Disclaimer: This is getting so old, but I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!!!!! LEAVE ME
ALONE!!!!
Author's Note: I'm using poetic license on the characters' ages.
Guardian Angel
When the chocolate had been prepared, Michelle joined Meg and Christine around the kitchen table.
"He wasn't wearing the mask," Meg said. "Why wasn't he wearing the mask?"
Michelle raised her eyebrows. "You didn't seem too bothered by it."
Meg blushed. "Well... it's just that...he didn't look..."
"He doesn't look as bad as he did before," Christine commented. "Almost like... well, not so bad. Maybe because he's healthier."
Michelle grinned. "You mean fatter. Yes, my cooking does do that to a person. Especially four months of it. Do you think it was the thinness that made him so...whatever he was then?"
"Ugly?" Christine shrugged. "Maybe."
Michelle took a sip of her chocolate then changed the subject. She didn't like hearing anyone refer to Erik as ugly. "Maybe you should tell me why you wanted to see me. It must have been important."
Christine sighed and set down her cup. "It's... well, Raoul and I..."
"Yes," Michelle urged.
""Well, Raoul and I..."
Meg snorted. "She's having trouble with the fop."
Michelle and Christine stared at Meg, surprised by her venomous tone. She continued, "But then, what do you expect from a nobleman?" She practically sneered the word.
Michelle stared a moment longer. "We'll get back to that later." She turned back to Christine. "Now, what sort of problems?"
Christine fiddled with her napkin. "Not problems, exactly. I've just been having some doubts. I mean, Raoul is my best friend." Meg snorted again. "I'm just not sure I can really think of him as more than a friend. Do you understand?"
Michelle nodded. "I understand perfectly." Luckily, matters of the heart were a specialty of hers, another being matchmaking. Father said half the happy couples in England had met through her. But considering how few happy couples there were in England...
"I'd suggest spending some time apart," Michelle said. "You should travel. Visit the places you and Raoul went together. Visit your father's grave. Maybe it will remind you of how much you love him. Or why you two should never be together."
Christine thought a moment about this, then smiled. "That's a wonderful idea. I'll leave as soon as were finished performing 'Faust'. Thank you, Michelle."
Michelle smiled back. "I'm happy to help."
Christine continued as if they were still discussing her problem. "It's just that I always pictured myself married to someone more like my father."
Michelle froze. "You mean...older?"
"Yes," Christine gasped and continued chattering.
But Michelle wasn't listening. Her stomach had twisted itself into a painful knot. Was Christine thinking of coming back to Erik? Michelle knew now that it was Christine whom Erik had loved and lost. She wouldn't want him now, would she?
*And why should you care? * a voice in her head taunted. *That would be just the sort of happy ending you've always wanted to provide.*
*Maybe I'm tired of providing,* she thought back. *Maybe I want one for myself.*
*With Erik?*
Michelle pushed the thought away. She would think about it later, but not now. Not now.
She turned her attention back to Christine, who had paused for a breath, then broke in. "Meg? Why don't you tell us about your little problem now?"
Christine looked a little put out about being interrupted, but said, "Yes, Meg. It's your turn."
Meg stared at them as though they had lost their minds. "What problem?"
"Why you don't like Raoul," Michelle explained. "Or rather noblemen in general."
Realization dawned on her face. Then she sighed and began. "Ever since I turned eighteen, the rich patrons have been asking for my...services."
Christine looked slightly surprised. Michelle looked disgusted with the entire male population.
Meg continued. "Well, lately they've been getting more forward and...and... uncouth." She sighed again. "All in all, I don't have a very high opinion of, quote, unquote, 'gentlemen'."
Michelle nodded understandingly, then smirked. "What you need is to meet a gentleman that treats you like a lady instead of a wh-." She glanced at Christine. "A whole lot worse than he should," she finished.
Meg laughed. "If I ever met a rich man that treated me like a lady, I'd run off and marry him."
