Sweet Seduction
Chapter Twelve: Engagement Plans
Christine sat with Meg and Madame Giry at the kitchen table, with fabrics and papers scattered all over the apartment. Six months had gone by in a flurry of excitement and social visits. Christine and Meg had gone out to all the finest restaurants and stores in Paris already and went to the ballet or the theater almost twice a week. Even though they had lived in Paris all their lives, neither one had ever really experienced the city's sights or attractions before. And now that they had so much free time, they were almost always out on the town. Erik had become business partners with Georges and possibly would be promoted to conductor and co-manager upon the Opera House's re-opening, which was scheduled for the new year. Meg's suitor Jacques was an official dancer for a leading competitor theater, but he really wished to dance at the Opera House once the reconstruction was finished and couldn't wait to do so. And, to Christine's surprise, Jacques and Erik had almost become the best of friends along with Georges. The trio was nearly always together and Georges had told Erik privately of his delight at the young lad's enthusiasm for dance and how perhaps in a few years, maybe he could even be promoted to Head Ballet Master along with Mme. Giry as the Head Ballet Mistress until her retirement, which would leave Meg as the Head Ballet Mistress instead of Assistant, ruling the ballet ranks alongside her (Hopefully, by that time) husband. The only two people who didn't know of the ideal future planned for them in the Opera House were Meg and Jacques. Meg hoped he would propose, but her mother was adamant about not even considering it until they had courted the proper length of time, from one to possibly three years. Meg offered her opinions as she looked through the dress patterns and lists with Christine
"Now Meg, don't you think we've enough people on the guest list? Over two hundred fifty? It's too much. I don't even know some of these people from the Opera and I'm the bride for goodness' sake!"
"Christine, you simply must invite Monsieur and Madame Nousparlent! They used to be very generous patrons to the Opera House!"
"Well, they wouldn't know I was getting married if someone hadn't spilled the beans" she said annoyed
Meg squirmed, her neck flushing with guilt again. Over three months ago, at the ballet with Jacques, Meg and a man beside her had been talking politely before the program began and at intermission, just casually conversing about their friends and family and such. Meg, of course, mentioned her best friend Christine. The man asked in delight "Christine Daae?" and Meg of course had said yes and asked of any relation to her. He claimed to have none, but kept asking of her, and Meg accidentally let it slip she was getting married to the future conductor of the reconstructed Opera House. Well, it just so happened the man had been a newspaper reporter, hungry for information as was everyone about the young diva's disappearance. And guess what was the headline of the socialite column in the following day's newspaper? So, now, everyone knew she was back and would maybe begin singing again and basically Christine's "in-hiding" status went down the drain. She and Erik had both been furious at Meg at first, but eventually calmed down and forgiven her. Well, mostly. Meg quickly changed the subject
"Oh Christine, you're so lucky! Imagine, a big grand wedding to the perfect man. Have you decided who will be your Maid of Honor yet?" Meg asked coyly
Christine rolled her eyes "Meg, don't tease so. You know I'll chose you of course. You're my best friend, even if you do let things slip sometimes. Whom else could I possibly think of?"
Meg giggled "Oh, we'll have to pick out a grand color scheme after we chose your dress"
Christine turned to Mme. Giry, starring off distantly on the sofa
"And Mme. Giry, would you mind doing the Honor of being the Mother of the Bride? And possibly the groom? You've been such a wonderful mother figure to both Erik and I, we couldn't dream of anyone but you in the place."
