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A New Beginning - Revised	By : Lum Category: M through R > The Phantom of the Opera > Het Views: 2072 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do now own The Phantom of the Opera and I am not making any money from this work.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
Disclaimer: Please see the prologue
A New Beginning
Whispers, Betrayal, & Laughter

Madison
Madison smiled and waved to the young gypsy men who were working the field, harvesting the corn along with the few black farmhands that they employed. She turned back to her father who was escorting her on her walk around the premises, "I'm sorry father, what did you say?"
"I was asking if you had decided which young men suited your fancy. Have you found an agreeable one yet?" Madison looked at him and paused mid step. "No, father," she replied, "I have not."
"What about that young man, James, who lives in the orchard next to us? You and he were good friends when you were young and I am sure that he would be a most agreeable match." Madison looked horror stricken, "oh father, how can you say such a thing? James is my friend, not a potential suitor." He looked at her with a disapproving glance and scolded her "I am quite serious when I tell you that you must choose soon, but it seems like you are ignoring what I say. I will not tolerate disobedience any longer Madison." Madison stopped walking and placed her hand upon his arm, "father, I am not trying to disobey you. But I could not bring myself to look upon my childhood friend as a husband. Please understand."
But her father seemed not to hear her for he was deep in thought. "perhaps the problem is that there are too few young men near us..." he murmured. Madison squeezed his arm in an attempt to regain his attention but he was too focused on his innermost thoughts. She smiled sadly and kissed his cheek, "I am going inside now, do not stay outside too long without your hat," and began walking back to the house.
Along the way she thought of her dilemma. Her father seemed determined to marry her off to the first eligible bachelor who offered. It would be up to her to screen them carefully and chose a man who would be willing to let her lead her own life. While it was true that she did one day want a husband and a family she also did not want to be chained to a man who would attempt to control her every movement and change her core being. She was simply too passionate and modern to settle for a boring country life. ‘Marry James,’ she thought as she shook her head to clear it, ‘it is true that he is kind and gentle… but he is like a brother to me. And he is so content to work his father’s orchards. He thinks my stories of adventure are whimsy. James would never understand.’
She entered the house leaving the front door open for any breeze that might stir from the warm late spring’s day and climbed the grand staircase. The architect's door, in a guest’s room just two rooms down from her own bedchamber, was cracked partially open and she was able to catch a glimpse of the darkened room as she passed. Madison's curiosity stopped her and she inched forward to the doorframe and attempted to peer into the forbidden sanctuary of the strange, masked man. She jumped when a hand grabbed her shoulder from behind. She turned, and with a small amount of dread she laid eyes upon the very man that she had hoped to catch a glimpse of.
Her stomach fluttered and her cheeks burned with embarrassment as he looked at her questioningly. "Is there something that I can help you with, mademoiselle?" he asked condescendingly. "No, monsieur, I was just passing by to my chamber." She could tell by the way that he observed her that he had seem her failed attempt to spy on him. "I would be cautious, things did not end pleasantly for the last little girl who attempted to invade my privacy," he warned her. Madison rolled her shoulders back in response and stood taller to make herself appear stronger, but this also inadvertently thrusting forward her chest.
"I am not a child, and you will speak to me with a more respectful tone of voice," she demanded. He looked her figure over slowly taking her slight but curvy frame into view, his gaze lingering on her bosom just a moment too long before coming back to her face and replied, "no, I suppose you are not a child anymore." He was rewarded with the sudden hard blush that stained her cheeks darker than before. Her hazel eyes filled with golden fury as her spine straightened even more and she stood before him as a wrathful goddess. "Oh, how rude. Perhaps they do not teach proper manners in France.”
He grinned and placed a hand on the doorframe, blocking her escape. “Oh, but mademoiselle they teach many more important things than just manners. We French are, to phrase it simply, in touch with all aspects of the world around us. From the basest desires to the sweetest delight.” Erik did not think that her blush could darken any further yet it became a scarlet sweep across her cheeks.
