Chapter 15

Erik's POV

I spent the next few days with Christian learning about the art of winemaking. He employed a winemaker who was well regarded in the industry. Like myself, the winemaker was a Frenchman but from Burgundy. He had never ventured to Paris, and I had little fear that he would associate me with the Phantom of the Opera. Christian encouraged me to wander through the grape vines without wearing either my mask or my wig. It was a warm early April week and we had plenty of sunshine. At first I found it disconcerting to do so, but I grew used to the freedom. I admit that I enjoyed the feel of the sun on my cheeks and head. It gave me a feeling of freedom that I had never enjoyed. He assured me that he kept the area clear of trespassers who might make me feel uncomfortable.

Meg, Nadir and Antoinette were expected shortly. We received a telegram that they had boarded the train in Hamburg and were making their way to Strassburg. I was pleased to reconnect with my friends. The month and a half apart felt longer. Much had passed since we had said goodbye in my lair below the Opera house. I was pleased that for the first time in my life I could entertain them in a place that I could call my home without fear that someone would send the gendarmes to find me. I hoped that they would find some peace here. I still felt terribly guilty about destroying the stage at the opera house and disrupting both Giry's lives but I heard that the Opera house in Strassburg would indeed welcome them, although the director requested that he could meet me.

While I felt uncertain about entering an Opera House once more, I wanted to smooth the way for their employment. I decided to plead ignorance about how matters were conducted in a theatre to avoid any connection between the mysterious Baron and the Phantom of the Opera. My notes and demands were well known in Opera circles throughout France and we had not travelled so far that someone might not have found employment in Strassburg while the theatre in Paris was being repaired. I sensibly donated money to the Palais Garnier to repair the damage that I had inflicted upon the theatre on that night. I wanted everything to return to normal to avoid any uncomfortable reunions. I had received word from my agent in Paris that the repairs were progressing nicely.

I rode Caesar the short distance to the city and met the manager. He was a nice young man and very respectful. He thanked me for my patronage and promised to hire the Giry's should they prove to be as talented as I told him that they were. He had vaguely heard of them and told me that he was always in need of a good dancer like Meg. Antoinette would be more problematic, he already had a decent ballet director, but he was impressed by her credentials. It was amazing what a title could do to engender respect. He barely glanced at my mask which surprised me. In Paris I would have received a more suspicious look. On my way back to the Schloss, I found a carriage stranded on the side of the road with a broken wheel. The sun was already starting to fade and I wondered whether there was someone inside. I decided to dismount to investigate what had happened. I generally found that a masked man brought little comfort to anyone, but rather engendered fear. Since I was now considered to be a nobleman, I felt that it was my gentlemanly duty to ascertain whether the occupant of the carriage needed help. I hoped that it was empty. It had some sort of coat of arms painted on the door which I of course did not recognize being unfamiliar with the gentry of the area myself. I wished that I had accepted Christian's offer to go with me into town earlier in the day, but I had believed it unnecessary. I was enjoying my cousin's company, and amiability. It was a pleasant relief from the usual fear and hostility that I was accustomed to, but his good humor at times did test my patience. I simply was not used to having to constantly deal with such behavior and needed some time to myself. The short ride into Strassburg was an excellent escape. I approached the stricken carriage cautiously; I did not want to be mistaken for a highwayman.

"Hallo, ist da jemand?" I questioned in German then repeated the inquiry in the Alsatian dialect. I heard no response. I repeated in French "Hello is anyone there?" I approached cautiously. I was wondering whether to turn back perhaps it was a ploy to lure me, but I was more than capable of defending myself, so I continued a little bit closer.

"Stay back; I have a pistol, monsieur. I know how to shoot it." I heard what seemed like a fearful lilt to a woman's voice addressing me in French.

I slowed my pace "I assure you Madame, I mean you no harm. I mean only to assist you."

"Then why do you hide your face behind a mask monsieur?" she questioned imperiously.

