CHAPTER 4—THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Over the next few weeks, Christine hurriedly prepared herself for her wedding. The event was to be small with only family and close friends in attendance. Christine begged Raoul to allow Madame and Meg Giry to come. After several days, he relented, and a letter was sent to them announcing the date. While sitting in the parlor with Raoul's mother one day, the woman raised a question that Christine had not ever given thought to.

"So, Christine," she said pleasantly, "who is your maid of honor going to be?"

For a moment, Christine was confused. Then she remembered—she did still need a maid of honor.

"I don't know," she said.

The countess raised her eyebrows. "You don't know?" When Christine shook her head, the countess launched into a list of names of appropriate women, none of whom Christine knew. After several minutes, a name came to Christine.

"What about Eva Dusek?" she asked.

The countess's brow crinkled delicately. "Who?"

"Viscountess Dusek. You know her; she lives on that massive estate just west of here." Christine paused for a moment as the countess thought. "I think I'd like to have Eva be my maid of honor. She has been my closest friend while I've been here. And she's nobility," she added.

The countess nodded. "Where did she come from, again?"

Christine thought for a moment. "Czechoslovakia, I believe."

"How did she come to be here?"

Answering this without revealing that Eva had never been married would be tricky. "I believe she came here with her husband." She would have to remember to tell Eva this.

It went over with the countess smoothly. "Is she religious?" the countess asked, looking as if she would refuse Christine if she said Eva weren't.

"Lutheran, I think." She had never seen a crucifix in the house, but she had been there for the prayers at dinner, which were spoken in what sounded to Christine like a mix of German and Latin.

Nodding again, the countess went back to her needlework. Suddenly she loo ked up, apparently confused about something. "Dusek?" she asked. "I thought his name was Desruiseau," she said.

Christine's head shot up from the book of poetry she was reading. "Was it?" she asked. Thinking quickly, she said, "I believe he died so soon after their marriage that she kept her maiden name."

"I never heard of their marriage." The countess was growing suspicious now.

"It was kept very quiet," Christine said, as calmly as she could. "They were a somewhat withdrawn couple."

She was saved from further explanation by Raoul entering the room. He kissed his mother on the cheek in greeting. "Mother, you wouldn't mind if I stole Christine, would you?"

Countess de Chagney smiled at her son. "The two of you should go for a walk while this weather is fair," she said. "The breeze it picking up, and it may rain later."

Raoul smiled at his mother and held out an arm for Christine. "Come along, darling."

Giving a quick curtsy to the countess, Christine took Raoul's proffered arm and smiled up at him as they took their leave. "You've been so busy these last few weeks," she said. "I've hardly seen you."

He smiled. "I know," he said, "and I apologize. Business with Phillipe again, you see."

Nodding, Christine allowed Raoul to open the door and lead her outside. "Where shall we walk to, my dear?"

A thought occurred to Christine. "You haven't met Eva yet," she said. "The two of you have never been home at the same time. She's going to be my maid of honor, you know." She paused, then said, "Or would she be a matron?"

"I suppose," he said. "Whatever happened to that man of hers?"

"He passed away several years ago." She grinned at Raoul. "How good are you at keeping secrets from your mother?"

A positively wicked grin crossed Raoul's face. "Excellent," he said.

"She and Christophe were never married," she said. She giggled. "They were engaged, but they never married."

Raoul raised his eyebrows. "I thought she had a son."

"She does." Her smile turned sad. "Jean is all she has left of Christophe."

Raoul nodded. "I see." He glanced toward the stables. "Shall we ride, then? I believe it's a long walk."

Thirty minutes later, Christine was bounding out of the carriage toward the enormous house. Behind her, Raoul let out a low whistle. "I'd forgotten how enormous this place is."

Christine grinned and took his hand. "Come on, you have to see Eva."

Before Christine even reached the door, however, it opened and Jean rushed out and threw himself at his knees. "Christine! You're here! Mama, Christine is here! Look, mother!"

Eva appeared in the doorway with Nadir. She smiled out at Christine. "Hello!" she called.

Scooping Jean up into her arms, Christine grinned happily at Raoul before rushing toward Eva. "Look who finally came home," she said happily, gesturing to Raoul. "Eva, this is Raoul. Raoul, this is the woman who has saved my sanity."

At this, Eva laughed that beautiful laugh and extended a hand to Raoul. "It's wonderful to finally meet you, Raoul," she said. "This is Nadir," she added.

Nadir extended a hand, but the smile on his face did not quite reach his eyes, which Christine found vaguely odd. "A pleasure, viscomte."

Raoul smiled back. "You as well, Nadir." He looked between Eva and Nadir. "You are married?" he asked.

"No," Eva said, taking a squirming Jean from Christine. "Nadir is my companion and protector. A lady cannot live without fear in this world, it seems." She shook her head, but did not elaborate. She smiled brightly at the couple. "Tea?"

An hour later, the women were still talking animatedly, and Raoul was beginning to look rather bored. Eva noticed this with a smile. "I can see that we are boring you, Raoul. If you wish to return home, we can take Christine along later."

Raoul looked toward Christine. "You don't mind, darling?"