“Monsieur, you will hold your tongue,” she said without much conviction. Madison turned as if to leave but his hand held fast to the doorframe as he blocked her exit. To push past him would require a great deal of intimate contact.
His response was a hearty chuckle, the dark sensuous sound washing over her and sending a jolt of response to places lower in her abdomen than the butterflies in her stomach. He leaned closer so that he whispered near her ear, " but I do not work for you," he replied. Upon seeing her startled response he removed his hand from the doorframe and pushed past her into his room.
Erik shut the door then leaned against it and closed his eyes. The muffled sound of her escape carried to his sensitive ears. He could hear her on the other side and he reveled in the angry swish of her skirts and the harsh steps of her booted feet as she stormed past his room and into her own. A sad smiled graced his lips as he thought of her and looked down at the faint beginnings of his erection. He adjusted his pants to make room and groaned in frustration. ‘What am I doing, teasing her… and myself?’ he thought. ‘No good will come of this. I must finish my work and then leave.’ And with that he returned to the sketches and the blueprints as he pushed away his desires and focused instead on measurements and keystones.
Hours passed and still Madison could not push the annoying architect out of her mind. She resolved to not dwell upon him and even attempted cross-stitching a handkerchief as a way of forgetting him. It didn't work. The more that she attempted to avoid thinking of him the more that she remembered the way his eyes had scanned her body, or the darkness of his rumbling laugh. His eyes had sparkled with amusement as he verbally sparred with her, and no matter how many things she tried such as reading, brushing her hair, or even the dreaded task of cross-stitching she could not stop thinking about him. She was angered that he took such satisfaction in teasing her, but most of all he piqued her interest. ‘He knows things about the world that I have only read. He has seen places that I will likely never visit,’ she thought forlornly.
Letting out a sigh of frustration she decided to call for Ummi and began getting ready for bed.
As Madison stepped into the hot, perfumed the bath the knots in her muscles began to relax away. After cleaning her hair and body she rubbed the built up tension from her shoulders and breathed in the orange blossom scented water. A hand trailed down to her breast and kneaded away the soreness that always came just before her cycles. The nipple puckered in response to the steamy heat and the rough handling. Madison leaned her head against the edge of the porcelain tub and reflected on sparkling Amber eyes and a face half hidden in a white leather mask.
Her other hand drifted down her flat stomach under the hot water, until it reached her soft thigh. She closed her eyes and imagined that his large, calloused hands had replaced hers and that he was whispering naughty things to her in that deep, sensuous voice of his. Her hand moved upwards until it landed on her womanhood, her fingers exploring the folds. The water washed away the proof of her arousal but she knew that she had slickened as her sex gorged with blood and throbbed almost painfully.
Madison's left hand rubbed her tender breast, rolling the nipple between her finger and pinching and soothing the hardened bud as her other hand invaded her folds and rubbed the sensitive nub. She imagined him as just a man, and not as the architect who would ruin her life. Madison whispered his name and imagined that he replied with soft words expressing forbidden desires as she rubbed herself and rolled the nub in circles while kneading her breast.
She moaned as she neared completion, throwing her head to the side and squeezing her eyes shut. Her hips bucked as the strange sensation of emptiness and a desire to be filled consumer her. She reached the plateau with a muffled moan as water splashed from the tub and onto the marble floor. She had to stifle a scream as she finally climaxed, her body sank back down into the tub, exhausted both mentally and physically. Finally the tension between her legs had been abated, but she knew that it would return the next time he whispered into her ear, or looked at her with a heated gaze.
Madison
The day started out peacefully enough, but it was not to end that way. Two weeks had passed since Madison's embarrassing encounter with Erik; two weeks that were filled with curious glances that stopped when the other noticed, accidental brushings that may not have been so accidental, and an unspoken burning desire that consumed the pair.
