Chap 21

Elaine woke up slowly to the sounds of faint music. In her half-dream state, she lay in the bed listening; she knew the only one who would send the ethereal notes throughout the house would be Erik.

It felt so good to be close to this strange, complicated man. I wonder...

She smiled, thankful that she insisted to one of the servants yesterday that the piano be tuned as soon as possible. The piano tuner came that day, being indebted to Dr. Dyson for taking care of a sick family member, performing the task free of charge. It was a little present for Erik. Secretly, she hoped that he would play for many more hours in the parlor in the days and weeks to come.

As the gentle tones of music changed and ebbed she felt a warm connection with the man who had just held her in his arms, letting her cry, helping her purge her soul. The bad memories would come again, that she knew, but for now, she was safe. As she had cried against his chest, she had felt the turmoil within him; he was trying hard to hide it from her. She hoped that one day she would be able to help him in much the same way.

She sat up with a start. She suddenly remembered she had to be with her father today in the office, as part of a clinical assignment she had. She hurriedly changed and freshened up. Her father would probably understand, but she took her work seriously and did not like to seem as if she was ignoring her duties.

Angelique my dear, you are often the source of my distractions. I wonder how you are faring. You definitely had more to drink than I.

She made her way down the stairs quickly, intending to swing by the parlor to greet Erik but then stood motionless in the foyer , hearing two voices coming from the parlor; Erik's and Angelique's. A fleeting sensation of jealousy floated through her chest, much to her surprise.

That is completely unfounded, Elaine. Isn't it?

She walked up to the closed parlor door, listening with curiosity to the conversation within.

"But Erik, I really don't understand that particular phrase, it does not make sense to me. It is actually a little to harsh, don't you think?" said Angelique. She was not as adept in reading music as he; she read it line for line, and was not able to hear all the parts play together in her head as Erik did.

"You are just not hearing the progression of the chords, I think. I cannot play all the notes." said Erik, as he lifted his splinted hand up. She nodded with understanding.

"Very well." she said, "I will play one part." She roughly sat down next to him. He slid over on the bench, a little taken aback by how close she had become. Her close proximity felt uncomfortable to him now, but he proceeded.

"Here then, play this line" he pointed to the violin's part. She nodded.

The music continued, her piano playing lacking the fluidity of Erik's hand on the piano keys, but the point was made.

"Oh, I see. It changes from minor to major right after the vocals. Good lord, what a high pitch." She said, looking around for the next page.

This composition is genius! So dark and aggressive. I have definitely heard this kind of music before, but where?

"The violin plays a bridge that leads into the final note. Do you see now?"

"Yes, yes. Where is the next part?"

"That is all I have remembered thus far."

"Remembered? I thought you said you were writing this now." she questioned. To Erik's relief, she stood up, stepped away from him and started to gather the papers on the piano. She noticed his shoulders relaxing as she moved away.

"No, I am not composing this now; the music came too quickly, too completely for that. It is already written somewhere else. I was simply remembering. To be honest, I am not even absolutely sure this is my work." His brows knitted as he looked at the current sheet of music.

"Oh yes, the amnesia. Well I thank you for sharing it with me, as unfinished as it is. So Maestro, do we have a truce?" She said, maintaining her distance. She did not want to make him feel uncomfortable again.

"Truce, Diva," he said, with a smirk.

Out in the foyer, Elaine felt this would be the appropriate time to make her presence known. She opened the parlor door slowly.

They were both a little surprised to see her, but pleased. With Erik distracted, Angelique slipped a page of music off the piano and folded it up discretely, slipping it into a fold in her dress.

"Elaine! I hope my playing did not wake you up." he said, a small smile escaping his lips.

I wish I could stop myself from grinning every time I see her. How foolish I must seem. Again she finds me alone in a room with Angelique. Great, just great.

"I did hear it, but your music could never disturb me, Erik. It was a pleasant way to be eased from slumber. I had to get up anyway. Good afternoon, Angelique." She smiled, looking at her friend with the slightest question in her eye. Angelique turned around to look at the clock in the room.

