Nadir stood peering into the window again. He saw the sword in Raoul's buckle, and a pistol lying on the floor at his side. He would have to proceed carefully so as not to provoke a lethal reflex. He decided on moving, slowly, deliberately toward the front of the house. He lifted several mid-sized rocks from the garden, hoping to use them to announce his arrival. He carefully lifted and tossed the largest of the stones onto the door stoop, first striking the door before rolling off the steps and down into the bushes. Nadir peered into the window. Nothing. Raoul hadn't even flinched. Again he heaved a rock, this time aiming for the center of the door. It struck with a loud thud.
Nadir sat silently at the side of the bushes. He heard nothing. He stood once more, peering into the window. This time he saw only Meg, leaned against the pillar, blanket wrapped around her. Nadir knew at once he was in danger. He had hoped to wake him, not put him on the defensive. Nadir raised his head just slightly, trying to scan the room. Just then he heard a piercing shrill of shattering glass, and a fiery heat on the top of his ear. Nadir's reflexes were fast, but in this case, not quite fast enough. Nadir dropped to the ground, hand cupping his ear. He could feel the blood pouring from it, and a large gape where the bullet had grazed him. He had no choice now.
"Raoul! It is Nadir, I am a friend of Er.." the words catching in his mouth before they could fully escape. "Raoul, I am the one who delivers Meg to your safekeeping…perhaps Meg has mentioned me!" Nadir yelled loud enough that he feared if they'd been next to a cemetery, he'd have woken the dead. He heard shuffling, and what sounded like whispering inside the house.
Raoul yelled out "show yourself…move into the moonlight beyond the bushes with your hands in the air." Nadir hoped that he had believed him, or he would soon be food for worms. Slowly, deliberately Nadir stood, moving towards the walking path that led to the front door. "Meg" Nadir called out, "do tell Raoul of our acquaintance, I wish not to be used for target practice this night!" There was a long pause.
Nadir felt a sitting duck waiting for something to happen. This was rather disconcerting. The front door opened and Raoul stepped out, not closing it. He walked carefully toward the man, scanning the grounds to the left and right before coming to rest in front of Nadir. He extended his hand. "I am sorry about the shot sir, after all that has gone on this night, I am a bit on edge. I did not expect you, or anyone else for that matter tonight." Raoul was still looking around, and did not stop until he spied what he'd been seeking…a horse.
"Best bring your animal in next to mine. There are wolves not far from here, and they'd sooner have a piece of easy prey than to have the work of hunting it down in the forests. Nadir nodded, walking back to his horse and leading it up beside the other horse.
As they walked back toward the house, Raoul inquired "have you any medical training?" Nadir responded, "from the looks of things, you need an undertaker, not a physician sir."
"No sir, not for him" he said pointing to the dead figure that lay under the white sheet, "for her?" Nadir rushed to Meg's side. Her face was swollen, a singular laceration marring her fair cheek. Nadir lifted her arms, looking gravely at the slashes that he saw, thank heavens they were superficial and would heal well. He inspected each leg, only up to the knee. They were bruised and puffy. "Can you stand Meg?" She nodded "I'll try."
Raoul rushed in to steady her. Her head ached, but pain was a sign of life, and she was grateful for having it. As she stood she tried to regain her senses. "Where is everyone Nadir? Have they moved to the summer cottage already?"
Nadir immediately picked up on her comment saying "why yes, they've departed nearly a week ago now Miss. I was coming to town to fetch a messenger to tell you that we would be moving and that you shouldn't worry, I'd pick you up at the house as had been arranged." Nadir knew the explanation was shabby at best, but hoped Raoul, in the confusion would not question it, for what other plausible explanation could there be for the coincidence? The details of yet another false address would have to be worked out later.
