A/N:
Amber: The aim is to make Philippea nasty piece of work! Hope you're better!
Modesty: Thank you for your comments! We may see Emily again ;)
Ahomelesspirate: Thank you for your reviews. I'm trying to give Raoul different dimensions… lol trying.
Thanks for your patience.
Chapter 33- Friends and Enemies.
Meg Giry sat with her back to the fire facing her mother and next to Henry. Slowly, Henry had been integrated into her family and her circle of friends, he had been invited to the opera, given special seats and all in all treated like a member of her close knit little group. Christine still had never met him and that was where Meg's mind kept running back to. She wanted to know where her friend was and had a feeling that her mother knew, although she had not explicitly said as much.
'Are you okay?' Henry asked, concerned. She placed her hand softly over his and stroked it.
'I'm fine,' she said, honestly. She was fine, she was just a little bit worried. And she was allowed to be surely. No one had seen nor heard from Christine in months, she had simply vanished. Anyone would be worried about their best friend in these circumstances.
'Are you sure?' her mother asked, and she nodded slowly. Her blonde hair was scraped back showing off her now high cheek bones, no longer the youth she used to be, she had blossomed beautifully, and she had nearly as much admiration as the singers.
'Think about Christine,' she said. Her mother nodded at her and she felt Henry squeeze her hand. She looked up at him, watched the way the light from the window emphasised his smooth lips and grey eyes. 'Where is she?'
'I don't know, Meg,' said her mother, her expression creasing to a frown. Meg felt Henry's hand stroke her arm.
'I'm sure she is okay, Meg, darling, I'm sure,' he said gently, his eyes fixed on her face. 'Perhaps she's just taking some time out to get her head around things,'
'I wish I could see her, though,' said Meg, feeling a lump rise on her throat. Losing Christine was like having an arm cut off.
'Shh,' he said, his tone was understanding, calm. 'She'll come back when she's ready.'
'He's right,' said Madame Giry. 'I'm sure that when she feels she has taken enough time out she will return and things will be as they were before. Like nothing has changed'
Meg nodded but wasn't convinced, wherever her friend was her mother wouldn't tell her and she was just going to have to wait to make the announcement that she and Henry were engaged to be married until her friend came home.
She just hoped that it was soon.
Philippe watched Raoul's demeanour at the dining table. He noted that his brother was quiet and reserved, and frankly, irritating. Raoul made him almost sick inside, it made him feel ill when he saw his brother so down and forlorn and giving in to his emotions. It simply was not what De Changy's did.
Philippe was very aware of the fact that every time conversation was averted away from Raoul his eyes darted to the door, as if he were planning his escape. No doubt he was.
Philippe also did not doubt that he would find Christine now he had enlisted the help of a new friend. The person had been recommended to him by several other acquaintances and when he had checked his spy out he decided that they were perfect for the job. He gave it less than a month before he would know where she was.
The question was, what would he do with the information once he had it? Philippe was now in no doubt that the man he had seen had been posing as the Phantom to frighten him away. He had at least managed to convince himself of this. However, he also knew that the man's calm expression would haunt him until he had found him.
Which was another thing.
Where ever Raoul's precious wife was she was there with this man, her lover, or who ever it was. Philippe had almost made a decision about the whole event. Both Christine and the masked man would have to go and never been found. It simply wasn't good enough to have rumours flying around about any of the family, least of all the first heir.
His eyes darted to Raoul who was forcing a smile at one of the women who was shamelessly flirting with him. Philippe stood and walked around the table, resting his hands on his brother's shoulders, he leaned down and whispered to him.
'Why not have some fun?' he said, into Raoul's ear. Raoul frowned up at him and Philippe greeted this with an amused smile. 'With her… she seems to have taken quite a shine to you.'
The repulsion on Raoul's face forced Philippe to stifle a laugh.