Another side-story, but a pleasant one.
Enjoy.
DARK SIDE OF THE GLASS
CHAPTER 31
It was well into the afternoon before Raoul stopped by to get Christine. It was still awkward between Erik and him, but it seemed to be getting less so.
Not five minutes after they left, Richard showed up - Erik was desperately needed at the opera house to help smooth over the roughest areas and get the wrinkles ironed out of the musical compositions.
He left Lavanya in Tarrah's capable hands and promised to return as soon as possible.
He and Richard hardly spoke during the carriage ride. However, Erik knew there were a few things he needed to ask.
"What are your intentions concerning Annette?"
His blunt question circled the air of the carriage wistfully until Richard released the breath he had been holding.
"Right now, she barely gives me the time of day."
Erik knew this to be the truth. Annette was playing the coy, hard-to-get woman and she was not certain that she wanted to be caught. Richard was nice enough, but he was not the adventurous man Annette's husband had been – although he had turned out to be bad news and had abandoned her and his infant daughter before the sun rose on their second anniversary.
"That was not my question." Erik stated dryly.
Richard shrugged his shoulders and ran a large, shaking hand through his dark hair.
"Erik, I have had my time with young, no-nothings that only want an older man to line their purses with cash, frost their bodies with jewels, and buy them the most expensive home he can afford."
Erik had never had a woman want any of that from him, so he was finding it hard to relate to Richards supposed problem.
"My first wife left me for a younger man…and because I was more married to the love of money than I was to her….she took my only son with her…." His voice trailed off in a hushed after-thought – lost in the past.
"Annette is a beautiful, passionate woman with a lust for life and a deep loyalty to those she loves…I find in her everything that my life has been lacking all of these years."
Erik had not heard of Richard's son, not having taken the time to learn of their personal lives. He found himself curious about the boy.
"You have a son…I did not know this."
Richard smiled sadly, but his eyes held a proud glow that Erik assumed only came from the sacred bond a father had with his child.
"Yes…Jordane…." Richard felt the name of his son sooth the ache in his heart. "…it has been seven years since I last saw him, but I received word the other day that he is coming to Paris to see me."
Erik assumed this was good news by the look on the older man's face.
"How old is he and what does he do?"
Richard was all too anxious to answer any questions about his son.
"He is twenty-six and he has just graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Medical Science…he is quite intelligent, despite being my son."
Erik was intrigued. Firmin was in his mid-fifties and had a son in his mid-twenties; he must have married late in life.
"We had been trying to have a child for years, and we were suddenly blessed with one after being married for fifteen years." He looked at Erik and smiled, finally looking like the Richard that Erik knew him to be. "His mother past about three months ago, and he is thinking of settling in or around Paris and opening his own medical practice…" he could not hide his pleased look, "…I hope to persuade him to do just that."
Erik had ascertained the information he had been seeking. Richard was ready to settle down, perhaps ease out of the opera business and grow old in the arms of a good woman…he wanted that woman to be Annette.
They arrived at the opera house and Erik got out of the carriage first. They proceeded up the brick steps toward the door and Erik allowed Richard to sweep through the opening first.
"You will have to step up your efforts Richard, she had been hurt in the past…very badly and is skittish about another relationship."
Richard smirked and extended his hand to Erik. The younger, larger man took it and shook it firmly.
"Does this mean that I have your blessing to pursue her?"
Erik chuckled, "I am not her father, her brother, or any such person…Annette makes her own decisions…besides, you were pursuing her long before I got here."
Richard rolled his eyes and scoffed, "I think I had an easier time convincing you than I will her."
♦♠♥♣
Raoul sat in the carriage beside his glowing wife and gently rested his hand on her extended abdomen. He enjoyed these moments when it was just the two of them. There were too many servants at the manor and the watching, judgmental eyes of his parents and brother were always nearby.
The baby seemed to be responding to him lately, there had been a few times when the strong, distinct kicks had brought a smile to his face and a jump to his heart. He wanted this baby with every beat of his heart; and the weeks were counting down to its arrival.
"I think you have finally won over my mother…by leaving the opera house behind you have proven you are committed to me…" he stated quietly, knowing that Christine was not fully accepting of her decision to leave. "…I am sorry that it took that drastic of a measure."
Christine smiled at him and caressed his smooth face with the palm of her hand.
"I left the opera for us, Raoul…not her. She would have never stopped hounding you about it and I could not stand one more minute of her imperious attitude."
Raoul arched his tawny brow and smirked.
"You have certainly developed an inner strength I never expected, my love."
She grinned and reclined her head onto his broad, slender shoulder.
"We women have to fight for our man…Lavanya has taught me that."