Madison was confused. A month ago if Ummi had asked her what she thought of the architect she would have replied that he was egotistical and rude and she wished him to leave. Now she wasn't sure what she would reply. When they sat together to create the blueprints he would on occasion lower his voice so that she was forced to lean closer to him. After the third time in two days she was convinced that he was doing it on purpose.
She was too distracted by the sultry sounds of his voice, which was more sensuous when he spoke softly. Just the sound of his voice or catching his quick glance was enough to make parts of her body come to attention. The constant ebb of hot and cold was driving her slowly mad. He consumed her thoughts.
Little did she know that he was also experiencing the same turmoil.
Erik
Madison and the hopes that she created within him had replaced all thoughts and hurts of Christine. He found himself resorting to simple tricks like throwing his voice to distract her and sneak a glance at her luscious, womanly frame, or to soften it when they sat side by side so that she leaned closer and he could smell her perfumed hair.
She awakened a need in him that he never thought he would feel again. It was the need for companionship and possibly for love.
The blueprints were almost finished now, all he needed to add were a few last details and then construction would begin. While he knew that the house would take months to gather the supplies and build it the thought still saddened him. He resigned himself to enjoy his remaining time.
Madison
Later that evening Madison was walking from the library where she had chosen a new book to read. It was a thick tome of ancient mythology and when she passed by her father's study she saw that the light was on. She stepped closer to the cracked door to say good night to her father and paused when she heard soft voices deep in conversation.
She wavered, not knowing if she should interrupt or leave quietly and was contemplating this when she recognized the voices; it was her father and the architect, Erik.
Madison crept closer to the door as her need to hear this conversation overpowered her need to respect her father's privacy.
"So it's done and we can move forward now?" Johnathan asked. She moved closer until she could see some of the room and observed Erik as he nodded and added "yes, I finished the designs this morning. It will take two, possibly three, months to complete depending on the weather and the number of men."
A feeling of dread settled in the bottom of Madison's stomach that only deepened as she listened to the rest of the conversation.
"I am glad that it will be finished before the worst of winter. I was beginning to grow worried that it would have to be delayed until next spring," her father said.
"As soon as I find enough competent workers and the needed materials we can begin to level the land and lay the foundation."
Madison could not hold herself still any longer as she turned from the door abruptly and stormed down the hall. The door that had been ajar creaked open and the brush of shoes on hardwood floors betrayed her presence. She hurried down the hall as she dashed the few hot tears that threatened to spill. Her life was changing irrevocably. In just a few short months her life would no longer be the same. The grief tore through her and left nothing but despair and dread.
Erik
"Oh dear," Jonathan said with a sigh, "I think I should go after her." He made to move to the door but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"I will need to show her the finished plans anyways. Let me go and speak with her. Perhaps seeing her vision come to life will bring her some small comfort,” Erik stated.
Johnathan let out a sigh and sat back in his chair, “she is just like her mother in some ways. Elizabeth died shortly after childbirth, you know. She would have known what to say to our daughter. I’m afraid that I’ve done the best that I could but I wonder if I’ve done too much for her. I gave into her every whim. How could I have denied her? She looks so much like my beloved wife. Ah well, go and see if the designs bring her even the smallest amount of joy.”
Erik regarded the old man quietly as he rolled up the blueprints and placed them in the cylindrical case. He left the study to the sounds of tinkling glass as Johnathan poured amber liquid from a crystal decanter.
It took Erik a while to find her, and even then he only managed it with the help of a maid. She was outside under the tall oak tree, staring off into the distance with her arms wrapped around her knees. He approached carefully and slowly, as he was wary of startling her.
Madison looked up at him with a look of defeat. She was leaning against the large tree, the forgotten book in her lap. "Please go away,” she said softly, “I would like to be alone.” When he did not turn and leave she looked at him with sad eyes and the last piece of wariness and fear melted from his heart. She did not look at him with hatred.
He approached her until he was at her side and he lowered himself onto the ground beside her. It was not close enough to touch but also not far away enough that she could forget his presence. He was silent and contemplative as he stared at the ground between them.
