Chapter four! This is my favorite chapter so far, we'll find out more about the whole abusive thing… and I'm introducing a couple OC's, so yeah, there's them… anyway, I'm going to start thanking reviewers personally now, starting with everyone who's reviewed chapter three as of this writing.
Venus725- It's supposed to be interesting, how else would I get people to keep reading?
Kytten- Vaguely glowing knight, I like that idea! Lol, French is annoying! I'm gonna take it in high school, so maybe I'll understand it better then!
rukakou- I actually wasn't trying to bash Raoul in this fic, but then my friend read it and made me realize that I was definitely fop bashing. So, yeah…
Neon signs at 2AM- Thank you! I hate those stories too, where Christine suddenly is in love with Erik and Raoul turns into an abusive bastard overnight… Ugh! So, yeah, I tried to make this one different. Cool s/n by the way:D
Phantomlover- Thank you! And yes, he really does. If I'd gotten my way, he would have Punjabbed Raoul… but ah well.
Erik'sTrueAngel- Thank you, and I agree!
Thank you all again for your reviews! Now, the reason you're here- the fic!
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Christine and Raoul were silent for a good part of the carriage ride to the duke of Normandy's estate outside Paris. He and the Duchess frequently visited the city, so they had a small estate in its suburbs. Although perhaps 'small' was an inadequate word to describe it- it was almost twice as large as Raoul's estate!
It took nearly a half hour to get there, and twenty of those minutes were spent in silence.
"Christine, don't be angry." Raoul implored.
Before she was used to Raoul's angry side, she might have sulked, and refused to forgive him. But a sprained wrist a few weeks back had taught her that it was always safer to do what he wanted her to.
She gave him the fake smile she used so often when well-meaning acquaintances asked how she had gotten this or that bruise or injury.
"Of course I forgive you, Raoul!" she assured him, putting a sweet glaze on her words. "You're my husband, and I love you."
He smiled at her. "I love you too Christine. I care about you so much."
She forced herself to smile at him. Inside, however, she felt like dying.
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A few minutes later, they pulled up to the Duke of Normandy's estate. Raoul was acting the perfect gentleman by now, helping her out of the coach and up the steps of the mansion.
The Duke's servants lead them to the sitting room, where the Duke and Duchess were waiting for them.
Once they arrived, the men greeted each other in loud, booming voices, and then began talking about masculine things, such as beer and hunting.
Christine sat down in an armchair across from Madeline, the Duchess, who had become a close friend of hers.
"Hello Christine.' Madeline greeted her.
"Hello, Madeline. How have you been?" Christine glanced meaningfully at the Duke.
"I have been alright, though my health," she glanced at her husband. "Has been at bit poor of late."
"I am sorry to hear that." Christine said sincerely. "I have been of poor health recently as well, but only because I have been careless." She glanced at Raoul.
Madeline nodded sympathetically. "There is a sort of epidemic going around, I believe. Many women of the aristocracy have been in poor health of late- like the poor Baroness L'Engle."
"Really?" Christine asked. "I am sorry to hear that. I do not know her well, but her husband is a personal friend of Raoul's."
"She broke her arm, you know." Madeline said solemnly. "She says that she slipped on a patch of ice, but-" she stopped abruptly. "Antoine, I think I'll show Christine that new rug we've got for the drawing room." She told her husband.
The Duke barely looked up from his conversation with Raoul. "Alright."
Madeline and Christine left the room. Once the door had shut behind them, Christine felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
"Now we can talk freely." Madeline told her as they walked to the drawing room. "How are you, really?"
"I'm all right." Christine said. "Raoul beat me up a little before we came over here, but I think I'm wearing enough makeup, so if it bruises it shouldn't show."
Madeline gave her and understanding look. "Antoine nearly gave me a black eye a few days ago, but other that that…"
"So, what do you think happened to the Baroness?" she asked worriedly.
"Well, you know how her husband is, I mean, he's worse than both of ours combined!" her friend reminded her as they entered the drawing room.
"Poor Monique." She lamented.
"Yes." She agreed.
"Sometimes I wonder what would be different about my life if I had protested more in the beginning." Christine lamented. "I feel ashamed that I let my husband ruin my life."
"Christine, you were blinded by what you thought was love. No one can blame you."
"I guess- I guess I really don't love Raoul anymore." Just saying it seemed to set her free. "I don't love Raoul. I don't love Raoul!" She sighed. "Maybe it's time I left him."
Madeline's eyes widened. "Christine, no! You mustn't!"
"Why ever not? Why should I remain trapped in this horrible marriage any longer?" Christine had already begun dreaming of her life as a free woman, and was not pleased to have these dreams destroyed.
"Christine, we've married some of the most powerful men in all of Paris." Madeline said quietly, as if afraid the walls might eavesdrop. "They're also some of the most dangerous. Do you know what they would do to us if we tried to leave them?" she paused, letting her words sink in. "There's no way out for us now. Our knights in shining armor have turned against us."
"The knights in shining armor… they aren't really knights, are they?" Christine mused aloud. "Maybe I would have been better off with the dragon…" she smiled. "He was an angel, you know…"
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Ok, what do you think? Review, it's easy, just press the little bluish button…
