Chapter Summary: In which we are introduced to cousin Henri and the neighbors - Xavier and Monique de la Censiere and their cousin Didier - Henri's drinking partner.

(A/N - Many thanks to my LiveJournal friend - musiquephan - for letting me borrow Henri, the character she created. And for trusting me to keep him in character.)

CHAPTER FIVE

Henri de Chagny stood outside the old chateau directing the loading of his luggage onto the farm cart that stood in front of the building. He was tall and handsome, his dark blonde hair pulled back from his face and held in place by a dark blue ribbon. Henri was dressed for riding in a casual shirt tucked into buff colored pants. He wore a dark brown jacket that matched the dark brown riding boots covering his feet and calves. He had spent years living in England where he developed a charm and an easy grace by studying dance with the best teachers his parents could muster. They had hoped the discipline of dance would help to tame the wayward inclinations of their son. They had thought wrong. The grace developed from his studies had only added to Henri's ability to manipulate all those around him, adding to the already huge ego he hid beneath that grace and charm.

"Oh, do be careful with that," he smiled at two men who were placing a small leather trunk on the cart. "It was a gift from my father." The men finished what they were doing and nodded at Henri before they walked off towards a distant barn. "Thanks ever so!" Henri called after them and turned his attention to the two men sitting in the front of the loaded cart. "You do know where to go, yes?" he asked.

"Oui, monsieur," one of the men responded.

"We will be off, if we may?" his companion added.

Henri waved a cheery hand in the air. "Then be off with you, good sirs! Have a safe trip and assure my beloved cousins I shall be with them promptly!" He stood and watched as the cart moved off down the drive, turning left at the end and headed towards Chagny.

"That's done then," a voice said from behind Henri. Didier de la Censiere grinned and shook his head as his friend turned around. Didier was the same age as Henri - both but two years younger than Raoul. Didier had the dark, rich burgundy-colored hair of his cousin, Xavier, and the same golden-brown eyes. He was dressed for riding, much the same as Henri and he, too, wore his hair long and pulled back from his face. Didier was as charming as Henri but there was no guile beneath his pleasant exterior, just a quiet intelligence that observed and noted all that happened within its sphere.

"Done," Henri agreed with a nod as Didier jumped down the stairs, landing easily on the rock-covered drive.

"Now what?" Didier wanted to know.

"Now I shall go to Chagny and pay my respects to my esteemed cousins."

"And the lovely Christine?"

Henri looked shocked. "But of course! How could I ever forget the lovely little singer that my cousin has chosen to take to wife?"

"Umm," Didier sounded between closed lips, looking sideways at his friend.

Henri threw a friendly arm about Didier's shoulders. "Oh, come," he said. "You know that is forbidden territory."

"Perhaps not, if what they say in Paris is true."

"Perhaps," Henri nodded in agreement. "But this is family, my dear chap, and one does not intrude beyond the closed bedroom doors of family members." He winked at Didier. "No matter how great the temptation."

There was a silence in which each young man studied the other. The silence was broken by their laughter.

"Oh," Didier finally managed, "it is going to be so boring in this stuffy place with you on the other side of the village."

"Shall we trade stuffy places?" Henri wanted to know as he waggled his eyebrows.

Didier looked shocked. "Heaven forfend!" he exclaimed. "I would rather live with my stuffy cousins than yours."

Henri sighed and looked almost stricken. "There are times when I would also."

"Shall I accompany you to your fate?"

"That is most gracious of you, sir," Henri replied as he swept an elegant bow. "And shall we stop for fortification on our way?"

"Ah," Didier's golden-brown eyes twinkled. "Courage to face the beast in its own lair?"

"Precisely."

"I shall buy the first round," Didier replied.

"Done then," Henri answered.

"Done," Didier finished.

The two men began to stroll off towards the stables where grooms had their mounts saddled and waiting. They were unaware of the woman watching them from one of the long windows that lined the front of the chateau. They did not see the drape fall back into place as her hand let it go and she turned back to the elegant sitting room to address her husband.

"I do not think this is a wise decision," Monique de la Censiere addressed her husband. "We should not be sending Henri off to Chagny if there is truly trouble in Raoul's marriage."

Xavier de la Censiere lounged in a velvet wing chair, his long legs crossed at the ankles, a book held in his hands. He was a older version of his cousin Didier with the same eyes and hair - although age had added distinguished grey to his temples. Xavier sighed, placed the open book down on the table next to hm and drew his legs up, sitting straighter in the chair. He smiled gently at his wife who still bore the beauty that had first attracted him twenty years ago for Monique's blue-black hair had yet to see a single strand of grey and her violet eyes were still soft and expressive.

"My dear," Xavier began with a sigh, "Raoul is no longer a little boy and can manage his own affairs. Besides, you know perfectly well that Philippe requested Henri's presence. I do believe Philippe is feeling rather paternal at the moment and wishes to have as many of his family members about him as is possible."