A small tear formed in her eye "Of course child. I would be delighted" And she went off starring into space again, entrapped in her own thoughts
Meg giggled and whispered to Christine behind her hand "Mother's been developing quite the affection for Monsieur Beaumont lately, and I think he's returning it. You can just see it in their eyes"
Christine smiled. It was so nice all her friends were involved in romances of their own
Meg cast her eyes down and asked softly
"Christine, I don't mean to offend, but, who will escort you up the aisle? Since your... I mean, if you don't wish to go alone, perhaps Monsieur Beaumont would do you the honor"
Christine sighed, memories tugging at her heart. She so wished her own father could still be here somehow, to share in all this joy. That horrid incident with the imposter Raoul had hired to portray her father six months ago had only made her long for her real father, the father she so fondly remembered and dearly missed. Her friends had all sympathized and comforted her when they learned the truth about the actor pretending to be Christine's "Father" but it couldn't fill the ache she felt inside. As much as she loved Monsieur Beaumont, she knew neither she nor Erik would approve or accept anyone else taking her father's place on this special day
She set her chin in a firm, determined line, putting on a brave face
"Thank you for the suggestion, Meg, but I couldn't. I couldn't have anyone but my father walking beside me on that day. I'll go up alone"
Meg nodded, turning her attention to the pile of white gauze on the table arranged in a makeshift veil "So, what do you think of this one?" she asked
Christine bit her lip thoughtfully, trying to decide "I don't know. Isn't it a bit early to be deciding on all this?"
"Well, that depends on when you're getting married..." Meg trailed off suggestively
Christine sighed "For the last time, we haven't settled on a date yet! I know I want a winter wedding-"
"Oh, that's helpful. It could be anywhere between now and March!"
"Meg, would you let me finish? I know I want a winter wedding so it can coincide with the Opera House's re-opening. Only, we have no idea whether it will be before or after the new year. Probably after, but then when should we have the wedding? We can't get married on Christmas! Can we?" she asked
"Christine, you have to leave time for the honeymoon" Meg pointed out, making Christine blush.
"Well, that's true. So, maybe two weeks before Christmas? Or maybe a few days afterwards? I don't know, I'll have to talk this over with Erik. He'll know more about the Opera House dates and scheduling so he can fill me in and maybe I can work around it and approve the date with him. He'd be so forgetful of our anniversary, so that's why I though of a Christmas wedding, you know? Double holiday, maybe even a double wedding..." she said
Meg looked puzzled "With whom?"
"You and Jacques of course"
Meg groaned, whispering "Don't get your hopes up. If Mother's still our chaperone, we won't be married for the next twenty years if we're lucky!"
Christine glanced over her shoulder, assured Mme. Giry had fallen asleep and wasn't listening to her daughter's rants. Although Christine never told Meg, she thought it was a bit ungrateful of Meg to prattle on and on about her mother all the time. As strict and demanding of a mother as Mme. Giry was to Meg, Christine thought Meg was lucky to know her mother at all, even though she wished she didn't. Christine's own mother had died when she was only two, so she had even fewer memories of her than she did her father. The only thing she knew was her mother was blond, a good singer and cook, and loved to read. She learned later when she was older that her mother had drowned in the ocean during an unexpected storm. Still, she supposed all mothers and daughters had these little squabbles and it was perfectly normal, and as Meg's friend, she should be attentively listening.
She tried to force her attention to Meg's voice, but she eventually tuned it out. Meg sighed
"All right, enough about me and my troubles, I can tell I've lost you already and who knows when Maman may wake up and hear me going on about her so. Come, let's work on you dress. Now, if you want a cupped shoulder style, you'll need at least four more yards of this material..."
Erik bounded up the steps to his apartment building, whistling the song Jacques had hummed from the ballet the other night. He was in such a good mood today. Life really wasn't so bad when you actually had friends, a finance, and, well, basically a life. He was looking forward to a nice, quiet evening with Christine at home. Maybe they could read again, or he could teach her the new song he'd learned. Imagine his surprise and mild amusement to open the door softly to find Meg and Mme. Giry with their backs to him, trying the baste or pin together some sort of lacy white curtain and veil on his wife over her shift and corset. He cleared his throat rather loudly
"Uh, am I interrupting something ladies?"
They all screamed, and Meg quickly shut the door, locking him out while Mme. Giry covered Christine and began helping her out of the makeshift gown
"Meg! What is wrong? Let me in!" Erik called angrily
"Oh Erik, you spoiled the surprise!" she wailed
"What surprise? What are you talking about?"
"It's bad luck for a groom to see his bride in her wedding dress before the wedding! Everyone knows that! You should have knocked"
"Meg, it's my own apartment, I'm not going to- Wait a minute, you're telling me that curtain thing is her dress?"
