Chapter 29

Getting out of the bathtub, I hold out my hand to assist Marie. I retrieve a towel from the stand beside the sink and wrap it about Marie before retrieving one for myself. I then take Marie's hand and lead her back into the bedroom where I pull her into my arms once more.

"I have something special planned for this evening," I say after pressing a gentle kiss to her swollen lips.

"And what might that be?" she questions, her interest peaked.

"That is for me to know and you to find out when the time comes. It is a surprise that will be revealed to you when it is time. Until then I am going to return to my room and get dressed. I suggest you do the same. Then, I would like for you to join me in the study... unless you have changed your mind about spending the day in bed, that is," I say slyly.

"I do not wish to wear you out my dear husband," she says before placing a chaste kiss to my cheek.

"Then you will join me in the study?" I ask as I release my hold on her.

"Yes, I shall join you in a few minutes," she replies as she turns to the armoire and begins sifting through the garments hanging there.

"I shall be waiting," I say as I turn to leave the room.

Upon entering my room I go about the task of drying off and getting dressed while Pandora bats playfully at any cloth that dangles too close to her.

"I need to get you something to play with, Pandora, or I fear you will shred my clothing to pieces when you get a bit older," I say as I scoop the kitten up and carry her from the room.

The kitten meows in response and presses her head against my chest.

Going to the storage room I walk over to a stack of boxes. I tuck Pandora into the crook of my arm as I use my free hand to open the top box. Reaching in, I rummage through the contents for what I am searching for. After a moment, I feel something soft and fuzzy beneath my fingers. I pull it out of the box and am glad to see that it is still in good condition.

"Here you are," I say as I wave the stuffed mouse in front of Pandora as she swats at it playfully in an attempt to catch hold of it.

This had been Ayesha's favorite toy when she was a kitten. She had been my best friend, my only companion for most of the time I had spent in these lonely cellars. When she passed, I found it impossible to part with such things as this stuffed mouse as well as the other toys I had fashioned for her amusement. But now I feel that it is time for them to be passed down to the kitten in my arms who I know will never replace Ayesha in my heart but has found her own place in the hearts of Marie and myself nonetheless. I know that Ayesha would be pleased to know that my life has taken on a new, happier direction and would not mind the presence of Pandora or the role that she now plays in my new life.

I remove a few more toys from the box before proceeding to close the lid of the box. I then leave the storage room and make my way to the study to await Marie, provided she has not arrived ahead of me. As I pass Marie's room I hear her humming softly to herself. The sound is so sweet that I cannot help but pause to listen for a moment, captivated by the beauty of it. As I listen to the melody, a question forms in my mind that I must ask her when she joins me in the study. Deciding that it would be unwise to linger any longer for fear of being caught eavesdropping, I continue the short distance to the study to await her arrival.

Upon entering I close the door before placing Pandora on the floor with her new toys. I then go about the task of lighting the candles and building a fire in the hearth. During this time I contemplate how to broach the subject of Marie's musical abilities. The notes she was humming held a very clear tone that leads me to believe that she could have a wonderful singing voice that has yet to be revealed. Why had I not noticed it before this? I wonder as I hear footsteps nearing the door, drawing me from my thoughts.

"Hello," Marie says as she enters the room, closing the door behind her softly. "I haven't kept you waiting too long have I?"

"No, not at all, my dear," I say as I hold out my hand, beckoning her to join me near the organ.

She smiles as she walks towards me. She takes my offered hand and I lead her to stand beside the organ. I place a gentle kiss to her lips before reluctantly releasing her hand and taking a seat on the organ bench. She looks at me questioningly as I simply sit here smiling at her.

"I was wondering if you might sing for me, Marie," I say imploringly as I shift through some sheet music I have strewn about the top of the organ, looking for the perfect piece that will allow me to judge her vocal capabilities.

"Of course, if that is what you wish, Erik. But I must warn you, I have never had any formal training and am afraid that I will disappoint you," she says as she looks down, suddenly finding the floor to be of great interest.

I cannot bear the thought of her finding it necessary to avert her eyes in such a manner. It is as though she feels she is inadequate to sing in my presence. I quickly rise from my seat and move the short distance to stand in front of her. Placing a finger beneath her chin I gently raise her head so she is looking me in the eye.

She looks away, trying to avoid my gaze.

"Never feel that you must lower your eyes in my presence, Marie," I say softly when she refuses to make eye contact with me.

"I'm sorry, Erik," she says, finally looking me in the eye. "I am just afraid that I will not please you. You are used to the wonderful voices of those who sing in this opera house. Your own voice is truly angelic. My voice cannot possibly be worthy of your ears. It has been so long since I have raised my voice in song in the presence of another soul. My father forbad it. He did not approve of a woman singing. He felt that it was something that should be reserved for church and anything else was a sign of wantonness and refused to have his child fill her head with such fanciful thoughts that would lead to disgracing the family name. In his eyes I was already enough of a disgrace because I had not been born the son he had wanted to carry on the family name. To entertain such fanciful ideas was not acceptable and came with a severe punishment."

