AN: Get ready for an important chappie!

Throughout the course of the day Christine noticed that she was receiving a lot of attention. Many of the girls sent glances her way—some condescending, some pitying, some disgusted. Following these stares were furtive whispers directed into eager ears that the girls made sure to hide behind secretive hands.

Jammes cornered her after rehearsal that night. "I am so sorry to hear about your fiancé's family," she gushed, taking hold of her friend's hand comfortingly. "Hopefully you will recover soon."

Christine started. "What are you on abour?"

Jammes sighed. "Meg told some of the others that Philippe gambled away the family fortune."

Christine was shocked. She couldn't believe that Meg would do such a thing! They had always been loyal to each other since they met when Christine came to the opera house ten years ago. She couldn't think of any reason why she would betray her like that after she promised not to speak of it to anybody for fear of upsetting Raoul—Raoul! She hadn't even thought of how he would react—she didn't want to think of how he would react…he would be furious, no doubt, when word reached his ears.

"I'm sorry, Jammes, I really need to be going—" she offered her a weary smile and feeble nod then rushed off to find Meg and confront her.

She found her surrounded by a group of excited girls who closed in on her, assailing her with questions. Meg looked rather uncomfortable.

"I never said anything of the sort! I know nothing about it! Please leave me alone," she cried, struggling to push her way through the throng of eager rats and chorus girls. She spotted Christine as she shoved past the last of the girls in the ring and looked at her with pleading wide eyes.

"Christine, I swear I never said a word—" she beseeched, looking miserable.

Christine could tell that she was completely honest. Meg was not attention seeking; just a minute ago she had been trying to push the girls off her and wouldn't answer any of their questions regarding the matter. Her spotless record vouched for her as well; she had never done anything to consciously harm Christine before either. The desperate look on her face also confirmed her innocence.

"I know," Christine said, silencing her with a weary smile. "I know it wasn't you."

The pack of girls began to advance towards them, like predators stalking their prey. Christine eyed them warily. "Let's go to my dressing room, shall we?" she said, feigning cheerfulness, knowing that all eyes were upon her. If she acted as if nothing was wrong perhaps they would write it off as a fabricated rumor. She linked her arm through Meg's and scurried to her dressing room.

"I know that you didn't tell anyone," Christine assured Meg after she shot her another apologetic look. "I just want to know who did…and how they found out."

"Who else knows?"

Christine sighed. "I didn't trust anyone but you with such a secret, and I'm sure Raoul didn't tell anyone. Oh Raoul, he's going to be murderous…"

"I'm sure he will be completely rational as long as you tell him that you didn't divulge the secret with anyone else," Meg assured her. "As long as he knows you're not to blame he can't be upset with you."

Christine nodded. "I'll be sure to tell him that. He was supposed to meet me here after rehearsals and we were to go to his mother's for more of the legal proceedings…I wonder what has detained him," she said nervously, wringing her hands. "It's been over half an hour."

"Well I'll be going then. I don't want to intrude when he comes back." Meg ignored Christine's protests and assured her that she should be going. "I'm dining with the Baron tonight anyways, I really must be going." Christine relented. Meg noticed that she still looked rather anxious. "You'll be fine," she assured her again, enveloping her friend's hands in her own. "He won't be cross with you; you are irreproachable. Don't worry, dear," she comforted her.

"Thank you, Meg. You've been so good to me."

Meg gave her an encouraging smile and left her alone to wait for Raoul.

Christine wondered if he had found out that their secret was leaked. Word spread like wildfire among the Parisians and she wouldn't be surprised if he had heard of it already. If he hadn't she definitely did not want to break the news—but she did not want to face his anger either. She would just have to wait and see; she was sure she would be able to tell if he knew or not by his expression when he entered the room.

She paced the floor anxiously while she waited for his entrance. Her mind kept drifting to how he might react, and she dreaded his arrival more and more each minute. She waited for another quarter of an hour before the door suddenly banged open and a very flustered Raoul stomped through it. She started at the sudden noise and took a timid step back when she saw his lethal countenance.

