Chapter Twelve
Christine closed the cottage door as softly as she could, hoping not to wake Erik. Caramel trailed at her heels. The puppy had grown so much in the month since Erik found her. She was now twice her original size. If she felt like it, she could probably take on a raccoon. Christine tugged her cloak closer around her shoulders against the bitter January weather.
She was halfway to the chicken coop when she heard a growl to her right. She turned sharply to the direction the sound came from, holding her breath when she saw the red fox pup crouched not fifteen feet from her. The animal stared at her then raced forward. Caramel growled and latched onto the fox's body just as the animal bore his teeth and tried to bite Christine's leg. Caramel locked her jaws around the fox's waist. The animal cried, a sorrowful whine that tore at Christine's heart.
"Caramel. Drop him." She spoke sharply. Caramel reluctantly dropped the fox. Christine knelt by the pup and surveyed his skinny body. "Bad girl." She scolded the dog. "You poor thing. I'll take care of you." Taking off her cloak, she carefully picked him up. "Let's take you inside where it's warm and find something for you to eat." She looked down at Caramel. "you're going to stay out here until I say you can come back in." She brought the fox to the fireplace and lay him on the floor then picked up a length of rope.
She led the dog back outside and tied one end of the rope to her collar then the other end to a ring attached to the wall of a small animal shelter. "You're going to stay there until you've learned your lesson. If you hurt our new friend again, you'll stay out here all night." With that, she turned and marched back into the house.
The fox pup was still on his side in front of the fire where she had left him. He looked up at her when she sat next to him with a strip of fabric and a bowl of water. "I think I'll name you-" Christine thought a moment. "Jacques. That's it, a good strong name." The pup whined quietly as she cleaned the bloody bite marks on his side. "I have to turn you over Jacques." She carefully flipped him over and cleaned the rest of the marks. Jacques got to his feet slowly when she asked, standing quietly while she wrapped the fabric around his body, yelping when she knotted the fabric.
Christine was setting a bowl of broth in front of her patient when Erik walked into the room, running his hands over his face. "Christine, what are you doing up this early?"
"I was going to the chicken coop with Caramel when this baby fox crossed our path and Caramel hurt him." She gestured to Jacques. "And I felt sad so I'm going to take care of him and earn his trust so he can be our pet."
Erik looked down at the pup who was watching Christine with so much trust in his eyes. "Where is Caramel?"
"Outside, tied to the ring by her shelter. She was the one who hurt Jacques."
"You named him?"
"Yes."
"Christine, who is going to take care of Caramel and this fox when you can't?" He sat in the chair behind her, rubbing her shoulders. "And what will happen when the baby comes?"
"Please Erik. I couldn't leave him by himself when he was injured. I want to keep him. That way we can have two watchdogs when the baby arrives." She turned her head and stuck her bottom lip out.
"Oh please."
Erik looked at his wife. "Promise me this is the last pet you take on."
Christine stood and sat on Erik's lap, "I promise." She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Good. Now kiss me good morning." He slid his arms around her slightly expanded stomach, rubbing her back.
"If you keep holding me like that I won't stop at just a kiss."
"I'll take my chances." He pulled her head down and planted a warm kiss on her lips. He meant it to be a quick kiss but Christine twisted her torso so her chest pressed against him. He tried to pull away.
Christine had other ideas. She ran the tip of her tongue across the seam of his lips, pushing her tongue into his mouth when he sighed.
Erik came back to reality, put his hands on her shoulders and stopped her. "Christine, I don't think this is good for the baby."
"What do you mean?" She watched him. "We can't kiss?"
"No, we can kiss. But I don't think we should make love until the baby is born. Who knows what it could do to the baby."
"Right. We should wait until this little one is born and I'm fit to make love again." Christine stood. "I think Caramel has been outside long enough. I'll go bring her back inside." She turned away, but Erik still caught her sad look.
"Christine-" He reached for her arm to stop her. She shrugged his hand off and walked to the door. He watched her go, taking note of the way her shoulders slumped. What have I done? He asked himself. He stood and went to the bookshelf, pulling out a random book. He stopped when he heard a click. The bookshelf slid back into the wall. "That's strange. I don't remember this in the plans."
He pushed on the bookshelf and it creaked open like a door, revealing a set of stairs. Erik pulled out one of the oil lamps and lit it. He took the stairs down to a long tunnel, leaving the bookshelf open a crack so Christine would know where he was. He hoped she wouldn't follow him into the dark tunnel. As he passed the mounted candles on the walls, he stopped to light them. The tunnel stretched on in front of Erik, stopping when it reached an underground river. A boat was tied to the stone with a guiding stick resting inside.
He set the lamp on the hook in the front of the boat, untied the boat, and picked up the stick. Pushing off from the dock, Erik guided the boat through the water, following the river. He passed under a gate and saw the river widen into an underground lake. Across from the gate, there was a stone ledge with an organ sitting proudly.
Erik nosed the boat to the stone steps and stepped out. The cavern was damp and dreary. But the organ called to him. He ran his hand across the keys then turned to explore the rest of the cavern's rooms. One room housed a large bed with the top of a swan carved into the headboard and the legs and feet carved into the foot board. The room next to it held a fireplace and potbelly stove. Dried meats hung from the ceiling. Barrels held dried vegetables and fruits while small boxes stored jars of herbs and spices.
