A/N: the reference to Erik's birthday is taken from Susan Kay's novel 'Phantom'.

Chapter 28 Party

Wrapping the cloak about her, Jade braced herself against the swaying carriage as she tried not to jostle Manette. Her friend was leaning back against the seat with her eyes closed.

Jean reached over, and took Manette's hand. "Are you tired, darling?" he asked solicitously.

Manette nodded 'yes' and remained silent.

Watching Manette closely, Jade wondered if she had been bothered with morning sickness or other problems since the onset of her pregnancy. So far, she looked fine.

She looks quite beautiful, she mused as she admired her serenity. Manette's rising hormones were generating the classic "glow" of pregnancy. She was a lovely Venus swelling with new life. .

She changed seats with Jean who put his arm around his wife for the remainder of the trip.

They're perfect for each other, Jade thought. Well matched, both were artists who loved their work. Their youthful spirits and happiness would provide abundance for their child. It will be a wonderful beginning for all of them when the baby arrives, she thought with pleasure.

Staring out the window, she noted the foot traffic that milled about under the streetlights. They were going to be late for the party. But Jean had said that it wouldn't be a problem if they left right after the performance.

Tonight's second performance of Aida had gone well. The opera house had a new rhythm now, that of a smooth running machine. Compared to the rest of the week, Jade's work had been relatively easy today. Maintaining an existing opera felt like coasting compared to staging a new one.

Now I'm going to a party. It still seemed strange that she had allowed them to talk her into it. She leaned back and gazed at her friends. These past weeks they had worked their way into her heart and she lacked the will to say no to them.

She was giving into people a lot these days. It was out of character for her. Last night, Erik had whispered into her ear, and moments later he was holding her hand and leading her through unknown passages. She had become downright docile with him.

Well, she had him to thank for her current state of comfort, and she was therefore indebted to him. The gown he had designed for her was a success. Because of it, there would be no embarrassment at this party. Nor would she be constantly squirming and struggling to do something as simple as walk across a room.

They passed a stylish couple standing on the street. The man was dressed in formal attire, and his female companion was in step with current fashion. The jewels on her fingers sparkled under the lamplight, as her hand rested on his arm.

Jade watched them for a moment, and then turned back to her friends.

Thank God Erik's gifts had stopped with the gown and shoes, and he had not tried to drape her with trinkets! The gown was acceptable, but jewelry would have made her very uneasy. She had just gotten use to the idea of him being a friend. If he came to her with flowers and baubles, it would be too strange to bear.

She had felt the sexual tension emanating from him last night. The way he had looked at her breasts and lips, it was unmistakable. But there had been something else in his eyes as they sat listening to the opera, a touch of sorrow. It was completely foreign to see him that way and it had brought out a protective side of her. If he had tried to kiss her, she would have let him, even if it were just to see his mocking air return.

I'm glad he didn't try, she concluded. Erik was utterly unpredictable. Instinctively, she knew that with him, a kiss wouldn't simply be a kiss. With a man as passionate and mysterious as he, who knew where it would end?

The carriage stopped in front of the apartment house.

Manette and Jean went upstairs to change as Jade walked around the sitting room. It was good to be back in their home. If they invited her to stay the night, she would. Then the three of them could spend the morning talking as they told her about their future plans over breakfast. She assumed that things had changed since they realized that Manette was pregnant.

Running her fingers along the embroidery that bordered her breasts, she stopped in front of the mirror and admired her gown. The excitement of stepping out with her friends and visiting strangers reminded her of an event years before. At that time, another gown had been designed for her. She was sixteen and going to a party…

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"Hold your head up, Jade. There. Now turn around, I want to see the back."

Jade's mother was adjusting the skirt and bodice of her new gown. She was hovering around her and giving her an unusual amount of attention as she softly spoke out loud to herself and to her daughter. Jade stood very still as her mother's fingers lightly pulled the fabric into place. The older woman's quiet and melodious voice filled Jade's ears and drowned out the tune playing in her head. If she didn't move, perhaps her mother would stay by her side longer as she continued to examine the gown.

Looking into the mirror, Jade could barely breathe. The corset that she was laced into felt like a cage around her middle. She scarcely recognized herself. Her youthful breasts were bulging slightly over the décolletage and her waist was absolutely tiny. She had allowed her mother to pour her into the gown, and trusted that she would guide her through this mysterious social event.

Her parents had been talking about it for the last month, via sly references. They wouldn't explain the details to her. All she knew was that there would be several other girls there her age and that it was a special enough occasion that people were coming from a distance to attend.