Without words he gave her a sign that he was there to listen if she felt the need to talk, but that he would not pry if she wanted to weep privately.
"My father is not a bad man, nor is he cruel," she said quietly. Erik raised his eyes to her face but stayed silent. She continued, "which makes this even worse because I know that he does it out of love. It is hard for him to raise a daughter on his own, especially when I act so ungrateful. But I can't help wishing that I did not need to hide behind a husband or a father in order to be successful in business. I have been balancing the books and keeping our records tidy since I was ten. I know more about this land than the distant cousin who will one day take it from me."
Madison looked at him with eyes that betrayed a certain wisdom and insight that he had not seen in her before. "I can balance an account, add and subtract large figures in my head, keep this plantation running, and so much more. So why do I need to hide behind a man? It is not fair."
Erik contemplated her question and answered it truthfully for anything less would have been perceived as condescending and therefore unwelcome, "because the world is not yet ready for young women such as you."
She turned her gaze back to the book in her lap, the last of her tears rolling down her cheeks. "No," she replied, "it is the men who are not ready; women have waited in the shadows for far too long."
"In that you are most likely correct," he stated, "but would marriage be so horrible an institution to enter?"
This remark caused her to pause and think a moment, "I want to see the world I’ve read so much about. I want to visit the ruins of ancient Greece, or see the lush rainforests of South America. They say that trees grow as tall as houses and cover the sky in leaves. How am I supposed to experience the world from a marriage bed and then a child bed in North Carolina?”
He looked at her curiously, "you do not want children of your own one day?" he asked.
Erik studied the curve of her face as she turned her head to watch the setting sun sink behind the horizon and said, "I killed my mother when I was born. And while my father did his best to raise me I do not think that he ever completely forgave me for taking her away. He tried very hard to raise me on his own. And Ummi truly is like a mother to me, but it is not the same. I do not think that I could ever do that to a child."
Dumfounded and shocked by her response a little voice whispered a question in the back of his mind. Had he finally found a kindred soul? It was true that Christine had lost her parents but that had never stopped her from dreaming of the perfect family. Madison, however, was consumed by guilt and fear. She yearned for a family just as she spurned it for happiness could be snatched away in an instant in this cold, unfeeling world.
He was unsure of himself at first but he reached a hand out and laid it on her shoulder and when she did not refuse his calming touch the last of Christine's hold on him broke away.
Madison
During the next few weeks of the initial building Erik continued to seek out her company. She would turn around and suddenly find him at the other end of the stable, or she would have settled into the cracked leather wingback chair in the library just to look up and see him walking through the doorway.
Her heart squeezed and her stomach flipped at these moments when she saw him watching her. His gaze slid to the unopened book in her lap. It was a slim, leather tome with the word "Candide" embossed in silver leaf on the cover. His eyes widened slightly as his gaze returned to her face.
"That is very heavy reading for a young woman," he said to Madison.
Her expression tightened in irritation, "do you think women incapable of understanding satire, monsieur?" she replied. She could see the look of shock and amusement flash across his face as he raised his hands as if to ward off blows. "On the contrary mademoiselle" he said, "I believe that women are just as capable scholastically as men. I was merely pointing out that most young ladies would not enjoy such a dark piece of fiction and philosophy."
Madison relaxed at this and allowed her hand to stroke the supple spine of the book as she studied him. He had not moved further into the room than the doorway and the light from the lamp cast shadows across his face and the mask.
"I can understand your shock, but I am not like most young women my age. I can see things for their true value rather than what society dictates," she said as her gaze flashed to the white leather mask that he was never seen without.
Erik
Erik saw this and was rooted into place from shock. Had she really just suggested what he thought she did? His hand rose nervously to his white linen shirt as he tried to smooth out the wrinkles. It was a habit of his to fidget with his clothing when he was nervous, and Madison's comment had suddenly made him very nervous. 'Don't be such a fool,' he thought to himself, 'you have faced drunken gypsies, angry eunuchs, and an insane sultana, but the thought of a suggestive comment from this slip of a girl is enough to send you into conniptions? Get a hold of yourself you old fool!'
