Chapter 13

Nicole slipped out of her dress and quickly changed into her night clothes. She looked into the hall, not a sound could be heard. She took that as a good sign.

If Mamma knew I was gone, Anne would be up waiting for me to warn me.

Nicole looked outside, the sun was just rising. She crawled into bed and instantly fell asleep. Her rest did not last very long as she woke to Anne gently shaking her awake.

"Nicole wake up! Mamma will wonder why you have slept this long!"

Nicole sat up groggily, "Why what time is it?"

"Almost noon, she is getting very impatient!"

Nicole nodded, got up, and went to her vanity to her water bowl. She splashed ice cold water into her eyes. She screamed as the frigid ice water hit her skin.

"Anne!"

She turned to see Anne doubled over in laughter.

"I figured you would want to wake up fast!"

"Oh, you are going to get it!" smiled Nicole as she splashed water onto Anne. Anne went screaming out of the room, leaving Nicole alone.

"This isn't over, Anne!" Nicole yelled.

Then she heard her mother's reproaching voice. "Nicole! Get out here this instant!"

Nicole rolled her eyes, grabbed her robe and put it on. She entered the kitchen to see Jacques, once again, waiting for her. She blushed a deep red and quickly closed the front of her robe.

"Mamma! I am not decent!" she looked over at Anne who was trying, not very successfully so stifle her laughter.

Jacques, also blushing averted his gaze to the window.

Her mother turned to look at her and said, "Well how was I supposed to know that? You should have been awake already and dressed. It doesn't matter now. Go get dressed, for Jacques is taking you out for luncheon. Then he is going to take you on a tour of the city."

Nicole left the kitchen and walked to her room. Anne followed close behind, suppressing giggles. Once they both were in the room, Anne squealed with delight.

"I am sorry! I should have told you he was out there, but I couldn't resist!"

She collapsed onto Nicole's bed in a fit of laughter. Nicole wanted to be angry, but she too started laughing.

"Jacques never thought he would ever see that much of you! His face turned even redder then yours!" laughed Anne.

Nicole went silent, thinking.

Anne noticed and asked, "What's wrong? You're not mad, are you?"

Anne reached out for her sister's arm and pulled her down to sit next to her on the bed.

Nicole whispered, "He is a good man, he deserves someone that would love him."

Anne put her arm around Nicole's shoulders.

"Nicole," began Anne, "You don't love him, and you never will. Then you need to tell him. It's not fair, to either of you."

"Do you really think I should?" Nicole looked at Anne, with need.

She needed her sister's help, Anne's wise guidance. Anne always knew what to do, and Nicole trusted her with her life.

"If you did marry him, you are positive you would never grow to love him?"

Positive, for Erik has my heart, even if I will never have his.

"Positive," replied Nicole, "I would only respect him, but he needs more then respect. He needs love, all I can offer is respect."

Nicole slumped her shoulders, and almost started crying. Anne looked at her with concern.

"Whoever you love now, must have a strong hold over you."

Nicole looked up with surprise. Anne's eyes where shining mischievously, and her mouth was in a knowing grin.

"How did you know?"

"As I said yesterday, I am your sister. You have been acting so odd for the past week! And I finally figured it out yesterday. You're in love. With whom? I have no idea, but you will tell me when you feel the need."

Nicole smiled and sighed in relief.

"Just tell me one thing." said Anne.

"What is that?"

"Is he handsome?" Anne giggled at her joke, but didn't wait for an answer. She got up smiling, and left Nicole to get dressed.

Is he handsome? I have only ever seen half of his face.

Nicole thought on that as she dressed for the day. Once again she sprayed herself with perfume, hoping to hide the smell of Erik's lair.

I never really thought about his mask before. He wore it for a reason. Everyone that night at the opera screamed as Christine yanked it off his face. But it's not my business. And I doesn't matter if there is something wrong with it or not. I love him either way.

She was about to pull her hair back when she remembered what Erik had told her last night. She smiled and decided to leave it down. She ran a come through it, and looked in the mirror.

My hair looked beautiful to him? Well it's a good start.

Nicole left her room, and walked into the kitchen. She was surprised to see Belle sitting there.

"Belle! It's so good to see you!" said Nicole as she ran to hug her friend.

"I have been worried," said Belle, "I haven't seen you for a whole week! You know I can't go a day without fretting about something, and without you around to tell me to stop worrying what was I to do with myself!"

Nicole laughed, truly happy to see her friend.

"Well I am still here! Oh it's good to see you!"

Jacques smiled and said, "Belle, would you like to join us this afternoon? Since clearly I could not break this up."

Nicole looked at Jacques with a surprised, yet pleased look on her face.

"Could Anne come too?" she asked.

Jacques nodded, "I would love the company of three lovely young ladies!"

"Nicole," began her mother.

"Oh, Mamma don't worry about it!" said Nicole.

At this her mother's face grew red, but the explosion they all thought was coming didn't. Instead her mother stomped her foot, and rushed out of the kitchen. Nicole look at Anne and shrugged indifference.
She was happy she was going to spend the afternoon with her sister, and her best friend in the most fancy places in Paris.

As her sister went to get her cloak, Nicole walked over to Jacques and said, "Thank you."

He smiled and gave her a small kiss on the cheek. Nicole smiled back, but was shocked by the kiss.

He really cares for me to show such affection in front of others. I must tell him how I truly feel soon. I wouldn't want him to take my first kiss.

Nicole had never been kissed before in her life, all though Jacques had tried a few times. She always turned her head at the right moment or outright slapped him. She would always apologize to him, and in these few rare incidents she saw him for what he really was. After her hand would connect with his cheek she saw his eyes flash red briefly, and his jaw clench in anger. But he would compose himself the very next second, and act like the whole thing never even happened.
She only wanted one man to kiss her. She had often dreamed of Erik's lips on hers, Erik's strong arms around her, his voice whispering her name.

Nicole was snapped back to reality when Belle asked her, "Nicole are you all right? You look flushed."

Jacques instantly grew worried, "Yes, are you feeling well?"

Nicole blushed in embarrassment, "Yes! I am fine! Just…um..crowded in here. Yes, that's all. We should go outside, and get going!"

They all looked at her speculatively but gladly didn't question her further. Anne walked up to Nicole and linked her arm with hers.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Ready." said Nicole.