Thanks for the reviews - I promise something will happen soon! Please R&R - Atrice...
Part 5 - Before nightfall
Lucille didn't sleep that night at all. Too much had happened this evening. First the proposal from Artus, and she had agreed to marry him. In fact they had talked with their parents about it right away, and the blessing had been given. They were to be married, and she had been so happy about it, just like Artus. Lucille had forgotten all about the Operahouse, until she came home… and Coretta read that note. What did 'O.G' stand for? Who was he really – he had to be a real man and not a ghost, since ghosts couldn't write and send letters – at least not in Lucilles world. Coretta had asked her not to go there, but Lucille just said she'd think about it.
Tuesday she had gotten the proposal and the note. Artus came to see her the very next day, and the day after that, in fact he now came every day – and Lucille decided, that it was best not to mention the note.
"You are happy, right? That we will be married…" Artus said to her, when they had lunch a few days later at her place. It was Friday. He thought she was particularly quiet today, and not happy and talking like the other days. She just ate her lunch and she looked down, as if she could see the food. She looked up when he talked to her.
"Of course I am! Why shouldn't I be?" Lucille smiled. He decided to leave it, since they were going to be married after all. And she had seemed happy about it the other days, perhaps she just had a bad day. Artus left the house just before dinner, and after dinner Lucille asked Coretta to find a really pretty dress.
"But why? Artus has gone home now…" Coretta said – she had forgotten all about the note.
"I just need it, that's all. You say you like me in the white and pink dress, find that for me." Lucille continued, and Coretta found the dress for her, and helped her dress.
"There, now you look fine. I just don't understand…" the maid said with a sigh.
"I'm going out tonight, Coretta. Don't tell my parents, or Artus. Anyone. I have ordered a carriage, and it's picking me up at sunset, which should be soon, right?" Lucille said, and suddenly Coretta remembered it all.
"I just have a really bad feeling about this, miss…" she said. But Lucille looked firm.
"I need to go, Coretta! Is it sunset soon?" Lucille said, her voice much more insistent than usually. Coretta had never heard her speak with such a voice before, but had no choice. She helped Lucille outside, and stood there until the sun was almost gone, and the carriage arrived to pick Lucille up. With a sigh Coretta went inside again, to wait – for what she didn't know, but she had a bad feeling. And nobody else but her knew it – she would never betray her friend, although she felt at least Lucille's parents should know.
Lucille asked the man who drove the carriage, to take her to the back of the old Operahouse. He wondered what such a fine girl wanted there, but asked no questions. Lucille couldn't decide on what she felt – she just knew she had to do this, she had to hear his voice again, and meet him. Find out who he was, he who seemed to live in an old, damaged and burnt Operahouse, alone.
"We're here, miss Lucille." The man said and stopped the carriage. She'd never been there before, and had no idea where to step. Was this such a good idea anyway? Who was O.G. and could he handle her, a blind girl who'd never been there before?
"Will you please… help me down?" she said, not very loud, and the door was opened and a hand touched hers, and she was led out of the carriage.
"Shall I wait for you, miss?" he asked, but she didn't know what to answer. Finally she shoke her head, and he went back on the carriage and drove away. Lucille was all alone – she had only brought an umbrella, closed, so that she could feel her way if nobody came. The place was quiet, almost too quiet she felt. She stood still where she had stepped out of the carriage, waiting...