Raoul felt tired. He had just begun to settle into a routine that was predictable. The pain of Christine's loss was more of a dull constant ache now rather than the fresh flares of a gaping wound. This day had produced feelings he'd tried hard to repress, and some he'd never felt. He glanced over at the corpse. With someone else tending to Meg he focused on the fact that he'd taken a life…a LIFE…somewhere down deep inside his soul was pleading…"God forgive me for what I have done"….. It had happened so quickly, instinctively he had protected her, not caring for his own life. "Christine would be proud…" he said under his breath.
Nadir had sat Meg down in one of the chairs, and gone to fetch the remainder of her belongings. Raoul turned away from the dead man, facing Meg once again.
"Meg, I fear that I repeat myself, and not wanting to seem any less sincere I must pray for your forgiveness, for all that you have had to endure." Meg peered at him through her swollen eyes. Raoul was not a man who could hide his true feelings, quite the opposite of the stone face his father possessed. Meg could tell Raoul's apology was quite genuine, but she couldn't help but feel it was she who should be apologizing. Had she not frightened earlier, had she not decided to be a coward and stay there the night instead of taking the trip back to Courtland Manor, neither would have been in this position.
"Raoul, do not apologize. I am most grateful that you have been there for me, cared for me during these last months." Her very feelings welled up inside of her. Perhaps it was her weakened state. Perhaps it was the ordeal she had just been through, or the tears that now welled in Raoul's eyes. Months later she would look back on this moment, and wonder at what she now said.
"Raoul, I am thankful for you, for all you have done for me, for all that you've shared with me…Raoul…I love you too." Meg wished in an instant she could suck the words back in, her heart pounded in her chest, her mind raced as she realized what she had just said. "You fool, you fool…." She chanted inside her head.
Raoul stopped. The tears that had threatened to spill, now quivered on the edge of his lids. He blinked several times, trying to register what had just been said. The words of love did not flow freely among nobility, in fact they were uttered in the most private of circumstances. Meg's face was lowered toward the ground, a shade of crimson filled her cheeks. Raoul turned his back to her, facing the portrait of a very young Christine that had been uncovered during the struggle. Looking into the eyes of that face Raoul mouthed a few silent words. "I'll always love you…..forgive me for living on without you." With that Raoul turned and moved to Meg's side.
He went down on his knees raising her chin with his hand. "Meg, this is most difficult for both of us. I can tell you are feeling as I did earlier today…." He looked her in the eye. "Christine would have wanted us both to be happy. To learn to love again…..she would have wanted us to live. Who could better understand our loss than each other? Who better could we share a life of memories with than each other? Meg, I think you knew before today that I was rather fond of you, and enjoyed your company. The weeks that we've spent together on your visits to Paris have done nothing more than confirm what I believe we have both been feeling, yet denying for the sake of a memory." Raoul paused, "Meg, I think you know that I…I love you too."
Meg's face was covered with tears as she looked up at Raoul…this time…she had heard it with her own ears…. "Raoul…" she said, as he reached down and tenderly wiped the tears from her face before placing a gentle, tender kiss on her lips. He pulled her carefully up into his arms, lifting her and walking over to the window, where the moonlight bathed her face is a cool white glow. Though both of their hearts were aching, they reveled at the relief that they felt from releasing what they had been denying. Neither knew what they would make of this, how others would react, both having reservations that the other could never have understood. So many secrets…so many secrets.
Nadir came around the corner, bag in hand. He stopped. Something about the air was different, decidedly different. "Raoul?" He turned revealing Meg in his arms. Nadir was confused, but decided against questions. "Perhaps we should go into town to fetch a hansom. I've nothing but my horse here now, as I wasn't anticipating passengers on this trip." Nadir nearly wishing that he had brought the carriage, but in the heat of the moment hadn't thought he'd need one.
"Sir, if you'd like to do so, I shall stay with Meg. Perhaps you could inquire about a physician? I should think Meg's injuries should be treated before she heads back to Paris." Both Meg and Nadir startled, looking at Raoul.
