Her brother came to her and pulled her into his embrace. Christine pressed her face against his chest so he would not see the tears she tried so hard not to shed. Anthony smoothed her hair away from her face and brought her gaze to his. Christine knew he was not aware of it but if Christine did not have this man as a brother she had no idea what she would do. He was always there for her if she needed anything and she would never be able to thank him enough for that.
"How can he ever forgive me, Anthony?" she whispered. Anthony sighed. In all honesty he had no idea what to say to his sister. He could not even begin to guess what Erik was feeling as far as what Christine had done, and even Anthony admitted that it had been a foolish action.
"He loves you, Christine," was the only answer he could give. Christine shook her head. She knew he could not possibly love her now, not after everything that had happened. A soft groan from the bed caused both of their heads to turn as Erik slowly began to open his eyes. Christine turned to Anthony and he nodded, quietly slipping out of the room. Christine hesitantly got up and went to his bedside. His eyes opened fully and he turned to look at her. Christine did not like the fact that she felt like cowering in his presence from shame.
Erik stared at the woman standing before him silently, his eyes drinking in the sight of her. She was wearing a chemise with one of his robes on over it. Her hair was loose and tumbled down her back and shoulders, and she had a very haunted expression in her eyes as she looked at him. Erik's whole body was in pain and he wanted to go back to sleep, but he pushed all of those feelings aside as he lay there looking at his wife. What should he say to her? His first reaction was to rant and rave at her for the things that had happened because she did not know how to listen, but at the moment he really did not feel like ranting, he did not think his body could take it at the moment.
"H-how are y-you feeling?" Christine whispered. His eyes found hers again when he heard the near desperate tone in her voice. She looked as if she were trying with everything she had in her not to cry. Erik knew that now was probably not the best time to talk to her, because they both needed some time to think about what they wished to say.
"Could you ask Antoinette if she will change my bandages?" he asked softly. Christine looked at him in sorrow. He was not going to talk to her. She was sure he probably did not want her in the same room. She swallowed before nodding.
"Yes, Erik," she murmured, turning and going out of the room. She would show him that she could be a good wife, that she could change her impulsive ways and be the sort of wife any man would be proud of. She wanted him to be proud of her, and she was willing to do whatever it took to show him that she was sorry.
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Six days later...
Erik knew that his cold shoulder towards Christine was slowly breaking her down. It had been six days since he had first opened his eyes after his battle with Delauney and she had yet to say a coherent sentence to him. It was always yes Erik, no Erik. If he asked her to get something for him she did so without question, like a meek and timid mouse. He had not said a word about what had happened that night in the cottage and everyone knew not to mention it if Erik did not. He was now able to get up and walk about, if not for a very excessive amount of time, and he had begun making plans for their return to France. It had been far too long since they had been home.
"Are your things packed?" Erik asked.
"Yes, Erik," Christine whispered. Erik sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He had his mask back on but his cuts were still sensitive when they rubbed against the white porcelain, but Erik would not go another day without it. He had been thinking for several days how he should approach this whole affair with Christine and had come up with only one sort of decision.
"Christine?"
"Yes, Erik?" she whispered. Erik had to look away from her as he said his next sentence.
"I think it is best if you ride ahead with your brother and the rest of the household," he said. Christine looked at him in confusion.
"I will follow later," he murmured. Christine collapsed onto the bed when he walked out of the room, sobbing into her hands. She knew that what she had done was wrong, and every moment of every day she would have to deal with that, but she had never in her wildest nightmares believed that he would want to separate from her! Perhaps he was trying to tell her something. Perhaps he no longer wished to be with her and this was his polite way of saying so...oh, God, please do not let that be the case! Maybe all he needed was some time away from her, maybe then he would be able to be in the same room as her? It was a depressing thought but perhaps she could give him this. Sobbing, she grabbed her satchel and fled out of the room.