Christine woke to the delightful scent of roses and opened her eyes. She saw a red rose and instantly cried out.
"Oh Raoul you shouldn't…have…oh" she said as she picked it up and smelt it, feeling the silky ribbon and looking at the black bow tied around the stem. She looked at the phantoms gift in disgust and threw it to the ground. She grabbed a heavy book from the shelves in her room and dropped it right on top of the flower and left it where it had fallen.
She walked to her wardrobe and pulled out the first black dress that came to her hands. She called in her chambermaids, Celeste and Annamaria, and they began to help her don the mournful garment. She gasped for breath as she had done every morning she put on a corset, but nonetheless, Annamaria just pulled tighter until she was wheezing. Christine asked them to loosen it slightly and Annamaria did so grudgingly.
The maids began to leave and as Celeste went out the door, Annamaria stopped to look at Christine.
"Very happy" she said sarcastically with her hands on her hips "Really going to get the masters attention with that little number"
"I am not wearing it for fashion, and the last thing I want is that mans attention," she said coldly.
"Why wouldn't you want his attention? Isn't he rich enough? Handsome? Smart? Not good enough for you missy?" Annamaria asked, jealous of this girl who the master loved. She didn't deserve him, not now, not ever.
"Oh he's crazy enough and evil enough if that's what you mean. Are you really into the mentally unstable Annamaria?" she asked, realising this girls meaning, the envy in her eyes.
Annamaria glared at her and shoved past her, and Christine looked at her as she walked off, wiping her face. She liked Erik a lot, Christine thought, this girl was going to do anything to distract him from her and that's exactly what she needed, this could work to her advantage.