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)

Kaveh Hushmand – Oded Fehr – (The Mummy, The Mummy Returns) Thanks Mlle.Fox!

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.

You make me smile - all of you!

CHAPTER 28

Breakfast was an interesting experience for everyone involved. Christine was certain that her parents had heard the activity coming from her old room, but she was not at all embarrassed about it.

Her suspicions were confirmed when her father wouldn't make eye contact and her mother blushed profusely every time her eyes landed on Erik.

Her father was avoiding everyone by lifting the morning paper high enough to shield his face from everyone's vision. He could be seen lifting his coffee cup up and down, but that was all.

His voice suddenly broke the awkward silence, and Christine could hear the barely contained mirth lying under the surface of his business-like tone.

"Did you sleep well…in your old bed?"

Christine bit her bottom lip and tried not to grin; but her eyes locked with Erik's and they both smirked.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, we did…once we both actually fell asleep."

Gustav gulped too much coffee and he began to cough and sputter. Teresa rushed to his side and gave him a healthy wallop on the back.

"There, there, dear…try not to take such a large swallow next time."

Teresa's tone was dripping with amusement, but she tried to keep her eyes centered on her husband's chagrined features.

"Christine has something she would like to share with you both." Erik announced. "Don't you, dear."

Teresa and Gustav both looked at her with inquisitive faces and Christine smiled at them with all the joy she had in her heart.

"I'm going to have a baby."

Teresa's hand went to her mouth as a gleeful screech escaped. Tears flowed immediately and she ran to her daughter's side.

Christine accepted her mothers embrace and they both shed a few tears before Teresa looked at Erik and smiled.

"You are a man of your word, my lord…I have never seen my daughter more happy or healthy."

She stood and embraced him with the arms of a mother. Erik was shocked, but did not stiffen in her arms. He returned the hug and felt the swell of emotion in his chest.

"Please, Madam Delancy, call me Erik."

She pulled back and put her hand to his cheek, "Then I must insist you call me Mother."

And with those words, his heart skipped a beat.

ЖЖ

Erik had bought Christine a new dress for the ball. It had a sweeping neckline for which he bought a new pearl necklace; bell-shaped sleeves draped down to hug her wrists, and an asymmetrical waistline accented her height and hourglass figure.

His naturally artistic eye had deduced that she would look magnificent in deep wine with cream-colored accents. The dress was the most beautiful piece of clothing Christine had ever owned.

"You look like a queen, my bride." Erik whispered as they entered the foyer of the ballroom.

"You make me feel like one..." She whispered back, "…as you are my king."

Erik handed the attendant their announcement and hooked his arm around Christine's waist.

Upon reading their names, the attendant's face lit up with a huge smile and he rang the bell.

"The Marquis and Marchioness of Merlot, Erik and Christine Laroque."

There was applause all around them and the ladies went to whispers as all eyes focused on the couple they had been waiting on.

"Relax love…" Christine purred, "…we don't have to stay that long."

Christine had felt, more than seen, Erik stiffen when he saw the number of people that were in attendance. She grasped his hand and made sure he felt her strength.

Christine took the time to look around the picturesque room and admire the murals and tapestries that graced the walls. Many of them dated back hundreds of years and each piece had a place in history.

There was a white grand piano in the far corner near the ornate fireplace. The whole room dripped with Victorian beauty and appeal.

The ceiling was vaulted and a mural of the Garden of Eden adorned it…each stroke was meticulously placed and the depiction was breathtaking.

Erik had noticed it also, and they both stood staring at the ceiling for a few minutes before proceeding onto the dance floor.

Erik moved as though he was on air; graceful and elegant. His tall frame was a head above just about every other man in the room, so the women had no problem finding him.

His eyes, however, never left Christine. They moved together like the tones of a cord – in perfect harmony.

"Where did you learn to dance?" Christine asked after he showed his skills with the Foxtrot.

"Here and there…" He teased.

"Here and there…where?" Her eyes were twinkling with mischief and she allowed a hint of jealousy to enter her tone.

" Persia mostly…one can learn a great deal by observing the acts of others…" Erik expounded.

"Indeed." Christine admitted with a smirk. "So, you've never held another woman in your arms?"

Erik swept her into an elegant dip, leaving his head to rest in the crook of her neck above the sweep of her breasts.

"Not unless you count Kamilla." He whispered against her prickled flesh.

Christine chuckled low and wound her fingers through his hair. He lifted her to his hard body; several inches off the floor; then he let her slide provocatively down the heated length of him.

The song ended and he kissed her briefly but passionately; letting every man in the room know that she belonged to him.

Gustav attracted Erik's attention and he excused himself from Christine to go to his father-in-law's side.

