ALL I KNOW OF LOVE
Erik and Christine are the creation of Gaston Leroux; the reference to Persia and some of its customs are derived from Susan Kay's book, "Phantom". All other characters and the backdrop of the story are the creations and property of GerrysJackie.
Some places and all names are fictional.
PLAYERS:
Erik – Gerard Butler - Perfect
Christine – The face and coloring of Zooey Deschanel (Failure to Launch, Elf) – and the body of Marilyn Monroe, except 3 inches taller
Gustav - Billy Connelly – Because I really like him.
Patrick Connelly - Paul Bettany – (A Knights Tale, Firewall, A Beautiful Mind)
Pascal – Mel Gibson's looks (slightly older with graying hair) with the cunning and cruelty of J.R. Ewing from "Dallas".
Madam Marie Forsythe – Miranda Richardson
James Lumpkin (the butler) – Daniel Davis (the butler from the TV show "The Nanny")
Kamilla – Georgie Henley (Chronicles of Narnia)
Duke Sergei Beauvais – Derek Jacobi (Underworld:Evolution)
Use your imagination on all others.
This story has taken a while to develop, but I hope it has been worth it. I have several chapters already written, but I am taking my time. There is humor, drama, and romance in this story, so I hope you will enjoy it.
This rendition of Erik is one of a man who has suffered greatly in his life, at the hands of just about everyone in his life, but his spirit is still intact. He is less self-loathing than others that I have written, but he is very much aware of his self-proclaimed faults. He is dangerous and ruthless, but has had enough of death and destruction. Women are still a mystery to him, and he needs a strong, independent woman who is his equal in every way.
This Christine is not a drop-dead gorgeous woman, but her beauty is less assuming and soft…Erik will see it.
I will try to update twice a week, depending on how quickly I write chapters. I don't anticipate this being a particularly long story, but we'll see.
Enjoy.
CHAPTER 10 – Making a house a home
Christine was certain he would throw a fit when he returned. She had spent the last two weeks "remodeling" many areas in the large castle-like structure she called home.
She had ordered drapes for both parlors and drawing rooms; the dark, burdensome colors that had been the original choice were far too dreary and only made one feel as though they were descending into an ominous pit of despair upon entering.
She stood back, after hanging the last set, and assessed the difference in the ambiance of the room. The bright rays of the sun shined into the room and draped it in shades of yellow and orange; far better than the dull, shadowed gray, that had shrouded the room previously.
A smile played about her lips and she lifted Kamilla into her arms, loving the fact that Erik's daughter had wanted to help "improve" the looks of her home and assisted Christine in hanging the drapes.
She had learned the routine of the estate, knowing that Kamilla took a ride every morning; the wet nurse fed Timmy every six hours; but after that, Christine could play with him and make him giggle. She worked in the garden, tilled the ground and got it ready for planting in the spring, and she played the piano in the conservatory and found that Kamilla also played.
Toward the end of the two weeks, she was missing her family terribly, and was finding the lack of stimulating conversation, unbearable. She had developed a very close relationship with Kamilla, and found her positively endearing; the child was highly intelligent, but she was still a child. Christine craved adult companionship.
It was late on Saturday night, Christine had been married two days shy of three weeks, and she finally saw her husband's carriage coming up the driveway. He had been gone a couple of days longer than he had thought, and she was eager to renew her hatred of him.
"Welcome home, my lord." Mr. Lumpkin stated with a bow. "Should I turn down your bed or repack your bags?"
Erik caught the humor on James's face and in his tone and answered in like manner, "Multiple choice, wow I am completely at a loss...let's see...I'd say turn down the bed."
His voice carried up the stairs and Christine surpressed a giggle at the his lighthearted bantering; even in jest, his voice was intoxicatingly beautiful.
"This is Madam Bethany Clarkson, and her daughter, Giorgia Clarkson. They are Christine's sister and niece." Erik announced.
Her sister's polite tone was barely audible, but Christine knew it was her. She practically ran down the stairs and flung herself into her sister's arms.
" Bethany!" She cried, holding her tightly for a few seconds and then moving on to grasp Giorgia in her arms. "I am so happy to see you both!"
Bethany smiled brightly, something she hadn't done for quite some time; hardly at all since Stuart had died.
"What are you doing here?" Christine asked as she pulled Giorgia into a big hug.
"The Marquis has been gracious enough to offer us residence at Vassadelle, he wants you to have companionship, and he knows that Stuart left us penniless…so here we are."