"Well, the basic pattern, but we can't use that now since you've seen it"she said in annoyance "Oh, never mind, it's fine now come in. Christine's ready"
He entered to find his apartment covered in white fabrics and papers, Christine in a normal brown dress (which was hastily buttoned all wrong) and her face flushed red from embarrassment and Erik started to laugh, but turned it into a cough when Mme. Giry glared at him. She looked at Meg
"Come Meg, we should be leaving now. It's almost time for dinner"
"Oh but Mother, couldn't we-"
"Meg Giry, don't argue with me. Come on." she nodded to Christine and Erik "Thank you two for...quite the afternoon. Christine, let us know when you two finally decide on something."
"Au revior Mme. Giry. Au revior Meg"
"Au revior Christine"
Erik shut the door behind them and swept Christine up in his arms against her weak protests. He smiled mischievously.
"What just happened here and what did I miss, besides you wrapped up in a curtain?"
She sighed in mock anger "Erik, that was a pattern for my wedding dress! Did you forget we're getting married? It takes some planning you know. There's still the flowers, the guest list, my dress and you have to help me with some of these details you know!"
He kissed her "Mm, I don't really care about any of that. I'm just happy we're getting married!"
She smiled gently "I know, but we still need to take care of these little details, Erik. They're important!"
He set her down gently on the couch and sat down next to her, wickedly kissing her all over. She groaned
"Erik, we need to- Oh, never mind" she groaned as he kissed her neck fiercely, working his way up to her lips and running his hands down her waist and legs. He laid down on top of her and pulled her skirt up tiny bit, exposing little peaks of her gorgeous legs and her frilly petticoats. She broke off kissing him, pulled her skirts back down and sat up
"Erik, stop it.!" she said teasingly, gently swatting his arm "If you go on so,I won't be able to wear white at my wedding!"
"So? Ow!" he responded when she hit his arm again harder. He pretended to groan with pain and she lightly nipped his ear with her lips, making him flinch. She smiled naughtily
"I learned from the best"
"I'll say" He began unbuttoning the wrong buttons on the back of her dress and re-buttoning them in the correct holes slowly, glimpsing at her creamy, smooth skin.
She sighed with impatience
"Erik, if you're going to button it, then button it already! I have to get dinner started"
"Oh, hell with dinner! You know you like this" he said seductively, playing with her hair. He gently lifted one of her curly tendrils and whispered in her ear
"I love you"
"I love you too, Erik, but you still haven't made me forget about the guests and the flowers and everything else. And we need to pick a date!" she exclaimed
He sighed. Why was it when you were in the mood, women never were?
He lifted her off the couch again, twirling her around
"Christine, I say just skip the whole big fancy wedding. Who needs it? You, me, a suitcase and Spain and we can elope! We could be married by tomorrow, without all the little petty details!"
"Erik, no, that won't work" she said when he finally put her down
"Why? You want to go to Rome instead?"
"No, we have to have a real wedding. Erik, I want this to be a special day for both of us and we have to talk about everything before we decide, even the smallest detail. It's our wedding. Not mine, not yours, ours. We've got to agree on something sooner or later." she said firmly sitting down
He desperately tried to change the subject as he sat down next to her "Hey, Christine, Georges said tomorrow, if you want too, you could come with us to the Opera House,while we're checking on all the final details. It's almost as grand as it was before. You'll love it"
She smiled " That sounds lovely. And now I'll go get dinner started. Excuse me" she said standing up just as he moved to kiss her.
She never said a word through dinner until Erik finally sighed regretfully "All right. We can start picking all this wedding stuff right after dinner, if it's that important."
She smiled "Thank you. And I promise, it really won't be as tedious as you think. It may even be fun!" she exclaimed, collecting their plates and silverware
He groaned as soon as Christine was out of earshot. There went the rest of the evening
Christine heard a knock her her bedroom door later that night as she was brushing her hair. "Come in" she called
Erik came in, in his linen nightclothes, looking slightly embarrassed. He was holding a women's dress box. She looked at him, setting the brush down on the nightstand.
"Erik, what is it?"
"Well, I know how much trouble you've been having, picking out the dress, and I thought this might make it a little... easier."
He set the box down on the bed, removing the lid to reveal a sparkling, gorgeous white gown. He spread it out gently over the bed as Christine gasped, drawing closer to look at it.