"But you know what Henri can be like when he has been drinking," Monique replied and waved toward the window from which she had been watching. "And I can assure you that he and Didier are going to stop at the inn on their way to Chagny."

Xavier held out hands to his wife. Monique crossed the room and took them, sitting down in the chair next to her husband. "I am perfectly aware that Didier drinks but he is not like Henri when he has had too much. I trust Didier to keep Henri's more - how shall I put this - base instincts in check. And we both know that Philippe can bring Henri to heel any time he chooses to do so." Xavier let go of his wife's hands and picked his book up off the table. "Should worse come to worse, we can always bring Henri back here and lock him in the attic, " Xavier chuckled.

Monique sighed in disgust. "This is not a matter to be laughed at! Raoul and Christine are so young and have been through so much already. Do you think they truly need to be dealing with Henri as they try to work through their current difficulties?"

Xavier closed his book, keeping a finger in it to mark his spot and turned to look at Monique. "Raoul is no longer the little boy we both indulged when we thought no one was looking. He is a grown man with a wife and I do not think either he or Christine would appreciate our meddling in their affairs any more than they will appreciate Henri or even Philippe doing so." Xavier turned his attention back to the book in his hands. "And we shall have a chance to learn for ourselves what is happening with Raoul and Christine when we dine with them tonight."

Monique stared at her husband for a moment. "Men," she sighed disgustedly. "You just do not understand."

"That's correct," Xavier said softly. "We understand nothing but I am sure the women of the world will enlighten us when they see fit."

"When we see fit," Monique assured him as she stood and left the room.

Xavier shook his head at the sound of the door closing. "I understand far more than you think I do, my dear." He opened his book once again. "Women," he sighed.

"Women," Didier exclaimed as he grabbed Arlette, one of the barmaids at the local inn, about the waist. He grinned up at her. "Why can they not all be like you?"

Arlette squirmed her way out of his grasp. "Because if they were you would get bored with all of us!" she winked at Didier before moving her way back toward the bar.

Didier and Henri watched Arlette move across the inn floor, appreciating the gentle sway of her hips, the way her long blonde hair waved with each movement of her body. They had been at the inn for close to three hours and neither man was feeling any pain.

"Oh," Didier said as he let out a breath. "She is a fine specimen."

Henri nodded his agreement. "Quite nice. Quite, quite nice."

Didier turned his attention back to his friend and drinking companion. "But ..."

"Not quite the marrying kind," Henri raised his mug to his lips and downed the last bit of ale before clunking it on the table. "Not quite the mistress kind but good for a laugh or two."

"And who would be the mistress kind?" Didier wondered as he looked into his own mug and found it empty. He raised his eyes and looked at Henri. "A dark-haired little slip of a singer?"

Henri raised an eyebrow. "And why not?"

"Oh, I don't know," Didier replied with a shrug. "Because she is your cousin's wife, perhaps?"

"But cousin Raoul is obviously not giving the little singer what she needs. Witness that there is no child to brighten their lives and yet they have been married for over two years." Henri grinned wickedly. "Perhaps she is still longing for her masked lover."

Didier returned the wicked grin. "And this would have nothing to do with the fact that if the little singer does not produce a child the estate will go to you?"

Henri placed a hand over his heart. "I am shocked! Shocked, I tell you!"

"Ha," Didier snorted.

"But you must admit," Henri continued, "that it is intriguing. Most young couples who hold a position in society which Raoul and Christine hold are anxious to provide the required heir." His eyes twinkled dangerously. "And you know that she is a passionate little thing with all that opera singing and dancing half-naked on the stage and having a dangerous, murdering lunatic for a lover." He shook his head. "No, I am firmly convinced that whatever is the trouble in that marriage can be laid right at the feet of my overly sanctimonious cousin, Raoul. That boy has always been too good to be true."

"That is something my family has known for centuries."

Henri waggled a finger at Didier. "Precisely, my good man. There have always been members of my family who think themselves too fine to associate with anyone who does not have Heaven as the address on their calling card. Your family has always known that and my branch of the family has always known that."

Didier raised an eyebrow at the man across the table from him. "Perhaps it is time we shake things up?"

Henri leaned back in his chair. "Perhaps," he agreed with a smirk. "But we shall have to carefully judge the lay of the land first."

The sound of Didier's chair scraping across the wood floor was hardly noticed by the other patrons in the rather noisy, slightly overcrowded inn. "And we shall never discover how that land lies, if we remain here." Didier stood. "To Chagny?" he asked.

Henri stood, as well. "To Chagny."

The two men strode out of the inn, moving across the yard to gather their horses from the stables. They mounted the expensive horse flesh - chestnut brown for Didier and dappled grey for Henri - and carefully walked their horses from the yard of the inn. They allowed the horses to continue the easy walk through the village, nodding at passing acquaintances in the street. Once they reached the edge of the village, the two men exchanged glances, grinned at each other and dug their heels into their horses' flanks.

