Reverend Squid: Ah, yes. I felt like that would make an interesting little . . . impediment. Propriety and all . . . How will Erik deal with that?
Lady Cavalier: Now, now, I can't very well have heads exploding, can I?
The morning came - or was it afternoon? Christine had completely lost track of time by the time Erik called her for breakfast. She had slept only fitfully the last few nights after hastily scribbling in her journal yet again and she wasn't entirely sure she'd be up for another gruelling day of singing lessons. Erik was wonderful, but he was an extremely demanding taskmaster!
On the other hand, if he had the slightest idea that Christine was not feeling well, he might insist she remain in bed or near the fire while he waited on her hand and foot. She'd managed to look refreshed and presentable, but he noticed that she seemed less . . . ebullient than usual. He resolved to let her rest a bit more today and take her for a walk in the evening.
"Christine, dear?" he asked as she dug into her ham and cheese omelette.
"Yes, Erik?" she responded, gazing up at him with wide eyes, her fork poised midway between her plate and her lips.
"I was thinking . . . Would you care to accompany me on a walk this evening?"
She smiled at him. "Yes, I would like that." 'It will be so nice to get out in the fresh air again!'
Her smile! It affected Erik in a way he could not explain. So rarely had genuine smiles been cast his way that he never knew quite how to react to them. He simply nodded and told her to finish her breakfast. He wondered if his playing had woken her or disturbed her sleep in the night. He would have to be more careful about that for the remainder of her stay with him.
They only spent two hours lost in music that day before Erik declared that he had business to attend to and that Christine should rest while he was gone.
As he made his way up to the third cellar, he paused in the dimly lit corridor to consider the situation. How long might Christine be content to stay with him? She was a bit restless, but that could only be expected as her days were not filled with rehearsals now. She did not seem anxious to see other people, but he knew that she mostly kept to herself; she wasn't all that close to any of the other chorus girls.
Still, he knew that she would enjoy the walk they would take that evening. She needed sunlight, fresh air, open spaces, the hustle and noise of other people. She was so unlike him; the bright light of day made him feel a bit ill, somewhat heady. He would endure that for her if it made her smile at him.
But he could not think of that now. He had to go see about his monthly salary!
While Erik was gone - the first time she'd been alone in days - Christine busied herself with tidying up the kitchen. She found it oddly relaxing to do something so mundane; the very thought of that made her smile. She rather liked having someone to take care of. Oh, there was Maman Valerius, of course, but this felt comfortingly different.
Once she was satisfied with how clean the kitchen and dining area were, she went to the sitting room, picked a book from the shelf, and sat in front of the hearth.
She hadn't realised she'd fallen asleep until Erik was looming over her. "Erik," she murmured drowsily.
"I am glad to see you took my advice to rest, my dear," he replied, reaching a hand forward as though to brush an errant lock from her eyes, but pulled back at the last moment.
She reached up to grasp his hand and gasped. He was not wearing his gloves, and his hands were dreadfully cold! She pulled him down to sit beside her and began rubbing his hands between hers, attempting to bring some warmth to them. Erik could only gaze on her in wonder. She was touching him! And she was not recoiling in disgust at the contact!
"Erik? Are you all right?" she asked with great concern.
He hadn't even realised he'd been shaking and crying. "Yes, Christine. You don't know what it means to me for someone to hold my hands and not be repulsed by them," he choked out.
She brought her hand up to caress his face, but she was very careful not to disturb his mask. How she wished he would trust her enough to let her see what lay behind that dark fabric!