"I cannot believe it," he growled, voice dangerously low. "It seems our reputation has sunk even lower when I thought it could not get worse after I became engaged to you," he spat.

How unjustifiably insolent! Her first instinct was to retort but she thought it best to remain calm and try to explain that she was just as innocent as he.

"Raoul, I told—"

"Exactly! You told! You senseless, selfish, stupid girl!" he shouted, eyes livid as he advanced closer to her. "How could you be so careless? Or were you just foolish and did not understand the importance of our name? I suppose it was the latter, having a poor, wretched musician for a father wouldn't give one much of an education or knowledge of higher society!"

It took everything she had not to scream back at him for insulting her late father. She bit back her harsh words and tried to explain to him again. "Listen to me! I told no one besides Meg who has been nothing but loyal to me my whole life! She was just as tight-lipped about the whole ordeal as I was. I had nothing to do with the story getting out."

Raoul looked manic by now. "Hah! Tight-lipped! I have never heard of a woman who was tight-lipped. You are all dreadfully gossipy creatures who do nothing but get their families into trouble! I do not believe that in the least, I told no one but my own mother who has been so ashamed of the matter she will hardly speak of it to me! You lying, careless little brat, you must have let it slip to someone!"

"I swear Raoul, I told no one but Meg, who has been just as guarded as me!"

"Your word means nothing," he hissed. "This is my livelihood that has just been destroyed by you! If I had never proposed to you I would have avoided all of this. I could have married some girl with much better connections than yours but I fancied myself in love so I condescended to marry you. Well look where that got me! I will regret that day I proposed until the day I die!"

Her anger was too great now. "How can you speak to me like that!" she all but screamed, not caring who heard her. "You horrible, vulgar, man! I feel terribly sorry for the poor girl who has to marry you, but it will most certainly not be me!" and with that she thrust her engagement ring into his chest.

Now he was positively wild with fury. His eyes had narrowed into slits, his whole person seemed to be shaking, and his chest was heaving impressively.

"You wretch," he snarled. He drew his arm back and slugged her in the jaw. She gasped, and hit the wall roughly. A sharp pain erupted in the ribs on her left side. She staggered forward, gasping for the breath that had left her body with the force of the hit. He aimed another one, this time catching her in the eye. She fell to the ground, cowering at his feet, unable to stand or leave. She was completely at his mercy which she knew he would not give.

"Get up, you sniveling brat!" he demanded, forcefully hoisting her up by her arm. He poised to hit her again, but this time the blow never came. She raised her eyes and saw that a white gloved hand restrained Raoul's arm by the elbow. The owner of said hand spun him around.

Raoul looked absolutely terrified as he stared up into the face of his captor.

"How dare you strike a woman," the man hissed venomously. Raoul blanched significantly, no longer looking the formidable monster he was moments ago. "You deserve to be lynched. Get out of my sight before my temper gets the best of me and I do so," he said, his voice dangerously low but still much more terrifying than Raoul's had been when he had been bellowing. The man released Raoul and gestured for him to leave.

Raoul stumbled to the door, taking one last terrified look at the man before he toppled through the threshold. Christine remained crouched on the floor until the sound of his loud, hasty footsteps disappeared. Then she dared to look up at her savior.

He had pulled up a chair for her. He extended his hand to her as she met his eyes. She took it feebly and he gently pulled her to her feet.

"Are you alright?" he asked as he helped her into the chair. He seemed to realize the impropriety of the question and cringed, embarrassed.

"No, hardly not," she answered feebly, giving him a weak smile. "But if you hadn't come so soon I would have been in even worse condition…Thank you…"

"I only regret that I didn't come sooner," he sighed. His eyes wandered across her face, lingering on her jaw and eye. "Let me tend to your wounds. I'm afraid all my tools are in my home. Do you mind if I take you there?" he asked, his words rich with courtesy.

"No, not at all…I do not believe I can thank you enough," she said gratefully.

In one fluid, effortless movement, he swept her into his arms and began to carry her.

Her Angel of Music proved to be a brilliant Guardian Angel as well.