Christine turned to acknowledge Erik, but found that he had quietly left the scene. She looked down the hall, but did not see him anywhere.
His offer to Bethany was a complete surprise; Christine never expected him to act in such a way.
"Come Madam, we can't very well have you setting up camp in the reception hall, now can we; let me show you lovely ladies to your room." James stated with a wink, and indicated for them both to follow him.
It didn't take long for Giorgia and Kamilla to become instant best friends and the two girls were giggling up and down the halls, playing hide-and-go-seek.
Erik had mysteriously disappeared again and Christine felt oddly bereft of his presence. She hadn't even spoken to him since he had been back.
It ended up being another week before she saw him; and then, it was quite by accident as he came through the door of the library and into the hall, almost landing her flat on the floor.
"My lady, I'm terribly sorry…I didn't know you were there." He murmured, catching her in his strong arms before she hit the floor.
"Erik…I…" she looked into his concerned eyes and was taken aback at their beauty. She had seen his eyes before, but they held a certain glow in the faint lighting that set her heart racing.
"Yes…?" He said as he put her to her feet and made sure she was steady.
"I will speak to you of other matters later, but I wanted to thank you for bringing Bethany and Giorgia." Christine didn't buckle under his stare, but kept her footing steady and unmoving.
Erik heard the acid in her tone, but couldn't quite determine why she was so upset. He had left her alone, wasn't that what she wanted?
Christine tried not to notice the curve of his lips and the hard, masculine lines of his visible features. He was achingly handsome, but it seemed he had no knowledge of this.
"You're welcome." He stated simply; not knowing what else to say. He brushed past her without looking back and headed down the hall.
Christine sensed a distant pain in him that seemed to keep him at arms length. He didn't seem in a rush to get to know her; in fact, he acted as though she had no affect on him at all.
"Are you always this distant…" Christine asked, a bit perturbed by his lack of interest in her. "…or do you reserve it just for me?"
He had turned back to look at her and after hearing her accusative words, a frown had creased his forehead, "I beg your pardon?"
Christine stalked toward him with patronizing steps, "You scurry off as soon as we are wed to do heaven knows what with heaven knows who, and leave me here with no precept of how to run a house, let alone a castle…and you think I am not entitled to be a bit gruff?"
A fire burned in Erik's eyes, but the flame only made him that much more attractive, "Look, my lady…" he began, but then he shook his head, closed his eyes, and steadied his ire, "…no…I am not doing this…not now."
He turned and strode from her; she stood and watched his retreating form for several seconds before letting out a loud huff, flinging her skirt around, and heading back to her room.
Later that evening, she expected to see him at the dinner table, but was disappointed once again. Bethany, Giorgia, Kamilla, and Christine ate their meal while talking about numerous subjects, but all went silent when Pascal Laroque walked into the room.
He cornered Christine with his gaze and walked straight up to her, not caring that the children were present, as well as her sister.
He bent over and Christine felt his hot, putrid breath on the back of her neck. He was breathing in her scent and she could feel the warmth of his hand just a few centimeters from her shoulder.
"You'll soon find, my dear, that what Erik takes as his..." he licked his lips and the sound repulsed her, "…comes through me…first."
He didn't touch her, but her skin crawled as though he had. He moved past her and sat down at the other end of the table; but she felt his eyes on her the whole time.
ЖЖ
"What was that all about?" Bethany asked, feeling a chill go up her spine as she remembered what she had witnessed earlier.
Christine was nauseous and trembling from head to foot. Erik's father had never been so forward, but she had known he watched her. Why had he suddenly become personal?
"I don't know…I think I'm going to be sick."
They sat down in the drawing room and watched the girls play and Christine held Timotheus.
"You need to talk to Erik, Christine…he needs to know that his father is being forward and vulgar with you."
Christine shook her head, "I've barely talked to him since we've been married, Beth…I am having a hard time dealing with the circumstances of this marriage and we have barely said a civil word to each other."
"You're his wife Christine, your favors should grant you the right to talk to him anytime and about anything you wish…he seems to be a wonderful man."
"My favors?" Christine asked.
Beth examined her sister's animated features and realized she had no idea what she was talking about – at all.
"Yes, Christine, favors…you know… the marriage bed." Bethany hinted.
Christine had never talked about Erik with Beth, they always played cards or the piano and violin; but he had never been discussed.
"He's never claimed his husbandly rights." Christine whispered.
"WHAT!" Beth exclaimed. "He hasn't touched you?"
