The Viscountess de Chagny, otherwise known as Christine Daae, was stunning as usual in a royal blue silk ballgown. It was the costume Beauty would wear at the end of the first act. The rich color complemented her dark hair, milky white skin and blue eyes to perfection. Well, of course it did, I thought cynically. After all, Erik had drawn the sketches for the dress himself, secretly planning all along for her to be the one to wear it. Grudgingly, I had to admit that she looked absolutely exquisite.
"Come, Mademoiselle," the Viscountess gestured. "Let us speak in private."
I was not certain at all that I cared to speak to my rival for Erik's affections now or ever. But I held my tongue as she led me to her dressing room. As we made our way down the lengthy corridor, I spotted Madame Giry teaching her ballet class. She paused for a moment when she saw us pass by. I could have sworn that the harridan must have recognized me from the night of Don Juan Triumphant.
Monsieur Andre had been correct. The dressing room was overflowing with flowers and candy in anticipation of Christine's return. The costumes of Beauty were all assembled on a costume rack by her armoire.
"Mademoiselle," she curtsied. "I am so pleased to meet you. Beauty is the most wonderful role I have ever had the privilege to play. When I heard that La Carlotta was ill and that they needed someone right away, I begged the Viscount to allow me to do it. Your music is so haunting and moving, it reminds me of..." There was a wistful look in her eyes for a moment as she became lost in her thoughts. "I cannot explain but…somehow, I felt that I was destined to play this part, as if it were written for me. Do you understand?"
"I assure you, Madame, that when I wrote the part, I did not have anyone particular in mind to play it," I replied, coldly.
"I could not help overhearing Monsieur Andre mention that you did not want me for the part. Tell me, what is it about me that displeases you so? If it is my appearance or performance, I will do my best to accommodate you if I can."
I was taken aback by her eagerness to please me. After all, if the managers were dead set against casting someone else, there was little I could do about it anyway. Contracts have already been signed. She did not need my approval.
"Well, my dear Viscountess..."
"Please call me Christine, my dear..."
I nodded. "Christine." Even now I felt uncomfortable saying the forbidden name. "As I related to Monsieur Andre, I am extremely uncomfortable regarding the notoriety that surrounds your name in that nasty Phantom business. For you to play a beautiful woman in a love story with a beast is almost comical after all that has happened, don't you see? It's nothing personally against you. I would just rather see an unknown in the part without all of the scandal."
Christine bowed her head sadly.
"I can see your point, Mademoiselle DuBois."
"Angelica, please..." As much as it galled me to be on a first name basis with her, I felt that it would only be polite. And I did feel sympathy for her against my better judgment.
"Angelica...I can understand your reluctance to have your work associated with my horrible experience. But please give me a chance! I so miss singing on the stage. My career has never been the same since the Opera Ghost abducted me."
"A career he is rumored to be responsible for."
"That is true," she nodded. "I suppose I should still be a little chorus girl if it weren't for him."
"Also, why didn't you continue with your career? No one forced you to retire." Damn it, why was I trying to defend Erik now of all times?
"But, Angelica, I was petrified with fear! Surely you have heard of the heinous deeds that the Phantom of the Opera committed in his ruthless pursuit of me."
I shrugged noncommittally, still halfway disbelieving that Erik was truly guilty of everything that he was accused of.
"There were the murders of Buquet and Piangi. Then he tried to kill Raoul, my husband, several times. He even tried to force me to become his bride by threatening Raoul's life! If things had turned out differently, I dread to think of what my life might have been like, forced to live with such a deformed creature down in those catacombs the rest of my days." She could not prevent a shiver from the thought.
As angry as I was with Erik, I was still offended for his sake. She spoke of him as if he were not even a human being.
"And when he made me sing those lurid suggestive songs in his opera, there had been such mad passion in his eyes…I was quite frightened…"
I could not help but remember Erik's heated gaze at me in the library while he was reading that naughty book of his. My skin became flushed with the memory.
"Oh, my dear, I am afraid that I have shocked you," Christine sighed. "The sordidness of my relationship with that poor beast is nothing fit for a young girl's ears."
"But, Christine, I cannot understand why you would dare to return to the stage if you feel that way. Aren't you concerned that this Phantom might try to kidnap you again?"
"I am prepared to take that risk!" Her eyes lit up with excitement. "Angelica, surely I can make you understand as we are kindred spirits, you and I!"
I tried to hold back a snort. Really, this was too much!
"Whatever do you mean?" I asked.
"We are both artists. And we are both women. You know as well as I how hard it is to be respected as an artist when you are a woman. When Raoul and I were first married, he wanted to start a family right away. I have tried so hard to be a good wife to him and I do love him with all of my heart, but I don't think that his family quite approves of my career. For months now, I have tried to be everything that is expected of me. But it is no use denying it any longer. Without being able to sing or perform, I feel as if part of my soul has been lost. How would you feel if you were not allowed to write? How would you feel if there was such a wonderful opportunity so close by, just waiting you for to take it? Wouldn't you take any risk, no matter how dangerous, to make your dream come true?"
I recalled how I had grappled with the decision to agree to live with Erik in order to write my opera. How frightened I was to live with a man reputed to be a criminal yet how empty the prospect of giving up my dream was.
"That is how much I want to play Beauty, Angelica. I am willing to risk my very life. Please let me play her."
