Chapter 2
Later on Elisabeth looked into her wardrobe to decide what dress to wear. She choose a while silk dress embroided with pearls, flattering to her slender figure. "Now you really look like Tatiana" Erik said. "Your admirers will adore you." She went up to him. "One of them will surely not be there, and the other one I don't care what he thinks. The only thing that matters is that you think I'm beautiful." She kissed him.
Elisabeth and Erik had seats in the stalls. They noticed that people looked at them and whispered to each others. They saw Boriakin a few rows away from them and in a box Nicolas and some friends. Elisabeth was as always enchanted by the opera, the captivating music and the beautiful dresses. Maryshka made a perfect musical performace though it was hard to imagine her as a young girl. Sonja showed temprament as Olga and Sergej was very good as Onegin. The tenor singing Lenskij was also enjoyable. The final scene between Tatiana and Onegin was dramatic. With the music of the walz still echoing in her head Elisabeth followed Boriakin and Erik behind the stage after the performance. As they passed the orchestra pit they heard some murmuring amongst the musicians. "Please join us for an evening meal here backstage tonight" Maryshka said. "We will come as soon as we are dressed." At the table Nicolas and his friends had already started eating. "They all come when there is food" Boriakin said "but of course, they also pay for this. " He turned to Elisabeth "The day after tomorrow I hope you will come and watch me – it's my big night – 'Boris Goudonov'." After a while they could hear the singers coming. "There she is, my Tatiana in spe. How did you like it?" Sergej took Elisabeth's hand. "Impressive. You were very good, the role suits you. " – "Thank you. It's my favourite." She withdraw her hand and Erik automatically put a shielding arm around her. Maryshka entered the room in a cloud of black laces and behind her Sonja in russet red, matching her hair. She went up to them. "Did you like us?" – "You were marvellous" Erik said and Elisabeth added "I feel an urge to join you on the stage. Perhaps I will.." Maryshka invited them to sit at the table. Later, as she raised her glass of champagne she said "Since you are going to stay for a while, I suggest that we all address each other on a first name basis. This is Erik and Elisabeth."- "Then I hope you will call me Dimitrij" Boriakin said. "Tomorrow you will be guests in my box to see the Swan lake."
Later in the evening Elisabeth stood looking out the window, waiting for Erik, who had joined Sonja for a tour looking at the portraits on the walls. She felt tired, looking at the snow falling, sipping from her glass. She saw a movement in the corner of her eyes, dark hair and a black suite. "Yes, I will sing Tatiana" she said. "If they want me." – "That sounds good" Sergej said in a low voice. He touched her arm but she drew back. Erik and Sonja entered the room. "I would like to go home" she said. They said goodbye and left the opera. In the cab on their way home Elisabeth still hummed the music from Eugen Onegin, holding Erik's hand.
The next morning they slept for long and then made a tour of the city. At seven they went to the opera house. Boriakin had invited Maryshka, Sonja and Nicolas to his box together with Elisabeth and Erik. Elisabeth really looked forward to this performance, and she was not disappointed. Michail and
Anna and all the other dancers made a great performance. She shared her admiration for the handsome solo dancer with Sonja. Erik heard Dimitrij and Nicolas making comments on Anna and he too found her beautiful and skilled. After the curtain fall the ballet master Katarina entered their box and talked to Dimitrij. "The dancers wants us to accompany them to a small restaurant for a late meal" he said. "They usually have performances of folk music and folk dance. Would you like to come?" – Sonja nodded eagerly and Elisabeth and Erik decided to come too. They went to the lounge where the dancers soon joined them. Like the last time they saw her Anna was dressed in Cossac style clothes and a round cap on her haid, the braid hanging at her back. Michail was dressed the same way. He came up to Erik and Elisabeth. "Did you enjoy the performance?" – "It was very good. You were excellent." Michail looked Eliabeth in the eyes as to find admiration in them. "He knows his value" she thought. The dancing performance had made Erik think of other things. Christine once was a dancer.. "Our mysterious guest is pensive". He was awoken from his thoughts by Anna. "What did you think?" – "Enjoyable. I plan to write some new music for you." – "So you are a composer? What have you written?" – "Not much yet. An opera, which will be performed here, ballet music and piano pieces." Michail led the way to the restaurant. They sat down at small tables around an empty space on the floor. Hot tea with alcohol, warm bread and jam was served. The room was decorated in rural style with icons on the walls. A small orchestra with balalajka players and fiddlers began to play russian folk music and a band of dancers dressed in Cossac style entered the empty floor. The music was catchy and the audience began to clap their hands. A male and a female dancer asked Anna and Michail up on the floor and they danced with each other. Anna had a red scarf which she put around her partner's neck. Then Michail performed a solo dance. Elisabeth watched him and found both him a the dance exotic and catching. He danced up to her and took her hand, dragging her up on the floor with him. She made some dance moves, unsecure, and tried to follow her partner. This was part of the show. Anna, seeing that her partner had abandoned her, went up to Erik, put her scarf around his neck and sat on his lap. When Michail saw this he accompanied Elisabeth back to her seat and went for Anna, and they finished their dance. The audience gave them great applause. Michail came up to Elisabeth and kissed her hand thanking her. Anna moved their chairs to their guest's table and sat down on her chair backwards, very unfeminine, with one leg on each side of the back of the chair. She unleached her braid and let her blond hair fall down her back. "We were good at this" Elisabeth said. "So you dance this kind of dance as well?" – "We do it to relax" Michail said. "It's mostly Anna and I. Many ballets include folk music so there isn't really a contradiction." – "It's good to think of the people sometimes" Anna said in a low voice. "I really mean the people. Do you think of the people sometimes, mr Leroux?" Erik didn't know what to answer. "Don't let Anna drag you into political talk" Sonja's voice said behind his back. "Can I joint the party? You had a real talent for dancing, Elisabeth." – "I'm sure I can teach miss Bercier folk dancing if I'm allowed" Michail said patting her hand slightly. "Why not me?" Sonja complainted, but nobody heard her. After a while Erik said "I think it's time for us to go. Thank you very much for the performance."
