Chapter 6
As I trotted down the Grand Staircase to the foyer below and the attached Cafe,
I mused on the rose in my room.
Suprisingly I wasn't too concerned. It had most likely been put there by sweet little Madame Lefevre to thank me for my first day of service, or perhaps by one of the Roue twins as a pretty gesture. My room had been unlocked for some time today while I had been going in and out borrowing a bit of ribbon to thread about my neck for the gown I was wearing. It could have been slipped into the vase at any time during that interlude.
I smiled, quite contented with myself. The delicate rose had pleased me more than any garish bouquet of hothouse flowers that Armand had ever bought me. It seemed so genuinely offered out of the goodness of someone else's heart. After I'd found it, I'd plucked it out of the tiny vase and brought the silky petals to my nose, taking in the fresh, sweet fragrance. The old Genevieve would have never found such joy in such a small thing.
Below me the party appeared, a colorful array of gowns and the dark coats of perfectly turned out gentlemen intermingling. Laughter rose and I found myself laughing, as Jeanette and Marie spun toward me and danced over in matching pale blue silk gowns. They looked lovely, their fresh faces glowing and the candlelight gilding their golden hair. Both came up and flanked me on either side, threading their bare arms through my taffetta clad ones. I suddenly felt like a gawky giant between these two petite beauties, but their guileless charm quickly put me at ease.
"Oooh, Genevieve, what a lovely dress. Is it one of yours?" Jeanette smoothed her hand over the golden brown material. Earlier, due to our comradeship in the costume room working toward our common goal, I had insisted that they call me by my first name.
"Yes, I'm afraid that I didn't possess any elegant things like the gowns you two are wearing. They're beautiful!"
"Oh, they're not ours. They belong to the costume department. There's a small liberetto that's performed a couple oftimes a year with twin characters. We borrow these all the time." Marie suddenly looked apologetic. "It is alright if we continue doing so, isn't it?"
I laughed and reassured her that if Madame Lefevere was fine with it, then I certainly could see no problem.
We moved into the circle of the party and unlinked arms, as I was offered a small glass of champagne. I took it and sipped gently; I did not hold liquor well., one would have to do me all night.
I was introduced to more staff and cast that I had not previously met during my hours out of my room. I smiled, keeping my face schooled into a bland, pleased expression, and my voice quiet and low. I didn't want to be overly noticed, to have people look at me too deeply for fear one of them may have at some point seen me before. Armand and I had frequented the Opera on occassion.
To my relief, those who met me simply gave me a glance over, listened half interested as I was introduced as Anna Toudore's replacement, nodded to me or shook my hand and then moved on. A tall, thin, prim looking spinster didn't hold much interest.
I pressed hands with the kind, older ladies of the cleaning staff, and studiously avoided the razor eyes of La Carlotta. When I finally found Madame Lefevere in the crowd, dressed in mulberry muslim, I went to her side and she smiled delightedly and bussed my cheek.
"Oh, dear, it's good to see you enjoying yourself. What a lovely gown, it suits you very nicely. Are you finding everything to your satisfaction here? I was immensely pleased by your work today, I do hope you know that." She took my hand in her soft, lined one and patted. I gently squeezed and smiled down at her.
"Yes, I know, Madame. Thank you so much for the beautiful rose, I appreciate that gesture so much."
Her faded eyes grew puzzled. "My dear, I didn't put a rose in your room, though I wish I had, you seem so pleased by it."
My brow furrowed. I glanced over to the Roue twins, laughing and flirting outrageously with two handsome stage hands. Could they have?
"Oh, well," I sighed, turning back and smiling at Madame Lefevre. "It really holds no import. Perhaps a member of the staff chose to welcome me with it. It was a pretty gesture, never the less."
She smiled and I turned to gaze about the room watching the festivities. I didn't miss the cool assessing gaze of Madame Giry.
After the last of the revelers had returned to their homes or to their beds at the Opera, I made my way upstairs, weary with listening to all the numerous speeches and impromptu music that had been offered. Carlotta Guidacelli, not wanting to be outdone had sung three arias. After sitting and bearing through them, I had to admit, that woman's voice left me wanting more.
I reached my lone room at the end of the long corridor and fished the key out of my pocket in my dress. I was just beginning to lament my aching muscles after such a long day when a small boy appeared at my side. Grinning cheekily, he asked if I would like a tub and hot water sent up for a bath. I stopped and a slow smile spread across my face. The thought of soaking in a long hot bath sounded like ecstacy.