"To spare your eyes from the horror of my face Madame, I am afraid that I am a profoundly hideous man." I replied truthfully. I raised both of my hands to show her that I was weaponless. I did not have to tell her that my hands in and of themselves were weapons.

"I saw a curtain move and a face examine me "You do not appear hideous to me, at least in the part of you that I can see. Who am I speaking to?" she demanded.

"Baron Erik von Mulheim." I replied.

She opened the curtain wider and I could feel her eyes rake me "How could that be? Erik von Mulheim is dead." She stated with certainty. "I do see a resemblance." She admitted with seeming reluctance.

"You are referring to my grandfather, he is dead. I am very much alive." I countered patiently. I continued "Where is your driver? Do you need my assistance?"

She looked at me again piercingly as if deciding whether to trust me. She gave a sigh.

"You speak in a refined manner and your clothing and horse are of the highest quality." She observed me almost as if she were arguing with me. "Since you do resemble your grandfather I will have to trust you despite your mask. My driver went off to find help several hours ago, he has not returned. I am alone. You may come closer."

I gave her a gentlemanly bow "I promise you Madame that you are in safe hands with me. I have never harmed a woman despite my fearsome exterior. Who might I have the pleasure of addressing?" I added.

"The Comtesse de la Bois." She replied.

I knew that name, the woman that Christian had told me about.

"You have not adopted a German title?" I asked.

"Never, Monsieur le Baronne. In my mind Alsace is part of Le Belle France, and will one day be returned to her motherland." She told me arrogantly.

I raised an eyebrow but secretly agreed "A noble sentiment Madame La Comtesse, but at the moment we are in Germany but I am here to help you, not make a political argument. I am perplexed that your manservant would leave you out here in the middle of nowhere where you could be set upon by criminals or gypsies at any time. I promise you that they would not think twice about harming you."

"He did not leave me at first but when no one came by who could help us. I told him to leave. I could not go with him because I cannot walk very well. We were on our way to Strassburg to pick up my new ladies companion from the train station, she is coming from Paris." She told me.

"It appears that she will be detained there then." I told her. "I can wait with you until your man returns or if you can ride in my arms. We are but a short distance from my Chateau I could bring you there and send a man to both repair your wheel and find your man. I can also send someone to bring your new companion to your Chateau, or mine if you prefer. The choice is there. Regardless, I will not leave a lady such as you alone out here."

She beckoned to me "Come inside for a moment, I want to get a better look at you."

I opened the door and stepped inside. She examined me closely. "You are similar to your grandfather you know, you even look like him. I knew him very well." She told me. "He was a very courteous gentleman."

The Comtesse was a very handsome and regal woman even at her advanced age. I could see that she was still very sharp, even at her age. She had short gray hair and piercing, but beautiful blue eyes. It seemed for a moment as if she could see everything. As if she could look into my soul.

I told her "I wouldn't know Madame la Comtesse. I never met him."

She gave me a tepid smile "Your eyes are the same as his." She mused "I remember them as if it were yesterday since I last saw him, not ten years."

I replied gently "Yes, I know that you and he were once close."

She looked almost distant "We were more than close Monsieur le Baron, we were in love but I loved his brother as well. I couldn't choose between them." She reminisced. "I was too confused to know my own heart; your grandfather and his brother fought terribly, they almost killed each other over me. I chose to marry my late husband, your grandfather's best friend the Comte de la Bois instead. After that they were all enemies."

Her story gave my heart a strong lurch of pain. Her story was painfully close to my own recent past but of course Christine never loved me only her fop. The old woman observed my quick glance of pain and misinterpreted its cause.

"It is alright Monsieur le Baron; it was a long time ago. Your father found a second love that he loved as well as he once loved me, your grandmother. She told me. "Who was your father the older boy or the younger?"

"My father was Charles." I told her. "He was the younger one."

She looked at me and speculated "Ah the artistic one. He became a mason I believe, married beneath him as I recall. Erik cut him off despite Marjorie's wishes."

"You are correct, Madame la Comtesse." I replied.

