Author's note: I'm pleased most of you liked the baby chapter. Some questioned certain aspects, which is perfectly allright. Babies do not always cry the second they are born, some take a few minutes, cooing instead, some must be incited to make noise. Also, some babies do breast feed immediately after birth (my sister's twin boys did). Everyone has different experiences and Gabrielle's come from a combination of stories. That being said, thank you for the feedback, there are more readers lurking out there than I thought. It's good to hear from you!
-Leesainthesky
Ch 94 La joie d'Erik
There are places along life's highway where one pauses to dwell from time to time. Willowy oases so amazing you wish you could capture them like lightening bugs, slip them into a jar and watch them glitter forever.
This was one of my oases.
The scent of jasmine slipped through the open windows on the wings of a rain-soaked breeze. All around the manor house lightening flashed and thunder followed, leaving the day darker than dusk inside our bedchamber.
Candle flames flickered and threatened to go out as our scant, fragile electric lights already had.
Erik cradled me in his arms as I cradled his new heir in mine. Neither of us spoke, preferring instead to fill our senses with Mother Nature's will.
"Gabrielle, I should go and deal with Mademoiselle Caruso." Erik's sultry voice interrupted our serenity.
"Go, now, and leave us?" I questioned, not yet prepared to release my husband.
"Ma chérie, it pains me to do so, but I'll be quick in my deed and return soon." He put his fingers beneath my chin, tilting it up to read my face. "You might even catch a few winks."
"I could use a nap, and a bite to eat, and definitely a shower. I smell like an alpaca," I said, sniffing at my underarms.
Erik rolled his eyes at me. "I've had the displeasure of being in close quarters with the creatures; you, my dear, smell nothing like an alpaca."
"A monkey?"
"Perhaps," he smiled. There was pleasure in his eyes.
"I shall send Nadir to the kitchen for something to eat if you like. Now, a kiss please, wife," he bent down to meet my lips, stroked the infant's head and made his exit swiftly, leaving me alone with my new baby and my thoughts.
I'd seldom witnessed Erik's persuasive powers, and I wondered if it were possible to lead a person so far under hypnotic suggestion, they could remain zombified indefinitely. The idea made me shudder.
Mademoiselle Caruso, who could she be and what had she been doing in Erik's music room? The girl didn't strike me as musically inclined. Was she a spy or looking for valuables? Whatever the motive, I hoped Erik could convince her that I wasn't a witch.
People always amazed me at how they jumped to erroneous conclusions when faced with information that conflicts with commonplace understanding.
Little Erik's head bobbled away from my breast, a sign that dinner was done, for a time. I steadied his fragile head with my free hand and drank in the sight of my new son. His father was the only other man who held the power to captivate me so. Erik and I created this beautiful, living miracle, I marveled. I'd heard other mothers speak of how enamored they were of their newborn children, of the inexplicable wonder and joy, but I never quite grasped the sentiment until now.
And to think, two years ago, I was an independent modern day career woman with no thoughts of motherhood, in fact, I cringed at the thought of giving up my "freedom" for the undertaking. Then the heavens threw me into a vortex of change and here I am, in a new life and amazingly enough, I am at ease in my role as wife and mother.
I laughed at myself, placed a clean cloth over my right shoulder and leaned the babe against my body, patting gently on his back until he burped.
"There's a good boy!" I said, happy with the small victory. He shaped his rosy mouth into a miniature pout and drifted off to dreamland. I soon joined him.
OOOOOooooOOOO
A knock at the door jolted me from my catnap.
"Madame, it is Nadir. I have a tray for you; may I enter?"
"Huh? For a short moment, I forgot why I was so tired, then reality emerged and I remembered I'd just had a baby, the one sleeping in my arms.
"Sure, you may enter, Nadir," I called to him, covering up my exposed breast and pulling the blankets so as not to further fluster the gentile Persian.
He entered with a tray heaped full of fruits, cheeses, pastries and tea, made his way to the bed and placed it beside me on the table.
"Wow, I didn't know such perks came with motherhood. I've got the former Daroga of Mazanderan waiting on me," I laughed softly.
"Anything for the woman who delivered Erik from his darkness," he answered.