"No," she said, and oddly, as little as she had seen her fiancé lately, this was true. "I don't mind one bit. I'll walk you to the door."

He smiled at her then turned to look at Eva. "It was wonderful to meet you, Eva. I'll see you at the wedding next week, then?"

Eva nodded and smiled. "It's been a pleasure, Raoul."

After kissing her hand, he turned to Nadir and extended his hand. "It was nice to meet you, Nadir. I trust you will be in attendance next week as well?"

Nadir smiled and nodded. "I must protect Eva from the evils of the world, after all," he said, smirking.

Raoul chuckled and turned to Christine. She smiled and led him to the door. "I'll be home later."

"I love you," he said, giving her a gentle kiss. When she tried to deepen it, he pulled away. "Not here, Christine. It's not proper."

"But it was proper at the opera?" The words tumbled out before she could stop them and she clapped a hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry," she said.

Raoul turned to go without another word. Christine did not stop him.

Is this what our life is going to be like? she wondered. Shaking her head, she watched until the carriage had pulled out. She was about to go back inside when she heard another carriage coming from the other direction. Frowning, she looked back at the drive to see a black carriage trundling up toward the house. Walking back inside, she went to the sitting room and looked at Eva.

"Eva, I think there's someone here."

A small frown line creased Eva's brow and she looked out the window. Her eyes widened, and her face registered shock. "Oh, God," she murmured. "Nadir, it's Erik."

"Who is Erik?" Christine asked, confused.

Instead of answering, Eva rushed from the room, leaving Nadir and Christine behind. Christine made to follow her, but Nadir gently restrained her. "Would you be so kind," he said, "as to check on Jean?"

Christine nodded. "Where is he?"

"In the music room, I believe, practicing."

He rushed her up the stairs then followed after Eva. Christine was tempted to follow him, but instead headed toward the music room. When she arrived, she could hear Jean inside. She opened the door and peered in. He did not see her right away and continued to play. He was fantastic for a four year old boy. His hand barely made it around the instrument, but he played beautifully. Christine listened for several minutes until he finished his song, and then applauded, entering the room.

"Christine!" he cried, bouncing up and down. "Did you hear me? Am I getting good?"

"You're unbelievable!" she laughed, picking him up and spinning him in a circle. "Wait until you're a grown man, you'll be phenomenal!"

"I want to be just like Uncle Erik!" he exclaimed, grinning at her.

The name rang a bell. "Uncle?" she asked. "Erik is your uncle?"

The boy nodded excitedly.

"Let's go downstairs, Jean," she said, smiling. "I think there's someone you'd like to see."

The boy squealed with delight. "Who is it, who is it?"

"It a surprise." As she walked down the stairs, she could hear voices in the entrance way.

"It's not that I don't want you here, it's just that I have… company right now," she heard Eva say. "Maybe you could go out for a walk for a while."

"I don't want to go for a walk," said a deep voice. "I wish to see my nephew." The voice was somewhat familiar to Christine, but she could not place it.

At the sound of his uncle's voice, Jean began to squirm in Christine's arms, and she set him down. He raced down to the landing, then down the stairs and she heard him shout out to his uncle.

"Uncle Erik! You're here! I missed you! You have to come hear me play, I'm getting good, aren't I mother?" Christine smiled; she could practically see the boy attacking his unsuspecting uncle.

"Are you?" asked the deep voice that belonged to Erik Dusek. "You've been practicing, then?"

"I want to be as good as you are!" Jean said happily.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Christine found herself looking at the back of a man that had to be Eva's brother. He was tall and wore a long cloak. The hair beneath his hat was black, and he was very broad shouldered. As Christine watched, he removed the cloak and dropped it over the top of the little boy's head, then took off his hat, as well. Jean appeared from under the folds of the cloak, giggling.

"You're silly, Uncle Erik," he said.

The man laughed and raised the boy into his arms. As he was putting his uncle's hat on his head, Jean caught sight of Christine and smiled. Eva followed his gaze. The look on her face was positively horrified. Nadir caught sight of her, as well, and his dark eyes widened with shock. Christine frowned, unable to understand the looks on their faces.

"Uncle Erik," said Jean excitedly, "you have to meet Mademoiselle Christine!" He pointed at her over his uncle's shoulder, and the man turned to look at her.

For a long moment, no one in the room moved. Christine found herself having to force herself to breathe.

It was him.

He was here, standing in the entrance of Eva's house holding a little boy in his arms. She could see and feel the shock radiating from him as he stared at her through the white half-mask he wore.

Christine clutched a hand to her chest. "God," she whispered. She took a tentative step toward him, barely noticing Nadir take the confused Jean from him. For a long moment they merely stared at each other. "My God," she whispered again, as she took another step. She suddenly felt lightheaded. Her breathing was shallow and she saw his eyes widen as she swayed on the spot.

"Christine," said Eva, tentatively. "Are you alright?"

"I'm—" She tried to say fine but the word never came from her lips. She felt her knees give way; felt herself tumble toward the floor. She heard them all cry out her name in alarm. Then everything went black.

a/n Wow. This makes two chapters in the same day. That's gotta be a record. Ah, well. Terrible cliffy, I know. Maybe I'll do another chapter today!