It was a long ride to the party, about an hour. Jade watched the countryside roll by the carriage window, and noted how lush the vineyards were this year. It would probably be a good harvest. She assumed that the party was a pre-harvest celebration. The neighbors had been beaming for the last two weeks about their future profits, and her father had been busily signing contracts with them.

As they stepped out of the carriage and approached the large country house, Jade recalled the instructions her parents had given her earlier that day.

"Keep still, and pay attention to what's going on around you. None of that daydreaming that you're so fond of. If a young man asks you to dance, then do it," her father had sternly told her. His lips barely moved as he succinctly gave orders.

Her mother had a mildly worried air, and gently said, "It's a party, and there will be young men there that may wish to dance with you. Just let the man lead and don't speak to him except about your father's business." She paused and thought for a moment, and then added, "It would also be proper to speak of our Sunday church meetings."

The room she entered didn't look like the usual social gathering at the church. It was luxurious by country standards and very large. There were at least fifty people in it. In one corner, five girls about her age were leaning towards each other and talking. Jade gulped when her mother took her arm and led her towards them.

The girls looked at her with curiosity, but when she distanced herself from them by not joining in their conversation, they ignored her.

As the evening progressed, Jade watched the social dance unfold between the girls and young men, and quickly understood why she was there. The coy behavior of the girls, and the puffed up and sometimes awkward manner of the young men, was tedious at best. The girls had been brought there to be chosen or to at least show their wares. She recalled watching visitors come to M. Solari's farm as they sized up future brood mares for purchase. It was to be the same here. That was why she had to keep her mouth shut. If she spoke, she might frighten away a future husband and master.

There was no problem with the dancing. Her mother had shown her a few steps before they left. She simply let the lads push and pull her about as she lightly followed. One of her partners was rather clumsy, and continually threatened to step on her feet, but she adroitly avoided mishaps. All the while, she listened to the music in her mind and only partly heard the flowery and rather dull tunes the musicians played.

The young men focused on her tiny waist and hands, and her green eyes. They chatted about their family's business, and she replied with an occasional comment. Her cool detachment was attractive to some, but she was indifferent to them.

When at last they returned to their home, Jade quickly stepped out of her prison with the help of her mother. As she waited in her room, the house eventually grew quiet and her parents retired for the night. Then she opened her window and slipped out.

Running across the fields, she unbound her long hair so that the breeze could finger it. The moon was nearly full, and everything around her was magical and wild. She heard the cry of the hawk calling to its mate as she reveled in her freedom. Stopping at the edge of the lake, she stood there for a few moments, and then whistled.

Jean-Luc came out of the shadows and took her in his arms.

They lay in the grass and talked about their day. Jean-Luc laughed wholeheartedly when he heard about the dance, and the partner whose feet she had repeatedly dodged. He pulled her closer to him and gently kissed her brow. Jade tilted her face up to him and smiled her joy as she looked into his eyes.

Her parents would never allow her to marry him. He had no money or land. But he had her heart, and that was enough.

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The sound of Jean coming down the stairs pulled Jade out of her reverie, and she looked up at him. He was smiling broadly, and gave her a small, playful bow. A minute later, Manette followed in her fashionable dress. Her earlier fatigue was gone, and her eyes shone brightly with anticipation.

They arrived an hour later at the grand house. Multiple lights bathed the entry way with a distinguished glow as carriages pulled up and unloaded their passengers. The three walked up the wide steps together and entered the foyer. Jade's and Manette's eyes swept the room, as they took in the sumptuous décor of marble floors, high ceilings, and elaborate wood and plaster moldings.

Their cloaks were taken and they entered the salon.

The room was a luxurious arrangement of velvet curtains, hothouse flowers, and stylish furniture. Multiple large paintings graced the wall. They were introduced to their hostess and host, and then made themselves comfortable in a corner of the room.

Seated beside an enormous potted plant, Jean sipped the wine and helped himself to the refreshments. He looked around the room, and spied Verdi and his wife who had a score of people gathered around them. Turning to his companions, he said, "Madame and Mademoiselle, please inform me when you are ready to meet the Verdis." Jean had an impish look to him as he grinned.

Manette restrained the urge to make a face at her joking husband, and turned to Jade. "Did Jean tell you how we came to be invited to this salon tonight?"

Jade shook her head 'no'. She had wondered about that when they had first tried to persuade her to come with them.

"Jean is related to Verdi's French publishers, the Estudiers." Manette continued.

"Yes, Jade," Jean said as he wagged his head, "I come from a family of illustrious publishers."

"Do not let his joking put you off," Manette advised. "Jean's family is superb and has wonderful connections."