"Your father is not here to control your life any longer, my love," I say softly as I pull her to me. "As for the worthiness of your voice... I think that I should be the judge of that. But, let me assure you, even if your voice is untrained and has the quality of a toad I will still think it beautiful because it is your voice I am hearing," I add reassuringly.

"Are you certain?" she questions as she eases out of my embrace enough to study my face.

"Yes, I am quite certain. Now, if you please, I wish to hear you sing. Forget your father's condemning comments. Reach into your heart and sing for the man you love," I say as I return to the organ bench and, after locating the sheet music once more, hand her the song I would like her to try.

She looks the piece over a moment before asking, "Did you write this?"

"Yes, I did. Do you approve?" I question gently.

"It is beautiful, Erik," she says with a smile.

"I am glad that you think so. I wrote that a piece very long time ago," I say before placing my fingers on the keys, preparing to start the accompaniment. I know the song by heart and do not require the sheet music.

Marie takes a deep breath and signals me to begin.

"Sometimes I wonder about the wind,

Sometimes I wonder why life's been the way it's been,

Sometimes I wonder about you and me,

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to see the sea.

Sometimes I wonder what life would be like without you,

Sometimes I wonder why we say the things we do,

Sometimes I wonder why we never opened that door,

Sometimes I wonder just to wonder some more.

Sometimes I wonder just to wonder some more.

Sometimes I wonder just to wonder some more."

As the last note fades away I sigh softly. Her voice does need some work but there is a true beauty hidden just beneath the surface that I know I will be able to coax forth with little effort. Her vocal range is of a lower register than that of Christine's soprano but is not low enough to be called that of an alto. If she were to relax her vocal cords she would be afforded a much wider range than which she has just demonstrated.

"I warned you," she says sadly, mistaking my sigh and moment of silence as signs of displeasure.

"Marie, you misjudge me. I am not displeased with your singing. I truly enjoyed your voice. However, there is room for improvement. If you would allow me to give you a few lessons I think even you will find that you do possess a beautiful voice," I say gently, not wishing to upset her but at the same time wanting to be honest with her.

"You truly believe so?" she questions, unsure of herself.

"Yes," I answer simply as I rise from the bench and close the distance between us. "Would you like your first lesson?" I ask softly, my lips close to her ear, brushing her earlobe as I speak.

"Yes," she replies on a sigh as she wraps her arms around my neck and guides my lips to hers. We kiss briefly before she releases me and takes a step back.

"First, you must not slouch. Head held high, shoulders back," I say as I make the necessary adjustments to her posture.

She remains in this position as I return to the organ. I begin to play once again and am delighted to hear the difference in her voice already.

I stop playing half way through the song wishing to make a few corrections before she damages her voice. She stops singing a moment later.

"You are straining to hit the higher notes. This will not help improve your voice but instead harm it. Try to relax your vocal cords. Breathe deeply into your diaphragm, this will allow for longer notes and help your voice carry better," I say as I rise from the bench once more.

"Like this?" she asks as she takes a deep breath. I am please to see that her shoulders did not rise but instead her abdomen expanded with the breath.

"Yes, just like that," I say approvingly. "Do you think you can sing without the music?" I ask as I stand beside her, observing her posture.

"Yes, I believe so," she replies with a nervous smile.

"Good, then begin," I instruct as I keep a keen eye on her form.

She takes a deep breath as I have instructed her to do and, holding good form, begins to sing once more. These small changes have made a large improvement but she is still singing too quietly as though she is holding back.

Half way through the song I place my one hand on the small of her back and the other on her abdomen. I then apply pressure to her stomach. This action causes her voice to soar as I knew it could.

"That was beautiful, Marie," I say once the last notes have left her lips.

"Was that really me?" she asks in disbelief.

"Yes, it was, my little nightingale," I reply with a loving smile as I pull her to me in a warm embrace, kissing her softly. I release her after a moment and return to the organ before asking, "Do you think you can do that again without the aid of my hands?"

"I will try," she says with a shaky smile.

I begin playing the song once again and am pleased to hear her voice soar like it had moments before. She truly does learn quickly.

As the song continues I lift my voice into song as well. It melds beautifully with hers as we sing together for the first time.

She looks at me in awe as the last notes die away and she walks to stand before me.

Without a word I lift her up and place her onto my organ before capturing her lips in a hungry kiss. She wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist as I deepen the kiss.

My trousers are beginning to feel rather constricting as she moves against me. I ease away from her enough to fight with the fasteners on my pants, needing to free myself from their confining restraints. Finally succeeding, I run my hands up Marie's legs which are still wrapped about my waist. Pushing her skirts up as my hands travel farther up as well I am surprised to find that she is not wearing the customary undergarments that society calls for. However, I honestly do not mind this rather convenient lack of modesty on her part for it makes it rather easy for me to join us together in the urgent method we have just come together in.

We make love in an urgent, frantic manner and I cannot help but wonder if it will be like this every time we sing together for while our voices were joined together in song it was as though we were one, as we are now. We are both quick to find our release as we create the most beautiful music together. This time however, it is the music that only lovers can create.