Christine shook her head and felt tears coming to her eyes. "Most of the time, he seems to have no interest…but every now and then, I catch a glint in his eyes that tells me that he is."
Bethany pulled away from in complete shock her mind was seeking answers, but only came up with one conclusion.
"Does he prefer his own sex?"
Christine gasped at the insinuation, "Absolutely not…Beth…how could you suggest such a thing!"
Beth shrugged her shoulders and smirked, "Well…what else is there?"
"He has two children by a previous marriage, you dolt…that means the problem is me."
"It's not you, Christine…you're beautiful."
Erik apparently didn't think so and Christine wanted answers. Her infamous temper and strong will were being rattled again and she found herself at a boiling point.
Two days later…
She was still perturbed that he had left her to her own vices and gone on a business trip the day they were married, so she hunted him down; then, this whole fiasco with his father had her nerves on edge.
She found him in the parlor talking to a strange, dark-skinned man. She had caught a glimpse of him the night Erik had come home, but he had disappeared soon after. Erik looked up as she knocked on the door, and they both stood as she entered the room.
"My lady, I would like to introduce my dearest and oldest friend, Kaveh Hushmand."
Kaveh bowed and took his hand to his lips for a kiss, "Delighted, my lady."
Christine curtsied and smiled at him. He was a very attractive man, with dark eyes, and dark skin. He looked to be older than Erik but not by a great deal; and he was shorter by about four inches.
"May I see you in the drawing room, my lord?" She asked.
He inclined his head toward her and dropped his eyes, "Certainly." He looked towards Kaveh, "Excuse me."
He followed her; uncertain of what it was she wished to speak with him about. He swept through the door behind her and turned to close it, certain he could cut the animosity in the air with a knife.
He had barely turned to face her when she seethed at him through clenched teeth, "How dare you."
His brow lifted and a confused, stunned look covered his visible features.
"Don't think for an inkling of a minute that I am pleased to be here, my lord…for that would be a great miscalculation on your part." She spat at him, "I was perfectly happy living with my parents and helping my father with his business…I don't need a man to give me worth or make me feel beautiful…I know I'm not beautiful…" her voice teetered off and she suddenly dropped her eyes, "…but that has never mattered…until I met you."
Erik listened intently to her, but was at a loss for words. No woman had verbally jousted with him before, and he found it exhilarating; but why would she think herself not beautiful and why did it matter only because of him?
"I despise you…" She shouted. "…I despise the fact that you used your title and riches to obtain my hand in marriage; I despise the fact that you care not what you do to the lives of others, just as long as you get what you want…if you thought I was plain, why did you marry me?"
Erik was surprised, to say the least. He had not expected such frankness from her; she was as spirited and bold as he had suspected. She obviously was under the impression he had coerced her into this marriage and nothing he said would change that.
He fought the urge to buckle under her hatred and responded bleakly, "You're hatred and revulsion are understood…."
She raised her chin in defiance and stared into his incomparable eyes, "What?"
"…they are the only reactions I seem to stir in the hearts of women…"
He said it with such conviction, that she almost allowed her curiosity to get the better of her, but refused to give in. He had fathered children, so he had been more to a woman than just hatred and revulsion; he was only seeking sympathy. If he didn't find her plain, why hadn't he tried to kiss her, at least?
"…and I hardly think you plain – although why you should care what I think is beyond me." Erik finished, pulling Christine from her thoughts.
She ignored his last comment, certain that he was just feeding her the words she longed to hear, "I will give my attention and love to the children, as that seems to be the main reason behind my being here, but do not expect anything from me, my lord…nothing at all. Bringing my sister and niece here does not mean that I owe you anything."
Erik was not allowed a retort, for Kamilla had heard his voice and was pounding frantically on the door. He bowed as Christine turned toward the door and allowed Kamilla to enter.
This man, whom people feared and respected, seemed fearful of her – at least it appeared that way. Why did he not grow irritated with her bold ways and wagging tongue? Most husbands would have turned her over their knee by now, given her backside a few swipes, and scolded her for being such a shrew….he never even raised his voice.
"Papa!" She squealed.
"How's my princess?" Erik asked, scooping her up into his arms and twirling her around.
"I've missed you terribly." She pouted, hugging his neck as though he would disappear from her again.
Christine had thought to leave, but was captured by the enticing sound of his laughter. He was an entirely different man when it came to his children; she found that strangely alluring and sexy.
'He must have loved Nicholle very much…' she thought, shocked at the shard of jealousy that stabbed her heart. '…the only love he seems to show is toward the children she gave him.'
TBC