11

Fleurette and Eleanor sat with equal marvelled filled eyes. "It's so beautiful." Eleanor said while clasping her hands together. Fleurette leaned forward in the chair and stared up at the stage. Neither of them had heard Christine sing before. Both of them had pretty much the same reaction.

Fleurette jumped when her sister clapped wildly from beside her, the blonde even rushed up to the stage and clutched onto Christine's hands. From her sitting position Fleurette could easily hear her sister barraging her with praise and questions.

Standing up Fleurette quickly walked to the stage and tugged her sister away from the slightly embarrassed looking brunette. "Eleanor calm down!" She laughed, Eleanor shook her head and looked a little embarrassed by her moment. "That was indeed beautiful Christine! I did not know you could sing like that." Fleurette smiled and looked to Eleanor who nodded agreeing with her hundred percent.

"Christine has a mysterious tutor," Meg whispered in a childish tone. She smiled at the sisters who looked at each other confused and then at her. "What? She does!"

"We never said we didn't believe your words." Eleanor smiled.

"We just think it's a little bizarre." Fleurette said while crossing her arms over her leotard and nodding slowly.

"Not to mention eerie." Eleanor said in a ghostly tone and clutched onto Fleurette quickly which made her yelp and jump.

"That's not fair!" Fleurette said while trying to wriggle out of her sisters clutches. Despite trying to be serious she was laughing to much, which in turn made her sister laugh as well as the other two women.

"Ladies behave," Madame Giry said while stopping instructing a set of dancers and looking at the four of them. "If you can have energy to joke around. Perhaps you can address the same energy to practising." It wasn't a statement it was an order.

"But mother we're merely having a slight break and congratulating Christine on her wonderful singing!" Meg complained while setting her gaze on her mother.

Madame Giry did not look to amused and just raised an eyebrow. "You have all done that now come back here." The four of them looked at each other and walked quickly back to the small practising group of dancers.

Getting into position they soon picked up which parts they were meant to be doing and soon the rehearsals were back on full force.

Pulling on her dark cloak Fluerette walked briskly down the stairs. "Where are you going Fleur?"

"Well Eleanor is busy with Felix tonight, and I forgot some things at home."

"You will not be long will you?"

"No! I shall try not to be...that is unless father is in and we get talking." Fleurette said while straining to smile. Meg seemed to just believe in her words and smiled warmly at her.

"See you soon then! Be careful alright?"

"I will, see you later Meg." Fleurette walked towards the foyer she patted her bag which hung tightly at her side. Tying the string on her cloak more tightly she reached behind herself and pulled up the hood.

"You are going for a nightly walk on your own? You are very brave."

"Erik!" Fleurette said quietly and turned on her heels to try and find him. She should just remember that she wasn't going to see him, or find him unless he wanted her to. "Ah...yes I am. I forgot some things at home so I'm going to go get them."

"At so late in the evening? The city does not have pleasant people out at this time of hour." Erik said simply.

"Will you accompany me then?" Fleurette asked quietly, she ducked around the corner when she heard footsteps. She watched with a rather blank green eyed gaze as some of the musicians left chatting amongst themselves.

"If I must."

"You do not have to! Don't feel obliged to Erik, I am capable of getting a carriage on my own and then back again."

"You are so naïve Fleurette. Young women should not be seen by themselves at this time of day."

"So you will accompany me?"

"Yes," Erik paused. "But we will not be taking a carriage."

"But-"

"Do not question me or you shall be going by yourself. You can then see the horrible nature of the city by yourself."

"Sorry, shall we go then?"

"Follow me."

"But I do not know where you are." Fleurette said simply, she was just leaning against the wall seemingly talking to herself.

"I'm right beside you." With that said she tilted her head to the side and looked up at him and very slowly a smile spread on her features. "Good evening Fleurette." Erik said simply while turning on his heels and briskly walking off. Shaking her head she ran off after him, "Is there a dire need to collect these things from your home at this time of night?" Erik questioned while opening a door and walking down a set of stairs. He stopped and looked at Fleurette who was still standing at the top. She hadn't followed him down and looked at the stairs with an almost upset expression.

"What is it?" Erik asked while walking up and stopping in the middle. She shook her head and reached up to push the hood of her cloak down.

Her hands moved to her bag and she quickly pulled a cream coloured envelope from it. She stepped down and stopped a step away from him. Extending her hand she looked down at the stairs below her but lowered her arm when she felt the envelope get taken from her grasp.

Erik's eyes quickly scanned over the letter once he'd almost ripped it out of the envelope. He looked up at her, Fleurette's dark green sleeved arm wiped across her eyes. "I do not wish to go Erik, what do I do?"

Advice. The young woman in front of him was asking for advice. Reading the letter one last time he folded it carefully and put it in the envelope. Holding onto the cream white paper he frowned. The letters content was of a highly troubling matter. Not for him, but for Fleurette. Her father had written to inform her of a meeting he'd set up with a fellow musician and his son. In other words Lucien Bousquet was pushing his youngest daughter to hurry and marry much like his eldest.