"I can't take credit for choices he made on his own, Nadir. Good has always been a part of Erik's psychological and spiritual make-up, but no one, save you and Madame Giry, have bothered to look beyond his face to find the hidden gold in his heart. That is all I have done."
"Perhaps, but it is different with you, Gabrielle. He respects you, listens to you; trusts you—a tall order for a man like Erik. Previously, the only person afforded those courtesies was his own self. I dare say you possess a secret weapon, don't you?"
"Ha! My secret weapons are patience, experience and—well, let's just say the ability to respond positively to Erik's baser appetites," I said, smiling faintly and thinking of my virile husband. It still pained me to think of Erik wasting all those years as a solitary being—no one touching him, loving him; of Christine who, innocently or not, ignited the passions he fought so hard to contain, then rebuffed his advances when his face did not match her fantasy.
Small wonder Erik had a voracious sexual appetite.
"Whatever characteristic you possess, your unprecedented appearance in his life has urged him to be a better man.
"He's the man he was meant to be, Nadir."
"Yes," he nodded and focused his gaze on the sleeping babe in my arms, his eyes twinkled with delight.
"Isn't he a wonder, Nadir? Would you care to hold him?"
He looked surprised. "May I?"
"Of course, I trust you implicitly. Here," I said, holding little Erik out to him.
Nadir collected my son, and held him like a pro. Erik had made me aware of the man's misfortunes, first losing his wife, and later on his young son. He'd never had the parental opportunity to watch his boy grow up, marry and sire grandchildren for him to hold in the same manner that he now held my child. I grieved for Nadir's losses.
"Beautiful, he is. And no blemishes I take it?" he nearly whispered the question.
I knew "blemishes" was a polite word for deformities. It was the white elephant in the room, no one mentioned it but we all thought about it, especially Erik. His look of jubilant relief the very moment our son popped into the world will forever be imprinted on my mind.
"None—not that it would matter to me," I assured Nadir.
"It was not my intention to suggest you would care about such things. Please forgive me if I have offended you, Gabrielle." Nadir looked horrified that he'd made a terrible faux pas.
"No offense taken. I know you're protective of Erik and I'm glad for it."
"Yes, he has told me as much." The Persian smiled an odd little smile. Erik must have disclosed to his friend the tale of my protective outburst in the streets of London last year.
"A spirited and righteous woman is a good thing for our Erik," he said. I considered it praise.
I stuck a piece of cheese on an apple slice and munched it greedily while Nadir poured a cup of tea. I hadn't realized how ravenous I'd become.
"Tell me, what's going on with the Caruso girl? Has Erik hypnotized her yet?" I asked.
"When Erik entered the room, she was stirring but very disoriented—Erik claims that is the perfect state for subconscious suggestion. I sat in the corner like a quiet mouse and watched. First, he sang a soothing tune to her, the words I did not recognize, a 'language of tongues' Erik calls it. Once her eyes opened, it was evident the she wan not truly awake, but in a sort of dream state. He asked her name and if she felt well, then he began making suggestions."
"Suggestions, like what kind?"
"Let me think—he told her to relax, that she was safe and no harm would come to her and that she could trust him. The girl succumbed easily to his authority, a consequence of youth, I suppose."
Little Erik woke, thrashing his fists about whining and working his mouth in search of more food.
"What do you desire, little prince?" Nadir asked the child softly.
"Food, I think. Babies eat often since their bellies are so tiny. Here, I'll take him," I held out my arms, retrieving my son. "Are you hungry my sweet baby?" I cooed, and shielded my body with a blanket, withdrew my breast from beneath the covering and positioned the babe at my nipple, which he latched onto like the male that he was. Nadir saw none of this, and continued his recollection.
"I believe Erik did ask if she had been sent here to do us harm and if so, who had sent her."
"And?"
"She gave an empathetic 'no.' She was here because of a connection at the Lyric Opera house. A dancer had heard from a friend who once danced with the company that her mother's acquaintance, Monsieur DuPuis, was in need of a maid. That is how Madame Caruso came to work at DuPuis Manor."
"Must have been Madame Giry. Erik isn't chummy with anyone else who still bothers with the opera. Nothing suspect in that," I said. "Was she still insisting I am a witch?"
