The tall, elderly gentleman stood in awed silence before the Opera house, staring at its charred ruins in the moonlight. Coming to his senses, he briskly walked around to the side, looking for the Rue Scribe entrance that he had used so many times before. It appeared to be clear, so he stepped inside and prayed that he would find the way down. The lingering smell of smoke stung his nostrils and it seemed forever before he reached the underground lake. The darkness was thick, and he could hear only the sound of the water lapping at the shore. "Erik?" he whispered into the darkness. "Are you here?" He pulled a match from his breast pocket and struck it. Erik's home looked as if a tornado had wreaked its havoc there. He dropped his traveling bag in shock and quickly stepped to the wall where he knew a torch was usually kept. Lighting it, he hunted for a sign of Erik's whereabouts. He furiously searched behind each doorway he could find, to no avail. No mask…nothing. Where could he be? Is he even still living here? He walked slowly back to the organ, picking up sheets of Erik's musical compositions along the way. Nothing has been touched by the fire down here, he marveled thankfully. But apparently someone came here looking for him and decided to do some damage. He noticed the cracked mirrors and the heavy, brass candlestick lying on the floor in front of them. Slowly and methodically, he began to gather up some of the items left behind that he believed would be of some value to Erik. He placed them in a large drapery that he had ripped from the wall, wrapping them carefully. Trudging back up the same way he had come with an armload in tow, the aging Persian hailed a cab and set out for home, praying that his friend was still alive and well.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dear Monsieur Durand:
I have secured your plot of ten acres southwest of the city and executed the transaction agreed upon. I also received your architectural plans and had them immediately delivered to the builders. They first gave an estimate of ten weeks for the project, but reduced it to half the time when I offered them the extra amount that you suggested. Should there be any issues regarding the construction, I will contact you immediately, as you are the architect of the plans. Please contact me immediately if you should need anything. I will be in touch with you regularly to update you on the progress of your new home.
Sincerely Yours,
Philippe Renault
Erik was pleased to have received a response so quickly, and on a Sunday, no less. Everything was moving along according to plan. He set the letter on the kitchen table and finished his coffee and croissant, knowing that he had to dress for Mass that morning. He had spoken with the Laurents upon returning home late the night before and had arranged to take a separate carriage. He wanted to pick Christine up from the shop and take her with him. I must be with her, although it could be risky. The Laurents will have to find out sometime that we are engaged. After all, we will be married and living in the house on their property for five weeks until our home is completed! He laughed to himself. I may be a great magician, but hiding a wife…well, that is certainly beyond my skill! He looked at the clock, seeing that he would have to dress in a hurry. He went to the bedroom and put on some of his usual cologne. His clothes were neatly hung in the closet, and he selected a handsome black suit and a burgundy cravat. Satisfied that he was presentable, he donned his outdoor clothing and headed to the main house to fetch a carriage.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Look! It's Monsieur Erik!" Amêlie squealed with delight. Her father was just about to lift her into the carriage when she caught sight of him rounding the front of the house. "Hello!"
Erik heard Amêlie calling to him and he smiled, waving at her and picking up his pace a bit. It's been so long since I've seen that lovely girl…I hadn't realized how much I had missed her presence! He drew close to Monsieur Laurent and smiled down at Amêlie in his arms. "How are you, Mademoiselle?"
"I am quite well, now that I have finally seen you again!" she beamed at him. "You look well, Monsieur Erik. I have missed our piano lessons," she said, with a slight scold in her voice.
"Ah…yes," Erik replied awkwardly. "I apologize. I have been…very busy and otherwise occupied in town. But I hope that you have been practicing on your own, young songbird," he said, smiling.
"Oh, I most certainly have!" she laughed. "I would hate to disappoint my great teacher!"
Erik smiled at her, embarrassed. How long it has been since I have been called that! "Mademoiselle Amêlie, one can only become great through hard work and perseverance…and by serving the Lord," he winked at her.
"Monsieur Erik," Monsieur Laurent interrupted, "Am I to understand that you will be bringing a guest with you to Mass this morning?"
Erik's expression became solemn. "Yes, Monsieur."
"And…is this person perhaps one with whom you have been spending so much time in the city?" A sly smile began to appear on Monsieur Laurent's face.
Erik nodded. "Yes, Monsieur."
"Hmmm. Well, I shall be interested to meet this…guest of yours. A young lady, perhaps?" He settled Amêlie into the carriage, leaving the door open.
"Yes. But…" Erik wondered what he should say. Should I tell them now, or wait until they see her at Mass? No…there should be no surprises at the church to distract them from the Lord's time. He swallowed hard. "I believe that you already know her, Monsieur."
"Know who?" Madame Suzette stepped from the front door of the house, smiling.
Erik turned and greeted her politely. "Madame, I was just informing your husband about the guest that I will be bringing with me to Mass today."
"Oh?" She raised her eyebrows quizzically and then seemed to realize that he was speaking of a woman. "Monsieur Erik, do you have a…lady friend?" She smiled teasingly.
"No, Madame…Monsieur. I have a fiancée." He waited for their expressions of shock to surface. They came sooner than he had expected.
"A…a fiancée?" Amêlie asked excitedly. "Monsieur Erik, you are to be married? Oh, isn't it lovely, Maman?"
