Noir56

"You're very fortunate," Ursula said as she stood behind Corinna and fastened the last button at the top of her old wedding dress. "I'll take in the bust a little, but other than that it's a perfect fit."

Corinna beamed at her own reflection. The neckline was a bit mature for her taste, but the moment she had donned the gown and glanced in the mirror she had tears in her eyes. At last she was going to marry Erik Levesque, the one man she had truly loved all of her life.

While she studied her reflection Corinna couldn't help but run her hand over her belly. She had a small bump on her abdomen, but in the ivory dress with its pearl embellishments no one would notice. She didn't care if the priest was aware of her condition. Nothing could ruin her merriment as long as Erik stood beside her.

"You look like an angel," Ursula whispered as she smoothed Corinna's hair. "I don't think I looked this good in my dress. You make me jealous, my dear."

"Don't be ridiculous, of course you looked this good in your dress. You didn't have to take the bust in," Corinna smiled. She turned and took Ursula by the hands. "Thank you for being here with me. I couldn't do this without you. Neither of us could do this without you here."

"I wanted to be here with you, with both of you, Corinna. All these years…you haven't been the only one who wondered where he was or how he was doing. I'm very happy for you, and I know your father would feel the same," Ursula replied.

Corinna dabbed at her eyes with a silk handkerchief. She hadn't thought of her father in a while but had planned to leave flowers by the small memorial she had built for him.

"He would have been a good grandfather," she said sadly.

"And you will be a good mother. Now, you rest while I take care of this dress. And eat something."

Corinna sighed. "I couldn't possibly rest," she said as she wriggled out of the dress. "And I'm far too excited to eat."

Ursula cocked her head to the side while Corinna dressed. "You must eat and you must get your rest. Trust me."

With a devilish smile Corinna nodded. "I suppose I'll need my energy for my wedding night."

Though a laugh escaped, Ursula rolled her eyes. "I think you've had quite enough of Monsieur Levesque. I expect you both to behave yourselves and do nothing more than kiss each other goodnight. He must learn to give you more privacy now that you are with child."

"I don't want him to become a stranger. I want him with me every night and morning," Corinna said dreamily.

"Spoken like a woman truly in love. Now come down from that cloud of yours and go to your room. I want you to lie down for a while and rest yourself. I'll wake you when your dress is ready and you can try it on again."

Corinna knew protesting was futile. She smiled and returned to her room where she found Erik waiting for her by the window.

Even though he wasn't dressed for the ceremony yet, Corinna couldn't help but think he looked handsome in his white lawn shirt and black trousers. With his long legs and trim hips all the way to his broad shoulders, the sight of him made Corinna's heart beat faster. She could barely stand to see his arms and not feel them around her.

In a matter of hours she would have him for the rest of her life.

"My love," Corinna grinned.

"I'm not supposed to see you," he said without turning. "It's bad luck."

"I don't believe in superstitious nonsense," she replied as she danced across the floor and placed her hands on his hips.

Erik turned his face and kissed her on the lips, closing his eyes so that he still didn't see her.

"You are superstitious," she chuckled as she wiggled beneath his arm.

"Cautious," he corrected her. "I'm cautious."

They stood and stared at the courtyard, neither one of them speaking. Corinna could hear Erik breathing hard and knew he was much more nervous than she was. This morning before they left her bed he had asked how many people she wanted at the ceremony.

In her dreams she had always expected to be wed before a large crowd, but with her family in India and few friends in France, she was content with Ursula and her husband witnessing the ceremony. The news seemed to please Erik, whom she knew was not comfortable leaving his home. In time she hoped he would change his mind, but for now all she wanted was to be with him. She felt no reason to ask him to travel to Paris, especially when she feared for his safety.

As they stood with their arms around one another Corinna felt Erik flexing and releasing his hand over and over. She rested her head on his chest and grunted.

"Why did you come here if you didn't want to see me?" she whispered.

"I didn't know you would return so soon. I wanted to be near everything that reminded me of you."

Corinna squeezed him tighter. "Such a romantic, my love."

He closed his eyes again and kissed her on the forehead. "My sweet wife," he whispered.

"Almost," she sighed. She looked up at him standing with his eyes closed. The scars no longer looked as ghastly as they had the first time she had seen him. She wondered if walking around without the mask helped, allowing his skin to breathe freely.

"Not soon enough," Erik said as he ran his fingers down her spine.

Her smile widened. Even if he didn't open his eyes he knew her well enough to make her melt in his arms. All of Ursula's suggestions left her the moment Corinna kissed Erik again.

"You aren't going to open your eyes, are you?"

"Not until you leave," he answered with a chuckle.

"Ah, but Monsieur Levesque, this is my room in which you are intruding," she said as she poked him in the chest.

"Very true," he answered, unable to stop himself from smiling.

Corinna pulled away. "Keep your eyes closed," she said as she padded across the room and shut her bedroom door.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

She answered with a chuckle as she wrapped her arms around him from behind and kissed his shoulder. He sighed deeply and lifted his arm to pull her into his embrace.

"We shouldn't," he said, his eyes tightly squeezed shut.

She giggled at his playfulness and couldn't help but play along. His sense of humor was slowly starting to unfurl and yet another facet of the man she had known so long ago revealed itelf.

"I should punish you for trespassing in my room," Corinna teased. She kissed his neck and his ear, her lips parting enough to exhale on his skin.

"This," he said, "is punishment indeed, my sweet little wife."

Corinna closed her eyes, enjoying her new title. She couldn't wait until he said it again when they stood in this room as husband and wife on their wedding night.

Erik cupped her face in both hands. "Rest. I will see you in a few hours," he said before he turned away and left her for the remainder of the day.

-o-

Corinna had no recollection of the time that passed after Erik left her to rest. She barely remembered donning her dress once more and holding a bouquet of lilies while Ursula placed a comb in her hair.

"Are you ready?" Ursula asked as she opened Corinna's bedroom door and led her into the hall.

"Yes, I think so," Corinna replied.

She felt prepared until she saw the doorway to the parlor open. This was it. This was what she had waited a decade and a half for.

"He's…he's in there, isn't he?" Corinna whispered.

"Of course," Ursula said gently as she nudged Corinna forward. "Can't you hear him playing the piano for you?"

The sound of music drew her forward, lightening her every step, clearing her mind of all apprehension. Her eyes closed momentarily to the gentle, soothing melody. Each note magnetized her as though she were being pulled into his embrace. Through sound she could almost feel his hand against her back and his voice leading her forward.

The song ended just as Corinna entered the parlor and found the priest standing with Ursula's husband beside him. Both men looked to the doorway as Corinna entered with Ursula behind her.

The room faded away. Her eyes were on Erik, who rose from the piano bench and stared at her, his mouth agape.

The first thing she noticed was that he was wearing his mask.

Her heart sank.

Everything she had wanted seemed to fade away.