Christine watched the nannies, and the occasional nursery maid, in their prim uniforms pushing perambulators around the pond. Several older children were walking alongside their carers, some were occasionally running and two young boys, probably around 6 or 7, were using sticks to push toys boats through the water.

She assumed that many of the children she could see led fairly monotonous lives. She new it was customery for the upper class to only speak to thwir childreb ince a day, and that they were raised by nannies and nurse maids until the boys were old enough to attend boarding school and the girls continued their education with their governess or attended a finishing school.

As she sat and watched the children playing he feelings on inadequacy the Raoul's mother constantly reminded her of resurged. She wanted children, but she was reluctant to welcome Raoul to her bed with his mother lurking around their home, and she hardly felt like fullfilling her wifely duties when she was relentlessly reminded that she was a social inferior and a general failure as a wife.

Then there was Erik. Her feelings for her former tutor were still very complicated; he had been a father figure, mentor and friend. She had never considered him as anything more, never thought of him as a potential suitor untill he declared his love for her. His passion was intoxicating, his voice had a quality about it that entranced her, and he had a presence that gave him complete control of the room. She knew that Erik wasn't aware of the impact he could have on women, instead he focused on his appearance and belief that no one could love someone as ugly as he. What drew her to him was his music, especially his new composisitions which told the story of a woman fighting a fall from grace.

She sat humming one of Erik's songs as she watched the two boys playing by the pond imagining what her own children would look likem. She imagined two girls and a boy, all with blonde curls and blue eyes, dressed in lace dresses and a sailor suit. She would be reluctant to send her children away and rely on nannies and nurse maids, regardless of normal practice, as she wanted her children to feel the love and support she had recieved from her father before his death.

She had been so focused on her musings that she didn't notice the man dressed in a black suit sit at the other end of the bench

"You look enchanting as always", Erik said in a hushed tone while checking his pocket watch, "blue suits you"

Christine felt her cheeks flush. "Thank you", she mumbled. Raoul very rarely complimented her, even less so since his mother had invaded their home. "But, you know I can't be seen with you. If Raoul knew...", she said looking at her hands ut allowed the sentence to die before it left her mouth.

Erik didn't care for the Vicomte's feelings, but to verbally disregard them in her presence would likely cause offense. Instead he chose to ignore the comment and rose to his feet to leave.

"I need to see you as a matter of urgency. I have secured our normal location for 2 "o" clock. Don't be late".

--xxx--

When Christine entered the room she was surprised. Erik had spent over an hour preparing the cabinet peculiar for Christine's arrival. He needed it to be oerfect; there were a dozen deep red roses tied with black ribbons on the table, a prinsesstårta, red wine and candles. The amber glow of the candles created a romantic air and the roses filled the room with the scent of an English garden. His aim was to seduce her into singing for him

She approached the table and picked up the roses to inhale their scent before taking a sip of the red wine. Erik had put a substantial amount of effort into preparing for this meeting, and she was slightly unnerved by what it could possibly mean.

"Erik, what is all of this?" she asked nervously.

Hearing the trepidation in her voice Erik encased her hands with his own, gripping them tightly, but didn't say a word. Instead he looked at her with pleading eyes.

Since they had rekindled their strange relationship she had not seen the desperate side of Erik. He had always seemed calm and collected, yet now he seemed desperate and unstable. She gave him a small smile to try and hide the panic that was slowly rising from within.

"I need you to sing for me", Erik finally spoke releasing her hands and stepping away to fetch his violin. It wasn't what she was expecting, and she gave a sigh of relief while flattening her skirts.

Her physological response to his actions didn't go unnoticed by Erik, and feeling slightly concerned that he may need to resort to plan b.

As she sung and he played, Erik could feel the tension building within him. The air seemed to crackle and felt thick and heavy. Erik noticed how Christine had created more physical distance between them, and he hoped it was because she felt the tension in the air as him, but he feared it was because she was daunted by what he may do.

"You are devine" he said slightly breathless, "perfect ".

"Only when you accompany me", she said quietly thumbing one of the roses from the table.

Erik had approached her silently, using one of the many skills hebhad learnt from his time as an assassin in Persia. He placed his hands on her shoulders, causing her to startle,

"I fear you misunderstand my intentions", he spoke as a gently guided her to turn and face him but noticing how uncomfortable she seemed he stepped away from her, "I need you to sing the lead in my production. Our lead did a midnight flit".

"I've told you: I can't. You ask too much of me"

Erik could feel his anger bubble. He couldn't understand why she would be ungrateful and disrespect him again. "I gave you my music. I gave you your voice. I don't ask too much. I ask one thing", he hissed

"No Erik, you don't ask one thing. You ask several. You ask me to lie to my husband to see you, and I do. You ask me sing your music against my husband's will, and I do. Now you ask me to sing in public and shame him and his mother. I can't"

It was the fop. It wouod always be the fop that got in his way. "So it is your boy and his mother who prevent you from fulfilling your destiny?"

"No Erik, it isn't. I am chosing not to perform. Yes, I want to sing your music. I want to perform it, but I won't shame Raoul. Not intentionally", she dared not look at him, "He's promised that when he doesn't need to rely on the family estate for money I can perform again. I can wait. When you love someone you make sacrifices for them".

Eril began to panic, he needed her to understand, "I love you"

"If you love me as much as you claim, then you wouldn't press the issue"

Erik's mind began to rapidly analyse her words: 'claim' implied she didn't believe him, 'I can wait' and 'when you love someone' made him think that she loves her husband more than she loves him. He began pacing, rapidly moving from one side of the room to the other, smoothibg the hair of his wig and flexing his fingers.

"Do you feel nothing for me?", he.spoke sharply but didn't give her enough time to answer before he started to sing. He dared not wait for her answer.

As Erik sang he led her to the day bed resting against the wall and guided her to sitting. He kissed the back of her hand before asking her again, "will you sing for me?"

She hummed a positive response before closing her eyes and letting his voice consume her. Erik fought the urge to kiss her exposed neck, but she was currently vulnerable and he had no intention of overstepping that particular boundary.

"Will you be my lead?"

"I can't" she whispered, and then made a sound simular to a sob.

"Shhhh", Erik hushed before he began to sing again. This time she rested her head against his shoulder and he stroked her soft silky hair. He hated that he had to result to this, but she wasn't being compliant.

--xxx--

A/N - Thanks for reading. I'm not sure when the next update will be as I am going away this weekend (first trip and night away since March - I'm kinda nervous!), but I will try.