During the following days they planned their work at Bolsjoj. They were to rehearse Tintomara and Elisabeth would also learn the parts of Tatiana and Pamina in die Zauberflöte. Erik had access to a special room with an organ, where he could compose. They attended Boris Goudonov to listen to Dimitrij Boriakin and saw some other ballets. One day Sonja asked Elisabeth to go to lunch with her, just to talk, friend to friend. "Why does Anna like to dress in Cossac clothes?" Elisabeth asked. "And what did you mean by political talk?" – "She is proud of descending from the working class. She has worked her self up in society. There are political movements which don't approve with the autocracic reign of Russia. Movements to free the people. Of course it's illegal, and dangerous. I think that both Anna and Michail secretly belong to such a movement. They print leaflets. But Anna also mix with the upper classes. I think perhaps she sees some of Nicolas' friends." Sonja stopped talking to eat. "Tell me about Michail" Elisabeth continued. "I admit that he courted me some half year ago, before I met Nicolas. But he grew tired of me." – "He's got lots of charm. And he is persistant. You can see he is trying to get my attention, right before Erik's eyes. I will have to keep the distance." - "When Maryshka returned from New York she talked a lot of Erik. She was impressed by him both as a composer and as a person. Tell me about him – about you two." – "What should I say. We met less than three years ago. At first I had no idea we should be an item, I was a little afraid of him and thought him old. My father and I lived in another town for a while, then we returned, I met Erik again and then.. it just happened. There is much behind his mask and his music that I don't ask about. Actually I think that I'm just a reminiscence of the only true love of his life. But I love him to the best of my ability."- "A mystical man, how exciting. I look forward to hear his music. Did you enjoy Boris Goudonov?" – "Yes Dimitrij is very impressive. " –"He likes you. And so does Sergej." – "Oh, that one. I'm not so fond of him. He's good looking – he reminds me of Erik without a mask, that bothers me." Suddenly Erik entered the restaurant "'There you are, my good ladies. What are you talking about?" Sonja smiled taunting "You don't want to know. Or perhaps Elisabeth will tell you later. I must be off. Bye-bye!" Elisabeth also rose "It has been an amusing meal. Now I know all about our hosts."
The next day the rehearsal of Tintomara began and they worked hard all day and much of the next. In the aftenoon Elisabeth felt she needed a rest and began to stroll around the opera building. Outside the ballet rehearsal room she met Michail. "I was just looking for you" he said. "I would like to show you were I go when I want to relax". He saw that she looked hesitant and said "I'm sorry if you find me too obtrusive. I don't want to scare you. I appreciate meeting new interesting people, especially if they are charming like you. I promise I will not court you any more right now. Would you like to see the garden with me?" Elisabeth smiled "Of course. I'm sorry if I seemed negative." He took her along a corridor to the back of the building. There he opened a door. Scents of many flowers greeted them. "This is the Winter garden" Michail said "My favourite oasis. Come along!" He led her along different paths with various kinds of flowers, trees and bushes. "Look, various plant from various climats." They passed bushes of jasmine, which had an overpowering scent. Elisabeth stopped to breath it. Further away they came to a rose garden with roses in all colours. Michail broke a deep red one and offered her. "Just out of courtesy. It suits you." She smiled. Now she felt more secure in his company, as if they could be friends. "Thank you very much for showing me this" she said. They strolled around for a while, then left the garden. He put his hand on her shoulder, ever so slightly. "Don't forget who showed you this first" he said.
That evening they attended another ballet, Don Quixote, and afterwords they went backstage. "Has your interest in ballet increased?" Anna asked. "Have you started composing anything for us yet, mr Leroux?" – "Not yet. I would like a text to use as libretto. Can you think of one?" – "You can read Pusjkin, our great Russian poet" Michail said. "He who wrote 'Eugen Onegin'. I heard you will study to sing in that, miss Bercier?" – "Yes, I have been persuaded" Elisabethe said. "Come and see my performance when I'm ready."- "Nothing could stop me" Michail said.
