Phantom's Understudy

Part Three - Dinner with the Vicomte

** Elizabeth **

Raoul said that he would be here no later than 5PM. It was 4:50 and I was beginning to think he forgot about our plans. Not that it mattered much, I was a pretty insignificant person, but having a dinner with the Opera House's sponsor sounded like an important thing for a Prima Donna to do...especially if she wanted to stay Prima Donna.

I started playing on my lyre I kept in my dorm to keep me occupied. I tried to keep my musical talent busy any time that I could and I certainly couldn't have a piano in here. I kept a violin in the corner as well, but for now the lyre was my weapon of choice.

I was trying to increase my talent's ability to compose. I wanted to eventually become a composer as well as a talented and famous singer. I was working on a song on the piano too, but I did not plan to go into the piano room at this time.

Surely enough, there were three light knocks at the door. I placed the lyre down and walked to the door. Raoul was standing there with a bright smile on his face.

"Hello mademoiselle," he took my hand and kissed the knuckles.

I bowed for him in my evening gown and greeted him in return.

"Shall we?" He said. I nodded.

Raoul took me down the hall to the front entrance. He guided me with his arm and opened the front doors for me. I walked through into the cold air and allowed him to walk me to the coach sitting in front of the steps.

He opened the front door and bowed. I got in and waited for him to enter after.

"Thank you for coming out, Elizabeth." He said,

I nodded. "You can call me Beth, my lord." I said with respect.

He chuckled to himself softly. "Ok, but you need to promise me that you will refer to me as Raoul and never speak of those titles again,"

I blushed heavily. He did tell me that yesterday, didn't he? "Where I am from - Wales - they happen to be very strict with titles. Admittedly, you are the first royal person I'm meeting in France in the three years I have been here."

He nodded but relaxed in his seat. "Some are incredibly strict. I, however, am not. It also helps that we are not overpowered by the English."

I let out a small laugh. He was probably right in some regard. I respected my mother country, because I was actually originally from Oxford. I always agreed that they had the right to be.

"Where did you learn to sing, Mademoiselle?"

I took a moment to try to remember exactly where I had learned. "My school had a choir, so that was the start of my journey when I was young. But I took some time taking professional lessons in Wales, and briefly took a few private lessons in Paris when I arrived. Mainly just ensuring that my accent was taken care of in my singing. I know you can still hear it when I speak...still working on that." I said with a smile.

"Surprisingly, I don't hear it much. I can, but your French is very fluent. I have a friend, he's a Baron from London...his French needs some work. I've been giving him some pointers, but he's a slow learner. Maybe you can help him out? He is visiting in the coming weeks."

A Baron from London? That sounded amazing - I hadn't spoken to anyone from home in years. "I would love to meet him."

Raoul tucked a straying lock of hair behind his ear. "Perfect,"

We shortly arrived to the restaurant that Raoul made reservations for us and he guided me in. Raoul was such a gentleman and I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner together. He asked me so many questions about me to the point that I almost had to make sure to also follow up with him to make sure I was asking enough questions about him. The food was phenomenal also. I had gotten steak tartare with a side of asparagus and roasted potatoes. It was some of the best food I had ever eaten, but admittedly I would never order it again. He took me to a more upscale restaurant, but I knew that he had the money to do so. I, however, did not. 

I made very little especially considering I boarded at the opera house - that lowered my pay slightly. You would think with the cheap housing I could afford more than I did, but I felt like some months I was pinching my earnings. Now that I was Prima Donna, though, I made a little more. I was hoping to see a difference in my lifestyle soon too.

I asked Raoul about his relationship with Christine and he told me that they were close friends as kids - childhood sweethearts. They had decided to rekindle their relationship and he felt positive about it. He was excited to finally get to know her better as a woman. He admitted that their time together as kids felt short lived, but he had never forgotten about her. Hearing all of this just made my heart melt. Christine deserved someone like Raoul in her life.

Christine was one of my best friends and I had always wished for the best for her. I heard about her father and how amazing of a man he was, but she has had a lot of hardship and she has tried to stay strong about it. I could tell she still had some internal battles going on within her and I tried to keep her going forward and being a supportive friend. Luckily I had Meg to help with her also. The three of us were great for each other and I could never ask for a better pair of friends. Meg was a darling as well - I don't know where I'd be without her. She helped me adjust to the opera house.

"What about you, Beth?" Raoul asked. He had a warm smile that could make any girl's heart melt.

"Oh...I uhm," I tried to get my mind straight. "I had someone a few years ago before coming to France. But he wasn't very supportive of anything that I wanted to do in my life. And once I mentioned moving to France for the theater, well, you can imagine how that went."

Raoul's eyebrows furrowed together. "I'm sorry to hear that." He said. 

I laughed softly and shrugged. "To be honest, I don't mind much. It's been 4 years almost since I've even seen him. I'm kind of used to being solo. I kind of like it sometimes, too."

Raoul took a sip of his wine, and poured me more in my glass. I thanked him and took a sip as well. 

"Well, my baron friend is actually on the lookout for someone. Maybe you two can try that out. You're both English after all." 

Me, with a Baron? I don't know if that's me. 

We'll just have to see how things hit off, if at all.

"I'd love to meet him. I've met few royals in Wales - none in Oxford - but they are usually charming. If your Baron friend is interested in meeting I'm for it. Just not necessarily for a relationship, Mr. Matchmaker," I laughed.

Raoul chuckled and agreed. 

But, dinner with Raoul was lovely overall. He paid for it all as I had expected. We left and he guided me to the carriage we arrived on. When we reached the Opera Populaire, he dismissed me at the front door. I bowed to him in farewell and walked inside the front lobby. I instantly felt a presence when I walked in and felt uncomfortable. I walked slowly to my dorm, but tried to remain aware of my surroundings. For some reason the walk just felt different. I tucked my black hair behind my ear and I turned around before opening my dorm door.

Behind me, I saw a figure in the shadows. I imagined it could only be the Opera Ghost. I called out to him, "Oh so we're stalking me now?"

"Observing." He responded.

I rolled my eyes. Same thing. Observing something he had no business to observe. Stalking at its finest! I had been here for three years and now he decides to take a liking to me. 

I opened my dorm door and laid down in bed, trying to keep the dinner with Raoul in my head rather than my anger for the Opera Ghost. I had a lovely evening, it would be a shame to go to bed irritated just because the Phantom couldn't stay in his domain...Wherever that was. I hoping for sleep to overcome me soon so my mind would stop racing, but it was still early.

I sat up in bed and lit my candle, going back to my lyre that I left sitting on my desk. Compose and sleep - compose and sleep - if that is what my life could be with some singing mixed in as well, I would be a happy person.