Smoke and mirrors

[Erika Leroux]

Erika continues to sob for a while, delighting in her ward's concern and closeness. And then, at last, she begins to slow the sobs, to calm down.

Oui, ma petite cherie. This is what it feels like for me, what it feels like every time I do this for you. Every time.

Eventually she raises her head with great difficulty - the soft and ample comfort she finds while resting her head upon Christine's bosom holds far too great a charm for her - and dries her bloodied cheeks, though her demeanour is still somewhat shaken.

"Stay with me, please...I dare not be alone this night."

[Christine Daye]

Christine smiles, a look of childlike joy on her face.

"Oh, Maestra! You will stay in our rooms tonight? With me?"

She looks so happy she could cry.

"Really? You will not leave for your... other rooms? Oh! It has been too long! We shall... we shall... it will be just like the old days... Paris... Vienna... I have the latest issue of the Strand, I shall read to you.... oh! It will be lovely!"

She takes Erika's hand, tugs on it gently, almost dancing with excitement.

"Leave... leave this... we will get one of the hands to sort it out tomorrow... Oh Maestra! I am so glad!"

[Erika Leroux]

This time the expression that crosses Erika's face is completely genuine.

She follows Christine's lead meekly - how she had missed her butterfly exuberance! - letting her young ward take the lead for once, and simply delighting in the comforts of old. It is true, she thinks. Absence does make the heart grow fonder.

[Vivian Delaney]

A few days later. The mirror has long since been cleaned.

A moment when Erika is there alone; a familiar squeek on the glass.

Curse your lies and your faithless heart.

[Erika Leroux]

She stares at the words for several eternal seconds, her jaw twitching, before she picks up the nearest item - a heavy pot of power.

She launches it at the glass, furious. The powder flies everywhere, the mirror cracks from side to side.

"LIar I might be. Faithless never. My heart is ever hers."

And then she sinks to the floor, this time crying honest tears.