Christine quickly walked back to the inn, self consciously aware of the pressure of two eyes staring at her back as she retreated the cliff side. Her breath came in short gasps as she clutched her cloak to her body to ward off the chill she felt that had nothing to do with the night air. Her face felt hot and her body felt cold in the absence of Erik's arms. She felt the chill metal of the necklace pressing heavily against her, swaying side to side with her steps. She had never been such a muddled mess of confusing and conflicting emotions, both good and bad. Never in a million years could she have predicted what she would feel for Erik. She felt flush with the sudden knowledge that tonight Erik had stepped over that line between a safe and distant relationship of student and teacher, and even surpassed that of a simple friendship in declaring a courtship with her. She felt suddenly out of place in her world and did not know where to stand or how to act. Before there were always supposed boundaries and expectations but now she did not know what to do. Her mother died when she was far too young to have broached such subjects with her and her father had never discussed such things with her as if to pretend he would always be the only man in her life. Perhaps that was why he hinted his favor of Raoul, knowing that he would be the one to guide their relationship and show her the rules. Thinking of Raoul made her stop dead in her tracks. What would become of her relationship to the vicompte now? Since Raoul had never formally asked to court her, his brother forbade it, would there become real competition or would Raoul fall into the shadows and give up? Could they still be friends? And what would she tell other people for that matter? Erik never came out in public so who would believe she had entered into a relationship and how did she explain why she was suddenly off limits to other men? She now rushed towards the inn, intent to corner Marie and beg some answers from the experienced woman.

After hammering on her bedroom door a few times, she was rewarded with the light under the door growing brighter and a sleepy-eyed Mme. Beauchamp opening the door.

"Christine?" she whispered, "Whatever is the matter?" she said upon seeing Christine's distraught face.

"Oh Marie, I really need to talk to you," Christine quietly cried out.

Marie gathered her robe tighter about her and picked up the candlestick nearest the door, motioning for Christine to follow her down the hallway towards the kitchen.

Christine trailed behind Marie and the bobbing candle to the kitchen where the evening's hearth fire still smoldered in the ashes. Marie pointed to the stack of wood next to it and told her to get the fire going again while she put on a kettle to heat. After doing so she turned and latched the door so they would not be disturbed.

Christine settled into a chair nearest the fire feeling a little more at ease in the familiar setting of the cozy nook with the smell of dough rising near the oven. Marie sat down next to her and asked, "Now, Christine dear, tell me what happened?" she settled in for what she knew would be a long explanation.

Christine dove right in, having to restart her telling a few times to backtrack to earlier events of the day. She sheepishly told of finding the box lying next to Erik in the church after sleeping next to him all night. She told Marie of her suspicions and then she explained her dream later that afternoon and how her feelings had changed into something else over the recent days. She began by explaining the events of the evening by the cliffs and showed her the necklace Erik had given to her. Marie sat and listened, nodding occasionally, but keeping her own council until Christine was done telling everything.

When Christine slumped back into her chair, having left no detail out, Marie cleared her throat and said, "I thought so. I didn't expect he would do something like this while you were still here, but it makes sense I suppose. He must have had at least some of this planned if you say there was no concrete reason for coming here just the two of you."

Christine nodded and waited for Marie to continue.

"And you say you are certain of your feelings for him?" Marie prodded.

"Yes," Christine replied, "I am very sure now, but I simply don't have any idea of what comes next. I really don't know what to do, especially given our special circumstances."

"Do you mean just his mask or is there something else?"

"Oh, his mask is just one facet of the difficulty," Christine said with a sigh, "I'm not sure how to explain this, but back in Paris, Erik doesn't show himself hardly ever because," she paused not sure how to continue, "he has played a continued joke with the company of the opera that has perturbed most of the people there and it now makes it impossible for him to show himself." She hoped that would be enough of an explanation.

"So, your M. Durand has created some problems of his own and now they will affect you as well?" she inquired.

"More or less. He did that before he knew and taught me though so I can't hold it against him. I'm sure he did not ever think it would have any direct affect on anyone but himself." She wanted to steer the conversation away from the subject, lest she have to explain to Marie that Erik was the infamous Phantom of the Opera and extorting money from the management for fun. "His mask aside, there is more. Because he has had to teach me in private, we have already spent much time together doing things that most courting couples do, so it almost seems unnecessary for him to propose the formality of it."

"I can't blame the man," Marie said. She rose to pour some of the steaming water from the kettle over their tea leaves to steep. "He obviously cares about you enough to try to give you a normal relationship as you would have with any other man. From what you have told me, you are certain of your feelings for him, but have you given any thought as to your future and what that would entail?"

Christine sighed, "That is why I came to you. I don't even know how to act when a man is courting me, let alone what is my responsibility in a relationship and what is proper or not. Also, I need advice on how to handle things with Raoul."

"Oh, Christine," she began, handing Christine a mug of hot tea, "relationships are complicated, but not so much as you would think. Normally a man would approach your father first and talk things over with him before propositioning you but sadly that is a step he has had to skip. While you are supporting his interest, you are not to engage in any private encounters with any other men and you must turn down any other offers unless things between you and M. Durand change and you decide to call it off honorably. So, as far as Raoul is concerned, he can be your friend, but only in a professional setting or if Erik is present."

"That's not likely to happen," Christine said dryly.

"Then I'm afraid you will have to simply avoid seeing him. If he tries to call on you, you must turn him down and explain that you are not available for such social visits."

"But what if he persists," Christine asked, sipping the scalding liquid.

"Then he would be ungentlemanly and rude for doing so. Always remember, Christine, that a lady has no need to explain herself for anything." She gave her a wink and a smile.

"Then what?"

Marie grinned wryly, "Dum dum da dum," she said singing out the wedding march.

Christine blushed. "How long do we court for before we…?" she could not say the words 'are married'.

"As long as you like," Marie said, then added, "although in your case, if you are sure, don't leave the poor man hanging too long after he asks, which I'm sure he will sooner or later. He's wound tighter than those violin strings he plays."

Christine laughed softly at that, feeling much less anxious and more excited now that she had some direction to follow. They chatted for awhile longer, then Marie begged to return to her bed for some sleep before the rooster started to crow. She said goodnight and left Christine by the fireside to finish her tea.

Erik lay on the blanket by the crackling fire, staring up at the distant stars above. He could hardly believe he was awake and not dreaming. He had seen the look on Christine's face when she saw the jewelry box. As much as his ears tried to convince him they had heard wrong, her voice still rang in his ears the resounding 'Yes' that had made his heart stop beating momentarily. It had taken all his self control to pretend he did not hear her say it. He knew he should have felt ashamed in deceiving her with the necklace purposefully placed into a ring box, but in his defense, it had been the shopkeeper's idea, not his. "Gauge her reaction with this," he had said as he slid the chain into the padded box.

He still didn't know what dared him to spill his confession of jealousy to her with such detail. He was sure after having said what he did, she would turn away and leave and the chance of asking her to be his significant other had flown out the window. His heart still beat madly inside his chest and only his deep breaths seem to calm it momentarily. His urge to kiss her had been unbearable but he did not want to shatter the illusion he was living in tonight. He did not want to think of how horrified she might have been at his presumption that he could not bring himself to give in to the urge to do so. He had to go carefully now. Now he had a true chance at happiness and at being with Christine forever. He asked and she had accepted, and the small corner of his brain called optimism was still trying to reconcile with the fact that he was sure she said yes thinking he held a ring in his hand.

***FYI. My husband actually did this to me, except it was with earrings at Christmas instead of a necklace. Totally tricked me…***