He turned and went to the organ, sat on the bench, and rested his fingers on the keys. The song Christine had sung at the lake returned to his head, and he began to play the piece, having heard it played many times in the past. Erik soon lost himself in the music, forgetting the rest of the world.
Christine led Caramel back into the cottage, where she fed her and Jacques. She looked around the room for her husband, but he didn't seem to be there. She checked the bedroom and the living area. He was gone. She pulled out her extra cloak and went to the front door, thinking he had gone outside.
She walked around the house three times before going to the paddock to see if Diablo was still there. He was. But Erik was gone. Have I pushed him too far? She asked herself. Maybe she shouldn't have left him alone in the cottage. She had been gone long enough for him to leave. Frantic, she rushed back inside and to the wardrobe in the bedroom. His clothes were still hanging next to hers. So where was he? Christine sat in the chair in front of the fire, covering her face with her hands as tears flowed down her cheeks. She had pushed him away. Now he didn't want anything to do with her. She played multiple scenarios in her mind. Finally, she decided that she would take the road back to the castle and see if he was there.
Her mind made up, she went out to the paddock and picked up Ginger's saddle and bridle. The horse stood patiently while Christine prepared her for the ride. Christine climbed onto Ginger's back and snapped the reins. She urged Ginger into a canter. She had to find Erik.
Erik closed the bookshelf and looked around. Where's Christine? He asked himself. Caramel and Jacques were sleeping in front of the fire. Poking his head into the bedroom, he surveyed the room. Maybe she was outside. Erik pulled on his cloak and went outside. Diablo whinnied from the paddock. Ginger was gone. No no no. Christine had left.
Erik thought for a minute. She went back to the castle. He saddled Diablo as fast as he could. "Come on boy. We have to catch them." Erik kicked Diablo's sides and snapped the reins, pushing him into a full out run.
Surveying the woods as he passed, Erik watched as trees gave way to an empty field. He heard a muffled cry and turned in that direction. It was Christine, with Ginger nuzzling her back. "Christine?" Erik slid off Diablo's back and walked up behind his wife. "What's wrong?"
Christine turned her head to look at him. "I thought you'd left me."
"Never my love." Erik knelt in the snow before his wife, tipping her chin up. "I love you. And I'll never leave you." He took her hand and kissed her palm.
She brushed the tears from her face. "I love you too." Christine wrapped her arms around Erik's neck. "I'm sorry for running."
Erik pulled her to her feet, planting a kiss on her forehead. He turned when he heard hoof beats approaching.
"My King." The rider pulled his horse to a stop and leaned down to give Erik a piece of paper. "Your parents sent me to give you this message. And they request your presence back at the castle immediately."
Erik took the note and unfolded it. After reading the words on the page, he looked at Christine then to the rider. "We will leave at once."
The rider nodded, then turned his horse and rode off the way he had come.
"Come Christine. We need to get our pets from the cottage." He led Christine to Ginger and helped her into her saddle before climbing up onto Diablo's back. Kicking Diablo in the sides, he urged him into a canter. Ginger followed close behind.
Walking through the door, Erik picked up Caramel and Christine took Jacques. She wrapped the fox in her extra cloak and went back outside. Erik opened his saddle bag and deposited Caramel in it, then helped Christine get Jacques into her own saddle bag. Once the pets were secure, Erik once again helped his wife onto her horse before mounting his own. They kicked their horses into a dead run and headed for the castle.
"Open the gate." Erik yelled to the guards as they approached, slowing Diablo into a walk.
The horses' hooves clattered against the stone of the courtyard. Cedric and Alice stood on the steps waiting for them. Erik pulled Diablo to a halt, dismounted and pulled Caramel from his bag. A stable-boy came forward and helped Christine from Ginger's back. Christine took Jacques from her saddle bag and held him close.
"Is that a fox?" Alice asked when she saw the pup's little head.
"Yes Mother. Christine took him in when he was injured by Caramel." Erik set Caramel down and walked over to his wife. "She is quite the nurse."
"She is." Cedric agreed.
"So, what news is there?" Christine asked as she held her charge close.
Alice looked at her husband then back at Erik and Christine. "Why don't we talk in your father's office." She led them inside to the office and closed the door.
"Barton has been captured and will be hanged tomorrow." Cedric announced as he sat behind his desk.
"And what about Giselle?" Christine asked.
"She will be released." Alice spoke from her place by the window.
"What." Erik nearly shouted. "Father. You can't be serious. She attacked Christine."
Cedric held up his hand. "She will be released and sent to Denmark. She will be put on a ship and will never be allowed back in this country."
"Good." Erik heaved a sigh of relief.
Christine laid her hand on his arm. "It will be okay my love. She will never come near us again."
Cedric stood. "It's late. Perhaps we should have a late dinner and then go to bed. Barton's hanging is tomorrow. And we are all required to be there."
Erik shook his father's hand. "We will." To Christine he said, "My dear. Shall we go have dinner?"
"Yes my love. We shall."
Cedric led the way to the dining room and called for the servants to bring their meal. Jacques and Caramel were both given a bowl of meat. Erik and Christine sat across from Erik's parents and ate in silence, his hand resting on top of hers.