It was early that same evening and already the party was in full swing. Most of the company had arrived, some of them were already on the dance floor while others were sitting at the tables watching the woman in a pink dress and a white wig, singing on the stage. The young Count Phillippe was sitting at a table near the stage with three women from the chorus but unlike everyone else he didn't seem to be enjoying the party. He sat on his chair fidgeting quite anxiously and every now and then he would get up and always looked towards the entry way. The three women sitting with him were concerned about his strange behaviour.
"I have never seen him like this" the woman in a dark green dress and black headdress commented.
"He seems so distracted" commented a woman in a light pink dress with flowers around the neckline.
Monsieur Cholet and Carlotta had now arrived and when they saw the young Count, they bowed and curtsied and in return he bowed back then sat back down at his table. Carlotta was wearing a black dress with white roses around the shoulders and neckline and on her head, she wore a black headdress with white roses all around it. Cholet wore a dark brown coat with matching trousers, his waist coat was the same colour but also had a golden pattern sewed in and he wore a white shirt and bow tie.
XXX
Whilst back at the Opera House, The Daae sisters were getting dressed for the night. Erik was kind enough to also gift Christine with a dress, hers was a fitted cream colour dress with white roses around the shoulders and neckline. After having a wash both sisters' helped each other get into their dresses whilst Erik waited behind the changing screen, giving Catherine words of encouragement.
"You have nothing to be concerned about I have faith. I promise you are going to be fine" he said.
Catherine said nothing as she brushed her hair whilst Christine was fastening the back of her dress.
"And I will be right there with you Cathy. I know you can do this. Papa and I have always said you were born to be a great singer and tonight you will show everyone that" said Christine as she gave her sister a hug from behind. Catherine touched her sister's hands and smiled. After a moment they released each other and swapped around so Catherine could help Christine with her dress.
XXX
At the Bistro, Count Phillippe was getting more anxious by the minute and decided to go outside for some air. When he reached the bottom of the stairs a voice suddenly called out to him.
"Phillippe!?"
Phillippe turned to see a male figure coming towards him. His face was hidden in the shadows of his top hat but when he removed it Phillippe was glad to see it was the Opera's former manager, Gerard Carriere.
"Gerard!? My dear friend!" said Phillippe with a beaming smile as he embraced the older gentleman, which he gladly returned.
"This girl who's voice you want me to hear, who is she?" asked Gerard with a knowing smile.
"Come have a drink with me" said Phillippe as he led Gerard inside.
The two made their way to the bar and Phillippe bought their drinks.
"Thank you, for remembering me" said Gerard as he and Phillippe clinked glasses together.
"Remember you? Gerard, please you didn't deserve what happened" said Phillippe then took a sip from his glass.
"Frankly, I did not think so either. But what does it matter? I should have retired years ago" said Gerard, reassuringly.
"But tell me, tell me about these girls you appeared to be so interested in" said Gerard in an eager manner.
"The oldest plays the Violin so beautifully and the youngest has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard" Phillippe stated factually.
"Like all the other women you have sent to me before?" asked Gerard.
"No, these two are different" said Phillippe with a cheeky smile.
Gerard laughed at this then gave the young Count a pat on the cheek with his right hand.
"Of course, to the difference" Gerard chuckled and the two clinked glasses again.
Phillippe gave a small laugh and then took a sip from his glass.
XXX
Back at the Opera House, Christine was now dressed and had finished pinning her hair up into a bun and put a small white head dress on. Catherine was finishing up her hair which she was doing half up, half down style. Erik was holding up a hand mirror to help her see what she was doing.
"Forgive me, I am hurrying as fast as I can" said Catherine in a frantic tone.
"Don't worry, I have never seen such perfection" said Erik as he watched her every movement with hidden admiration.
Catherine looked up at him and found herself lost in his beautiful hazel brown eyes and felt her cheeks getting warm for his words flattered her more than any other words that have been spoken to her.
From the side lines, Christine watched the two of them interact and couldn't help but smile for she suspected something was going on between them even though neither one of them has admitted it.
