Chapter Thirty-Six: De Chagny

Two Months, Four Weeks, and Five Days, Mireval

"Are you certain you must leave?" Camillé asked as the de Chagny carriage was filled with their luggage to leave.

Raoul smiled as he bent down to kiss her hand. "I am afraid so. Our father needs us in Paris; he is very ill, you see." Camillé nodded solemnly, and Raoul stood up straight. "I give you my word we will return for the wedding ceremony," he promised, grinning at her and nodding to Daniel.

"Merci, Raoul," she chuckled, and he bowed to her before his brother came to take his place.

Philippe smiled a dazzling smile. "It has been marvelous seeing you again, Camillé. I quite like this country, I shall have to acquire a summer home here."

"It would be wonderful to have you for neighbors," she agreed, then leaned forward to speak to him privately, "Do tell me when your brother finds that Little Lottie of his."

"If he finds her," he corrected with a shake of his head, "We have absolutely no idea where Mademoiselle Daaé has gone, and if he does find her, it will be a miracle."

Camillé froze. "Mademoiselle Daaé? You mean to say Christine Daaé?"

"That is what I said and meant, oui. There is no other Mademoiselle Daaé in all of France, to my knowledge. Why, do you know something of her?"

"She is a member of the corps de ballet at the Opera Populaire," she explained in a breathless voice.

"You are certain?"

She nodded and looked back up at Philippe. "Oui, I spent many evenings there… watching the shows."

He grinned and called over his brother, who came to them instantly. "Tell Raoul what you know."

Camillé swallowed. "Raoul, I know where your Little Lottie is."

"Quoi? Why did you not mention this before? Where is she?" the Viscomte asked anxiously.

"She is a chorus girl," she muttered, and swallowed again, "at the Opera Populaire."

Raoul gasped and stepped back a step or two. "You mean to say… she has… My Little Lottie has been in Paris this whole time?"

Camillé nodded. "Yes, she has."

"You are certain of this?" Again, she nodded. Raoul de Chagny grabbed her head and kissed both her cheeks before running to the carriage calling, "Come brother, we must make haste! I cannot wait another moment to see my Little Lottie!"

Philippe shook his head and chuckled. "I am not certain whether I should thank you or curse you, Mademoiselle."

Camillé grinned. "Both would do, I suppose."

The two laughed again and said their goodbyes, kissing each other's cheeks quickly before Philippe got into the carriage with his impatient little brother. As the carriage pulled away, Daniel wrapped his arm around Camillé's waist. She leaned against him and sighed.

"I shall miss their company," she admitted sadly, "They are such a lively two, don't you think?"

Daniel chuckled. "Lively is one word for it," he joked, and she pushed him as they turned and walked back into the chateau.

"Don't speak ill of them," she warned with a grin, "They may be coming here more often than not for visits. Did you hear Philippe mention that he wants a summer home here?"

"I did. I couldn't possibly understand why."

Camillé shot him a glare as he smirked at her. "You're in quite a joking mood today, Daniel. What good thing has happened that I missed?"

"Nothing in particular," he stated, shaking his head, "I am simply in a good mood."

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye for a moment as she walked into her study. "Mark my words, Captain, I intend to get to the root of your joking before the day is out."

Daniel grinned and pressed a long kiss to her cheek. "There is nothing to get to, mon trésor."

Two Months, Five Weeks, Mireval

Captain Merrick came down the stairs, fixing the collar on his long coat. His steps froze halfway down and he listed intently. He hadn't heard anything like this before. They were short notes, but beautiful. Slowly and quietly, he made his way down the rest of the stairs and turned immediately to his right as opposed to the left they took to enter the study. He placed a hand upon the cracked door and pushed. It opened with no sound much like the other doors in this house, and he was struck with such an amazing sight that he stood in the doorway, stunned.

She sat at the piano-forté, playing as if she had been doing so her entire life. The sound of the notes was so sweet and soft and unfamiliar that he wondered where she had learned this. Her hair was down, the long strands draping over her shoulders in the image of a fan. She moved as she played, everything about her appearing fluid in some way or another. He was almost certain that if he could see her face, her eyes would be closed, but she would be full of emotion. Daniel had never seen her play before. Even when she had lived with him for a year when they had been in England, she had never touched the piano they kept. She had claimed that she did not know how to play it and refused lessons from Marcella. Why? Her talent was obvious.

Her voice began to ring throughout the room, accentuating a song that he had never before heard. It was beautiful – truly the work of a great composer, whomever they were. She seemed to be sad as she sang it, as if the song held a memory that she held dear. The song was one of love; that much was certain. For a moment, he simply reveled in her voice. It was warm and wonderful – not extremely high, but smooth and calming. The way she sang incited such emotion within him that he wondered why she hid her talents. Perhaps this held something to her that he could not see.