Michelle grinned, an idea forming in her head. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Author's Note: I'm using poetic license on the characters' ages.
Guardian Angel
When the chocolate had been prepared, Michelle joined Meg and Christine around the kitchen table.
"He wasn't wearing the mask," Meg said. "Why wasn't he wearing the mask?"
Michelle raised her eyebrows. "You didn't seem too bothered by it."
Meg blushed. "Well... it's just that...he didn't look..."
"He doesn't look as bad as he did before," Christine commented. "Almost like... well, not so bad. Maybe because he's healthier."
Michelle grinned. "You mean fatter. Yes, my cooking does do that to a person. Especially four months of it. Do you think it was the thinness that made him so...whatever he was then?"
"Ugly?" Christine shrugged. "Maybe."
Michelle took a sip of her chocolate then changed the subject. She didn't like hearing anyone refer to Erik as ugly. "Maybe you should tell me why you wanted to see me. It must have been important."
Christine sighed and set down her cup. "It's... well, Raoul and I..."
"Yes," Michelle urged.
""Well, Raoul and I..."
Meg snorted. "She's having trouble with the fop."
Michelle and Christine stared at Meg, surprised by her venomous tone. She continued, "But then, what do you expect from a nobleman?" She practically sneered the word.
Michelle stared a moment longer. "We'll get back to that later." She turned back to Christine. "Now, what sort of problems?"
Christine fiddled with her napkin. "Not problems, exactly. I've just been having some doubts. I mean, Raoul is my best friend." Meg snorted again. "I'm just not sure I can really think of him as more than a friend. Do you understand?"
Michelle nodded. "I understand perfectly." Luckily, matters of the heart were a specialty of hers, another being matchmaking. Father said half the happy couples in England had met through her. But considering how few happy couples there were in England...
"I'd suggest spending some time apart," Michelle said. "You should travel. Visit the places you and Raoul went together. Visit your father's grave. Maybe it will remind you of how much you love him. Or why you two should never be together."
Christine thought a moment about this, then smiled. "That's a wonderful idea. I'll leave as soon as were finished performing 'Faust'. Thank you, Michelle."
Michelle smiled back. "I'm happy to help."
Christine continued as if they were still discussing her problem. "It's just that I always pictured myself married to someone more like my father."
Michelle froze. "You mean...older?"
"Yes," Christine gasped and continued chattering.
But Michelle wasn't listening. Her stomach had twisted itself into a painful knot. Was Christine thinking of coming back to Erik? Michelle knew now that it was Christine whom Erik had loved and lost. She wouldn't want him now, would she?
*And why should you care? * a voice in her head taunted. *That would be just the sort of happy ending you've always wanted to provide.*
*Maybe I'm tired of providing,* she thought back. *Maybe I want one for myself.*
*With Erik?*
Michelle pushed the thought away. She would think about it later, but not now. Not now.
She turned her attention back to Christine, who had paused for a breath, then broke in. "Meg? Why don't you tell us about your little problem now?"
Christine looked a little put out about being interrupted, but said, "Yes, Meg. It's your turn."
Meg stared at them as though they had lost their minds. "What problem?"
"Why you don't like Raoul," Michelle explained. "Or rather noblemen in general."
Realization dawned on her face. Then she sighed and began. "Ever since I turned eighteen, the rich patrons have been asking for my...services."
Christine looked slightly surprised. Michelle looked disgusted with the entire male population.
Meg continued. "Well, lately they've been getting more forward and...and... uncouth." She sighed again. "All in all, I don't have a very high opinion of, quote, unquote, 'gentlemen'."
Michelle nodded understandingly, then smirked. "What you need is to meet a gentleman that treats you like a lady instead of a wh-." She glanced at Christine. "A whole lot worse than he should," she finished.
Meg laughed. "If I ever met a rich man that treated me like a lady, I'd run off and marry him."
Michelle grinned, an idea forming in her head. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