"Paris?" she said. Raoul looked down at Meg " my dearest Meg, you didn't think I'd let you recuperate in the care of a country doctor did you? Besides, you'd be of little use to your mother now, she'd have yet another to care for, and as capable as she is, that would make her burden even greater. My family physician could tend to you, and I've a house full of servants that could be at your beck and call."
Nadir stood still. Perhaps he had missed more than he realized. Raoul was treating Meg as a serious suitor would have. "But I must return home, Mother will be…" Raoul looked down at Meg again, kissing her forehead. "My dear, you shall need the rest, the finest treatment, please do not argue it is for your own good that I insist."
Meg felt her heart flutter, could this really be happening?
When no further protests arose, Raoul said "it is settled then. Nadir, if you could fetch the hansom and a physician, and an officer of the law, I would be indebted to you. I'll put Meg to rest until arrangements can be made." Raoul didn't even wait for Nadir's response before he turned and carried Meg up the stairs.
Nadir stood scratching at his beard. How this night had taken shape. With any good fortune he'd wake in his bead having dreamed the whole thing into being.
XXXXX
The ride had been a bit bumpy. The four horses had made the trip more swiftly, but a carriage can only endure so much. Erik's cloak was drawn around him, the hood pulled over the top. He and the doctor had sat silently for the first hour. Somehow the doctor knew, though no one had told him, that Erik had discovered the alterations. Occasionally the doctor reached across the carriage and took Erik's pulse, and felt his head. Erik made no complaint. Off on the Eastern horizon the first hints of sunrise began to show. It was nearly four o'clock in the morning now. It was Erik who first broke the silence.
"Do you have the medical journals that explain it?" "Pardon me?" The doctor replied. "The books that you referred to in order to treat my CONDITION!" Erik tried hard not to snarl as he spoke. The doctor knew at once. There was little point in avoiding the subject now, as Erik had never been one to mince words.
"Yes, in the library at the manor" the physician replied carefully. "I'd like very much to read them when we return." Erik said in an unnervingly calm tone. There was again silence. After some time Erik spoke again, "does it speak of the butchery? The butchery to treat the sub-humans who are cursed with this blight?"
The doctor shook his head. It would be a long while before Erik would ever recognize that this would improve his life, make it easier for him to live normally, to be out in public, to do all those things that he had denied himself for so long. "It is not butchery, as you call it sir. Butchery means to harm, to maim, to kill. Surgery, such as this one, means to preserve life, to improve life."
Erik growled in a low inaudible tone. Silence filled the carriage, an almost un-traversable chasm. The coach began to slow and pulled over to the side of the trodden dirt road. A lone horseman could be heard coming from a distance. Perhaps it was Nadir. It comforted Erik that it had been a false alarm, or surely he would not have been returning now. It was most unfortunate that they had not met sooner, as they had nearly gone all of the way to the winter house. The coachman rapped firmly on the roof of the carriage. "It is Nadir sir." "Good." Was Erik's only response.
Nadir slowed his horse to a trot, allowing the animal to cool as he came to a complete stop not five meters from the carriage. Nadir dismounted and walked over nodding at the coachman. The last thing that Nadir had expected to encounter was a carriage from Courtland Manor. He was at once both curious and relieved. Had Madame Giry been that concerned to have traveled so far? Nadir would most decidedly pass his horse on to another, in favor of returning to the Manor in her company and the comfort of the carriage. He didn't know exactly how he would tell her of what happened, or what Raoul planned to do, but he would somehow manage to find the words.
As Nadir opened the door to the carriage he was already thinking about the greeting he would offer her. Much to his surprise it was not Madame Giry who was inside, but instead two men…the two that could offer him both assistance and advice. Though startled he was grateful, it had been them.
"Erik? Why on earth are you here? You should be resting!" Nadir looked at the physician who quickly nodded his head at him. Erik had pushed his weight around again, and the doctor had done the only thing he could do, acquiesce, and accompany him on his journey.
