Sorry for the longest wait on the update! Here ya go!

~GQ

The patio was Christine's favorite place during a warm autumns afternoon like this one. The wind made it nippy, but tolerable enough to sit outside without her cloak. It was a Tuesday, only two days after she'd gotten the letter from Erik. He'd be coming to get her on the Thursday of this week.

Christine wondered about what she was getting herself into with Erik. Would he be sweet and gentle, or rough and heartless? Cold and intolerable, or understanding and honest? Would he… love her, or would he not?

All thoughts were forced out of her mind when Raoul came swiftly through the doors to the back patio.

"There you are, my lovely!" Raoul's tone was joyous and happy. "I have just been invited to the Anniversary Ball the viscount of Italy has every year. I must leave for Rome at once and I shall not be returning until Saturday. I am allowed to bring one guest; would you do me the honors?" He held her hands with his, kneeling next to her in exciting anticipation.

Christine forced a bright smile with a hint of regret in her facial expression. "Raoul… I regret to inform you that I've been sick and would much rather stay here than leave for Rome. I never liked Italy much, and I want to spend more time here getting used to the surroundings."

Taken aback, Raoul made a hasty nod; more of a worried one. But he didn't question Christine's motives and shook his head in reply, kissing her lightly on the cheek. "Very well then. I shall be returning Saturday evening, are you sure you can't go? I don't want anything happening to you."

"I promise, Raoul…" Christine insisted him to believe. "If anything goes wrong, I'll send for you. I promise. Now go on, you don't want to miss it."

Raoul made the move on, and for the rest of her afternoon and evening, she didn't spot him again until he left in his finest carriage, heading towards Italy.

Christine made it in her best interest to get some reading done. Books always seemed to take her mind off of very important matters, such as disappearing on Thursday with a man she barely knew.

But… honestly… did she really barely know him?

She forced all thoughts out of her head once more, for her mind was straying again.

…but what if she really did misjudge him? What if she knew more about him than she thought?

She slammed the book down onto the floor and fled to her chambers. She needed sleep.