"Oh my, is that the time! No wonder I nearly fainted, I really need to eat something and get ready to go back home." She walked to the door. Pausing for a second, she turned and curtsied to Erik. "Thank you again, for letting me listen to your music. Goodbye Maestro." Erik nodded. Angelique winked at Elaine as she walked out.

"I'll join you in a minute." Elaine said, the thought of food making her stomach growl. She walked over to the bench and sat next to Erik, facing away from the piano. She felt his pale green eyes on her, following her every move. His presence was so calming yet exciting. She wanted to be close against him again. But that moment had passed, and the rules of appropriate behavior applied once more.

"So, Erik, is everything alright now, between you and her?" She said gently.

"Yes, for now. And the same for you? Uh, I mean, you are well rested, right?" He said, looking down at his hands, awkwardness permeating his actions.

Why do I turn into a blubbering idiot around her?

"Yes, Erik. I know what you meant. Thanks again, for your ear." She gave him a small, shy smile. "I have to go now, but I will see you later, for dinner." She got up to leave, placing her hand gently on his shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze.

Her touch felt as if she had reached in and stroked his heart. He reached up to hold her hand a second too late, on purpose. His intense gaze followed her graceful exit from the parlor.

After she left, Erik closed the lid on the piano keyboard and rested his elbow on the lid. He rubbed his forehead which was now tense. He stared at his unsightly reflection in a mirror on the wall.

"There are so many damn mirrors in this place. Erik, what the hell are you doing?" he whispered to himself.

Falling, and falling hard, was the honest answer.

Angelique and Elaine initially sat wordlessly in the kitchen as they devoured some food. They were eying each other with caution. Angelique decided to talk first.

"I think we can consider the matter between Erik and I officially resolved. I apologized shamelessly, like never before to any man. It was downright embarrassing." Angelique said, rolling her eyes in feigned exasperation.

"Resolved from his perspective as well, I found out. You, groveling? That I would have loved to have seen." Giggled Elaine, that picture of Angelique seeming so foreign.

Trust me Elaine. You would not have wanted to be present for that particular exchange.

"It was all for you my dearest friend. Oh the things I do!" Angelique managed to extract a big smile from Elaine. They both laughed. Angelique sipped her tea with a crinkle on her forehead. "Quite an unsightly scar he has on his face, though, Elaine. A pity, the rest of him appears to be quite appealing."

"Angelique!" She said with a warning look.

"You know you needn't worry about me, my dear. I am just perusing the merchandise. No man flesh escapes my eyes. To be honest, his face would be enough to turn me away unless duty demanded it. As you well know, for that I have laid with the devil himself." She laughed smugly. Seduction was one of her most effective tools.

Elaine looked sadly at her friend. She would actually feel sorry for her, if she didn't know how much Angelique enjoyed her rather scandalous position in her father's politics and the matters of state. All positions.

"Actually I don't think it is a scar at all. Father says it is a birthmark of some sort. Funny enough, I hardly notice it anymore." Angelique laughed again. Elaine knitted her brows.

"I am not in the least bit surprised at that. You have always had a unique view on things, my dear friend."

"I'm not sure I follow you," said Elaine, becoming a little defensive. She did not know whether she was being praised or insulted. Angelique continued after she noticed Elaine stiffen.

"Elaine, you grew up seeing so many things. While other kids were home, safe in their neighborhoods playing with all the other pretty kids, you were in the leper colonies while your father was doing his research. All the deformities and contorted faces others would have considered disgusting you learned to see as shades of normal. Your playmates had no ears, missing fingers, and collapsed noses; faces that would frighten a normal child." Angelique put her hand on her friend's hand.

"I think because of that, you look past the outside appearance of people right into their soul, from the first moment you meet them. I admire that in you. It takes people years sometimes to get to that point with just a single person. You can and do appreciate physical beauty in another person, but that is secondary to you." Angelique moved her hand back and cast her eyes down. "I do not have that kind of inner strength or compassion in my heart. I am shallow in most respects, I admit it. It is a wonder you can even consider me a friend." Elaine was deeply touched by Angelique's words. Elaine moved over to her and placed an arm around her.

