Céline wandered about the house aimlessly. Much as she had wished for her return to Venice, to her family, she could not deny to feeling restless. Life at the Opera Populaire offered her diversions at any hour of the day, whether it be dress rehearsal, training, spending time with Roger...Her father had invited him to accompany him to the Opera Classicale, and he had happily accepted. Knowing this might give him an opportunity to speak with her father in private, to discuss the one thing she had been dreaming of these many months, had kept her from travelling with them.

But with Aurora rehearsing there as well, and her mother taking her afternoon rest upstairs, she felt bored and quite lonely. Walking into the library she found her two brothers, working on some mathematical problem together. Matteo, as usual, could not master the same attention and interest for the subject as Luca, and their lesson seemed to be heading towards an argument.

"Oh for heaven's sake you two, be quiet! If you cannot get along, then why bother to study together at all?"

The two fell silent, looking up at her in surprise, and she immediately understood they did not appreciate her intervention. Subconciously her remark had driven them back onto the same side however, which was now shielded against her.

"You can sit with me if you like, I have lemonade..." upon turning she noticed her youngest sister standing in the doorway towards the garden, looking at her insecurely. Young as she was Giulia seemed to comprehend her need for company, and she happily accepted.

"So what are you drawing there?" Pouring herself a glass of cool orange lemonade, she peered over to her sister's drawings, trying to show a genuine interest.

"I am making a drawing of the Opera House, with Aurora singing. See? There's papa and maman looking, and Luca and Matteo and me and you."

"It looks very pretty dearest. You should draw Monsieur DuChamps in there as well. I'm sure he would much appreciate it..."

A sudden gloom seemed to pour over Giulia's face as she frowned, picking up her crayon to add more blue to her mother's gown: "I will not. I do not like him and he shall not be in my drawing. Only our family can be in my drawing..."

Céline was taken aback by her sister's words. "Why do you not like Monsieur Roger my sweet? Has he not been kind to you?" She could clearly remember Roger's attempts at conversation with Giulia, even complimenting her on her drawing skills.

"He...nothing, I simply don't like him." Giulia bent over her drawing a little deeper, and seemed to want to speak no more of the matter.

Céline gave her an affectionate smile: "You know, my relationship with Monsieur Roger will not change anything between us Giulia. I will still be your big sister and I will write you as often as I always did. You musn't worry dearest!"

Suddenly the little girl jerked up her head: "You're going away again? With him? You're not going to stay?"

Céline doubted for a while before continuing: "Well, yes, I suppose so. Monsieur Roger and myself both have our work in Paris, and many friends..."

"But you cannot! I will never see you again! He said so! He said so!" Céline was worried at the girls sudden outburst and pulled her close: "What happened dearest? Please, I wish you would tell me!"

"Monsieur DuChamps, he told me! I was asking him about Paris and he was very unkind, and then I said I didn't like him and he said he didn't like me either, and that if I were not to behave a proper young lady he would make sure I would never see you again for he loathed the sight of me! Céline, what does it mean, loathed? Tell me he was wrong, I don't want to be away from you forever. Please don't go away, please, please..."

Céline's blood ran cold as she pondered Giulia's words. Surely there must have been some misunderstanding. Surely Roger had not said all this, or perhaps Giulia had completely misinterpreted his words! "There, there, dearest. I will talk to Monsieur Roger about this as soon as he and papa return alright? I am sure he did not mean anything of the sort. We won't be parted forever, you musn't think that my sweet. You are my darling little angel remember? My youngest sister and nothing anyone can say or do shall ever change that!"

By now the girl had luckily stopped crying. "Now...why don't you make me a fine drawing, just of the two of us alright? One I may take with me when I return to Paris, so that I may show all my friends how much my little sister has grown..."

"I am telling the truth you know. You may ask Aurora for I know she dislikes him as much as I do..."

As Giulia started her new drawing Céline sat back in her chair, the sun suddenly having no more effect on her temperature.