"How is she?" Raoul asked, concerned about the beautiful new addition to Erik's life.
"Sore…and her pride is a little bruised…but other than that, she is fine."
"How are they getting along?"
He really wanted to know, Erik had been a thorn in his side for too long, it was time to grow up and move on. The man was a genius and the source of his wife's incredible talent; he could share her heart with him now that he knew it was not a romantic love she felt for the darkly handsome, mysterious man.
Christine explained about the talk she had had with Lavanya and the struggles she was encountering with Erik.
"So…" Raoul surmised, "…she only wants to be his friend?"
He could not wrap his male mind around that concept. Erik must be going completely mad with desire at having that beautiful, alluring woman in his home as his wife and not be allowed to be intimate with her.
Christine just stared at his soft blue eyes, wondering why men were so obtuse at times.
"No, Raoul…that is not what I said."
He rolled his eyes and sat straight up, amused by the reproachful look her eyes.
"You said she does not want intimacy…what more would they be other than friends?"
Christine chuckled, took a deep breath, and gave an exasperated shake of her head.
"What I said was…she does not want intimacy right NOW…she wants him to recognize her desire for him and act upon his own desires before taking their relationship to the next level." Christine lifted her own brow and allowed Raoul to take in her words before continuing. "She very much wants him – on all levels – but he has to realize he is worthy of her before it happens."
"Even kissing or hand holding?"
Raoul was incredulous about the situation, he actually felt like going and taking Erik out for a night of drinking and card playing; in fact, he decided he would do just that – Tuesday night, when he and Phillip hosted the poker game at the men's club, he would invite Erik.
"Oh no, she will insist upon those things…" Christine smiled broadly, "…she has only kissed him twice – once at the wedding – and once, very quickly, at the manor." Christine winked at her husband and cuddled into the warmth of his arms once again. "She says he has the sweetest, softest, most kissable lips of any man she has ever known."
Raoul lifted an accusing, amused brow, "And do you agree with her?"
Christine giggled and kissed his cheek, "They are soft and very sweet – as far as I can remember – but he did not kiss me back like he did her. Besides, I did not kiss him because I was in love with him, I kissed him to show him that I love and care for him as a friend and that he is not alone."
Raoul kissed her forehead and caressed her cheek with his smooth fingers. It still seemed like cruel punishment on a man whose entire life had been devoid of any female companionship…dangling an enticing morsel like Lavanya in front of him only to yank it away when he was ready to partake…very cruel indeed.
"Did you ask him about teaching our children?"
Christine shook her head, "Not yet, I fear he will not because of how I treated him."
Raoul gave her a gentle squeeze and smiled down at her, "Give Erik more credit than that…he is – among other things – a professional and a gentleman."
She assured him that she would talk to him about it; just as soon as everything calmed down a little bit.
♦♥♠♣
Phillip had been so against keeping the opera house open; his brothers infatuation with the diva four years ago had cast a rather murky shadow over his families reputation.
He had been convinced that nothing would convince him to support the funding of that disreputable establishment again. Of course, all of that had changed a couple of days ago.
Actually, if Phillip was honest with himself, it had changed several months ago. He had been away on business for a couple of years after Raoul married Christine, and had never had much of a chance to get to know the woman-child that had captured his younger brothers heart.
When he had arrived back, he had seen the waning financial standing of the opera house and the way it was weighting down his families holdings. He immediately set out on a mission to rid his family of the obligation.
His father was not the businessman he had once been, and his health was failing, it was left in Phillip's capable and frugal hands to get the family back to where it needed to be.
He had immediately left on another business investment trip and had only recently returned, hellbent on closing down the opera house and opening a reputable music auditorium.
His most recent trip had been to Russia and he had meant a tremendous man there, one whose musical talents impressed him – much as the Phantom's had.
Nikolai sat beside him now, waiting on another glimpse of the young woman whose voice and angelic features had stolen Phillips heart. There was little he could do to fight the growing interest he had in her, so he chose to embrace it.
She floated across the stage – seemingly one with the air; her strawberry blond hair floated around her like a sunny halo, leaving Phillip without a breath to rely on.
Nikolai, only a few years older than Phillip, had been married for four years and was a father of two small children. The older man listened to the music and was staggered by the orchestration, hearing sounds and chords he had never imagined before.
"You have decided not to close the opera house, yes?" Nikolai asked in fluent, heavily accented English.
He spoke no French, and Phillip was fluent in several languages, one of them being English; but he did not speak Russian.
"Actually, a man bought it from us and has turned it completely around. His music is what you hear; he is an amazing businessman and musician."
Nikolai seemed impressed and eager to meet this genius.
