Chapter Two: Only Something in Me Understands
Meg made her way towards the Opera house the next afternoon, having made plans with Christine to help her pack for the journey to Rouen, and Degardeau Cottage. She quickly made her way through the Rue Scribe entrance and waited upon the banks of the lake for someone to come with the boat to ferry her across.
Very few people knew the secret of the lair, and it filled Meg with immense pleasure when she had been trusted enough to make the journey to Christine's new home. Though a part of Meg had at first rebelled at the thought of being shut up without natural sunlight, she soon got over her initial fear of the underground house. It was, she realized, filled with enough love to shine brighter than the sun since Christine had been there. The light female touches were now evident in what had once been a bachelor residence.
I wonder if they will say anything about last night, Meg thought, the idea sending a shiver of anticipation and trepidation down her spine as she saw the boat making its way across the lake in the distance.
"Good afternoon Meg," Erik said softly as he slid the boat up to the side of the dock and reached out a hand to help Meg embark.
"Good
afternoon Erik," Meg smiled back at the masked man. "How are you
today? Looking forward to your journey?"
"In a sense, yes," Erik answered honestly. "Christine is positively ecstatic over seeing Marie and Gerard again."
"I don't doubt it, she and Marie became rather close before Christmas you know."
"Yes, I know. They've asked about you."
"They have?"
"Of course they did. Marie is wondering when you're going to come back with us."
Meg chuckled, she had got on famously with Marie Degardeau over the Christmas holiday when she had stayed with them in Rouen as Erik and Christine spent their honeymoon at a home which had belonged to Erik's father on the other side of town. The six of them, for Nadir had been there as well, had made many wonderful memories, all of which Meg would always treasure. Marie had been a gentle and loving soul who had taken the two younger women under her wing rather quickly. Sometimes Meg wondered if the older woman wasn't a bit lonely, even though she had a very loving husband, for female friends.
They had reached the other side of the lake while Meg was musing in her thoughts, and Erik quickly tied the boat to the pole, and stepped out onto the wooden planks before helping Meg out of the small vessel. Then they entered the lair, where Christine was waiting in the drawing room. He quickly bestowed a kiss on her forehead before leaving the two women to their 'girl talk.'
"Ah, there you two are."
Meg smiled at her friend as Christine took Meg's hand and lead her towards the bed chamber.
"I absolutely need your help deciding what to take, Meg! Erik's already packed, and as you can see," she chuckled as she watched her husband heading towards the music room, "we interrupted him in mid composition I do believe. I had to promise to let him get right back to his work before he would go across the lake to get you!"
Meg laughed at Christine's obvious good mood as they went about the task of selecting garments that would travel well as well as look good on Christine.
"Do you know what you will be doing while in Rouen?" Meg asked.
"Well, I do know that Gerard and Marie have at least one get together planned for the time we're there. Nothing as spectacular as the masquerade they threw Christmas Eve of course, they know how Erik is around crowds, but I believe Michel and Danielle are supposed to come for dinner, and of course they already know about . . . the mask."
Meg nodded. Michel and Danielle de Calliente were close friends of the Degardeau's, and had of course, asked about the mask. Of course, they had not asked within Erik's hearing, but they knew enough and were discreet enough that Erik had begun to feel somewhat comfortable around them.
"And of course, even a small dinner party requires proper dress. Erik had
no trouble in that department, men have it so easy sometimes, comparatively,
have you noticed that Meg?"
"Only recently," Meg joked. "Oh don't look so shocked Christine! Of course I've noticed that men seem to have such an easy time with fashion. I mean, there's not much variation on a white dress shirt and coat, is there? I mean, of course there are different style coats, but not nearly as many as there are dresses, are there? I like that blue one there, it really brings out your eyes, is it new?"
"Erik's insistence the last time we went to the Rue St. Patrice, he said rather the same thing you just did," Christine giggled, her blue eyes dancing at the memory the dress was invoking. "If I remember right, he strangled a bit when he first saw me in it, I rather think it would be fun to bring this one, and it does travel rather well." That said, she proceeded to carefully pack the garment. "Now, there's something I've been dying to ask you since last night, but I didn't dare with Erik around."
"You're sure he won't hear anyway? Didn't you once tell me he could hear everything in the Opera house?"
"Not quite everything," Christine replied, her face going somber for a moment as her ears strained to hear the music coming from the music room, "Besides, he's too busy right now composing, you can hear the piano from here. He'll be entranced with the music for a few hours at least, he generally is when he's got a new piece floating in his head, and I know he wants to get this one down onto paper before we leave in the morning. Now, my question. Why were you and your mother so afraid to talk last night after Raoul showed up at the café?"
Meg's eyes widened slightly, she hadn't been sure what Christine was about to ask. "Well, Maman just thought it was a bit . . . uncomfortable, knowing the relationship you used to have with the Vicomte; after all, everyone thought you would marry him."
Christine shook her head sadly, "Yes, I know they did, even Raoul did. I know how much I hurt him, and I wish there had been a way without hurting him, but I had to be true to myself, Meg, I just couldn't marry him. I love him, but . . . not the way I love Erik."
"I know, you told me that once."
"And Erik knows that Raoul and I will always be friends, even if we haven't talked in . . . four months! Has it been that long since he was at the Opera?"
"Roughly, he's kept himself scarce since you married Erik."
