"Madame de Changy you have a visitor"
Christine sat idly on the large sofa that graced the furnishings in the sitting room. A cup of hot tea was rested in her hands and she took a small sip before answering her maid.
"Please escort them in, Agnes, thank you."
Christine didn't like to think of the servants as servants, she preferred to consider them more as friends. The thought of having someone have to do all of the things she wished gave her a peculiar feeling. She felt she was completely unworthy of such treatment.
She raised her head as she heard footsteps approach the sitting room. Her face spread into a kind smile at the sight of the blond haired beauty that had entered.
"Good Morning, Madame." she said politely
Christine nodded in recognition and motioned for her guest to be seated beside her. Without another word Agnes left the room. Agnes knew that it was not proper for her to be in rooms when her masters had guests.
"Dear Helen, It is such a pleasure to see you. Are you well?" Christine asked, her voice dripping in extreme formalities.
Helen nodded quickly, causing her blue eyes to sparkle in the dim light that entered through the window.
Christine smiled. Helen was a fine girl, with plenty of talent as well.
After Christine's career at the Opera Populaire had...come to an end. She had run with Raoul to a city just outside of Paris. She ran away from her pain and fear, she ran away from her past. Christine didn't want to face the morbid facts that made up her pathetic life. Raoul and Christine had been married as quickly as possible and Christine couldn't have been happier for the both of them. But she found that because everything had now started to become supplied for her she was being driven into a state of insanity. All her life she had to care for herself and make things happen and all of sudden she didn't even have to stand to fetch herself a cup of tea.
Christine had begged Raoul to let her work. Raoul had taken the suggestion as complete idiocy. But Christine persisted and Raoul found that he loved his wife too selflessly to refuse.
So she had joined the local Opera House. It was no where i near /i as extravagant as her former home, but Christine found its oddities made it irresistibly charming. Christine took on the job of assistant to the ballet mistress. Traditionally, there was no such job but the ballet mistress that worked there seemed thrilled at the prospect that a person as high in society as Christine would even consider being her aide.
The arts had always been a part of Christine's life and they were so much a part of her that she couldn't give it up completely. She didn't sing. Call it stupidity or complete cowardice but she couldn't bring herself to sing a note. She was afraid what she may find, what she may i feel /i if she let her clear voice dance through a composition.
But she still had the art of the ballet.
Christine had originally feared that all the years that she had gone dance less would interfere with the path that she chose for herself to take. But the many years she spent with the corps de ballet proved their worth.
Helen was one of her students.
Terribly naive and unaware of her own talent was she and Christine had felt an automatic understanding towards the girl. Christine knew that Helen could have a future in the ballet; all she had to do was stop holding back.
"The reason I came to call, Madame, was to enquire as to if you were returning to rehearsals tomorrow. I must confess we are terribly lost without you. Madame Amedee is in a state of complete panic. She fears that we are not ready for the performance in a month's time." Helen said earnestly.
Christine smiled slightly and took another sip of her tea. The drink had long since become cold but she still felt an unexplainable impulse to drink it.
"I will be returning tomorrow actually, I've been away for far too long and am anxious to return."
"Oh how wonderful!" Helen exclaimed, standing up to leave, "I won't disturb you for any longer Madame de Changy. But really, you are an angel."
Come to me angel of music
Christine's hand shook slightly as the melody ran through her head. She had been someone else's angel once, someone who needed her more then anything in the world.
Oh! God's angels were watching down on her with utmost contempt!
"Thank You"
Helen flashed Christine an attractive smile before departing from the household and she was left alone.
Christine forced the tea down her throat. She ignored the icy cool that had wiped away all of its warmth and comfort.
"My dear are you alright? You look awfully pale."
Christine raised her eyes and found her husband in the doorway. He was dressed impeccably. His expensive suit tailored to fit him exactly to his measurements and his bright brown hair had bounciness, a body to it that Christine had never noticed before.
"No, Raoul. I am fine." she said quietly.
He flashed a small smile as his eyes shone with an emotion that Christine could not name. It was something that was dangerously close to being pity.
"I'm sorry to leave you here all by yourself, but I must go. Things are getting terribly out of order with my aunts funds and I must assist her."
"Of course Raoul. Really it's alright; I'll find a way to entertain myself."
He smiled and walked over to her. Silently he sat himself beside her and Christine met his eyes.
"I'll be back soon."
Christine nodded wordlessly and Raoul leaned towards her, placing a soft kiss upon her forehead. Christine closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of him. He smelled of crisp linen and cologne.
Christine couldn't help but be a little unhappy with the lack of activity that she had for the day. Perhaps she would have a nice chat with Agnes, or catch up on her reading. Anything to keep her mind off more important things.
Anything to keep her from remembering.