The night after, which was New Years Eve, there was a grand ball at the opera house. Again Elisabeth looked in her wardrobe to decide what to wear. She chose a silver dress, embroided with pearls and a tiara with pearls embedded in silver. Erik wore tails. The new year celebration began with a ceremony in the Russian orthodox church. Then they went to the opera house. The opera management made some speaches, then dinner began. Elisabeth studied the ladies' dresses as they entered the dining room. Maryshka wore a stunning creation in gold with black laces, a grand coiffure and pending golden earrings. "She plays the primadonna tonight" Elisabeth commented. Sonja and Nicolas entered, Sonja wearing a moss-green dress, tighly caressing her figure, with frills from the hips down. She wore black pearls in her red hair and a necklace of black pearls. A great amount of people entered, many of which Elisabeth did not recognize. "I wonder what Anna is wearing tonight" she said to Sonja, who had joined her. At this moment Michail entered, a stunning sight with his blond hair contrasting with his black, well tailored suit. He accompanied his partner, a slim figure dressed in a cream colored dress, plain but elegant, wearing a diadem in her blond coiffure. She moved with the security of a person noticing the admiration of the spectators. They went up to Elisabeth, Erik and Sonja. Michail kissed Elisabeth's hand "You look charming tonight" he said. "I must say the same about your lady partner" Eriks said. Now she let him kiss her hand. "Very charming indeed, and elegant." Anna gave him a mystical smile and looked at him at length. Sonja went to his side "Now they bring the champagne!"
At the table Erik and Elisabeth were seated next to each other, being an engaged couple. Elisabeth had the opera manager at her right side. Around them the other opera singers were seated. Further down the table they saw the dancers. Elisabeth had a good conversation with the opera manager who preferred speaking French. At one time she heard her name – it was Michail who wanted to toast her. At a quarter to twelve they left the table and went out on a balcony, and on the stroke of twelve the sky was filled with the light of fireworks. Elisabeth and Erik lifted their glasses and toasted. "For a happy musical year together." Then the dance started. They played waltz, polka and mazurka. Elisbeth and Erik danced a few dances together, then split up. Erik danced with Maryshka. "Are you glad I invited you?" she asked. "Do you have a good time here?"- "I'm very grateful. We could learn a lot here." Elisabeth danced with Sergej. He held her firm, but not too much. He was an excellent dancer. "I understand I will have no success in courting you, Elisabeth" he said. "I will be content dancing with you – and hopefully sing with you." She gave him a reassuring smile.
Anna passed Erik, fanning herself. Erik asked her to dance. "I have heard that you have other interests too" he said "far from this luxury." She followed him easily and was light in his arms. "What have you heard? I have to spy in enemy camp, of course." After a while she asked "Are you writing anyhing for me? It would be an honour. I'm interested in you." She put her hand on his lapel and he lay his hand on her arm. Reluctantly he felt attracted to this slender young woman. He looked around and saw Elisabeth dancing with Michail. "Perhaps you shouldn't have come her at all if you care for your relationship" she said in a low voice. Then they danced in silence for the rest of the dance, enjoying it. Michail had asked Elisabeth to dance. She followed his lead easily. "Perhaps you have heard a lot of gossip about me" he said. "Don't believe all of it. Just because I'm goodlooking everybody think that I'm a womenizer. I can't help the women like me. In reality I am a romantic and friendly soul."- "But of course you are a charming man, I think so too. Your looks are special." She felt his nearness and lifted her head to touch his cheek with hers. Very soft. This was so dangerous. After a while she drew back. "Afraid again?" he whispered. "If your interest in me scares you, take a look at your fiancé. Anna has already worked her spells." Elisabeth looked at them and saw them dance, slowly and silent together, her hand on his lapel and his hand on her arm. "It's just the party" Elisabeth said, a little more cheerful than she felt.
There was a pause when they all had refreshments, then the dancing continued. Elisabeth danced with Dimitrij. "There are so many beautiful ladies here tonight, I get all confused" he said. "Yes, the competition is hard. And lots of them swarm around my fiancé. Michail seems forgotten." – "Except by you. Don't you think I didn't see you." Erik and Sonja danced. She was aware that her dimples were her best weapon and she smiled at him. "I have seen you with Maryshka and Anna, and I believe you cherish your relationship with Elisabeth, so I don't think I stand a chance with you." He looked at the black pearls adorning her generous decolletage and said with a smile "I admit you are as beautiful and attractive as the other ladies, but I dare just look at you. Could you not give you attention to the dark charmer Sergej instead, he need some stimulation."
When the clock stroke five Elisabeth felt tired. "It's time to go home" she said. "Did you have a good time?" she asked her fiancé. "Very much so. And you?"- "Not complaining. Now we need a long rest." They returned to the hotel. Trying not to think of anything that had been said during the night they fell asleep in each other's arms and slept late into the following morning.