The Phantom of Valletta
Page 26
Erik pleaded with her to come away from the ledge. She had to believe him. “Come here, please,” he cried. The thought of losing Désirée tore his soul apart. “There is no life for me without you.”
Erik froze as he struggled for air. He feared losing the love he had finally found in life, and briefly wondered if now everything he had gained would swiftly and cruelly be taken from him. His eyes begged her to listen to his plea.
Désirée looked at him with suspicion, and he knew then what needed to be done.
“Marry me, Désirée,” he beseeched her, falling to one knee. “I want you to be my wife.” He held his hand out toward her and waited for her to respond.
Désirée studied him curiously. The anger diminished in her eyes. Finally, she put one foot in front of the other and stepped toward him, leaving behind the taunting temptation to jump.
Erik did not hesitate or wait for her to move another inch. He jumped to his feet, grabbed her body, and pulled her tight into his embrace away from danger. He trembled and as he held her in his arms.
“Oh, Désirée. Don’t ever do that again. I can’t live without you.”
She remained silent for a few seconds and then whispered. “Erik, I’m pregnant. We’re going to have a baby.” She flung her arms around his neck and clung to him tightly.
It took a few moments for her declaration to sink into his stunned heart. “A baby?” he repeated, questioning the truth that he could become a father.
“Yes, a baby.”
He pulled back and tenderly brushed the tears from her face. Erik studied her eyes and saw within them the truth that she carried new life.
“Does this mean you’ll marry me?” he asked, with a sheepish grin upon his face.
She raised her tearful gaze and smiled. “Yes…yes, I’ll marry you Erik Dante.”
The starlit night twinkled above, and Erik heard the last swells of Romeo and Juliette from the orchestra inside the auditorium below. The tragedy on stage had ended, but there would be no tragedy on the rooftop tonight. Erik and his Juliette were going to live.
He cupped her face in his hands and breathed his heartfelt words of adoration before he claimed her lips.
“I love you, Désirée.”
The End
“Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.” Job 8:7
Author Notes
When I chose the setting for The Phantom of Valletta, I had no idea that the location and history happened to be so significant to the citizens on the isle of Malta. Even before the book had been published, The Sunday Times of Malta contacted me to do an interview and book review. The Maltese have been extremely kind and accepting. The love of the Phantom of the Opera is embraced internationally.
I’d like to take the opportunity to thank The Sunday Times Malta for the lovely article written about the Phantom of Valletta. If you’d like to read it, visit my website at The Phantom of Valletta.
Historical information can be found at the website about the history of The Royal Opera House of Valletta.
About the Author
Her publications include:
The Price of Innocence
(Book One – The Legacy Series; Historical Fiction; Released February 2010)
The Price of Deception
(Book Two – The Legacy Series; Historical Fiction Released October 2011)
Dark Persuasion
(Historical Romance; Released August 2012)
Five Star Rare Top Pick Award Night Owl Reviews
Award-Winning Finalist in the 2012 USA Best Book Awards by USA Book News for Fiction: Romance
and
Conflicting Hearts
(Contemporary Adult Romance under the pen name of J.D. Burrows; Released November 2012)
For more information visit the author’s website at:
http://vickihopkins.com
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Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Author Notes
About the Author