The dirt road they were on appeared to be in the middle of no where with trees lining the road. The carriage behind them, which carried their belongings as well as Susannah and Douglas pulled to a stop as well and the two servants stuck their head out of the window to look and see what had happened. On the road in front of them was another carriage. The wheel had snapped and come off, leaving it quite immobile. A man was muttering curses at his driver who was apologizing profusely.
"Is there a problem?" Erik demanded. The well dressed gentleman turned to them in surprise, having not heard them approach. Christine was taken back by his amazing good looks. Black hair was slicked back from one of the most handsome faces Christine had ever laid eyes on in her life. Blue eyes the color of a summer sky. His clothing was of the finest quality and Christine found it hard to look away from him.
"Oh, Monsieur! Your arrival could not have been at a better time!" the man said. His eyes found Christine's and slowly swept the length of her body. Erik noticed and pushed Christine behind him. The man smirked and studied Erik for the first time, taking in the mask with some surprise.
"What happened?" Erik snapped, sounding more agitated then he intended. The man glanced at Christine again before answering.
"The wheel..." he said, gesturing to it as if it were obvious. Erik said nothing. Christine poked him in the back, which almost made him jump.
"We cannot leave him here, Erik, ask where he is going!" Christine whispered.
"Rome," the man answered. They both turned to him, realizing he had heard her. Erik did not like this man.
"I do not believe I caught your name," Erik said, quite rudely. The stranger held out his hand.
"Kenneth Rousseau, a pleasure," he said. Erik did not take his hand.
"Erik Desslar, and my wife, Christine," he said. The man took Christine's hand and kissed it.
"It is indeed a pleasure, Madam, your face brightens what had threatened to be a very gloomy day," he said. Christine smiled. What a gentleman!
"Would you care for a ride to Rome, Monsieur Rousseau? We cannot leave you out here," Christine said. Erik glared at her and Kenneth smirked again.
"You are too kind, Madam," he murmured.
Madam, Monsieur Rousseau is so handsome!" Susannah gasped as she sat brushing Christine's hair that night. They had stopped at an inn and she knew that her husband was glad to put some space between him and Kenneth. Erik had been so quiet in the carriage, not speaking two words to Rousseau. Kenneth had not seemed to mind because he had not stopped talking to Christine. Christine knew Erik did not like him and it showed in the possessive way he held her around the waist the entire ride.
"Indeed..." Christine murmured. He was quite the opposite of her husband. Charming and a gentleman, everything a woman would want in a man. But she did not feel that connection with him like she did Erik. Even when Erik was ranting and raving she found herself attracted to him, and she did not feel that when she was around Kenneth. Besides, she was a married woman now; she could not go about being attracted to men that were not her husband. And she was attracted to her husband; she just found it difficult to believe.
The door burst open and Erik came striding in, a scowl on his face. Christine hid her smile. Her husband was far too tense all the time.
"Susannah, get out, I want to go to bed," Erik snapped. Susannah nodded and gave a hasty bow before leaving the room. Christine sighed and finished brushing her hair as Erik removed his shirt and boots and climbed into the bed, giving a sigh. She wished she knew what was bothering him so much but he was just so stubborn sometimes! Once Christine was finished she blew out the candle and climbed into bed, facing away from Erik.
"Rousseau is no good...stay away from him."
Christine turned to face Erik with the suddenness of his statement. She could barely make out the white of his mask from the moonlight but there was an edge to his voice that she could not ignore.
"What?"
"Rousseau, I do not like the way he looks at you," he answered.
"I do not know what you're talking about," Christine said, surprised that he even cared how anyone looked at her.
"He strips you with his eyes, Christine. He shows no respect to the fact that you are my wife," Erik growled. Christine suddenly smiled, realizing what it was about his voice that was so familiar to her.
"You're jealous!" Christine gasped.
"I do not know what gave you that impression, Christine, but do not flatter yourself," he snapped. Christine began giggling. Imagine! The man who showed her hardly any emotion was jealous of another man!
"Shut up, Christine," Erik growled when her giggling increased. This only caused more laughter and she collapsed on her back, holding her stomach. It really felt nice to laugh after all of this time. Erik pushed himself up onto one arm as he looked down at his wife. He did not like the fact that she was laughing at him but he did not want to make her stop, he liked the sound.
"Shut up," he repeated.