"Thank you for staying with me, Sienna," Christine said, meaning it. The Italian girl smiled and shook her head. She thought of Christine like a sister and she wanted to help her all she could during her pregnancy. She knew that Christine would have done the same thing for her if their situations had been reversed. They had arrived at Erik's estate the day before and Christine had gotten everyone settled and comfortable before settling herself in for the night. Sienna did not say anything, but when she had passed by the rooms Christine had once shared with Erik she had heard the young woman crying softly. The sound had been so full of pain Sienna had known that it might be a very long time before Christine came to terms with the fact that her husband was gone. When Anthony had found out that Christine was returning home he had insisted that he go with them, and Raoul had quickly followed, Christine had been foolish to believe she would be alone when she had such a wonderful family around her to support her. Sienna had made it her duty to keep Christine's mind occupied and she found as many things as she could to keep Christine busy.
"Christine?"
Christine looked up from her sewing to look at Sienna, who sat across from her reading a book. She smiled at the woman, thankful to her for doing everything she could to keep Christine's mind off of Erik.
"Yes?"
"Have you picked out a room for a nursery?" she wondered, praying that the mention of the baby would not make Christine quiet and sober. Christine smiled and shook her head. The baby was the only thing that was keeping her going and yet she had not thought about the nursery.
"Would you like to do that right now?" Sienna asked excitedly, realizing that this was something that could keep them busy for a rather long time. Christine hesitated for a moment, afraid that if she were to think too much about her upcoming baby she might begin to think about Erik far too much, and she would break down if she did that.
"That is a rather good idea," she said. Sienna beamed and stood up, grabbing Christine's hand and nearly dragging her out of the room.
A few hours later...
Christine frowned and looked around the room they had chosen. It was the closest to Christine's chambers but to Christine it was still too far away. Gustave had said that he would send for the cradle that Christine had had when she was a baby and Christine was looking forward to seeing it. Sienna had talked for the past two hours about everything imaginable.
"Christine?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think that Anthony could come to love me?" she wondered. Christine looked up in surprise to meet her friends gaze. About time they talked about this! Christine already knew how Anthony felt but she would not tell Sienna, the two of them needed to figure it out on their own.
"Why do you not ask him?" she wondered.
"I could not possibly do that!" Sienna replied quickly. Christine smiled and shrugged.
"Then I am sure you will never find out!" Christine said with a small laugh. Sienna frowned and remained quiet for the rest of the day.
Nadir looked up when Erik came in, soaked from the rain outside. The man had just disappeared and nearly given Nadir a heart attack. He may be well to get out of bed but the Persian did not want to take any chances. There was a rather triumphant look on the masked mans face and Nadir wondered what in the world he had been up to. He removed his cloak and said nothing to the other man.
"Some friends of mine have informed me that Christine and her family have left the Chagny manor," Nadir said, wanting to give Erik some good news. Gray green eyes met dark brown ones in a look of surprise.
"Where did they go?" he demanded, his eyes sparking at the mention of Christine.
"Back to your manor here in Rome," Nadir answered. The Persian could see the wheels working in Erik's mind and knew that could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on what he planned on doing. Of course Christine would go home, that was where she belonged, not with Chagny. But that also meant that none of the servants at the Chagny manor would know if he were to go to her! Erik grabbed his cloak and headed towards the door, however, Nadir grabbed his arm.
"Where are you going?"
"Where do you think?" Erik snapped. Nadir felt dread enter him.
"You cannot go to her, Erik," the Persian warned. Erik glared at him.
"She is in my home, no one will touch her," he said, confident. He could not stand to be apart from Christine any longer. His plan with Michael Delauney was working perfectly. But Nadir would not let go of his arm and the look of worry on his face did not diminish.
"Michael will know soon enough that they have left the de Chagny manor and he will find a way to have your home watched!" Nadir said, needing him to see reason for Christine's sake and the babies.
"I can assure you that she is safe there and my servants are not so easily had," Erik said, rather annoyed.
"And what makes you so sure?"
"They are afraid of what I would do to them!"