"Erik questioned her about the accusation, to which she replied, 'Madame is odd in her manner and her dress, she is far too open—most mysterious and she frightens me.' She cited her discovery of your 'magic window' as proof that you were some sort of supernatural entity."
"Sheesh, if you don't know what it is, then it must be bad. What a narrow-minded way to live." I shook my head, knowing it was this sort of thing that had made Erik's life a living hell.
"When Erik wanted to know what she thought he could be, she answered 'a warlock or wizard,' Nadir replied.
Amused, I snorted. "At least she didn't say 'demon.' While he does have certain magical powers, he's certainly not a warlock; if he were, I'd have been back in my own century two years ago."
Deftly, I reached for my tea cup and took a lengthy sip. The warmth had a relaxing effect on my overtaxed system. I drained the cup and held it out for Nadir to pour another.
"Erik wanted to know if she thought we had mistreated her. 'Not in the least,' she said. 'You and your wife are generous and have treated me with polite civility.' When asked why she was snooping about, the girl said in her home, they owned few beautiful possessions, save for her father's violin. He played it for the family every evening after supper and her mother would sing. He was very proud of the instrument—a gift from a man who once used his blacksmith services."
"Okey dokey, that doesn't explain rooting around in your employers possessions," I said frowning at the thought of her destroying my main connection to my "future past".
Nadir bobbed his head in agreement. "When her mother fell ill and died, the family's finances decreased considerably without her mother's salary from the opera, she was a singer you know--father was forced to sell his precious violin. Going into the music room, which she knew was forbidden, brought her closer to good memories, so she claimed."
My eyes widened. "Really? Poor kid, what did Erik do next?"
"He assured her that no one in the manor was of a supernatural nature and she was safe here as long as she was prudent and abided by his rules. She should fear no one. At this point Erik came to me and whispered that he was going to take her back a few days before the incident, tell her that nausea was the reason she felt poorly and had taken to her bed. But before he could administer the suggestion, I would have to leave; or else I too may fall under hypnotic suggestion. Erik also requested I find something for you to eat and drink. Naturally I complied with his wishes."
"Naturally," I smiled.
Nadir shrugged, "I've know Erik for decades. I have seen him manipulate others without my falling prey. I doubt I would now, but you, dear lady, required my services, so I left him with Mademoiselle Caruso."
"So that's all there is to it . . . the girl will return to normal and forget about her afternoon escapades?"
"That is the usual outcome. Erik did forbid entrance to the music room or your bedchamber unless Madame Roux accompanies her. And she is never to snoop through anyone's possessions lest she lose her job, or worse."
"He actually said 'or worse'? Geez, he can't help adding a dash of drama to the stew, can he," I snorted.
"Indeed, he cannot, Madame."
I reached out with my free hand and touched Nadir lightly on the arm. "Thank you for not giving up on Erik and for your help, all of it. I owe you one, Nadir."
"Owe me one what, Madame?" he asked, cocking his head slightly.
I giggled. "That's an expression—slang. It means I owe you one favor back."
"I see. Serving you is a pleasure, you owe me nothing."
"How about coming by for supper when I'm back in full working order? I'll make amaretto crème brulee," I offered, knowing he could not resist my cooking.
"A splendid suggestion, of which I shall take you up on."
A soft knocking at the door interrupted our conversation.
"Yes?" I called, curious as to who would bother knocking. At present, only five people occupied the manor.
"It is Marie. May I enter?" Her voice carried through the door's dense wooden panels.
"When did she become as stealthy as Erik?" I whispered to Nadir.
"The storm must have cloaked the sound of their arrival," he explained. I mouthed back an "ah yes" and bade Marie to enter.
She still wore her dark brown traveling suit; her tight gray coiffure sparkled with droplets of rain and when she caught sight of Nadir, she started. "Why, Monsieur Khan, highly irregular to see you . . . here. Where is Monsieur DuPuis?" She glanced around the room as though expecting Erik to emerge from the shadows.
"He'll be back shortly. Nadir brought me something to eat. You know how hungry birthing a child can make a woman," I said wearing a "cat that ate the canary" smile.
"Birthing? Do you mean the child has come early? One never can predict the exact time of these things, but . . . poor dear, alone with only your husband to assist you." Marie rushed to my bedside practically knocking Nadir to the floor.
