A/N: Wow, thank you for all of the wonderful reviews, I'm hoping that I can clear some of the queries up.
Amber: What a long review, I appreciate the time you took on it. I'm still in two minds about giving Christine a real backbone in this but I'm trying so hard to keep her to the character that Leroux and Webber created between them. I find Christine an annoying character generally lol but I like her in a strange way and I am hoping that I can develop her slowly into a character almost worthy of Erik's attention.
Modesty: It's pretty true that women weren't supposed to walk alone, they tended, particularly the rich, to walk with a chaperone. But Christine in the book, play and movie never did and I find that although she can be annoying she certainly has a mind of her own. Perhaps quite bratt-ish in a way, also as one of the poorer classes (the way she grew up) I would expect her to take exception to being watched constantly. However, you bring up a good point which I had been leading to… which will be addressed in this chapter.
Ahomelesspirate: Thank you again for your review, I can see why Erik won't speak to her either. On the one hand he is angry, he is hurt and he is alone… she left him. On the other he doesn't want to remember why he loved her and if they don't delve into conversation there is a chance he won't.
Starfire: As I said above, Erik is hurt. Would you want to talk to her? Make small talk or even see her? And thank you ever so much for your time to review, stick with me… Erik may or may not soften but we have not seen the last of him or his horse!
Chapter 20- Homecoming.
The warm smell of onions frying wafted over the entrance hall and into Christine's nostrils. She took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, almost tasting the food as she removed her jacket. The clock in the hallway said nine o clock and she turned her back to it and hobbled through to the dining room where she made herself comfortable at the head of the table and rubbed her feet. The butler had not heard her come in and she was surprised to see no maids running around setting things up for dinner. They were eating late this evening anyway and so she was sure that she had not missed it.
It was a few minutes of relaxing, leaning back in the chair, before she heard the commotion from outside the front door. There were men speaking, one was the house watchman and the other the butler and she wondered what they were doing outside. She stood gingerly and hopped to the window to take a peek as the door burst open and in strode Raoul.
A furious looking Raoul.
Christine swallowed hard.
'Where have you been?' he demanded and she sat on the window seat, shrinking away from his looming figure. 'Christine?'
'I went for… I went for a stroll,' she said, looking up at him. He sighed in exasperation.
'I was worried sick! You can't just take off like that, what… what on earth were you thinking going out alone without telling anyone where you were going to?' he said, raising his voice.
'I needed some air.' She said innocently.
'Air?' he asked, staring at her. 'You needed air?'
She nodded slowly and he shook his head violently and began pacing around the room, from wall to wall, rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced over at her and then down at her ankle. He stopped in his tracks and stood facing her.
'What happened?' he asked, his voice becoming softer. She fought back a sob.
'I was walking quickly to get home and I tripped,' she said quietly, staring at her hands. Raoul walked over to her and knelt at her feet, taking her hands in his and rubbing the backs softly.
'Who bandaged it for you?' he asked and lifted her hands to his mouth, kissing them both softly.
'A passer by,' she said.
'We must reward him!' Raoul said, jumping to his feet.
'No,' said Christine, reaching up for her husbands hands. 'He wanted nothing, he simply brought me here and left.'
'Good man, if you should ever see him while we are out you must point him out to me, Christine.' He said, genuinely appreciative of this gentleman's aid.
'I will,' she lied.
'Christine, listen,' Raoul said, taking a seat next to her and glancing at her sideways. 'You can't go out alone like that' he nodded, as if prompting her to agree with him. When she did nothing he continued. 'It's a dangerous world now a days, you never know what you'll find and well… you're with me now and I don't like you being alone.'
'Raoul, I don't want to be watched over, I don't need to be,' she said and thought about Philippe. Yes, it was in her own home that she was most at risk now. But was it really her home? She tried to feel comfortable in its beautiful surroundings, attempted to make herself at home, as part of the furniture but it never really felt that way. She felt out of place.
'Darling,' he said softly, keeping the irritation out of his voice. 'It isn't a matter of being watched over, I just want you to be safe.'
She looked at him and he kissed her cheek softly before standing and walking toward the kitchen. She stared after him and waited for him to return and when he did he was holding a bowl of freshly made onion soup, which he placed on the table. Christine stood and limped towards him and he helped her into her seat, ever the gentleman, before sitting down opposite her.
'I sent the maids to their quarters for the evening,' he said and took a bread roll from the centre of the table, breaking it in two and then popping a smaller chunk into his mouth. He chewed it carefully.
'Why?' she asked, taking a small sip of the soup from her spoon.
'I'm expecting Philippe over and thought it would be nice for just us to be around,' he said, smiling, but Christine froze, her hands gripping the edge of the table making her knuckles a ghastly white.
'Oh,' she said and stared at her soup.
'Don't worry,' Raoul said gently. 'He is coming round to you, I promise.'
'I feel ill,' she said abruptly and Raoul glanced over at her.
'Are you okay?' he asked, all scepticism disappearing as he looked with concern at the paleness of her usually rosy cheeks.
'Yes, it must be all the excitement of today,' she said, pushing her soup away and standing from the table. 'Would you get a message to see if Meg is free to tend to me? I would really appreciate a friend's care while you're with Philippe this evening.'
'I won't hear of it,' he said quickly. 'I'll cancel and stay with you.'
'No, no,' she said, not wanting to aggravate her situation with her brother in law. 'Really, I'll be fine. Please… just call Meg.'
Raoul sighed but called the butler through to the dining area and whispered into his ear, with a nod he left and Raoul stood to help Christine to the top of the stairs. When they reached her room he carefully helped her to undress and climb into her night clothes before tucking her into bed, pushing the blanket in around her body and kissing her forehead lightly.
'Are you sure that you'll be alright?' he asked, looking down at her white face.
'Yes,' she replied, emphasising it with a nod. 'I just need some rest.'
'I have sent for Meg and I'm sure if she isn't busy she will be right here.' He said, and with a final kiss on her cheek, he left her in peace.
Now it was for Christine to decide how much to tell her faithful friend.