"Angelique, you are my closest friend. You are beautiful inside as well. But I have seen you change over the years. You have hardened yourself, and become so remote, emotionally."

"Necessity, my dear, shear necessity. I can never hide my true self from you, though Elaine. Speaking of necessity, duty calls. I have to find my way to Germany to meet Count Adolph Wilhelm-Karl. I hear he is quite handsome. What a treat for me! My father has chosen him to be the next Duke of Luxembourg, contingent on my assessment of course. He is a cousin of the current Duke. Frankly, your father was the first person that was considered, but we both know he would not have accepted the post."

"Oh dear, Montague is going to be furious about that. Does he know?" Elaine shuddered at the mere thought of the man.

"No, not yet. I do not look forward to that display. I will be long gone by the time he receives that note."

Nate appeared at the kitchen entrance, surprised at seeing the two ladies.

"Well, my dearest ladies, good morning. Or might I say good afternoon?" He had a charming smirk on his face. "Might I offer you a drink or two?"

That comment provoked squeals and a rain of napkins and half eaten pastries thrown his way. After they all settled down from the fits of laughter, Nate remembered what he had come in for, but Angelique spoke first.

"Nate, could you or one of your darling men give me a ride back to my place, it seems that my escort left in a huff yesterday. How about that cute little Jacques fellow?" She smiled, mischief in her eyes..

"You will never change, will you? But of course, someone will see you safely home, my dear. Please Angelique, I want my man back intact and in short order if you understand my meaning. I have a few things to do today. Do you know where Erik is?" he directed the question at Elaine, but both women answered.

"In the parlor." They said, in concert.

Nate walked over to the parlor, finding the door open, Erik fumbling through some sheets of staff paper, looking frustrated. He was startled at his arrival, but then noted Nate with relief.

"Good day, Erik. Would you like to go for that ride that I promised you?"

"What? Sure, that sounds fine, Nate. I just misplaced something. I don't know where it could have gone." Erik looked around in vain for the missing page of the manuscript

"Is there something bothering you, Erik?" Nate asked, feeling that Erik looked a bit frazzled. Erik then passed his hand up to his neck. He sighed heavily as he rubbed his head.

"Nate, actually, I am not in the mood for a ride. Please, I just need a quiet place. I need to be by myself for a while. All this is just so…do you understand?" Erik's head was spinning. Nate nodded, looking at the man.

"A bit overwhelmed, are we? Don't worry, Erik, I know a place." Nate knew the feeling well. Despite his jovial demeanor, Nate had his own issues, and needed time alone to deal with them on occasion. The manor house was just a little too busy for someone not used to it, much less someone recovering from a concussion.

Nate rode on horseback while Erik sat alone in the small open carriage. They rode up a hill, over to a bluff that looked down on the fields of Capellen. The place was quiet, windswept, and beautiful. Pulling the horse around, he rode up to Erik in the carriage. Erik gave him a nod of thanks.

"You think you can find your way back to the manor house all right?" Nate handed Erik some provisions.

"Yes, I have been keeping track of the path here." Erik took the food and water thankfully.

"I come here from time to time if I need to think. Stay here as long as you like. I have just fed and watered the horse. You will not be disturbed, I will see to that. Oh, and dinner will be around sunset." He tipped his hat and headed down the path, back to the manor house.

Erik reveled in the solitude. He relaxed his body, every muscle, and closed his eyes, listening to the music of the wind in the trees, the birds and the low murmur of the Eisch River in the distance. His mind finally relaxed.

In a small covered coach on the way back to Angelique's flat in Luxembourg City, a sleepy Angelique was looking over the sheet of paper she had absconded from Erik in the parlor. She nodded off to sleep for a minute, and then sat bolt upright gasping for air.

Oh my God! I have heard that music before! The night of the Paris opera house fire!