The Others

Many people would have considered Jean Ranier's presence at the de Chagny engagement party to be in bad taste, but Jean himself never cared much for such people. Life was far too short to deny one's self the joys of living simply for propriety's sake. Always a cunning player in the various games of life, he could admit when he had been defeated, though he did so grudgingly. Marguerite was obviously happy and in love with her vicomte. It seemed she was even managing quite nicely to charm the Paris elite, or so said the general chatter about the room.

Jean really could not afford to have the de Chagny family undermining him with his patrons, but he simply could not have been expected to resist finagling an invitation to this event. After all, he needed to wish the bride good luck.

When the waltz came to an end, it happened that Raoul turned Meg in the direction of the balcony where Jean was standing. It was she who first noticed him, her step and her smile faltering slightly as her eyes locked with his. The vicomte's attention soon followed, and Jean grinned and raised his champagne glass in silent toast.

Across the floor, Raoul tensed. "He has gone too far…gentleman or no…I am going to toss that scoundrel out on his…"

"Raoul, no!" Meg's hand tightened on his arm. "There is no need…he can never tempt me away. I am yours."

Raoul turned to Meg, his eyes softening. "Mine...and I am yours." Then he turned his attention back to Ranier with determination. "But I am still going to toss him off the balcony."

Meg had no reply to that, and she found herself being pulled along with Raoul's purposeful stride. They stopped in front of a grinning Jean.

"Bon soir Monsieur le Vicomte…Marguerite, my dear." His smooth baritone rolled over the endearment.

Meg felt Raoul tense beside her. He did not even attempt to conceal the icy disdain in his voice. "Ranier. I do not believe you were invited here."

Jean raised a brow. "Actually…I was. The Comte was kind enough to extend the invitation whilst we were finalizing the details of his patronage to the Opera Populaire."

Raoul paled slightly. "My father? He would not have…"

"Ah, but he did, Vicomte. How could I refuse?"

Meg sensed Raoul's anger growing and shifting towards his father. For her part, she was certainly hurt by the implication, but not entirely surprised by Jean's presence. The Comtess had warned her that Philippe de Chagny still intended to invest in the Populaire. And for all that Meg had tried to appease Raoul's father and earn his approval, the Comte had seemingly remained rather indifferent to her. She gave a reassuring squeeze to Raoul's arm, but it did nothing to ease his displeasure.

Raoul glared at Jean. "I suppose it was impossible for you to refuse, Monsieur, as you do not seem to grasp the meaning of the word no."

Jean chuckled. "Touché."

Meg sighed in exasperation. "Jean, you really should not have come here."

His lips curved in amusement. "Marguerite…you know I seldom do what I should. But in this instance, I have only come to extend my best wishes on your marriage."

Meg's brows rose. "You have almost managed to sound sincere."

Raoul huffed. "Did he? I certainly did not hear it."

Jean ignored Raoul and kept his attention focused on Meg. "Despite what you may think of me…I have always wished for you to be happy." With a sly grin he added, "I cannot help if I feel you would be happier with me."

Raoul growled. "Ranier…one more word along those lines and I swear we will be stepping outside!"

Jean sighed. "Relax, Monsieur. You have won the day, and I congratulate you. Both you and your lovely bride shall always be welcome at my Opera."

He turned to Meg again and reached for her hand. "Mademoiselle?" Glancing briefly to Raoul, she reluctantly extended it and Jean pressed one last lingering kiss there. "I wish you every happiness, my dear Marguerite."

Meg smiled a little, ever conscious of Raoul's tense form beside her. "Thank you, Jean."

Releasing her, Jean slanted a look to Raoul which seemed to say, if you disappoint her, I will be there. Giving a curt little nod, Jean bid the adieu and moved off into the crowd.

Raoul watched Ranier's retreat with a deep frown, his eyes still heated in anger. Meg turned towards him and took his hands in hers. "Do not make more of this than you should, Raoul."

His eyes turned suddenly pensive. "How can I not? My father has gone behind my back to go into business with that…sneaky, underhanded…rogue. And to have invited him here tonight, knowing my feelings on the matter, is unforgivable."