After finishing her wine and food, Jade rose and walked around the perimeter of the room. The brightly colored paintings were calling to her. One in particular caught her eye, a small picture to the side of a larger one. She stood in front of it and studied the technique. It was quite different from anything she had seen before. The layered pigments shimmered in the lamplight, as the ballerinas before her dipped and posed. For a moment, she felt that she was back in the opera house watching dancers casually warm up their muscles. The depiction fascinated her.

"That is a Degas. Do you know his work? He is relatively new."

At her elbow was a blonde haired man in a stylish suit. Jade turned to him and was immediately drawn to his earnest and kind face.

The man gave her a small bow and said, "Raoul de Chagny, at your service, Mademoiselle."

"I am Jade Bouta," she replied. She turned back to the picture and looked for the artist's signature.

"He is one of the impressionists. They had a show in Paris this year." Her companion spoke casually and moved closer to her as he examined the picture. His hair had a fresh, clean smell.

"Impressionist?" she asked distantly as she followed the flowing lines of the figures.

"Yes. Do you see how the lines are blurred to enhance the effect of light in the picture? It gives it a soft, almost dream-like appearance."

"Yes," she replied. "I can see that." She turned to her companion who smiled charmingly.

"Thank you for your insights, Monsieur de Chagny." Then giving him a nod, she returned to her friends.

Jean and Manette were talking with a young man and woman when Jade returned.

"Don't be ridiculous. You have never read poetry until you've read Rimbaud." The foppish looking man seemed outraged over Jean's disagreement.

At the word poetry, Jade perked up and took a seat in their circle.

For the next half hour, Jean and Louis traded barbs over each other's ignorance of the arts. Jean held his own and enjoyed browbeating his opponent. Finally, the young woman with the honey colored hair and violet gown rolled her eyes at the two and then shifted her focus to Jade.

"I am Gabrielle. I have been admiring your dress since I came into the room. It is a type of aesthetic dress, is it not?" She had beautiful cornflower blue eyes that fixed intelligently on Jade's face.

Jade looked down, as she was unsure of what to say. She had no idea what an aesthetic dress was.

Manette smoothly interceded and spoke for her friend. "I thought the same, the first time I saw it. It does have a Pre-Raphaelite look to it. Although, I would have to say that I believe the designer has gone a step further. The embroidery is boldly done and adds a flare to the gown."

Gabrielle nodded in agreement, and then turned back to Jade, who was looking at her silently.

The people gathered around the Verdis were drifting away. Seeing his chance, Jean signaled to his companions to follow.

A distinguished looking M.Verdi was grasping the top of his cane with some impatience. He appeared to be tired of being the center of attention. Jean walked up to him and then bowed to his companion.

Verdi's eyes lit up and he turned to the woman at his side. "Giuseppina my dear, here is the man I was telling you about. This is Monsieur Jean DuBois who designs sets for the Opera Populaire. Monsieur DuBois, I would like you to meet my wife, Madame Guiseppina Verdi." Verdi smiled at her and then looked back to Jean.

The older woman extended her hand to Jean and gave him a gracious smile.

Jean introduced his companions and then sat down to discuss opening night with Verdi. Jade took a seat across from Madame Verdi and let the other women carry the conversation, as she dreamily looked about the room. So far, the evening had been very interesting. She wondered if Erik would enjoy poetry written by Rimbaud. She would need to talk with Louis before they left and ask where she could purchase…

"Mlle Bouta." Jade looked up at the stately woman who was addressing her. "Are you fond of dancing, my dear?"

Surprised by the quickness of her own response, Jade answered, "Yes, Madame, if I am with the right partner."

The three other women laughed merrily at her answer.

A little later, Verdi gave a brief look to his wife who nodded slightly in return. He rose, and took her hand as they said their good byes. His wife murmured something into his ear and he turned to Manette and Jade.

"Mme. DuBois, Giusippena and I would like to have you and your husband, M. Dubois, and Mlle. Bouta join us for supper tomorrow, if you are not already engaged."

Jean beamed and glanced at his companions. Manette was smiling at the older man while Jade stared blankly at him.

"Of course Monsieur, we would be delighted to come," replied Manette.

Jean walked out with the Verdis as Jade stood there slowly blinking. Manette tipped her head towards the door, and gently put her hand on Jade's arm.

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Jade rode back to the opera house. Jean and Manette had invited her to stay the night with them, but she had declined. She wasn't interested in hearing their arguments about why she should join them for supper tomorrow. Tonight's party was the only concession she planned to make this weekend. Dining with 'the Maestro", as Jean was so fond of calling him, was out of the question.

She returned to her room, and unlocked her door. Turning on the gaslight, she slipped out of the gown and hung it up. Then after lighting a candle on the table, she put on her robe and went to bed. She expected that he would be coming tonight, and had left the door unbolted.

