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A New Beginning	By : Lum Category: M through R > The Phantom of the Opera > Het Views: 5783 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Disclaimer: Please see the prologue.

A New Beginning

Chapter 7

Healing

Erik spent the next afternoon calmly surveying the Swift’s plantation house. It was unremarkable but well built, ideal for the hot summers. Large windows provided ventilation and illumination with thick white curtains that blocked some of the day’s heat.

The tall corinthian columns supported the roof while providing ample shade for a place to sit on the balcony during the cooler hours of the day. He peered upwards at the most interesting part of the building, a small cube of windows set in the direct middle of the roof. While not unheard of he hardly expected to find a solarium in an American household.

He re-entered through a servant’s side entrance, passing quickly through the halls as he further explored the house. It was a straight-forward and simple design resembling the man who owned it. Erik explored the rooms one by one, passing through the dining room to the library, through one salon and then another.

A maid polishing the staircase told him where to find Mr. Swift, “the master will be in his study at this hour of the day, sir,” and pointed him in the right direction.

He quieted his steps as he heard arguing voices from the crack in the study doorway.

“You simply cannot be serious father, would you really sell your only daughter off to the highest bidder? Am I just a slab of meat then, to be flung at the first buyer?”

“Madison, you know that I love you with all my heart and that I would never do anything to put you in harms way.”

“And yet you still insist that I give up my life, my freedom to some perfect stranger?” Her voice was strained in anger as she attempted to refrain from yelling.

“You are free to choose whichever lad you fancy, poppet. Surely you know that other fathers would not be so thoughtful.”

Erik caught a glimpse of her as she paced before the door. “After everything…” she paused to gather her thoughts and began anew, “after everything that has happened I cannot believe that you would still be selfish enough to make me do this.” Her voice wavered as she continued, “After everything you would be so cruel?”

A note of sadness seeped into her father’s voice as he answered, “Not cruel, not selfish. I want only the best for you. I cannot protect you forever, Madison, I will leave this world one day. It would be an ordeal for you to run a plantation by yourself. Women simply do no have the same privileges that men do. I have educated you as no other father would.”

“You had the finest tutors and governesses to teach you science, mathematics, history, and languages. It would not be enough, you will need a husband to help you. Surely you can see why I have done what I did?”

Madison wiped the dampness from her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt as her father rose from his chair to embrace her. She cried into his shirt as his strong arms embraced her, cried out years of frustration and hurt in one bout of healing and when she was done he stroked her hair and murmured words of comfort.

She pulled back from his hold to look him in the eye. “I will still make the architect’s time here is unbearable.”

Jonathan laughed at this as he rubbed circles in her arms, “I am sure you will, my sweet, of that I have little doubt. But somehow I think this fellow can take your abuse. I only hope he pushes back and gives you a taste of your own wicked medicine. Do you know how much money you have cost me thus far? He is the fourth I have had to hire, and you did not even meet the first three. Try not to run this one off, dearest.”

She laughed a little at this before he pulled her closer again trying to heal the hurt he had been unable to stop the five years earlier.

Erik backed away from the study door lest he be caught as the two exited. He would need to mull over this new information, replay the conversation again and again until he had extracted every meaning and nuance.

Author’s Note

Sorry again this took so long. After some soul-searching and writers block the spring of inspiration swelled up again. I know, not a lot of action, but trust me this is going to be an important chapter. The next chapter will have more action between Erik and Madison, I swear.
- 7
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- 9
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A New Beginning