaps there was more here than Nadir had at first thought? He had suspected Erik might have an infatuation with her then dismissed it as he continued to rant and rave about Raoul and Christine. More so since Christine had given birth. Now he was not so sure he had not been right. Erik may not even be aware of his attraction himself, or willing to admit it as that would mean he had to give up on his dream of Christine some day miraculously coming back to him. If nothing else Erik was a very stubborn man. Erik hated to admit defeat. His philosophy was if a person persevered long enough things would work out as they should. How Erik could hold such a belief after all his life's disappointments was a mystery Nadir hoped to solve one day.
"So what does all of this have to do with you having braved being scorched and burned by the sun?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"You rarely come out during the daylight hours. I have often wondered if that odd manuscript you gave me to read from that acquaintance you met in England a few years ago had been based it on you. Everything seems to fit. Your dislike of daylight. You have been known to sleep in a coffin. Your cape at times looks similar to the wings of a bat. One could be forgiven for thinking that young man had used you combined with Vlad the Impaler as models for his character. I wonder if that will ever be published? I can not imagine it becoming popular. Much too gory for the normal person's taste. So what is so important it brings you out in the open banging on my door?"
"As I have said Ariella and her siblings have come to stay with me. Antoinette had reminded me that Christmas is just a couple of weeks away. I wish to purchase gifts. If possible I would like to get a tree and some sort of decorations. I know how things are on the streets of Paris lately but if we are careful we should be able to accomplish what needs to be done. Surely for the holidays hostilities can be put aside? Just in case I suggest we stick to those merchants we have always dealt with. If we can not find all we need I am sure with the promise of a hefty fee everything can be obtained."
"Erik am I to understand you will be celebrating a holiday you have professed to hate for years? A holiday you consider sentimental foolishness? Not only with a tree but presents?" The obvious astonishment in Nadir's voice angered Erik just a bit. What did Nadir think? He was some sort of ogre who could not change his ways?
"I have never declared at any time I hated the holiday. Well at least not out loud. I hated being alone during the holiday. As I will have an abundance of company I plan to make it enjoyable for everyone. If you can spare the time you may come as well as Darius. By the way where has he gone? I expected him to open the door giving me a dressing down for coming to your home risking someone seeing you with the dreaded Opera Ghost."
"Darius has been called home to take care of some family business. His father has passed. As the only male relative he is responsible for control of his families financial needs as well as making arrangements for their personal care. He has three sisters he must find husbands for. I wished him luck with that issue. With the independent nature of those three modern women he will not find it easy to pass them to another. His father made a grave error when he allowed them to attend school in England and Paris. Too many western ideas infiltrated their minds."
"Nadir I had not realized you were such an arrogant man. Do you really believe a woman should not have the same rights as a man?"
"I did not say that. What I said was that is how he looks at things. How all the men in our country look at life. I have had a rather more eclectic upbringing considering my great-grandfather and great-grandmother were French. My mother was the only daughter of my grandfather Pierre Marchant, who went to work as the palace advisor. She met and married my father Shazid Khan. You did not know this did you? Ha! Imagine knowing something the great Erik, Phantom of the Opera does not know?" Taking note of Erik's changing demeanour Nadir thought it wise to curtail his teasing. One could poke the tiger only so much before a paw came flashing out to shred an unsuspecting prey.
Having consented to accompany Erik on this shopping expedition Nadir insisted Erik must take him to tea at the end of the day as his reward.
Several hours later the two men were standing in front of the woman that had made all of the clothing Erik had ordered for Christine. Antoinette had been able to assist him at that time. Facing this woman who asked him to describe the woman needing the garments was a daunting proposition. Julianna was not the problem. The problem was Ariella. How did one give measurements for a woman not knowing the precise details of her figure? Erik could have given them almost to the last quarter inch. He did not want to give any details of her figure out loud to this woman. Nadir and this woman might think him perverted to be able to describe within half an inch a woman who for all intents and purposes was a stranger.
Nadir, like the coward he was stepped back when Erik gave him a beseeching look. Erik's muttered "coward" under his breath made Nadir smile. He wanted no part in describing a young woman's particulars to another woman. Discussing women among men was one thing. Even comparing or admitting out loud certain attributes were acceptable. Speaking of such things to a woman was not something he could bring himself to do. If he had to wear the banner of coward so be it. It was worth Erik's disdain to watch him struggle and flounder trying to delicately explain Ariella's exquisite frame.
"Well monsieur?" Madame Clarisse asked. She looked from Nadir to Erik. Finally settling on Erik as she remembered him from a couple years ago. Such a generous customer one did not forget. She had been surprised when she had learned he was making purchases for a little girl and her sister. The masked man's young lover had flown away with the young Vicomte. She knew she was correct about this one. He may hide something quite unpleasant but what one could see, Tres manifique. What a man.