"Nadir, do get in, take leave of your work, and do tell us what you've discovered. You were returning no doubt having found the house empty as we all suspected. Nadir slowly lowered himself on the seat across from Erik's.
"Your wife sir…..she has a gift." Nadir had confirmed with that one statement that Christine had been right. Oh how he wished he could relieve her of it, but he could not. "Nadir, pray do tell me what happened." Nadir looked over at the physician, Erik nodded. The man stood and stepped out of the carriage, walking up to talk to the driver.
"Erik, I do fear to tell you that Christine has the gift…" Erik's head hang low. "The gift you speak of…is the one from Persia?" "Yes, I'm quite afraid it is…you would scarce believe what details she saw Erik, what she described, how she knew…"
"And the dead man? Who is he?" Erik looked up at Nadir. "He was the hansom that had brought Meg to the winter house. He had come back when the sun set." "And Raoul? How did he find himself there?"
"Erik, all of the details are not yet clear to me. I can tell you this though, there is much more pressing issues now." Erik looked again at Nadir, what could be more pressing than this?
"Erik, when I first arrived I found the house dark, and a singular horse standing out in front. As I peered into the windows I saw Meg on the floor…"
"Had Raoul not yet arrived?" "No, he was there too….holding Meg in his arms!"
Erik flinched, "what of this Nadir, perhaps he was trying merely to console her."
Nadir shook his head, "no my friend, my thoughts were later confirmed when I'd gone to retrieve Meg's bags from the bedroom upstairs. When I came down, Raoul was cradling Meg in his arms by the window, and turning to see me he kissed her forehead."
The nerve in the right side of Erik's face began to twitch. His hand flew up to cover it. He had never felt this before in his deformed cheek. He swallowed hard, he'd ask the physician about that later.
"Nadir, are you absolutely certain, there can be no mistakes here…this has many implications…."
"Erik, do you not think I've been considering those as I rode to you?"
Erik looked down at the floor of the carriage. "Erik, there is more. Meg was injured by this intruder…"
Fire now flew in Erik's eyes, his temples began to bulge. "It is a good thing that he is dead now, for if he hadn't been, he'd not have had long to live to tell of his travails!"
Nadir continued on calmly, trying to ignore Erik's outburst. "Erik, she will heal in time, most are abrasions and bruises, some swelling on her face, and a gash I'm afraid will need tending to."
Erik started to move, he had to instruct the driver, retrieve the doctor, they must get to her at once! Nadir put his hand on Erik's shoulder. "Erik, there is one more issue." He paused, this would not be well received, and would alter the plans that had already been made. "Erik, Raoul wants to take Meg back to Paris to convalesce. She has all but agreed to go. Erik…..I happened upon a private part of their conversation, and though I am embarrassed to repeat it, I think you must know…."
"What is it man, do not sit there coyly fearing my temper, it only grows with your hesitation!"
"Erik, Raoul told Meg that he loved her, that they should no longer deny their feelings for one another, and that Christine would want them to be happy!"
Erik sank into the seat, his back hitting the carriage hard enough to knock the wind out of him temporarily. "How is this happening? That infernal, arrogant, aristocrat! He thinks we will allow this? NO! Meg is coming home with us, her mother will be worried sick!"
Nadir sat back too, allowing Erik to rant and rave. When he was fairly certain Erik had properly vented, Nadir said "it is not for us to decide my friend….Madame Giry will have the final say. Meg has made her feelings perfectly clear."
"But Christine, how will she…." "Erik, I do not know. I know only this, you of all people know about the power of love. If it is love……standing in the way will not stop it."
Erik nodded. How would he ever break this to Christine? They would be parted forever if Meg went to be with Raoul. He would be parted with Madame Giry, as she would most certainly follow her daughter. This was changing everything. In the dark depths of his solitude in the caverns, he'd worried little about the trivial emotions of the world above him. These complications of life were foreign to him. Now they infuriated him. Would life ever be normal?