A half hour later, the key turned in the lock and Erik entered. Nonchalantly, he walked to the table, picked up a chair, and carried it to the side of her bed. Sitting down, he faced her.

His cape was open and exposed his waistcoat and chest. Of all the people she had seen tonight, none of them had his grace or presence.

"How was your visit with Verdi tonight, my dear?" he asked casually.

Jade hadn't mentioned her plans to him, but it didn't surprise her that he knew of them. He seemed to know about everything that occurred in 'his opera house'. However, she would have enjoyed knowing what he was thinking when he snagged that piece of information.

"I was introduced to him but we didn't speak. However, he did invite me to join him and his wife for supper tomorrow," she replied.

Erik raised his eyebrow slightly and looked at her steadily. It came to her that Erik might be interested in meeting M.Verdi. She wanted to ask him but decided against it. Again, she wondered what it was like to have his extraordinary abilities but always be limited by a mask.

"Will you go?" he asked her directly.

"No," she answered quietly. "I wouldn't have anything to say to them."

She pulled the bed covers a little closer to herself. It was one thing to be occasionally docile and let others lead you around, but she would not be persuaded to make a complete fool of herself.

Looking up at Erik, she noted his slight smile. I must be an open book to him, she thought with some discomfort.

"Jade, I think that you would find it interesting to meet with him. Verdi has a good mind. And you underestimate yourself if you think that he would not be interested in you."

It was the first time that Erik had paid her a compliment. She looked at him closely to see if he was being sincere. There were feelings in his eyes that she didn't fully understand: kindness, yes, but something else.

Then it came again, the same temptation that she had had in the carriage ride from the cemetery: the desire to reach across that small distance and touch him. A quick caress with her hand along the line of his jaw would be very satisfying.

She held her hands together and resisted the urge. She was alone with him, and in her bed. A gesture like that could be regarded as meaning much more. This wasn't the place or time to initiate such intimacies.

Jade looked away and a silence fell between them. The light sounds of their breathing filled the space around them as neither one spoke.

Eventually, she threw off her covers and hopped out of bed. Walking to the dresser, she picked up a small book, and held it out to him.

"I'm sorry that this isn't new, but I first heard about the author tonight. The man who gave this to me says that he is a great poet."

Erik's head was bowed, and he was staring at the book that she was holding. It seemed an eternity before he finally took it.

I've insulted him, Jade thought with sadness. I should have waited until I could find a new copy before I gave him a gift.

Moving back onto the bed, she pulled the covers over herself as she sat with her back to the headboard. She stared at his knees, and was a little afraid to look at his face, and see the disappointment that might be there.

Shutting her eyes, she tried to think of something to say.

The touch of leather to her face was unexpected but she still kept her eyes closed. His fingers slowly slid beneath the line of her jaw and came to her chin. Then they lightly lifted it up.

She opened her eyes and looked into his.

There was much warmth there, a fiery heat. She basked in it for a moment, and then shyly looked down. He released her chin and stood up.

As he headed to the door, he paused. With his back to her, he spoke.

"There will be a carriage waiting for you after you attend mass tomorrow, if you wish to visit the cemetery." Then he opened the door and left.

After turning off the gaslight, Jade lay there and watched the candle burn out. When it was dark again, she relived his touch.

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Erik placed the book on his worktable, and stared at it for a moment. It had been well read. Some of the pages were curled and the cover had small stains on it, as if it had spent many an hour in a local café.

After his bath, he made his way to the bedroom, and carried his gift.

Stretching out on the bed, Erik stared at the book in his hands, and thought of his first birthday gift. It was a book from a woman, who had pitied him. He had been a small boy, who knew nothing of birthdays. On that same day, his mother had promised him a present of his choice. Since she had never kissed him, he had asked for two kisses. She had refused.

The child in him was hungry for the kisses that had never come. When Jade handed him the book, she awoke that desire

Erik sighed deeply. If he had not left so quickly, he would have done much more than touch her face tonight.

The candles shone brightly by his bed as he relaxed, and paged through the poems. Some of the phrases were exquisite, and the patterning of words was original. The author was indeed a fine poet.

Setting the book aside, he blew out the candles, and waited for sleep. When he finally drifted into oblivion, two images floated before him.

The first was Christine, the tender and beautiful child he had loved from the moment he first saw her. It had been easy to believe that she was his, and would be with him forever.

The other was a refreshing, small brook that coursed to the ocean. It tempted him to come into the sunlight.

As he dipped his feet into its water, it carried him away. The coolness changed to warmth, and the water became flesh, as it wrapped itself around him. The eyes beside him were green and deep enough to swim in. Eagerly he reached for her lips.

Erik sighed and smiled in his sleep.