XXX
The party back at the Bistro was getting livelier as the night went on with dancing, singing from up on stage and a lot of drinking. Carlotta and Cholet were among them, they were sitting at a table near the stage and were sharing a bottle of Champagne between them when Cholet's assistant arrived and approached their table.
"Good Evening Madame" he said giving Carlotta a kiss on the hand afterwards then addressed Cholet.
"I just saw the figures, 'Faust' is sold out" he said with an enthusiastic tone.
Carlotta froze when she heard what he said and turned to her husband.
"What!?" she asked.
"We decided to announce of 'Faust'" said Cholet with a calm tone, keeping his eyes fixed on the stage.
"With me?" asked Carlotta.
"I believe we managed" said Cholet calmly, he looked at his wife out of the corner of his eye.
"That is why it is sold out" said the assistant excitedly as he sat down in the vacant chair beside Carlotta.
"I said I will not sing again, and I meant it. Not 'Faust', not anything, not! Until this masked fiend is killed" said Carlotta in an angry tone.
"Darling, he has done nothing bad to you in well over a month" said Cholet, trying to calm his wife.
"Ha, because I haven't sung in well over a month" she said stating the facts.
"Yes, and our business shows it!" exclaimed Cholet, feeling frustrated at his wife's stubbornness but then took a deep breath to calm himself.
"Darling, our audience is waiting for you" Cholet continued speaking as he took his wife's hand to give her a kiss but before he could she pulled her hand away.
"I'll say they're waiting" she sneered.
"No, it is not like that" Cholet said defensively.
No words were spoken between the three of them for a few moments which gave Carlotta to calm down a little. And then her husband spoke.
"Tell her" he told his assistant.
"Until Madame came, Opera was getting very dull here is Paris" he said.
"And why?" asked Cholet.
"It was too serious" stated the assistant.
"Exactly. Darling, you have shown Paris that Opera doesn't have to be that way" said Cholet as he went to give his wife another kiss on the hand.
Carlotta's temper was at boiling point and when her husband brough her hand to his lips she practically punched him in the mouth and rose from her chair.
"I am not a buffoon!" she exclaimed angrily and stormed away.
Before she could leave, Phillippe approached her.
"Madame Carlotta, I have a favour to ask you" he said, Carlotta was more than happy to indulge the young Count, so she allowed him to lead her to a vacant table in the corner, next to the bar. He pulled out a chair for her to sit down and ordered a bottle of Champagne for the two of them and then they got to talking.
"These young girls are what?" she asked.
Phillippe coughed slightly after swallowing his drink too quickly.
"My nieces" he stated with a white lie.
"Really?" asked Carlotta with a charming smile as she took a sip from her glass.
"Anyway, somehow foolishly I had promised the youngest singing lessons. My older niece has found an occupation she is content with" he stated as he poured more Champagne into his glass.
"What can I do?" asked Carlotta, eager to please the young Count.
"Well, you could give them to her" Phillippe suggested.
"I?" Carlotta asked in an innocent tone.
"Who better? Let me add, if you would I would be willing to cover the company's operating deficits for, let's say the next three years" said Phillippe, making a convincing proposition.
Carlotta was surprised by his offer and now was even more eager to please the Count.
"Well, I would be overjoyed to give her lessons" she said excitedly.
"I am so relived" said Phillippe with a smile then he and Carlotta clinked glasses to seal the deal.
"When can I meet her?" she asked before taking a sip.
"I was hoping tonight. They both promised they would come but..." said Phillippe but then he could not find the right words to finish his sentence.
"They are shy?" asked Carlotta.
"Extremely" said Phillippe with a smile.
"Nieces are like that" whispered Carlotta in a reassuring manner.
Just then Christine and Catherine had arrived, over their dresses they each wore a hooded cloak. Christine's cloak was a navy-blue colour whilst Catherine's was a sky-blue colour. The doorman helped them take their cloaks off and placed them in the cloak room. Phillippe noticed their arrival.
"Here they are" he said getting up from the table and left Carlotta.
Carlotta turned to where he was heading, and her smile dropped when she saw it was Christine and Catherine he was approaching.
"Christine, Catherine?" she whispered to herself as she watch the young Count greet them.