La Sorelli had been more than true to her word. She must have had her poor maid up all night altering one of the late Comtesse de Chagny's black velvet dresses into something that would fit me and wouldn't look too out of date. No detail of my toilette was neglected. It felt good to be properly dressed and coifed again. I looked into the mirror and was satisfied with my appearance. I sent La Sorelli's maid off to bed and let one of the upstairs maids assist me with the final touches to my ensemble. I bent the rules of etiquette in order to have breakfast in my room before making my grand entrance… in Roule's old clothes from last night. Black velvet is not at all suitable for flying. I'd have to change after we arrived at Perros.

Roule looked like he had spent a rough night. His eyes were both hollow from a lack of sleep and puffy from crying. What I could see of the Shade, namely a pair of eyes, looked much the same as ever. As I entered the room, the pair of them stopped talking and looked directly at me in a way that made it more than obvious that they'd been talking about me. I knew exactly what was coming.

"We've been discussing things," said Roule, "And we both think that you should stay here."

"I appreciate your opinions." I said sweetly.

"And you're going to ignore them." The Shade filled in without missing a beat.

"Precisely. I couldn't have put it better myself. Shouldn't we get going? We don't want to be late for the funeral."

"Carlotta," said the Shade, "You do realize that this is serious? A major character has already been murdered. It isn't safe to play this game."

I'd been thinking about that as I drifted off to sleep the night before. I'd expected us all to be reduced to floating text when the gala was wrecked, but that hadn't happened. We were all still here, well most of us were, and if we were all still here, then maybe we were supposed to see the adventure through to the end. However, I had no intention of explaining all that when the men were playing save-the-little-woman-from-her-female-foolishness.

"It isn't safe, period. Erik has made that more than clear. I'm going to Perros with or without the two of you and after that I'll go back to the opera house to report to Erik. It's the best I can manage."

Roule gave a defeated shrug and headed towards the airfield. I couldn't read the Shade at all. He just stood there for a minute without doing anything at all until I passed by and then I could have sworn I saw his eyes crinkle up a little bit, as if he had actually smiled. Men are strange beasts. The upstairs maid followed us with a large box containing my new dress and all its accoutrements.

The flight went by much more quickly this time. Roule owned more than one ingenious plane. He had a whole ingenious fleet of them, so it seemed. This time we each had the luxury of our own seat, which meant that I could keep the dress with me. It was bulky and inconvenient, but preferable to attending a funeral in pants.

We landed in a field within sight of the church at Perros Cemetery shortly after ten thirty. Madame Giry was already there and waved to us as we approached. A few minor characters had already begun to arrive. I recognized a nameless conductor, several members of the chorus, a couple of orchestra players and two ballet rats. I can't say that I was surprised not to see any of the new ballet girls or Christines or whoever they were, but it was telling that they couldn't be bothered to turn up. Madame Giry showed me into one of the alcoves and assisted me with my dress. I let her know that Meg was safe and doing well. I decided not to mention the note from Erik, which would have only upset her. Hopefully, Madame Giry would be able to join her daughter after the service was over.

Christine Daaé looked just as lovely in death as she had in life. She had been dressed in a delicate white gown, edged with lace and her golden hair was lay loose over her shoulders. Someone had thought to place a small nosegay of white roses in her hands and little white flowers had been scattered over her hair, almost like a halo or a crown. She had been an angel and in comparison, I felt like a carrion crow with my dark hair and black dress.

Roule was bent over Christine's body like he was Prince Charming about to kiss Sleeping Beauty back into life; only Christine wasn't going to wake up. His shoulders heaved with silent sobs. The church was beginning to fill with people. I waited a few minutes to let Roule say his goodbyes before I laid my hand on his shoulder and gently helped him to a seat in the front. Anyone who has read our book knows that Christine and I were not officially on good terms, and I had planned to sit unobtrusively in the back but Roule gripped my hand so tightly that I couldn't slip away. I sat down beside him and did my best to be some sort of comfort. I didn't know where the Shade had got to, and it didn't seem polite to look around for him.

Mamma Valérius was one of the last to arrive. She leaned heavily on Madame Giry who escorted her to the other front pew, just opposite to us. Before seating herself, she approached Roule and put her hands on either side of his face. "She always loved you and no one but you." Mamma Valérius told Roule, who nodded silently. The she turned to me, clearly wondering why I was here at all, much less in such a prominent place.

At a loss to explain anything, I murmured, "I am so very sorry for your loss. Christine was the real angel of music."

Mamma Valérius allowed me a curt nod, but I couldn't help noticing her eyes flicker towards Roule's grip on my hand. There was nothing more for me to say, so I said nothing.

The opera house managers were the very last to arrive, looking rather sheepish and not a little confused. They joined Mamma Valérius in her pew. Madame Giry seated herself beside Roule. We all waited in silence until at last Madame Giry looked at me and said, "Isn't there supposed to be music?"

I looked to the alcove near the altar, which was clearly meant for the choir but it was empty. We had a church full of singers and musicians but not a note was played. I gave Roule's hand a squeeze and then laid it down gently. The music had been laid out in the alcove; it was just that no one was there to sing it. I picked up the sheets, took a deep breath and began to sing. I was accompanied by the ghostly echo of a violin. Was it the ghost of dead Daddy Daaé welcoming his daughter into heaven, or was it Erik?

Surprisingly, the funeral went off without an incident of any kind. I didn't see the Shade again until Madame Giry and I were escorting Roule out of the church. He appeared out of breath and his scarves were in some disarray. "I've figured out the mystery of the key," he said, "It will unlock Daddy Daaé's tomb."

Funny, I wouldn't have though that Daddy Daaé could have afforded a tomb.