Chapter 12: New York, New York
Mrs. Robert Dean hurried through the crowd at the New York post office. She paused briefly and readjusted her canary yellow hat. A piece of auburn hair fell out under her hat. She pushed the piece back and deposited her letter. She looked around to make sure no one saw. If her husband knew who the letter was addressed to, their would be hell to pay.
Mrs. Dean hurried down Seventh Street, out of Times Square. There weren't many people around, but many of the city's powerful promised it would be big one day. Charity Dean hoped not to see that day. She liked New York City, but longed for her home country. Mrs. Dean turned on to Park Avenue and went into her house. Neither her husband nor any of their friends were home. It was her and servants in the house. Charity liked it this way. She climbed up the stairs to her room.
Charity took off her yellow hat and then her auburn hair wig. She let her blonde hair fall from its bun. Here in her room, she was no longer Charity Dean but Caroline again. She and Raoul were pretending to be married as means of a hide out from the law in France. Upon waking up in a boat bound for New York, Caroline panicked. Raoul comforted her and told her about his plan. From their new names, address and marital status to the fact that they could have NO contact with anyone back home in France.
But Caroline couldn't just disappear from her friends. Since landing three months ago, Caroline had been sneaking letters to and from Carly in and out of the house. Carly was sending newspaper clips from Paris about the case. A knock came to Caroline's door. "Who is there?" she asked. "Estella, Mrs. Dean," a young voice replied. Caroline sighed. Estella was very loyal to her after Caroline rescued the young African-American girl from the streets. Only Estella could handle her mail, for the girl wouldn't tell Raoul about Carly's letters. "Just slip it under the door," Caroline ordered and took the envelope. Carly's note was brief and Caroline was more interest in the news article.
Opera Murderer Still at LargeThe adopted family of singer Christine Daae is still demanding the recovery of her missing murderer. The suspect is Caroline de Sainte, a new addition to the Opera Populaire. Many suspects were considered, but Mademoiselle de Sainte's mysterious disappearence with the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny has placed her at the top. Those closest to Mlle. De Sainte argue her innocence and insist that the Vicomte de Chagny kidnapped her. "I know Caroline would never kill anyone and would never flee from the law," says her former employer, Monsieur Joseph Myrcel, owner of Le Cirque Boheme. This case will be solved when either Mlle de Sainte or a positive murderer shows up.
Caroline sighed. How wrong things were going! Hers and Raoul's plans were going up in smoke. How long would this plan last? Caroline remembered a line from a poem she once read: "The best laid plans of mice and men oft times go awry." Caroline knew one day she would be caught and returned to France, where she would prove her innocence.
She heard the door downstairs open and the servants rush around. She heard a high feminine laugh and knew who it was. Miss Angela Carter, an alleged friend of Mrs. Charity Dean, but Caroline de Sainte knew the truth. Raoul/Robert had introduced the two women to create a friendship. However, Caroline spent nearly three years as Raoul's lover and knew he had taken a new one. Miss Carter was young, barely into her twenties, tall and curvy. She had long, blonde hair and big blue eyes. Obviously irresistible to Raoul, given regard to the appearances of both Caroline and Christine. Caroline knew in the bottom of her heart that if Raoul left her once and then saw her while engaged to Christine, what would stop home from leaving again or cheating on her. "Oh well," Caroline mused. He could have his mistress because Caroline no longer loved him.
"Mrs. Dean is upstairs, Miss Carter," a servant said. "I don't think Mistress wants to be disturbed," Estelle said. "Shut up girl!" another servant reprimanded. "Go up, Miss Carter." Angela's annoying giggle was heard again. "Thank you." The sound of Miss Carter coming up the stairs caused Caroline to put up her hair and put on the wig Raoul made her wear. The door know turn and Caroline unlocked the door, jumping back in time before the door hit her. Miss Carter walked in, looking like a peacock. She falsely smiled at Caroline and sat down in a nearby chair. She looked around the room, before turning to a still standing Caroline. "Charity," Angela said, her voice sickeningly sweet. "Horrible news. I've been evicted. So Robert said I could move in here with you two. This room strikes my fancy," Angela said.
Without waiting for Caroline/Charity's response, Angela began to walk around the room. "So now my husband is moving his mistress in to our house," Charity said, causing Angela to look at her. "Well, little Charity Dean is smart enough to see her husband is cheating on her. You obviously weren't enough for him, as I can see, and he needed me. Now, I will be here all the time," Miss Carter said, smiling evilly. Angela picked up Carly's latest letter. "Caroline," Angela read. "Caroline? Does Mrs. Robert Dean have a little secret?" Angela asked, a smug smile on her lips.
Caroline wanted to wipe that smile off her face and the one she knew Raoul was wearing as well. "Yes. Caroline de Sainte is my real name. I'm not married to Robert Dean," Caroline said. Angela's look became joyous. "So, he can properly marry me, like he said!" Angela exclaimed. "Absolutely, if you believe him," Caroline replied. Angela returned to her smug smile as Caroline took off her wig. "Of course, why should you believe someone who lied to you about everything? Even his own name?" Angela's smile was replaced by a frown of confusion. Caroline motioned to the seat Miss Carter occupied previously. "Robert's real name is Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. I'm not his wife, but his lover. He was engaged at the time to a talented, popular opera singer named Christine Daae. I, too, was in the opera after switching from the nightclub life. When Mademoiselle Daae turned up dead, I was blamed because I was jealous of Christine's role. Raoul took me, even though I was innocent and ready to defend myself. He brought me here and we started a new life," Caroline explained. Angela sat dumbfounded. "I leave you this question: How long will you stay in Raoul's heart? He said he loved me and then left me for Christine. He said he loved her, but came back to me. Now, he turned to you. How long, Angela, how long?"
Caroline escorted Angela out of the room. She closed the door and ran to a secret hole in the wall. She pulled out a good deal of American money, given to her by Raoul for clothes. She had enough clothes and hid the money. She hastily wrote a note and called up Estella. The girl appeared at the door. "Mrs. Dean?" the girl asked. Caroline tossed the note and money at her loyal servant. "Go to the local port. See if that will buy two tickets for the next boat to France," Caroline ordered. "Are you and Master Dean going to France?" Estella asked. "No, Estella, you and I are going to France. Now go!" Estella left.
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A/N: Thanks again to all who reviewed, especially Erin. Another update, another two chapters posted! I'm really on a roll here. Maybe because I already have the story written up in a notebook helps. It is getting out of control. When I wrote the first chapter, I never expected the story to go as far as I am currently planning. You never know where your muses are going to take you. I also seem to have more time, even though I should be doing college applications, which are honestly almost done. It's just trying to find my college advisor to turn them in and now I have to see her so she can yell at me for not turning them in. Great, right? Thank God that three of my colleges were able to be applied to online. Well, thanks for listening to me rant! ~*Mac*~