There were so many people at the ball; many of them Christine had known since she was a little girl.

Gaelynn Vancier was one such person. She and Christine had been best friends for many years, until Gaelynn had married a baron from Spain two years ago and had moved away.

They had not seen each other since and Christine was anxious to hear about how her life had been. However, the woman in front of her bore only a slight resemblance to the vivacious woman Christine remembered.

"Gaelynn, are you well?" Christine asked, stunned by how frail her friend appeared to be.

"Christine, I've been pregnant three times in the last two years, and each time it has ended in tragedy."

Gaelynn was distraught and Christine had no idea how to console her, other than to wrap the woman in her arms.

"Gaelynn…you must allow your body to recuperate before you try again…you have lost so much weight."

"It's Eduardo; he wants an heir so badly…I fear he has already taken a mistress."

The thin woman collapsed in Christine's arms just as Erik was approaching. He raced to her side and caught her small body in his strong arms.

"She needs to lie down." He stated, quietly.

Christine led them out of the main ballroom and into one of the side parlors.

"Oh Erik, I am so worried about her…she's my best friend."

"Stay here, I will be back."

He left and was back instantly with a cool cloth for her forehead.

"She does not look well."

Erik examined the pallor of her flesh and the dark circles under her eyes. She was a beautiful woman, but her health was poor.

He noticed the ring on her finger and immediately stood to go.

"Where is this woman's husband?"

Christine swept her hand across her friend's forehead and smiled weakly.

"That man is the problem Erik… her husband is Baron Eduardo Castillo of Spain." Christine lifted weepy eyes to Erik, "She has miscarried three babies in two years and he continues to expect her to conceive."

Erik was aghast at what Christine was saying. The poor creature that rested on the chaise was barely able to maintain her own health, let alone that of a fetus.

"Does he wish her dead?"

All Christine could do, was nod and shrug her shoulders.

"She fears he's already taken a mistress, Erik….how could he?"

Erik swallowed the rage boiling just beneath the civilized, dignified surface. His brow arched and he sighed in disgust, "I am seldom impressed with my own gender…or class."

Gaelynn awoke to the most beautiful voice she had ever heard. Her eyes were still trying to focus when she heard Christine.

"Erik, what can we do…she's so dear to me?"

"You can do nothing…I must do what is expected of me…"

Gaelynn's voice was weak and contrite; and Christine smiled down at her friend.

"Gaelynn Castillo, I'd like for you to meet my husband, Marquis Erik Rameau Laroque; Erik, my best friend for over twenty years, Baroness Gaelynn Donette Fontaigne Castillo."

Erik bent low and drew her hand to his lips, "Enchanted, Madam."

She shivered again, the intoxicating beauty of his voice sweeping through her.

"Christine, he is absolutely divine." Gaelynn stated, her pale, thin lips turning up into a weak smile.

Christine's smile was effervescent and she could not help the pride that swelled within her, "Thank you Gaelynn, I know that he is…now if I could just convince him."

Erik caught her wink and smiled brightly.

"My dear, I have not had the honor of a waltz tonight, we have done every dance but that one…would you care to join me?"

Christine was torn between enjoying the feel of her husband's hard body against hers as he waltzed with her; or her friend who seemed in such need.

"Go Christine, enjoy the evening, I'll just rest here."

Erik squatted down beside the chaise lounger and once again kissed Gaelynn's hand, "Rest assured, Madam, your husband will be along shortly to tend to you."

Gaelynn scoffed lightly and smiled back at Erik, "He cares not."

Erik's green eyes shone with such earnest, that Gaelynn found herself feeling very much at ease; then he took her breath away by smiling.

"He will." Erik quietly promised.

ЖЖ

It only took a few minutes for Erik to find the man he was looking for. He was loud and boisterous, and drew attention to himself.

He was surrounded by a hoard of females; Erik gritted his teeth and fought the urge to throttle the man senseless.

It wasn't long after Erik commanded the man's attention's, that he came walking back toward Christine with a satisfied smile on his face.

She was anxious to spend some time in Erik's arms, as the whole ordeal with Gaelynn had left a very sour taste in her mouth.

"What have you done?" Christine asked with a smile on her face.

"You need not look so concerned, my love…it was nothing."

"I'm not concerned, dear heart, I'm curious."

Her eyes sparkled with the same mischievous glow that his did, and Erik knew she would not allow him to rest until he told her.

"Later…when fewer ears are listening and fewer eyes are watching."

Christine was once again whirled onto the dance floor; all eyes watched the tall, elegant Marquis and the equally elegant Marchioness show everyone else how the waltz was meant to be danced.

TBC