Monsieur and Madame Laurent simply stood there, mouths gaping.
"Are you both quite alright?" Erik asked them, amused.
"Why…Erik, I…I wish that you would have told us sooner!" Monsieur Laurent stammered. "B-but then, I suppose that you would not have to tell us any of your personal affairs…it's just that…well, I thought that we might have at least met this young lady before she became your fiancée."
Erik cleared his throat. "As I told you before, you have met her."
"We have?" Madame Suzette questioned him, perplexed.
"I wasn't certain of how to give you this news…but let me first say that I have known this young woman for ten years, but I felt that for propriety's sake and because she was promised to another, that I should remain…distant. There is much history between us, but I have loved her for as long as I can remember, and she knows at last, for certain, that she is in love with me. We are to be married very soon, and we would be honored if you would all attend. That is, if you can find it in your hearts to…to understand."
"Monsieur Erik, you act as if we will somehow be angry! Surely you know that we wish for nothing more than your happiness!" Madame Laurent insisted, frowning. "Why would we not understand?"
"Because, Madame," Erik replied softly. "My fiancée is Christine Daae."
"Christine Daae!" Monsieur Laurent nearly bellowed. "Christine Daae, the Viscomte's fiancée?"
"Former fiancée, mon cher," Suzette corrected him. She turned an emotional gaze to Erik. "Monsieur Erik, may I please ask you a question?"
He nodded slowly, anticipating what was invariably to come. She furrowed her brows, concentrating on reading his face. "Are you the reason for Christine's broken engagement to the Viscomte?"
"Madame, Christine has told me that her feelings were conflicted from the beginning. As I said, she and I had a sort of…teacher-pupil relationship for a number of years, and we both made some rather regrettable mistakes. She did not know her own heart, and I was…well, I was not the man that I am today."
"I see," she replied, though Erik was unsure if she truly understood. "Then you knew her before she came here, to our home, and yet you acted as though you did not know her?"
"That is correct, Madame. As I stated, I did so because I knew that she was engaged to be married to another man…the Viscomte. I did not pursue her. She ended her engagement without my direct knowledge, and we met, rather by accident, at the church one evening. We…we had a chance to talk and work things out. And, well…I am happier than I have ever been in my life."
"And how does Christine feel about you?" Suzette asked him.
"She has told me…she has said that I am her…her greatest blessing. Oh, Madame, the fact that she could love me is just unbelievable to me! You should speak to her yourself, at Mass today. She appreciates very much all that you did for her, but she felt uncomfortable speaking to you of this herself, as you are the friends of her former fiancé."
Monsieur Laurent finally spoke again. "Erik, I don't claim to understand all that has transpired here…but I believe you. I believe that you are a gentleman…otherwise Mademoiselle Daae would surely not willingly have your hand in marriage. We would be honored to attend your wedding, as a family." He smiled timidly at Erik, and held out a hand. Erik grasped it within his own and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you. Thank you all for understanding. I want you to know that we will be living on your property for a short while until our home is ready for us. It should be less than two months."
"Take as long as you need, Erik. You are both welcome here," Monsieur Laurent smiled, and then his expression changed to one of curiosity. "Is the Viscomte aware of this situation?"
"He is aware that we are planning to marry, but he is not aware of how soon. And he is also unaware that I live on your property. I would ask that you protect our privacy, if at all possible…to avoid any…awkwardness, naturally," Erik lied.
"Of course. It is no one's business but your own where you live or work, or what you choose to do with your time. Thank you for trusting us with this…joyous news, Erik." Monsieur Laurent patted him on the back and Madame Suzette pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. Amêlie smiled at him from inside the carriage, motioning for him to come closer to her. He leaned in and she threw her arms around his neck, whispering in his ear. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." He smiled and embraced her gently. "He certainly has added many blessings, hasn't he, Mademoiselle?" he said, his eyes twinkling.
"He has indeed," she whispered. "She is wonderful, Monsieur Erik. I hope that you will be very happy." She released him from her grasp and smiled up at him, wrinkling her nose endearingly.
"Well, now, hadn't we best be off to church?" Monsieur Laurent interrupted. "It is getting late."
Erik agreed, and they stepped into separate carriages, driving into town. That went better than I expected. Lord, you certainly can turn any tense situation around, can't you? He chuckled to himself, all the while feeling more than grateful.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: Wow! I didn't mean to guilt so many of you into reviewing…I was just afraid that some of you were utterly disgusted with the "non confontation" of Raoul and Erik.
I'm glad that so many of you enjoyed the proposal. For those of you curious about the English translation to "Caro Mio Ben," that was sung during the proposal, I found these lyrics: English line-by-line translation © John Glenn Paton
"Caro mio ben (My dear beloved), credimi almen (believe me at least), senza di te languisce il cor (without you my heart languishes). Il tuo fedel (Your faithful one) sospira ognor (always sighs); Cessa, crudel (cease, cruel one), tanto rigor (so much punishment)!" And then, he says, "Will you marry me?" (Well, it's supposed to say that, but one can never tell with these unreliable translation websites!)
Lucky for him, she decided to cease her "cruel punishment" and agreed to marry him! LOL!