A/N Goodness me! My computer really doesn't seem to like this chapter; it keeps deleting it. But I am determined to publish it, so here you are! Much love goes to you wonderful readers who have continued to read, and to my lovely reviewer slinco!
"What a change! You're really not a bit, the gawkish girl that once you were.." Raoul, Think of Me, ALW's Phantom of the Opera.
Celeste continued to walk through the throngs of people whilst pretending to be oblivious to the many eyes staring at her. But one pair that she certainly was oblivious to kept watch on her until she was well out of sight. The owner of the eyes then turned form the edge of the box and went in search of this new Marguerita.
It wasn't that Celeste had not felt the green eyes burning a hole on the back of her neck, but more that she was used to the sensation.
Gaston marvelled at the small girl leading him onwards. Just a few moments before he had seen her emerge form her plain shell, into a wonderful being of music, only to crawl back into the shadows once more.
She was nearly at the threshold where the wings met that shadows of backstage when a voice made her stop dead in her tracks...
"So Erik, what can I do for you?" Gailhard said warmly at the shadowy figure opposite him.
"It's good to see you Gailhard" Erik replied, "How are you keeping?"
"Not bad, can't complain. How about you?"
"The odd ache and pain. But that's what you get for living were I do?"
"Ah, this isn't another lecture about repairs is it? You must understand Erik, there is allot of damp but the leaks in the roof has to be my top priority and…"
"Pedro, its alright. I know, I was just winding you up." Gailhard smiled and became more at ease; Erik only used his first name when he was in a good mood.
"I saw your daughter this morning" Gailhard decided to mention, "doesn't seem that long ago that she couldn't see over the top of this desk"
"Time files"
"She's growing into a beautiful young woman," Gailhard confessed. Erik paled a little; it was a very rare occasion that anyone mentioned Celeste, least of all called beautiful. Or a woman for that matter…
And for the second time that morning Erik was faced with the horrible feeling that his little girl wasn't little anymore.
"Anyway" Gailhard sighed, stirring Erik out of his thoughts, "forgive me for thinking that you're not here for small talk"
"No. you're right, as always. I'm here about this." He took the newspaper from the pocket in the inside of his coat and pushed it onto the table.
Gailhard took it and saw the headline, "Yes I'd heard. Such a shame. I suppose it won't be long until the whole of Paris is calling for o masquerade. I suppose I better put a Gounod work in for next season as well. I'm thinking 'Faust' or 'Romeo and Juliet'; they're the only two that are still popular. How about you?"
"Well, my personal choice will always be the same. But I just can't handle the thought of La Eclarice murdering 'The Jewel Song'. Remind me why we still employ her"
"The Conservatoire funding, that's why. If we stop her contract, we lose the money…"
"…and if we lose the money, we have to get more patrons"
"More trouble then it's worth, believe me."
Erik completely understood Gailhard's point. The thought of any more French vicomtes or English Barons trying to tell him what to do made his toes curl.
"We'll settle on Romeo and Juliet then" Erik offered.
"Agreed," Gailhard pencilled himself a note on a scrap of paper, "now about this masked ball. I've been wondering when we'll hold it."
Here Erik calmly reached inside another of his pockets and drew out a notebook. Gailhard, on the other hand, rummaged around the office frantically. But soon he located his diary on the windowsill.
"We need to get it done quickly, but I'll need at least a week to organise the whole thing. Its not that the musicians or the dancers are slow to pick things up, its just I need the time for advertising. Then again, we're very booked anyway. I could go for later…" here he flicked a page, "but then we're staring rehearsals for a new opera. Then there's that charity Gala the first week in November…" Gailhard flicked back again, "I guess it will have to be the 29th …but no I think that would be a bit in… then again, it's the only practical solution "
"Are you sure there's no other dates?"
"I'm sorry Erik, it's the 29th or nothing at all"
"That will have to do then" Erik scribbled something down in his notebook and then returned it to his pocket"
"I'll send you a list of the proposed acts for this ball as soon as I've got it. Celeste could play something if she wants to…"
"Perhaps, you'd have to take it up with her. I think I might sit this Ball out though"
"But it won't be a masked ball without you!"
Erik stood up and made for the door, coat swirling in an all too familiar fashon, "you'll manage…"
A/N I know, short chapter. But this week has been pretty darn hectic. Then again: shorter chapters mean faster updates. I know no one has this on alert, but if you are still reading, drop me a line. I don't mind what you say. Complain, congratulate, enquire… surely, someone must be interested in why 29th October 1893 is so darn important! Right? Look I guess what I'm trying to say is, I could REALY use reviews, flames, whatever. Just, please…
