Chapter 1
London, England June 2, 1892"My dear, I just don't understand why we have to engage with the British royals?" Christine de Chagny complained to her husband. It was a hot, summer day and the Vicomte de Chagny had just moved his family from France into the richest part of London. He was going to work with the royal family and Christine, his wife was the mother of their son, Charles.
The de Chagny's had a rough time in France maintaining their rank. The Vicomte married an opera singer which wasn't suitable for someone of his stature. It embarrassed the family and hurt Raoul's reputation, especially making headlines that he was caught up in some major drama at the Opera Garnier due to the actress he was engaged and eventually married to. They stayed in France for eleven years after their marriage, but with their child, it was almost as if Raoul had been preparing to take the job in London instead of continuing to work with the royal government in France. He prepared their son with the best education money could buy making Charles fluent in English, for the one day when they would relocate across the English Channel.
Christine sat on a sofa in the front room fanning herself as the sun shined brightly radiating heat throughout the entire house. This smaller townhouse was their city house; they would look in a few weeks for a summer estate in the country to purchase. She watched as the moving men brought in more furniture through the front door and Raoul managed them. Charles their 11 year old son came down the stairs after checking out the bedrooms and asked his mother when they would be bringing in his desk.
"Oh Charles, I don't know where it is yet, but it will be here and I promise you will be able to draw some more as soon as they get it moved in and upstairs." He gave a boyish sigh and sat down beside her.
"I just don't want to lose the ideas in my head." Christine smiled at Charles and tousled his hair,
"You're just such a genius, you're going to do something great one day, I promise." She said giving him a wink. Raoul hated when his son's genius came through, it was almost as if Charles would unknowingly reveal to the world the secret Raoul tried to keep.
They never talked about it, husband and wife. Raoul wasn't even sure if Christine figured it out, she always seemed so innocent to things. Did she really think that one night with another man could not produce a child? Raoul always knew, he knew the minute she told him she was with child. He definitely knew with the complications she had during the delivery, her and Charles both almost died and Raoul knew there was only one man that could possibly produce a child to give that much complication to his beloved wife. But obviously, throughout all the trials their relationship had been through, their marriage was stronger than most.
The Next Day"Sir, if you don't mind we could possibly take inside and get out of this heat." A rich, younger man with a skinny build and a cheerful smile on his face gestured to the man whom he was meeting. The two men took a seat in the somewhat desolate pub that afternoon. The younger of the two ordered a darker beer while the older, quiet and mysterious one ordered a shot of cognac. Finally the quiet, older one reached into the leather drawing case he had brought with him, pulling out some larger sketches and placing them on the table.
"This is what I have drawn up for the additional wing of the Baron's estate." The younger man looked over it and they talked about contracting and construction time for about an hour before the architect excused himself and left the pub. Stepping outside, he put his hat on and pulled it down shielding his face from the bright sun. He began to walk in the direction of his office passing by the shops. Admiring the women's clothing in one particular shop, he thought of his wife who loved ordering the latest trends from that little store. He decided to stop in and order something special for her. As he pulled open, the little bell above the door rang and the owner came out, Miss Phoebe as she was known was an older woman, a little on the heavy side, but a very cheerful woman who loved working with the aristocrats of London.
"Hello Mr. Thibault, how is that wonderful wife of yours?" She asked cheerfully.
"She is doing well Miss Phoebe. She always admires the dresses in your shop, I'm sure she owns most of them. "They both gave out a slight chuckle at his little joke, the kind that rich people share amongst each other.
"Truth is, I have been working so hard lately and we haven't spent a lot of time together. I want to get her something special for being so patient with me these last few weeks."
"Ah, I see. Well let's have a look. Mrs. Thibault is such a frequent customer in here; I have her measurements memorized and know just what she likes. "He followed her into the back room where she pointed out some of her and her ladies' latest creations that have not yet made it on the showroom floor yet. He decided on a light blue evening gown with large, puffy sleeves and gloves to match. He ordered it taking into consideration that he would be attending the Baron's ball in the next few weeks to launch the beginning of constructing the new wing on his estate.
"She will love this!" Phoebe said happily fingering the material. "It's also lightweight so she won't be too hot in this summer heat."
"Yes, she will enjoy that and in her condition, I think that she will need anything to keep her from getting too hot."
"Oh I forgot about that!" Phoebe said putting a hand to her forehead. She ran up to the front desk and began going through papers inside a drawer.
"Do not worry, Sir, she just ordered something last week and I wrote down her new measurements." She kept fumbling through cards as he gracefully walked around to the front of the desk and stood patiently. Eleven years ago, the gentleman that stood in that little boutique would never have been patient, especially in a situation like this. But now, Mr. Thibault was well known among England's rich and famous designing houses and large estates. The Frenchman was quite mysterious and reserved in the mask he wore, but could also be charming and had the perfect wife to go with his charm. The aristocratic women loved his mystery and his handsome presentation, but also that he was different than the English gentlemen.
"Ah, here it is!" She said producing a small card. She put it on the table and said,
"I will begin tailoring this right away and have it in one week's time."
"Thank you Miss Phoebe." He replied putting his hat on and stepping outside. He pulled his hat back down and began to continue to walk another 3 blocks to his office when he saw a mother and her son come out of another shop in front of him.
The mother was speaking French to her son but Mr. Thibault couldn't make out what she was saying. Her giant hat moved back and forth as she spoke to her child and soon she turned around to look back in his direction and he felt a jolt in his chest, it couldn't be Christine de Chagny, he was just fooling himself. She was living in royalty in France; there would be no reason for them to relocate in London. He tilted his head down and leaned heavily on his cane as the nervousness subsided and he told himself how he was just imagining things. That happened now and then as he remembered the foolish way he acted more than a decade ago to his young prodigy.