Why Lorie? Part II

Chapter 16: Surprise, Surprise

"I still can't believe you're here," Josette exclaimed, her cheeks blushing like a school girl's.

She sat across from Viktor in the slowly moving carriage, with Lorie by her side. When Viktor had appeared unannounced outside the opera house, their party had decided to split up into two groups. Josette's parents and Peter got a separate ride back home. Initially, they had tried to convince Lorie to go with them so that Viktor and Josette could have some time alone, but Lorie insisted she ride with her parents. Of course, it was impossible to refuse her, especially when she grabbed Viktor's hand and wouldn't let go.

Viktor stared at Josette with his deep emerald eyes, his expression hard to read - as usual.

"Are you happy to see me?" He asked his fiancée, cocking his head to one side.

"Of course I am! I'm just... a little shocked. I wasn't expecting to find you casually standing there, with the rest of the family," Josette replied, her voice trembling.

She felt suddenly shy facing this imposing man whom she hadn't seen in several months. Viktor's larger-than-life presence seemed to take up all the space inside the carriage. Josette wished she had a fan handy - she was beginning to feel warm and short of breath.

"Papa surprised us too!" Lorie chirped in. "We were all waiting for you when he just appeared. It was like magic," she gave Viktor a charming smile. He winked at her in response.

"How on earth did you know where we were?" Josette asked pointedly. She realized too late that her question might've sounded accusatory, so she quickly added: "When did your train arrive? Had I known the time..." She didn't finish her sentence.

"The train got in around seven this evening," Viktor waved a hand dismissively. "I took a carriage directly home from the station, hoping to surprise you." He paused briefly. "But... in reality... you surprised me... with your absence." He chuckled dryly.

Josette looked down. She felt guilty for not being there to greet him. Viktor noted her discomfort and placed a gloved hand over one of hers.

"It's alright... It gave me enough time to shower and change," he continued. "Ana told me you were all at the opera, so... ta-da!" He spread his hands out demonstratively.

"Maman was amazing!" Lorie exclaimed.

"So I've heard," Viktor narrowed his eyes, studying Josette closely. "Yet another surprise... to be sure."

Josette gulped. Somehow, the whole situation seemed wrong. She should've been home when Viktor arrived. And, perhaps, she should've written to him of her decision to return to work. Now... it was too late. He found out from somebody else. As though reading her mind, Viktor spoke:

"When I came across the rest of the family, I naturally looked for you... thinking you all went to the opera as mere spectators." His gaze intensified as he continued. "Imagine my shock when your mother informed me that you were tonight's main attraction!  Vienna's latest diva," he scoffed.

"She was so beautiful, Papa. And her voice was... heavenly," Lorie exclaimed, unaware of the tension around her. "Everyone loved her!"

"I'm sure she was spectacular," Viktor nodded and smiled... but it didn't reach his eyes. "I wish I could've been there to see her... like apparently most of Vienna did."

"Viktor," Josette murmured. "I was going to tell you everything as soon as I saw you. I didn't write to you about it because... I truly wanted to surprise you."

"Well... you certainly did," he sneered. "In so many ways..."

Josette sighed and looked out the window. She sat in silence, pondering Viktor's words. Lorie started chatting about everything she'd done in Viktor's absence, while he nodded benevolently in response. After a while, the little girl's eyes started to close and she leaned closer into her mother's warm side. Eventually, her head ended up in Josette's lap. Josette caressed her daughter's soft curls, allowing the lulling motion of the carriage to rock her to sleep. Her hazel eyes then met Viktor's green ones over the child's relaxed body.

"Are you angry with me?" Josette whispered.

"Why would I be?" Viktor arched an eyebrow. His voice sounded hollow and detached.

Josette shrugged. "I feel like... I've wronged you somehow."

"Don't be silly," Viktor replied. "I'm just tired from the long trip."

He gave Josette a wan smile while his gaze shifted away from her and out the window. Josette could feel her eyes starting to tear up. It wasn't fair! This was supposed to be a wonderful, happy night. And Viktor's return should have only added to her joy. Yet... he looked distant and disappointed with her.

"How are Nicolae and Drogo?" Josette tried to shift Viktor's attention from her by changing the subject entirely.

"Fine," Viktor replied curtly.

"Do they like America?" Josette continued.

"How should I know?" Viktor shrugged. "Perhaps you should ask them."

"That might be a bit difficult," Josette chuckled, hoping to lighten the mood. "Since they are all the way across the ocean."

"There is such a thing as a telegraph," Viktor said coldly. "Or you could write them a letter... if you can find any spare time in your busy schedule."

Josette was taken aback by his icy demeanor. Her guilt was starting to transform into anger. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes.

"Thank you for informing me about the ways in which people can communicate," she spat the words in a menacing voice. "I, of course, being just a silly woman, had no idea such things were possible."

Viktor's face darkened. He suddenly looked dangerous. Josette caught her breath and gazed into her lap. Pushing Viktor like that was a mistake. Josette knew it, from having watched him interact with Lawrence Danville. When angered, Count Bartholy could be purely terrifying. Josette blinked several times, holding back her tears. Luckily, to her extreme relief, the carriage stopped moving. Josette glanced out the window and saw they had arrived home. She gently shook Lorie, waking her up.

"Mmm... what is it?" Lorie yawned and looked around, obviously confused by her surroundings.

She started to drift off again. Josette was about to wake her up once more, when Viktor's hand suddenly grabbed her wrist, stopping her in mid-air. His grip was like a vice, and she winced in pain.

"Don't! I will carry her inside," Viktor's eyes seemed to glow in the dark as he spoke.

Josette quickly nodded in agreement and allowed him to lift Lorie out of her lap. He did so with much ease, and exited the carriage holding the sleeping child in his arms.

Josette took a deep breath before opening her door and stepping out into the chilly night air. She steadied herself as she approached her parents and Peter. Viktor had already opened the front door and disappeared inside the house with Lorie.

Peter gazed at Josette and raised his eyebrows:

"Is everything alright?" He whispered concerned upon noticing her pallor.

Josette leaned onto his arm for support and sniffled.

"I'm not sure, Peter," she sighed. "But I fear it isn't."