"Well she is...well let me see. I believe she comes to about right here," Erik measured to the middle of his chest.
"Her bosom Monsieur?"
"Well...ah...I think...she has..." He could go no further. His throat felt as if a strong hand were squeezing his vocal cords.
He looked to Nadir for assistance only to have him say, "Yes Erik?" She has what exactly?" That damn man was enjoying his discomfort far too much for Erik's peace of mind.
"Is the mademoiselle boyish, mediocre, or voluptuous?" asked Madame Clarise hoping to assist him a little. She jumped when in unison both men exclaimed, "Voluptuous."
Erik turned his head to scowl at Nadir. Did the damn man peruse her figure with such a close eye he could state what her attributes were? Erik's eyes now meeting the sheepish look of Nadir scowled a warning. It clearly stated he would be watching Nadir at the next meeting with Ariella carefully.
Choosing the fabric for the dresses he ordered to have made for Ariella was much easier than deciding how ample her bosom's were or how wide her shoulders were. God in his mercies saw fit to grant Erik the lightest ease in his embarrassment by not requiring knowledge of how wide her hips were. If Madame had asked for that Erik had decided he would leave the shop and send Antoinette back later. When Madame asked if he would care to select mademoiselle's undergarments and stockings an emphatic "No!" resounded from both gentlemen at the same time. He would trust her impeccable taste. The order was placed for shoes and winter coats as well. The mink fur trimmed cashmere coat he chose for Ariella was beautiful. Quite expensive compared to what she was used to but well worth the price. He purchased a tan hand muff to match the coat. Juliana's was a dark blue trimmed in black rabbit fur.
Overhearing Erik and Nadir discussing trees and decorations she volunteered her grandson to purchase the tree then deliver it as he did all Erik's purchases. He would meet Erik at eight tomorrow with the tree and decorations. Madame assured him she would oversee those purchases personally.
Erik placed his order for new shoes for both ladies. The boot maker made special concessions as Erik was such a generous customer. The shoes would be ready the twenty-third. Ariella was to have a pair of satin slippers to match each dress. Julianna would receive the same. He guessed what size boots Matthew and the ladies would need. If they were a little big he could wear an extra pair of socks. After all he did live deep underground near a freezing lake.
Having taken Nadir to have his promised tea the two men went back to shopping afterward. Surprisingly hardly anyone seemed to notice the fact that Erik did not remove his cloak's hood after sitting at the table. His request for the farthest corner was met with an unblinking eye. Everyone had their own troubles and concerns with Christmas so close. They noticed his fine clothes and fat roll of bills. Their eyes glowed when they heard the jingle of all the coins in his purse. Most thought Nadir was his servant. That also contributed to how Erik was treated by all the merchants. They preferred to have his money rather than his identity.
They passed a jewelry store. The display caught Erik's eye. The diamond was small surrounded by pearls. He cold picture how it would look nestled right between her creamy white breasts. The earrings would only add to her natural sparkle. Not questioning the appropriateness of a man purchasing jewellery for a woman he was not courting or engaged to did not cross Erik's mind. While in the shop he purchased pearl earrings for Antoinette. Small diamond earrings for Meg. For Julianna he chose a rose carved from ivory.
Nadir did not comment merely raised his brows in question which Erik chose to ignore. Next came the toy shop. There were too many dolls to choose from. Erik chose four of the prettiest. For Matthew he bought carved soldiers and horses. His eye caught sight of a large boat. Not a pirate ship but to a small boy with an imagination it could be a pirate ship. A spyglass would add to the illusion. Deciding against the purchase of a sword Erik decided he would carve a wooden one himself.
On the pretence of needing to place an order with the bake shop he frequented when in need of bread or sweets Erik told Nadir to wait as it would only take a minute to place his order. Having left Nadir outside he placed a standing order for a half dozen pastries to be delivered once a week over the next year at the address of Nadir Khan. One missed delivery and Erik would return requesting the reason why without making any further payments. Fixing the man with his most frightening Phantom expression the man assured him Nadir's pastries would take precedence over anyone else even if there was a shortage of ingredients. Which there was quite frequently these days.
Nadir had been watching Erik all day. The man was more involved with this family than a mere host. Erik whether he knew it or not had made a commitment to them. With time perhaps one stronger than his commitment to the little soprano. The trip out in the daylight was the most telling of all evidence presented. Nadir could only hope Erik would surrender his heart completely in time. He was well on his way. Nadir ended the day more optimistic than when they had started.