I knew that she was winning me over, and I hated myself for it.
And I had to concede that Erik was right. She was perfect for the part of Beauty. Not only did she have the voice. Not only was she beautiful. But she had shown a fair amount of courage to me just now, which Beauty needed. She had a quality of innocence that Beauty needed. As an artist, I knew he was right.
"Very well, Christine. The part is yours."
"Oh, thank you, Angelica!" Christine beamed with delight, jumping up and down, and embraced me. I halfheartedly returned her hug, her perfume of gardenias overwhelming my senses.
"Ah!" We turned to see Monsieur Andre at the doorway of the dressing room. "I see an agreement has been reached. Excellent! I am so glad our diva has been able to persuade you, Mademoiselle DuBois. And as further enticement, I have arranged for you to receive the first proceeds for the opera." He handed me a check. I must have looked like a bug-eyed fool as I gaped at it. This was indeed an extraordinary sum of money!
Monsieur Andre offered to escort me to my carriage, but of course, I refused with the pretense of having an appointment with some friends after the opera. He bowed and left.
"I won't disappoint you, Angelica. I promise!" Christine kissed my cheek before she excitedly went back to her costume fittings.
I swallowed dryly with trepidation as I left the theater. Artistically speaking, I knew that I had done the right thing. From a business standpoint, I had never been better off. But hell and damnation! How was I going to keep Erik away from Christine, especially when she was as beautiful as Helen of Troy all decked out in those costumes!
"So you are the famous female author everyone is raving about!"
A handsome young man came up to me in the lobby, looking rather familiar.
"Do I know you, Monsieur?"
He leaned over my hand and kissed it.
"Christian Deveraux, at your service."
Oh, yes. He was that fellow who had sat beside me that night at the opera when I had seen Erik for the first time.
He smiled at me.
"I have often wondered what happened to that precocious young girl who was so enchanted with the Phantom's opera."
"You are missing the performance, Monsieur." I did not want to appear rude, but I was concerned about the time and in a hurry to get back to the infirmary.
"Oh, I am not any fan of Carmen," he shrugged. "I am here to escort the Viscountess home after her rehearsal. Her husband is away on business. Being a close family friend of the de Chagnys, he asked me if I would be her chivalrous knight in armor and protect her from any ghosts that may be about." His clear blue eyes radiated with charm.
"I am sure she could not be in more capable hands, Monsieur," I responded politely, turning to leave.
"Please…" He reached for my wrist, stopping me. I was startled. "Mademoiselle, forgive my boldness, but seeing as how we have been somewhat acquainted before…"
"Yes?"
"May I escort you to the opening performance of Beauty and the Beast? I know that everyone would look forward to seeing you there, since you are both the toast of the town and a subject of intensely brutal curiosity."
I recalled how attentive this handsome stranger had been to me the first time we met. Guiltily, I acknowledged that it might be nice to spend an evening with a man who was friendly and uncomplicated for a change. All qualities that Erik decidedly lacked. And yet the idea of seeing Beauty and the Beast without him seemed dismal in the extreme.
I shook my head in refusal. "But, Monsieur, I hardly know you."
"I assure you I am quite safe. Just ask Christine."
"It is not that but…"
I noticed the clock on the wall. Five past nine o'clock! Good God, I had to go!
"May I think on the matter, Monsieur?"
"Of course, I will wait with bated breath." Taking the opportunity, he again kissed my hand. "When you have your answer, just ask Christine where to find me. These days, I am practically her shadow."
I smiled prettily and nodded.
As I made my way back to the infirmary, I could not help but groan with frustration. If Erik indeed wanted to take possession of Christine again, I was afraid that the affable Christian Deveraux would be of little protection to her.
"Angelica, there you are! I've been frantic with worry!"
Erik leapt down from his horse to escort me into the carriage.
"What on earth are you thinking wandering about on the night streets alone and as sick as you are?"
"Oh, Erik, I'm sorry to have worried you. But the smell of the infirmary and its patients made me feel rather faint. I just needed some fresh air."
"How are you? Oh, no, don't tell me now…just hurry and enter the carriage. It's quite chilly out here."
I was torn with mixed emotions. Never before had I seen Erik so concerned about me before. It pleased me to see that he cared. Yet now that it was all over, I felt racked with guilt over all of the lies and worrying that I had put him through.
Before we departed, Erik first sat beside me in the carriage, holding both my hands in a powerful grip.
"My dear, what did the doctor say?"
"Erik," I smiled, trying to calm him. "I am quite alright. Apparently, I was just suffering from a nervous condition. But he gave me some tonic for it. I am sure I will be as right as rain tomorrow."
"Oh, I am so glad…" His body almost sank with relief. "But are you certain that the doctor is correct? Can a nervous condition cause such a violent fever?"
Inwardly, I cursed. Why did Erik always have to be so bloody smart? I really didn't want to discuss the matter anymore because I was frightened that I would be caught in my deception. Then there'd be hell to pay!
"Well, I don't know, Erik. I'm not a doctor. We can only assume he knows what is best. He just said that I should get some rest. That's all."
"Of course, you will go to bed as soon as we get home. It's this damned opera that's responsible for all of this! You have been so distraught with all of this nonsense that you've made yourself sick. And I won't have it!"