Henri and Didier laughed as they raced each other over the country lanes that led from the small village to Chagny. They rode side-by-side down the narrow lanes, guiding their horses into the surrounding woods and meadows when confronted with an obstacle in their way. They jumped their horses over fences and splashed them through small streams. They raced around trees and ducked under low-hanging branches. They startled farm animals earning them shouted curses and shaking fists from the herdsmen. Neither man paid attention to the havoc left in their wake and those in that wake knowingly shook their heads once their rattled nerves calmed down. Henri de Chagny and Didier de la Censiere were well known to the local populace who thought them nothing but a couple of hooligans. If it had not been for the respect in which their families were held, Henri and Didier might have found themselves at the wrong end of a hickory stick. Or a fist.

Finally, though, every race has to come to a close and the race that Henri and Didier had been playing out over the French countryside came to an end as they turned their mounts into the birch lined lane that led to Chagny. The two slowly walked their tired horses up the long drive, stopping to take in the sight as the mansion came into view.

"Damn fine property," Didier said. "Always thought so. Always will." He turned to look at Henri who was staring in rapt admiration. "You think so, too."

"Yes, I do," Henri replied softly and emphatically. He turned to look at his companion. "But I can covet something that belongs to my family even if it will earn me extra time in purgatory. Your family has been coveting this for years."

"Well, they did until Xavier and Philippe kissed and made up," Didier replied and turned back to look at Chagny sitting amidst emerald lawns and ancient trees, bright flowers poking their heads out from shadowed undergrowth. "Now it is just me to carry on with the family coveting."

Henri laid a friendly hand on his friend's leg. "And me. Don't forget me."

Didier laughed and shook his head. "How can I ever do such a foolish thing." He turned to look at Henri and grew serious. "Do you wish me to accompany you?"

"No," Henri told him. "I think I had best brave the beasts by myself. I shall see you at dinner tonight, yes?"

"I would not miss it for all the barmaids in France!" Didier told him with a huge grin. He turned his horse and rode off leaving Henri to look at the mansion looming before him.

"Time to go," he said and put a bright grin on his face as he rode toward the entry.

Henri finished riding the rest of the way down the lane, stopping his horse at the bottom of the stairs that cut through the gardens that rolled gently down from the mansion. He dismounted and slipped the reins through a hitching post knowing that someone would be along shortly to take his horse to the stables. Henri climbed the stairs, pausing at the top to turn and look out over the landscape spreadbefore him.

"Covet, indeed," he whispered to himself before turning and approaching the door.

"Monsieur," the valet said as he opened the door, granting Henri access to the house.

Henri clasped the man warmly on the shoulder. "And how are you, Georges? Still here I see."

"I am as ever, Monsieur," Georges replied in an even tone. He was used to Henri's mannerisms and did not take offense or let it mar the fluidity of his daily life. "Your bags have been sent to your usual room and Monsieur le Comte is working in his study."

"My cousin and his wife?" Henri inquired lightly.

"Monsieur le Vicomte went out riding as is his wont and Madame is in the small parlor."

"I believe I shall go and pay my respects to Madame, first," Henri said with a smile and turned to walk down a long, arched hallway. He did not see the disapproving shake of head from the valet.

Henri stopped before a closed set of double doors. He looked down at himself and did his best to straighten his clothes before raising his hands to ensure his hair was presentable. Henri knocked lightly on one door and opened it upon hearing a female voice call "Come."

"My dear cousin!" Henri exclaimed as he walked into the room to find Christine seated on a chaise covered in paisley fabric, a book open next to her. He crossed the room quickly to take her hands, raising each one to his lips in turn. "You are a sight for weary eyes! How well and beautiful you look!"

"Thank you." Christine gave Henri the best smile she could muster. "And you look well. It has been a long time since Raoul and I have seen you."

"Ah, the busy social life of an eligible bachelor claims most of my time," Henri told her with a sigh. "It draws me away from my beloved family." He helped Christine to her feet. "But I am very glad that Philippe invited all of us here to spend some quiet time together as a family." He kissed Christine on each cheek.

"Still as charming as ever, I see," a voice called from the doorway.

Henri noted the relief in Christine's eyes and knew who it was who stood behind him. He broadened his smile as he turned around. "Raoul," he said warmly. "I was told you were riding!"

Raoul raised an eyebrow at his cousin. "And if I had been here, would you have still been so attentive to my wife?"

Henri put on his shocked face. "But of course!" he replied. "Duty, manners and convention above all!"

Raoul laughed softly as he entered the room and took the hand that Henri extended.

Christine watched them, quietly wiping her hands on the bustle of her skirt and fighting down the nausea that was rising in her throat.