Chapter 471

"Erik, I don't know what to do. It's Nora. She had a an accident, a fall. We are at the hospital here on our honeymoon."

Erik put his hand on his mouth and took a deep breath.

"Is she alright?"

"Yes," Christian said. "She has a gash on her head but it's sewn up and all her neurological checks are clear, showing no damage. She's awake and well. But, but the baby…." He trailed off but Erik understood.

"Christian, I know this is an incredibly difficult time, and I'm so sorry, but you have to be strong for her now. Try to connect with her so that you may mourn together, united. She needs your support. She needs you to understand her pain. Let her know that you do. Your mother and I are here and we will fly there if you need us to." Erik felt his emotions getting the best of him and he handed the phone over to Pearl. She spoke to him for a few minutes and ended the call by saying they will fly back to meet them at the palace and telling him how much she loves him.

"Erik?" She asked as she put her hands on his shoulders.

"How awful. I feel so terribly for the both of them." He looked up at Pearl and pulled her onto his lap.

"He called me. He called me first and it felt so good to be there for him." Pearl nodded and kissed his forehead.

"I think we know now that we can tell him the truth."

Erik nodded. "He deserves the truth."

"Come, let's get packed and head back to London. We will need to be there for them when they return home." Pearl stood up and began to walk to the stairs.

"Wait." Erik stopped her.

"What is it?"

She turned around and saw Erik on his knees behind her, holding a ring box.

"I was going to do this at the castle we visited so long ago. In the Tuscan sun. But alas, we are here, we are living the realistic parts of this complicated life we have always been made to endure. I want to be your husband. I want to be the children's father. And I want to make the child you carry on your womb legitimate. I know it's old fashioned. I know you said you wanted to wait, but I can tell you that waiting will be impossible for me. Marry me. Marry me and be my wife. Marry me because you know every terrible thing I've ever done and yet, you love me anyway. Marry me so that I may die in your arms. You are the love of my life. Marry me, Pearl, marry me because you want to, because you want this life with me." He held out the box and as Pearl opened it, she found a written note and a wedding band with a nightingale intricately engraved with diamonds. She opened the folded note and read what Erik had written.

"Her hair is thick and wild, dark with bronze and gold lights and shades throughout, aglow in the Tuscan setting sun

Scented with flowers and magic.

It smelled like a summer's day, a winter's eve.

Jasmine.

Lavender.

Heaven.

I fear that when she brushes it again, she won't remember to be careful. She'll forget that it is there that I dwell, tangled in the curls, clinging and burying myself.

Where my soul is wound,

and my heart calls home."

Pearl looked down at him and smiled, wiping the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I wrote that, watching you dance along the castle wall when we first came here. I will never forget that moment. That is when I truly fell in love with you. And I love you so much." Erik smiled, crying. Pearl crouched down to be closer to him

"Erik, yes, yes I will marry you. You are the love of my life as well. And I will never lose sight of that again." He smiled and kissed her.

"You are home to me," he said, taking a deep breath. "I can finally breathe again."

She hugged him tightly and felt a wave of relief as well. This is how it should be. This is what she had always wanted.

They packed their things and headed to the awaiting plane.