"Oh Erik, this is beautiful. Where did you...?" she trailed off, tracing the intricate beaded designs on the bodice gently with her finger
"I made it. A long time ago, when I kept hoping you...well, maybe you wanted to... anyway, I just dug it out today from my old lair when I went to the Opera House with Georges. It took months to put together correctly, and I made it with your body measurements, so I hope it still fits"
She held it up to her body, swirling around and watching the glittering silky fabric sparkle when it hit the light. Layer after layer of ruffles and lace on the skirt, a modestly low-cut bodice with beaded designs, elbow length sleeves with yards of extra fabric bunched together in beautiful patterns and the bodice and waist of the gown laced up in a corset-like style to accentuate her figure. The veil was equally as beautiful, with a little headpiece of white flowers and pearls entwined together in the silvery crown. The veil extended off of it, mounds of sheer white fabric flowing like a waterfall down her back when she put the veil on. It was like something from a dream. She turned around, to see Erik's face bright red against his white porcelain mask, fiddling with his shirt collar
"You don't like it, do you? Oh, I never should have gotten this back out again, it was-"
"Erik" she whispered in delight, silencing him "It's perfect.. More beautiful than anything I could possibly have dreamed of. I love it. Thank you so much."
He smiled "Does this tie into that ridiculous notion that I can't see you in the dress before the wedding?"
She laughed, trying to consider "Well, technically, you've only seen the dress. You haven't seen me in it yet, so I suppose that's all right. Thank you for giving it to me, Erik."
"You're more than welcome my dear"
She folded the dress and veil neatly, placing them back in the box and putting the box carefully in her closet.
He smiled, relieved that she liked it. She sat down again at the nightstand, brushing her hair and watching him in the mirror behind her, moving about the room. He looked at her little collection of body creams and oils, most of which were flower scented or lavender. He smiled knowingly, turning back around
"Ahh, so that's why you always smell of lavender. I always wondered."
She laughed , putting the brush down and sitting down on the bed
"Erik, there's a lot of things women use to make themselves beautiful. It doesn't just come naturally. Corsets, makeup, body creams, perfumes, brushes, there's millions of things. Beauty is pain"
He smiled sitting down next to her "Yes, a pain in the wallet" She gasped, pretending to be offended. He laughed "Christine, you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. You don't really need any of this stuff"
"Just like you don't really need that mask" she said bluntly, surprising him. His hand instantly reached up to touch it.
"Erik, you know I don't mind seeing what's behind it. People who truly love you don't care if you don't look like everyone else. You don't need to wear it all the time" she said, gently taking it off his face. His hand instantly moved up to cover his mangled flesh but she stopped it, pulling it back down. She smiled teasingly
"See? We're making progress. You haven't thrown me on the floor or started screaming yet and it's been a full minute. That's an improvement"
He forced a laugh for her sake, even though Erik still felt uncomfortable when either of them mentioned how he treated her the night after her debut in his lair when she removed his mask for the first time. It was all water under the bridge now, but he still felt uncomfortable speaking of it. It was the only real time he'd ever acted cruelly towards Christine and he wished it never happened.
He sighed, looking at the mask "Maybe you're right. I won't wear it...for tonight at least" he added hastily
She smiled, tracing one of his scars with her finger "I like you better this way. You don't seem as...mysterious"
He laughed, this time for real. "All right, maybe I won't be the mysterious Phantom of the Opera for tonight. I'll just be the semi-normal Phantom of Apartment D14."
She smiled as she got into bed and he stood up to leave "Well, good night Christine. See you in the morning"
"Wait!" she said as he started to shut the door. He came back in
"Yes?"
"I didn't get a goodnight kiss" she said, pretending to pout. He smiled ruthlessly and leaned over, kissing her sweetly.
"Good night"
"I don't think that was enough to make me sleepy" Christine said like a little girl
He turned back around, and after about six more good night kisses and some snuggling, they both really were tired and said goodnight. Christine turned out the lamp and Erik headed back to his study, opening the door once more when he was sure Christine was asleep, only to retrieve his mask from her bedside table and take it back to the study with him. He really would sleep without it tonight, for her sake, but he had learned one thing over the years:
Better safe than sorry