"What have you been telling Giulia?"

Aurora turned around from her dressing table, looking up at her older sister in confusion. "I beg your pardon?"

"Giulia has suddenly decided she does not like Roger. I've been wondering how such a young girl could develop such feelings overnight. At first, I even immagined Roger had truly said something to hurt her, until she told me YOU did not like him either. So I'm asking you, what type of nonsense have you been filling her head with?"

Aurora sat frozen, blinking her eyes at her sister's sudden anger. "I have told her nothing of the kind! It's true, my first impression of your...particular friend has not exactly been a good one, but I have only confided this to her after she had come to me with her own story...she did tell you of Roger's cruelty towards her, didn't she?"

"That does not matter to me now. I am far more interested to learn your side of this story. Why is everyone suddenly so eager to turn against my fiancé?"

Aurora turned back to her mirror, running her brush through her hair with short, irritated strokes. "He is not yet your fiancé Céline, nor should I be so confident he will be any time soon..."

"Has he talked to papa today?" Much as she loathed her sister's attitude right now, she was eager to learn anything she might know of Roger's dealings with their father.

"He did. They talked in private, in papa's office. You may find out more from Monsieur DuChamps himself. From the looks on their faces on our way home however, I gathered the conversation did not go exactly as it ought to have gone..."

"That still hasn't answered my question. What is your problem with Roger? What harm has he ever done you?"

Aurora stood up now and started pacing the room, almost nervous looking. "He...makes me very uncomfortable Céline, that is all. He...I don't know, a certain look he will give me, the compliments he pays me, the way he steps in to kiss my hand...It's almost as if he...wants something of me." She sighed. There, she had said it. But to her surprise her sister did not sympathise with her, but only turned angrier.

"You are attracted to him aren't you? You're jealous of my happiness, you want him...you want him for yourself!"

Shocked at her accusations Aurora shook her head, making her blond curls bounce around her face: "That is not true. Céline, how could you say such a thing! I am merely trying to warn you, that perhaps Roger's heart does not ache for you as much as he has led you to believe!"

Céline slowly backed out of the room, pale as a ghost: "I cannot believe what I'm hearing. I will not stand here and listen to this nonsense. Nor will I allow you to accuse my fiancé of such crimes. You'll stay away from him, or I will know of it, I promise!"

And with that she ran along the corridor to her own room, leaving Aurora in tears of shock. In the shadows, a dark figure could only smile. Good. Céline's most loyal confidante was put on a sidetrack. That would make her detachment only more easy. From now on, Céline would not believe a word she'd tell her, and it only aided him further in his plan.

His conversation with the father had not exactly been as he had hoped it to be. After politely allowing him to pour out his well rehearsed sentiments for Céline, the older man had simply given him a blank look and had stated he was unwilling to allow his daughter to start off her new life with someone he had known for only such a short time. He had asked him suspicious questions about his life, his family, his means of supporting Céline. It had frustrated him to no point, shouldn't a father be happy to rid himself of his daughters? Signore Alighieri didn't seem to share his sentiment. He had allowed him to stay in Italy for a while, perhaps even train at the Opera Classicale for a while. He would review his opinion after that time.

Roger had of course no other choice than to pretend to admire the man's affection for his child, and had bravely stated to understand his decision completely. In reality however, he knew the time had come to close the net around his beautiful bride as soon as may be. Plans were to be set in motion, and their departure to be prepared. This argument with darling Aurora therefor had come at a most opportune time. With any luck, he realised, he could simply let this family fight their own battles without creating any risk on his own behalf.

Then, when all were in uproar, ties forever severed, he would be the one she would cling to for comfort. And he would be waiting to deliver her from sorrow. To take away her problems, her protection, her virginity, her money...and enjoy her for as long as he found use for her. And so he made his way down the corridor after her, ready to comfort his lady before leading her down to another tedious dinner party...