Chereads / Reigned in Freedom / Chapter 99 - Chapter 99

Chapter 99 - Chapter 99

Monsieur Khan! What a splendid surprise!" Christine stayed close to Erik as the cottage door opened and an older woman opened the door. She embraced Nadir and it gave Christine a chance to study her closely. Light blonde hair pulled away from her face showing strict features that were quite youthful despite her age. She wore a simple dark green dress that showed she was lean of frame and she held herself upright.

"Madam Giry, I am afraid I have come needing your help desperately," Nadir said. Madam Giry seemed to notice Christine and Erik for the first time and she was rather taken back by the sight of Erik's mask. She looked at Nadir and could see that he had a desperate look in his eyes. She took his arm.

"Come in, all of you, it is a rather chilly night," she said, ushering them inside. Christine instantly felt comfortable in her new surroundings. The small room they entered contained a small fire place with a blazing fire and several comfortable chairs. It had a nice, home feeling that Christine liked. She told them to sit down and get comfortable while she went into the kitchen to get some tea. Christine sat down in a chair and Erik stood behind her, always watching over her. Nadir seemed very comfortable and Christine wondered what Madam Giry and Nadir's relationship really was.

"I must say it is rather late for all of you to be traveling," the madam said as she came back into the room with some tea. All of them took a cup except for Erik and Madam Giry sat down.

"Now what is it I can do to help?" she wondered. Nadir slowly told her what they needed. She would continuously glance at Erik, not liking the dominating presence he seemed to put forth, even without talking or moving. She did not seem to want them to stay there until Nadir mentioned that Christine was pregnant and that she would be in danger if they could not stay there.

"I have two spare rooms, you are welcome to stay as long as you like. My room, and my daughter Meg's room are downstairs, I will show you to your rooms." They followed silently as she led them upstairs. Before Christine and Erik went in Christine took the woman's hands and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Thank you.

"Erik"

"Hmmm"

"Are you alright?" Christine whispered. Erik sighed, having known that she would realize something was wrong immediately. When they had come into the room she had immediately went to lie down, feeling very tired. Erik had unpacked their things silently and had not come to bed, like Christine had hoped. He was sitting by the window, very quiet and still, as if he was deep in thought. Christine wanted him to come and get some rest because she could only imagine how long it had been since he had relaxed even a little.

"I am fine, Christine," he lied. In truth he was far from fine. His thoughts were filled with the fact that he had failed Christine and their unborn child. He should have killed Michael when he had had the chance. He had been so close to snapping that mans neck. But then his mask had come off and he had panicked. He did not like being exposed, especially when he was in front of an enemy and he had left quickly, not even thinking to grab the mask. And because of his stupidity he was forcing Christine to run for her life. He had tried thinking about other things but what came into his mind next was not something he wanted to think about.

Raoul de Chagny.

Christine had been in his home for quite some time, and she had been distressed. He had no doubt in his mind that the boy would use that to his advantage to win Christine. She could have turned to him in her grief and sought comfort in his arms. The idea made his hands clench into fists. The idea of that man, any man touching her made him sick to his stomach. He knew he should not be thinking of this but it was far easier than thinking about Delauney and what he was going to do concerning him. Erik was interrupted from his thoughts when Christine climbed onto his lap, settling herself in his arms so she, too, could look out the window. His fists slowly unclenched so he could wrap his arms around her and she rested her head on his chest. She took his large hand into her two much smaller ones and looked at it in the pale moonlight.

"I did not go to Raoul for comfort, my love," she whispered. Erik's eyes found hers in surprise. How in Heaven's name had she known that he had been thinking about that?

"What?" he murmured, trying to feign ignorance. She smiled and kissed his fingers one by one.

"I could never to do that to you..." she whispered softly. Erik immediately felt guilty. Of course she could not do such a thing! She was carrying his baby for God's sake! What kind of woman did he think she was? His Christine would never even think about betraying him like that. He said nothing and Christine knew her feeling had been right. If she could, if even for a moment, believe that Erik would go to another woman for comfort, she knew he had to entertain the thought at least once about she and Raoul.

"I am sorry we have to run like this, Christine," he whispered after a moment. Christine could hear the genuine sorrow in his voice and she knew that he would never have them do this unless it was absolutely necessary.

"You know I would run anywhere as long as I was with you," she murmured. Erik smiled weakly and kissed her. Christine removed his mask and deepened the kiss. She knew that if certain events would not have happened they would have been in their own bed making love, not in some strangers cottage. Erik sat her up in his lap and removed her chemise, running his hand along her stomach, loving the way it was beginning to swell with life. Christine trailed kisses down his neck, unbuttoning his shirt and smoothing her hands over his bare chest.