I quickly sent him on his way, and stepped inside my room ,singing softly. Oooohh, a bath! I almost danced around the room as I pulled out my tiny bottles of scented oils that I bought with aprecious bit of money I'd kept hidden in my wardrobe after the divorce. I'd never had the chance to use any of them; the boarding house water had always been ice cold and I had not wanted to linger.
As I arranged the little bottles on the vanity, a slip of something white caught my attention. I turned and stared unbelevingly at the tiny vase with the rose, and the black edged envelope resting against it. I whirled about the room, there was no one there. I ran to the bed, and dropped to my knees checking underneath it; no one. I threw open the closet; again, no one. There was no other place to hide in the room.
I then noticed that my floor had been freshly swept. The cleaning staff. Someone must have asked them to leave the note for me. Calming myself I strode to the dresser and picked up the envelope. The same red, wax grinning skull greeted me. It seemed to stare at me with unholy glee. I promptly ripped through his face and tore out the letter inside, which was written in the same childish handwriting as before.
My Dear Madame Genevieve:
Did you find the rose to your liking? It was quite amusing to watch you inquire after it tonight at the party. Those foolish young twins would not have thought to have left you such a simple, eloquent gift.
Why did I leave it for you, you ask? For the same reason that Madame Lefevere would have left it for you; You pleased me immensely today. Such hard work, such determination. You will fit in very well here at my little Opera House. In more ways than one.
I have been thinking upon you. A great deal. Yes, you will do nicely. Very nicely indeed.
Enjoy the rose.
Signed,
O.G.
P.S. The suit fits very well. It is very rewarding to once again feel oneself. You will assist me greatly in that area, Genn.
I stared at the missive, reading it over and over again, sinking onto my bed. He was pleased by me? Who was he? An admirer, surely not. I had not been here long enough to warrant an admirer and when out of my room, I maintained so prim an appearance and so unwelcoming a picture,femininity wiseat least, that it would take a great stretch of imagination to believe I had caught the fancy of someone.
Simply someone who had seen my work today and my determination to do my duties correctly?
O.G.? Had I begin ignoring the possibility that this man, this phantom, was still alive and underneath the Opera and had noticed me, and chose to acknowledge my work in his Opera.
Once again, there was no threat in the letter, but I felt threatened still.
But the idea that this madman who had kidnapped Christine Daae, and had become the stuff of lengends with the ballet girls actually existed, and was sending me pretty little praises was simply too much.
"How ridiculous! I'm going to find the scamp responsible for this and turn him over my knee." I declared to the room. Perhaps even now the rascal was outside the door, his hand pressed to his mouth, barely restraining his laughter.
I marched to the door and nearly frightened to death the little maids holding my large tub and several buckets of steaming water. I blushed deeply and let them in.
After they had left and I thanked them profusely, I bent beside the tub and added my vanilla scented oil, closing my eyes and inhaling the rich, sensual aroma. I stood and began unhooking the eyes of my dress until it fell in a soft whush at my feet. I carried it over toa chair, laying it across, humming softly. I turned and looked into the large mirror on the wall as I began untying my petticoats, dropping them also and arranging them over the chair. When all I had left on was my loosely fitted corset and the lace chemise underneath, I reached up and began taking down my hair, pin by pin, still humming. I was looking forward so much to this bath. Mmm, the one thing I had missed more than anything else.
After my hair was completely unbound and falling to my waist, I unhooked my corset, laid it over the chair and then propped my foot upon the chair to unroll my stockings down my legs. It had been so long since I'd had the luxury of indulging in a long toilet and I pulled the sheer stocking off with glee waving it about in the air before letting it float to the floor, I then propped up my other foot and gave the same carefree treatment to the other stocking. Finally I pulled the lacy chemise over my head and stood nude in thesomewhat chilly air. I delicately stepped into the tub, moaning low in the back of my throat at the first touch of the steaming water. I sunk in the rest of the way, stretching out my legs and leaving back, sighing happily and letting my eyes close in bliss. I luxuriated in the quiet of the moment, the only sound my little clock and the soft sway of the water around me. Once again I heard the quiet shush of fabric through the wall and what sounded like a soft groan, but I shrugged. This building was bound to make noise once in a while. I closed my eyes once again and sighed softly.
It was only then that I remembered that theletter had called me ...Genn.