"He is very closed off to the public. He has been ill-treated all his life because of a deformity on the right side of his face."
The shrewd businessman in Phillip wanted to hone in on Erik's success, but he had promised Raoul he would stay out. They had developed a rather fragile respect for one another and all seemed to be going well.
The Russian arched a brow and turned his warm, dark gray eyes to his new friend.
"What is this man's name, I must meet him."
"Erik Lacroix is what he is called officially, but he was often called The Phantom of the Opera in years past."
Nikolai nodded and ran his hand over his bearded chin. He was anxious to meet this young man whose music was clearly progressive and outstanding.
"Court the young woman, Phillip, life it too short for such games."
Phillips gnawed on his bottom lip with audacious thoughts going through his head. He had stayed clear of the opera house and all the decadent sins that seemed to breed within its walls; but when he had discovered the financial turn around that had occurred, he decided to subdue his misgivings and see for himself what was so alluring about the opera.
He did not even know her name - not that is mattered; she had already captured his heart in her small hands and he found thoughts of her invading his mind at the oddest times of the day.
Phillip was no stranger to women and their coy ways. He had shared his bed with a few tasty, genteel women…but this woman was more of an innocent consuming fire than anything else – and Phillip wanted to be burned.
His dark blond hair with its sweeping waves had felt numerous fingers sidle through it; begging him for more. His keen, deep blue eyes were a favorite among the ladies and he seldom disappointed them by not winking them in their direction. His features were chiseled and broader than those of his younger brother; but Raoul was considered the more handsome of the two in the society circles.
Of course, none of this made any difference to Phillip – his looks had never impressed him - he just enjoyed the company of a beautiful woman; but he had been hard pressed for the past week to think of anyone but the songbird on the stage.
Nikolai stood up and made his way toward the stage. He gave an inquiring look to Phillip, making the younger man stand to his feet and follow.
"What are you doing?" Phillip whispered as they inched toward the stage.
Nikolai answered by whispering over his shoulder, "You are a twenty-seven year old man who cannot seem to rustle up enough courage to approach a beautiful woman he is interested in…" Nikolai grinned and stabbed his own finger into his own chest. "…I will help you."
Phillip was horrified. He froze where he stood and it took Nikolai several moments to realize that his friend was no longer beside him.
Before Nikolai could retrace his steps and physically grab Phillip by the arm and drag to the stage, Phillip regained his composure, stood tall and proud, and followed his Russian friend onto the stage.
A peculiar looking, little man stopped them before the hit the top step with a thrust of his hand into the air.
"By whose authority do you enter?"
Phillip must have stuttered his words, for Nikolai rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"I am Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. I am an aspiring composer and the music I have heard this afternoon has been splendid, I was hoping to meet the composer."
The short man eyed them both with suspicion, but then he seemed to recognize Phillip.
"Count de Chagny, I apologize for my rudeness…I was not told you were coming."
Phillips bowed his head and found his voice, "It is quite fine, my good man…I no longer finance the opera house, so I did not make my visit publicized."
Most every one on the stage had stopped to see what the ruckus was all about; including the dancers.
"The composer is Erik Lacroix and he is not here today…he has recently been wed…"
"Say no more…." Nikolai stated with a smile and a laugh, "…I understand. Do you know when he will return?"
"He comes in every now and then; we last saw him yesterday afternoon." One of the dancers offered.
"He oversees all of the musical interludes, all of the chorus and orchestra numbers, as well as the dancers." Another dancer countered.
Before Phillip had a chance to prepare himself, the woman of his dreams appeared before him – a vision in pink.
"I know him personally...I can introduce you."
He could not take his eyes from her. Her beauty was even more ethereal than he had thought. He had thought she looked like a pixy, straight out of a dreamland, but upon closer examination, she was a princess with a halo of blushed gold.
"I would very much like that, but I do not wish to disturb him at home…I will meet him at another time." Nikolai insisted. "This is my good friend, Count Phillip de Chagny, I will be staying at his family's manor for the next few days"
Phillip nodded, his alert eyes never leaving the shape of the woman he was convinced he loved more than anyone else on the planet.
She was petite but willowy and Phillip could not resist admiring the lustrous coils of blond hair that flirted with the graceful length of her neck. His eyes admiringly flowed to the generous swell of her bosom and the flat plane of her abdomen…and finally ran the length of her lean, strong legs.
Nikolai cleared his throat and Phillip glanced up to find her blue eyes fixed on his; he saw a blush whisper across her cheeks as he reached his hand out and gently grasped hers, bringing it to his mouth for a kiss.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mademoiselle…"
She curtsied with a coy smile. "…Sheldon…my name is Tarrah Sheldon."
TBC