"You look positively peaked, dear. Where is the infant?
I retrieved the sleeping babe from beneath the blanket and presented him proudly to the older woman.
"Oh, such a dear little thing! Infants, they are so small, so defenseless," Marie exclaimed, standing next to the bed and peering down at the sleeping Erik in my arms.
"He's beautiful isn't he, Marie?"
"Precious indeed, Gabrielle. What have you named him?"
"Erik Thomassen DuPuis," I replied.
"The name of kings; most fitting if he is strong-willed like his parents. Has he fed?"
"Twice, came out of the womb chomping his gums."
"Some do."
Marie hesitated as if wanting to say more and glanced apprehensively at Nadir.
So she wants to "girl-talk" I thought.
Nadir cleared his throat. "Gabrielle, is there is anything else you require?"
"No thank you, Nadir. If there is, Marie can get it for me."
"Then I shall take my leave and assist Erik with his project." He bowed and exited.
I turned my focus to Marie. "I do wish you'd been here, but it was an easy birth, as far as such things go. And Erik was so calm and methodical. You would have approved, Marie," I said in earnest, hoping to curtail any disapproval.
Her lips stretched into a thin, grim line as she observed me solemnly.
Uh, oh, I thought, here come the morality police.
A funny thing happened instead. Marie's eyes softened, lines crinkled at the corners of her eyes and mouth and she reached out to stroke my arm. Tears teetered on the rim of her eyes.
"Gabrielle, I am pleased that he was by your side. Erik is as dedicated a husband as I have ever known. As unorthodox as your practices may be, your collaborations bring forth a favorable outcome; for that alone, I must hold you both in high regard."
I blinked. "Why, Marie, thank you. Erik and I, you know, we survived childhoods that required we find alternative means of accomplishing goals. That's the truth behind our modus operandi."
"My Henri tells me that if one does not change, one can rot rather than grow, and to change, one must engage the mind's eye—try new ideas. He has a propensity for viewing life from different angles, where I am more, shall we say, particular?"
"Marie, you had a home and children to manage, keeping order was a necessity," I said, attempting to giver her ego a boost. I had the impression Henri may gave encouraged his wife to do some thinking on the issue of "the fairly odd DuPuis family".
Little Erik awoke, screwed up his face and yawned.
"My, would you look at him, he is beautiful; some babies take months before becoming handsome," Marie murmured fondly over the newborn.
"Knee caps with hair—that's what a good many of them resemble," I laughed. "Marie, I know you want to hold him; here, hold out your palms and rub some of this liquid on them," I requested, lifting the sanitizer from the bedside table where Erik had moved it and pumping a measure into her hands. "It's something new I brought over from America, it cleans your hands instantly."
Marie cast the gel an uncertain look and rubbed her palms together vigorously.
"Here you go," I said, placing the newborn in her experienced hands.
Having been taken from the familiarity of his mother's body, Erik cried, but Marie cradled him in her arms, gently swaying and cooing at him. In an instant, he quieted and nodded off to sleep once more.
"He appears healthy; he will need a diaper, Gabrielle, else this swaddling blanket will become a causality all too soon," she warned.
"Good idea. There are some beneath that table—second shelf. Bring me one if you don't mind and I'll take care of it." I indicated Erik's supply table by the foot of the bed. She walked with easy steps to the table, found the cotton squares and pins and changed him there on the table top for me."
"Here you are, mother, clean and fresh . . . for the moment anyway," Marie said, depositing the babe back into my arms.
"Madame Roux, you've returned to us. And I see you have met my son."
Marie flinched. My husband had slipped into the bedroom and now stood at her left elbow.
"Congratulations, Monsieur, your child is beautiful," Marie said, as she admired our son.
"Merci, Madame Roux. He is my joy."
"I regret that I was not present to aid you both."
"The birth was rater uneventful, really, I supervised and Gabrielle delivered," Erik addressed Marie with a blitheful air and then fixed his sight on his new family, looking down on us with an expression of adoration and pride.
It was the first time I'd know him not to wear his mask in Marie's presence.
- () -
Review for me if you would . . . Please!
-Your begging authoress, Leesa
The next chapter will deal with Mlle. Caruso and tie up some lose ends, eventually wrapping up with a wedding ceremony.