"I suppose that should not surprise me, I mean, it must have hurt. But if our paths cross, I didn't intend to just ignore him, you understand? He's still a friend, and I have worried when he just seemed to disappear like that. I had not heard anything in so long, that last night to see he was at least okay was a bit of a relief, but the tension in the room was . . . it was so strange, Meg! One moment the four of us were having a rather good time, discussing the upcoming season and joking and laughing like we always do, then the next this pallor seemed to come over us, and we couldn't shake it! And then . . ." Christine trailed off as the thought which had crossed her mind the evening before as she watched her friend flitted through her head once more before she quickly cast it aside, "never mind. Nothing important."
"What is it, Christine?"
"It's nothing, Meg, honestly, just this . . . weird feeling I had, but it's so stupid."
"Christine Laramie! You're hiding something!"
Christine glanced at Meg, and saw the blush that had crept onto her friend's cheeks. 'Maybe not the only one Meg darling, I just don't want to sound stupid if I tell you my suspicions!' Christine shook her head in the negative.
"Christine, out with it, what's bothering you?"
"I told you, it was just this strange thought, not even really a thought as a . . . feeling, nothing really important at all."
Meg shook her head, "I thought you were done with hiding things?"
"Meg, I'm not hiding anything, it's just a stupid thought and I feel kinda stupid for having it is all."
"You're not in love with Raoul, are you?"
Christine's eyes widened in horror, "Meg, how could you even ask that? Of course I'm not in love with Raoul!"
"I didn't think so, but Maman was a bit worried about it. Oh, don't give me that look Christine, she didn't say anything, I could just tell."
Christine held up another dress, "What about this one?"
Meg clucked softly, but allowed the subject to drop. "It's lovely, but not nearly as lovely as . . ." she trailed off as she hunted through the wardrobe, "this one."
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'That was too close,' Meg thought as she closed the Rue Scribe gate. 'She's got an idea and you know it Meg Giry! What would you have said if she had asked? Would you have told her the truth about just how much you've been thinking about the Vicomte?
No, of course not. You'd have been too afraid that such knowledge would hurt her. After all, even if she's not in love with him, she does care for him. What would she think of all this?
It doesn't matter. The thoughts of men are not for me, I should be concentrating on more important matters. Like dancing. Maman expects so much for me to follow her footsteps, after my career at the Opera is over, then I should take over as ballet mistress from her, though we both know that is some years down the road.
She began to walk along the darkening Paris streets, lost in her thoughts and not paying attention to her direction when suddenly her path was blocked by a rather large object, and object she slammed into with more force than she could have thought possible.
"I say," a familiar sounding voice called out, "are you all right? You really should watch where you're heading, I daresay you could have been in the middle of the street and not noticed if a brougham ran you over!"
Meg shook herself out of her reverie and looked up to see who it was that she had run into, not placing the voice at first, and found the subject of her musings before her. The blush spread through her cheeks as the Vicomte looked down at her with a small smile.
"I'm . . . I'm . . ." she stammered, unable to get her tongue to unstick from the roof of her mouth. "I'm . . . okay. I'm sorry, I really should have been watching where I was going!"
"It's all right, it's not every day that I get run over by a young woman," Raoul joked. "Meg, isn't it?"
Meg's eyes widened, she hadn't realized that he would remember her name, "Yes Monsieur le Vicomte."
Raoul shook his head, "Please, its Raoul. Where are you going in such a hurry you weren't watching where you were going?"
"I was heading home," Meg blushed brightly once more as Raoul smiled down at her.
"Well then, perhaps you would allow me to escort you, so that you don't wind up in the middle of the street and run over by a brougham? It would be a waste of a fine dancer should it happen!"
Meg chuckled at his candor, "I would be delighted, Raoul."
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Author's Notes:
Deidre: Yes, Raoul has caused some trouble in the past, but much as I try, though I don't absolutely love the character, I can't hate him either. His only crime was falling in love with the same woman that Erik did, and though I LOVE seeing E and C together . . . I just can't get rid of Raoul! Hopefully though, what I have in mind for him . . . won't be hated THAT much (I'm not telling, I'm not telling . . . heck, who am I kidding, I haven't even WRITTEN it yet!) By the way, and I can't believe I didn't see this before, but did you realize the first letters of your penname spell dots?
Kates and Krista: There is going to be more, I promise . . . as to R/M . . . I'm NOT TELLING! *Chuckles* Actually, I'm not sure yet, it's not written yet!
Azure: I do try to be original, as much as possible . . . hopefully my story and other good ones on here will keep you coming back?
Angelofnight: Ahhh! A pleasure to see you reviewing as always! Hopefully this sequel won't disappoint? And do read "Arrangements" when you get the chance . . . it's not total hilarity, and it is rather short, but I think you'll enjoy it. Oh . . . and when do we get to see more of "Lyre"????
To EriksAngelLGB . . . sorry I didn't answer you on AIM the other night, you caught me when I was out of the house, at work, though I always leave messenger on (bad habit of mine! *Chuckles*) I'm glad you took the time to tell me so personally that you're enjoying the story!
Thanks to Emmy, Ash, Riene, Jennifer, and AriesSolar for reviewing! Hope y'all enjoy as this little yarn spins itself out!
Oh yeah, just so y'all know, I'm planning on updating as regularly as possible . . . hopefully I won't get too far off schedule!
Stemwinder