Madison gave him a small smile and asked, "do you enjoy Voltaire's work?” The question brought Erik out of his inner monologue.
He replied, "I do enjoy some of his works, although 'Candide' is by far his best. His portrayal of the Middle East is most accurate and the underlying philosophy is sound."
Her eyebrows rose in wonder, "do you mean that you have been to the Middle East?" she asked in a breathy manner.
He nodded and moved further into the library. "I have traveled to several countries, and I spent many months in Persia. Does travel to Asia interest you?"
Madison's mouth hung open slightly before she returned to her senses and closed it. "I have always wanted to see some of the places and countries that I read about. Would you, if you do not mind of course, tell me about your adventures?"
And with that Erik sat in the chair beside her and began to tell her the more pleasant stories of Persia and the palace that he built. She listened, enraptured with the tale of his time spent designing buildings, of the crowded marketplace, and of the adventures of the spoiled royal cat. She laughed at the stories of mischievous fairies and listened attentively when he told her the tale of the thief who stole the princess’ heart.
Erik left out the gruesome details of the twisted Khanum, of the torture devices that he created, and of his narrow escape from the palace. He reveled in the way that her face was lit from within by excitement, and from the knowledge that it was because of him.
Madison
Weeks passed and the timid friendship between Erik and Madison blossomed. There were still furtive glances between them and stolen moments where one silently appraised the other quickly. But instead of the tension lessening between them their juxtaposition seemed to heighten it until it was nearly unbearable. Every evening after supper he told her stories from his travels. He described the people and the sights in such detail that if she closed her eyes she was sure that she would see them. His mesmerizing voice filled her thoughts and dreams and she felt the happiest that she had been in years.
In the time that passed quickly as the materials were gathered, the workers hired, and the foundation built, Madison slowly became aware of a longing and an ache that would not leave.
Madison understood a little of what was happening between them. A few stolen kisses when she was young and infatuated with the miller's son along with a few of the books in the library served as her education in the carnal matters of the world. But these feelings of intense desire paired with her anxiety of being found out seemed to make it only that much more delightful.
She saw him as an older and otherworldly man who could teach her things about the world that she could never learn by herself.
The question of the mask was still present in her mind but the months of seeing it had transformed it into just another part of him, like any other article of clothing. It was pushed down into her subconscious mind and forgotten.
It happened one evening when Erik was telling Madison about the sightseeing one could do in Paris that her father interrupted them.
"Ah, there you are Mr. Durmand," her father said to Erik, "I was hoping to have a word with you about the time line for the building phase."
Erik nodded and made to rise from the leather armchair but was waved back into his seat, "no need to move, I only wanted to make sure that the time line you gave me is still correct?" he asked.
She watched as Erik nodded his head in agreement, "yes, barring poor weather the construction should be finished by the end of October or the beginning of November." he replied.
Johnathan Swift smiled enthusiastically and turned his attention to his daughter, "wonderful, I was hoping that that would be the case. I was going to wait until tonight but I might as well tell you now. I have decided that once the house has been constructed and furnished that we should host a ball. We will invite some of the eligible young men from Raleigh and the neighboring towns and you may have your pick."
Madison's jaw dropped in surprise, "father, you can not be serious. That is not how courtship works!"
Her father merely smiled and cocked his head "and since when has my darling rebellious daughter been concerned with convention?" And on that note he turned and exited the library, leaving his dumbfounded daughter with the bemused architect.
Erik could not help himself, between the seriousness of her father and the surprised look on Madison's face he burst out laughing. Madison's surprise turned to mock anger as she threw the small book of poetry that she had been holding at the man beside her, who caught it swiftly.
"So you think that this is funny, the hot summer sun has finally driven my father mad and you are merely laughing!" But she couldn't keep her face straight and she joined his laughter. While his was genuine and deep, hers was laced with a hint of melancholy.
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A New Beginning - Revised