"You mustn't say that, Raoul. Perhaps the Comte meant no harm…the Opera Populaire is a sound investment, after all."

"You are far too kind, Meg. My father has some ulterior motive, of this I am certain."

"Whatever he intends, I am certain your mother will not stand for it."

Raoul smiled slightly. "She has become quite fond of you, my love."

She smiled back. "And I of her."

"I am glad of that. But even so, I will be having a discussion with my father about his business dealings."

"But not tonight, Raoul. Tonight I wish to dance with my fiancée again."

"Are you attempting to distract me?"

She grinned. "Is it working?"

He smiled and dropped his forehead to hers. "Yes, very well."

Raoul led Meg to dance once again and for as long as the music played, the night belonged only to them.

xXx

As he had promised, Raoul had not confronted his father the rest of the evening. Guests trickled out into the night, happy and exhausted, Monsieur LeCleur and Madame Giry being the last to leave. The Comtess had asked them both if they wished to stay the night, as the house had more than enough guestrooms, but they had both politely declined. Meg, however, was settled into her very own room that the Comtess had insisted upon preparing for her. It was silently understood that the future Vicomtess should not be sleeping in a boarding house.

Early the next morning, Raoul made his way to his father's office, knowing the Comte was a creature of habit. His father always arose at dawn and enjoyed a cigar while reviewing his papers. Rapping swiftly on the door, he did not even wait for his father's response before he entered. Glancing up from the papers he was studying, Philippe de Chagny raised his brows at his son.

"Raoul. I had not expected you to be up and about at this early hour after last evening's excitement."

"Last evening's excitement is precisely the reason I must speak with you, Father. I demand to know what you are plotting with Ranier."

Sighing heavily, Philippe leaned back in his chair. "I have reinvested in the Opera."

Raoul eyed his father carefully, waiting for some further explanation. There was none. "Is that all the answer I am to expect?"

"It is all there is. You, yourself, introduced me to the man, Raoul. Was I expected to pass on an exceptional business opportunity simply to soothe your ego?"

Raoul leaned over his father's desk. "You were expected to remain loyal to your son. Instead you extended that man an invitation into this house."

Philippe nodded slowly. "I confess I did have other reasons for that."

Raoul straightened. "I knew it! What did you hope to gain, Father? Did you think to cause a scene…embarrass Meg?"

Philippe leaned forward now, his eyes flashing. "No! You have misunderstood my motives, Raoul."

"Then kindly enlighten me."

"I told you I would make no attempt to stop your marriage, and I have not. I only wanted to be certain…"

Raoul's eyes darkened. "Certain? Did you mean to make certain that Ranier would do your dirty work for you?"

Philippe's eyes filled with pain. "No! I meant to make certain you would not be hurt again, Raoul."

Raoul stared at his father in angry confusion. "By inviting my rival to steal the woman I love away from me?"

"I did no such thing! The de Chagny patronage is on the condition that Ranier not interfere further in your relationship with Marguerite. His presence here last evening was at his own request…to wish you both well. I…could not see the harm in it, as your Meg is obviously in love with you. Indeed, I thought if Ranier were to see you both together in such obvious happiness, he could have no choice but to quietly concede."

Raoul raised his brows in surprise. "Happiness? I thought you believed my engagement to yet another actress to be insanity."

Philippe colored in embarrassment. "Yes…well…the girl…is actually rather… exceptional…all things considered."

Raoul was taken aback by his father's confession, then he grinned suddenly. "Careful, Father. I might think you've actually come to like my fiancée."

Sitting back in his chair again, Philippe de Chagny bristled. "I certainly do not dislike her."

Raoul leaned over the desk once again with a happy smile on his face. "She will be most pleased to hear that."

Indeed, upon hearing of the conversation, Meg was most pleased. And, though he would never admit it, the Comte de Chagny was most pleased when Meg placed a happy kiss to his weathered cheek after he had finally given them his official blessing.

A/N: Perhaps a bit redundant in fact, but I felt the need for a little closure between Jean and Meg, and Raoul and his father. Two birds...one stone. Just two more chapters to go. Next up...the highly anticipated wedding.