BIG BIG CHAPTER HERE!

MADDIE

"Come in!" I called at the knock of my door, still staring at the strange undergarment I was supposed to wear to the ball in a few hours. A corset. Never having been to a party or even wearing a gown, I had never even seen one up close. I put it on and attempted to tie it, but ended up with a point in my face. Therese came into the room with a pair of pink slippers and began to laugh.
"Oh sweet Madeleine…you poor thing, let me help!" She smiled and helped me take the crooked thing off. "It was upside down darling…" She said and placed it around me, quickly lacing up the back and tying it tightly. I gasped, feeling like all the air in my lungs was being pushed out.
"Your waist is just as tiny as the viscountess's was…" The lady said softly as I fought for air.

Therese put a white silk dressing gown around me and motioned for me to follow her.
"Let's get you something to eat dear girl…" She said and I muttered,
"I can't even breathe, how the hell should I eat." It was strange sitting down, because I was suddenly sitting with proper posture and eating like a bird. I heard Charles come into the room and chuckle.
"Afternoon Maddie…" He teased and I gave him a look.
"Good afternoon Charles…" I shot back. Raoul was not far behind and bit back a smile when he saw me.
"You two all ready for the ball?" He asked and we both nodded. "Charles do you even have something to wear?" Charles nodded.
"I dug something suitable out…"

"Oh?" Raoul asked, adjusting his coat.
"It's a surprise…" Charles added.
"I see…" Raoul grinned, winking at me. Before I could eat another bite, Therese was sweeping me back up into my room where two young girls waited.
"Jennifer and Anastasia here are going to do your hair as I help you dress." She explained and I nodded. It was strange to be waited on. First they pinned my hair and wove ribbon through it as I stepped into the dress and was buttoned into it. Therese then knelt down and slipped the pink slippers on my feet as the girls began to remove the pins from my hair, releasing perfect curls.
"Oh…" I whispered, looking into the mirror. Therese nodded.
"You are beautiful…"

I stared at myself in the full length mirror and tried to imagine Charles's mother staring at herself this very way. The dress had a lace trim at the neck line and fit snugly until the waist where it billowed out and the back had a train with three bustles. At the waist was a pink silk rose. I slipped on the elbow length white gloves with gold trim and left the room to meet Raoul in the foyer. He smiled up at me as I descended the staircase, offering me his arm.
"Charles is going to meet us there." He said with a tight sad smile. I nodded and he helped me get into the carriage. We rode in an awkward silence, and I noticed Raoul kept staring at my locket. Instinctively, my hand came up to it. We came to a halt outside the lit up opera house.

Raoul got out first and helped me down, as I looked nervously at all the people standing around. He went on ahead to the coat person and gave them his coat. I removed my own white cloak and walked into the party which was alive with dancing, music and candlelight. When people noticed me, they would stop and whisper to each other. Especially the older people. Suddenly I felt extremely self conscious and leaned over to Raoul.
"What do I do? Everyone is staring at me…" He took my arm gently and patted it.
"You're fine…just be yourself." I clung to his arm like a little girl clings to her father. I noticed a familiar flash of blonde hair as Deirdre dragged Daniel out onto the dance floor.
"He hates it…" Laughed Raoul, watching his nephew. I giggled as Daniel pleaded with his eyes and looked to Gabe for help. Gabe only laughed, swinging Camille around with ease.
"Look, she's torturing him!" I laughed as Deirdre noticed me and winked.

I turned to see Madame Giry walking over to us, using her cane as usual now. She had a bad case of arthritis in her knee.
"Madeleine my dear! You look lovely…I'm so glad to see that gown being reused…it was Christine's favorite you know…" Raoul smiled.
"Yes I remember…she never wore it again, but she would sometimes pull it out and hold it to herself just to see it. I always thought it was such a shame she never wore it again. She'd saved her money for it. I offered to buy it for her, but you know Christine…stubborn as a bull." Madame Giry laughed, remembering obviously.
"Once when she was nine, I offered to put her hair into braids and tie them with little pink ribbons, but she'd said in her tiny voice, 'No thank you Aunt Annie, I've got it.' She came out about an hour later with two lopsided little braids tied messily with pink ribbon. She was so proud. I'll never forget that!"

I laughed as Gabe and Camille came up behind us and he lifted me, startling me and spinning me around.
"Happy New Year Madeleine…" He said, feigning getting ready to kiss me when Camille hit his arm.
"You libertine…" She said and he bent to kiss her cheek.
"I'm only kidding dear Millie…I will wait until Midnight," He said, winking at me and giving Madame Giry a quick hug.
"Well that's certainly an interesting mask Gabriel…" She observed. It was intimidating. It was black and went diagonally across his face with a bit of gold trim around the edges. Camille wore a daintier version which just covered the top part of her face. Mine of course was a handheld mask. Hearing a more upbeat tune begin to play, Gabe wrapped an arm around Camille and whisked her back out to dance.

I could only shake my head, but received the shock of my life when he dared to kiss her. Of course, she slapped him but a minute later, she had blushed and was smiling at him. They walked off to the side with his arm around her. Benedetta had planted herself right between the managers and was pouting because they each had one of the ballerinas on their arm. Stupid little gold diggers…I was ready to ask Raoul if he'd like to dance when the music stopped abruptly and a few gasps was heard.
"Oh Jesus, Mary and Joseph…" I muttered, but turned my head to see none other than a man in a full red costume with that skull like mask. He descended upon us all like a graceful cat, his dark hair slicked back, his cape trailing behind him. Everyone had froze and I looked around, almost laughing at their silliness. Without hesitation I strode over to the stairs as he had almost reached the bottom and stared up into those green eyes. For a minute, he seemed another person, his eyes just bearing into mine…and I was frightened, but only for a moment until he grinned.

"Charles? Is that you?" I asked and he pushed the mask back, revealing his face and confirming it was indeed him. I smacked his arm.
"You bastard…you are a tricky little sneak…" He shrugged, pulling the mask back down.
"I try…" He said, taking my arm and walking over to Gabe and Millie. Raoul and Deirdre's mother were clinging to each other as if they had seen a ghost. Madame Giry was eyeing Charles suspiciously. People returned to what they had been doing, the music swelled again, but something was going on in here. Charles guided me toward the rest of the guests and spun me around.
"Come on Maddie! Let's dance!"