Daniel felt a hand lightly rest on his shoulder and turned about quickly to see Adrienne behind him, gesturing for him to follow her. He looked back in at the woman playing the piano-forté and sighed before pulling the door to and allowing her to lead him into the study. They sat down on the chairs before the hearth, settling before he spoke.

"Why did she not play before? I have known her for years, and this is the first time I have ever heard her play."

Adrienne de Sauveterre smiled sadly. "It was always an essential part of our life here – I suppose, from Camillé's perspective, of her old life. Her father was very glad when she learned to play and showed such talent at it – as was I. It was the one thing that brought the entire family together." Here she sighed and stared into the flames. "Camillé used to play for her father and I, while Aletté would sing for us. Sometimes both our daughters would grace us with their voices, more as Camillé excelled in talent and playing and singing together became less difficult. She was always the more talented in all of the artistic crafts, such a brilliant child."

"So why does she hide it?"

"I must confess that I am as confused as you are," she admitted, turning her gaze to the door, "She was never shy of it before she left. It must have been something afterward. What is even more curious – why is she returning to it now?"

In the Music Room, Mireval

Camillé let the tear run down her cheek.

"I'm living in a world of fantasy

Seeing only what I wish to see,

But not the world that you live in,

So bring me home to reality."

Her head down, tears streamed from her eyes. The dream had been so real… so vivid. She had honestly thought, for one beautiful, glorious, fleeting moment, that she was home again. That she was back in Erik's arms and he was holding her again, singing softly in her ear. It had been a crushing disappointment to awake and discover herself back in Mireval, nearly an entire country away from her beloved fiancé. Now more than ever, she desperately wished to return home. Her heart pined for Erik, her entire being pined for him.

Her fingers slowly began to pick out the melody of another song. She had learned a thing or two with Erik, had noticed certain movements and gestures that he played with – noticed the notes. Now she could play the songs of theirs she loved, while she remained homesick and heartbroken from the distance between them. She had written him several letters and received no response. Perhaps they were being intercepted? But no, Madame Giry had proven that they could trust each other when she had promised to keep Erik away from them – a decision Camillé now regretted, but it was too late to undo it now. The damage was done and she would have to live with her mistakes and learn to forget them. She would see Erik again soon enough. Or, at least, she hoped she would.

Her eyes filled with tears again as the first strains of the melody truly started, once they had been picked out. The music had brought her little comfort, and what comfort it did bring was saddening. Still… she could not allow herself to live without it. With his beautiful ocean eyes in her mind, she began to sing softly, the words falling from her lips in a sad tone.

"Nighttime sharpens,

Heightens each sensation…"

Three Months, One Week, Mireval

Camillé opened the letter carefully, Daniel reading over her shoulder as they sat before the fire. She leaned further back against him as Laurien exited the room quietly.

"It's from Philippe and Raoul," she explained in an excited tone, "Well… Philippe, anyway."

Daniel rested his chin on her shoulder. "Oh? What does he say?"

"It seems they arrived in Paris well, and… oh my…" she breathed, then passed the letter to Daniel, who leaned back and took it from her.

'Camillé,

We arrived in Paris safely, despite having gone by carriage. You may tell that fiancé of yours that the roads were fine. A little icy at this time of year, but that is not out of the ordinary. His EXCESSIVE warnings were not necessary. Do tell him this. All in good sport, of course.

It may surprise you or perhaps it may not surprise you to learn that without any previous visits to the place, my young brother has decided to become the Patron of l'Opéra Populaire. Given that he has not visited it yet, I advised him against such an endeavor, but as you well know, Raoul cannot and will not change his mind once it has been made. As such, he has already spoken to the managers – Mssrs. Andre and Firmin – and will be named Patron in five days. I worry for my brother's good sense at times such as this.

He has not – unfortunately or fortunately, I am uncertain – yet found his Little Lottie. Though I am certain that if what you say is true, he will find her soon. I fear what may happen when he does.

I shall now take time to inquire after your health and the health of your captain. How is Merrick? Do tell that he is treating you well, lest I am forced to come back to Mireval and set him straight.

I do hope to hear from you soon.

Amitié,

Philippe

Comte de Chagny'

"That was unexpected," Daniel finally said, after reading the letter over three times.

Camillé shrugged. "Raoul is prone to making rather rash decisions. I suppose this is simply one of those rash decisions."

"Yet to become Patron without even knowing if his childhood love is there? I do not understand that boy's reasoning."

She chuckled and leaned back against him. He took one of her hands in his and kissed it lightly on the palm. Camillé sighed involuntarily before she shook her head and cleared it.

"Well, this is Raoul, after all. He is hard to understand – that is why we simply try to accept him."

*le gasp* I UPDATED! Yes, I am back! Well... mostly. I will officially be back after the fourteenth of June - Friday of next week - when Finals are over and school is out for summer break. Ah, summer, how I love thee! Hopefully then I will have more time to write and I will get to finish this story. I already know the ending. No, I will not tell you.

Any questions, comments, concerns? Want me to move the plot along faster? Review or drop me a line!

- Emmy