"You may call me Auguste . Since I am intimately acquainted with your family it is only right that I give you the privilege to do so." She added with a smile.

"You may call me Erik." I replied.

"Very well Erik. You are very tall and look to be muscular, if you can carry me to your horse and lift me into your saddle, I will ride with you to your Chateau as you suggest. The hour is growing late and I would not want us both to be stuck out here in the dark." She commanded imperiously.

I could sense that she was a woman who was used to getting her own way but had no trouble obeying her. I pitied the poor girl who would be her companion. This woman was no one to trifle with. I realized that I would have to play host to her as I knew that her Chateau was some distance away, at least a three hour ride in a coach. It was a most inconvenient time to entertain a houseguest but I could see little choice in the matter. I lifted her up onto Caesar and then climbed up as well taking her frail old body into my arms.

I reluctantly told her "I will send someone to repair the coach just as soon as we arrive at my Chateau since it is late you are welcome to spend the night there. I am sure that my cousin will be happy to have someone else to speak to at the dinner table. I will send a servant to transport your companion to your chateau or to mine. She must be wondering what became of you." I added.

"I will not have two of us trespass on your kindness Erik, if your servant would be so good as to escort her to my Chateau, I will meet her tomorrow. I will send a note with your servant detailing what instructions to give her." She told me half -heartedly. I could see that she would have little trouble doing so. I was starting to regret my decision to be the woman's savior. Perhaps a noble title did something to my head, made me act like the fop and rescue damsels in distress. Too bad my 'damsel' probably was on good terms with Cleopatra. But I guess that it hardly mattered since even if she were fifty years younger she would still be repulsed by me, I reminded myself sadly. Of course I did what she expected and insisted that she stay with me.

"Nonsense it is my understanding that your Chateau is some distance from town, your new companion may stay at my Chateau as well. I will not however be able to see either one of you in the morning as I have a train to meet tomorrow."

The Comtesse shrugged "It is of no consequence. She is simply a paid companion and will understand that you will be indisposed to meet her. I am sure that like me she will be grateful that you will take care of her at such a late hour."

"I hope that she does not come to harm waiting for you. Train stations are seldom in the best areas of town." He told her.

"I told her that, given the distance to Strasbourg from my Chateau that she might have to wait for me. I instructed that she wait at an inn across from the station. The owner is a former servant of mine and will take care of her." Auguste told me.

I replied "I will send someone immediately to fetch her. I would not want to risk harm coming to the young woman. Inns are full of very disreputable men."

Auguste smiled at me "Your grandfather would be most proud of you. I knew from the moment that I heard you speak that you were a gentleman Erik. Are you married?"

I replied honestly pointing to my mask "Sadly no, this face has denied me the pleasures of love. I loved a girl with all my heart but she was unable to look beyond my physical shortcomings. I tried to get her to love me but she preferred a handsome boy to my hideous face." I looked away. "I have decided to eschew love for good." Once again I was reminded of Christine. If I lived for another fifty years would the pain ever pass?

She gave me a sympathetic glance "Bah, you shouldn't speak like that young man. Perhaps your young lady did not deserve your love. I can tell that you are a good man and would make a kind and loving husband."

I laughed bitterly "Then you are clearly blind. I am far from a good man. I have done many things that I am far from proud of. Horrible acts that I can never be free of."

She looked at me and told me "Yes, I can see the sadness that lies just beneath the surface. I am an old lady and I have seen and met all sorts of men in my many years of living. The one constant has been that a person's eyes never lie."

I looked at her and wondered what sort of life that she had lived. By her own standards I could see that her eyes contained many veiled secrets. I could see that she was very intelligent and would make a most indomitable adversary. Fortunately I saw no reason to believe that I would ever cross her in any way. She lived far enough away to stay out of my affairs and there was little that I could want from a sly old fox of a woman. She could not know all of the horrible things that I had done in my life. If she knew, she most certainly would have fired that pistol of hers the minute that she saw me.