Page 61 of Angel's Flight

“You’re meant for more than this, though,” Erik said again without thinking, guilt seizing him at the regret in her voice.“More than to be caught in a constant flight from ghosts and horrors.”

“I don’t miss you being morbid and self-effacing.”Christine took his hands and clasped them to her heart.“I chose you, knowing it wouldn't be easy.We face this all together, and that is what I am meant for.”

“It is the greatest honor ever given a man – to be loved by you, my Christine,” Erik whispered as he twined his hand into her hair.“I can only hope to be worthy of it.Perhaps tonight, I will be.”

“What do you mean?”Christine asked, curiosity rising as he had hoped.“You’ve already taken me to see the city more than enough times.”

“Twice counts as more than enough?”

“For you.In London.”

Erik laughed at how well she knew him.It had been a strain on him to go out and about with her to the great museums and for a carriage ride in a park, his paranoia and pain always lurking at the back of his mind.For Christine, he had endured it as he had endured dinners with Howard and tea with Adèle.He wanted nothing more personally than to shut the curtains and spend a few days in their expensive room, but that was not what a good husband would do.

“I have something more intimate planned,” Erik said with a smile, hoping internally that this might bring relief to them both.

“This isn’t one of Letitia’s private parties, is it?I don’t know if I’m ready for that either.”Christine was blushing, which fascinated Erik.

“It’s not,” Erik said carefully, pulling Christine up into his lap and enjoying her warmth and weight.It was steadying.“But now I’m quite intrigued as to what she’s been saying that has you, of all people, blushing.”

“It was nothing!I’m sure she was joking about events where, um...”It was highly amusing to see the woman he had done many unspeakably carnal things with sputtering over something scandalous.

“Are they orgies?”

“No!”Christine yelped in a tone Erik would place somewhere near a high B flat.“They’re a sort of salon, I guess, and she mentioned there was a woman at one.Who men lined up to be attended by.With a whip.Or flog.Something like that.I didn’t ask for details.”Christine’s face was nearly crimson now as she hid it in the crook of Erik’s neck.

“Oh, I wish you had,” Erik chuckled.“That sounds delightful.”

“Don’t play with me!”Christine exclaimed, looking up at Erik with a gentle sort of annoyance.“It does not...Does it?”

Erik gave the slightest of shrugs and Christine’s eyes went beautifully wide.He had to fight the urge to think more on the subject, given his lover’s position so close to the organ that might respond to a fantasy of her wielding such punishment.

“Perhaps something to discuss later.We do have an appointment,” Erik said as he rose, though the admonition did nothing to dispel the suspicion in his wife’s face.

“What – when did you make an appointment for something?”

“I do go places without you.Though it’s generally miserable, I must admit,” Erik sighed as he searched the room for his mask, coat, and hat.“You may need a shawl: there’s a chill in the air.”

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

Erik smirked at her over his shoulder.“No.It would ruin the surprise.”

“Ever the showman,” Christine muttered and shook her head.

Soon enough, they were in a carriage with the curtains drawn: both for privacy and to keep up the suspense.Christine stared at him with a mix of consternation and amusement that he deeply enjoyed.

“What part sounded delightful?”Christine blurted out, increasing Erik’s good humor.

“Whatever do you mean?”he asked back with a simpering tone which earned him a delicious glare.

“You know what I mean.What part of watching a woman do that to men at a party was delightful to you?”

Erik took a long moment to stare at her.He was far more interested in her thoughts on the matter than quickly revealing his.“Not the watching part, which I don’t think should surprise you.”

“But you—”

“Here we are,” Erik exclaimed as the carriage jerked to a halt.Christine looked just about ready to murder him, which made her all the more beautiful.“Come along.We’re going around the back.”

“Where are we?”Christine demanded as she joined Erik on the street.

---