Beauty Of Music

Chapter 7

A month had soon past and Christine and Catherine were now settled into their new lives and, pretty much, had a set routine for every day. In the morning they would leave their basement room together and go their separate ways, sometimes they would have lunch together with Jean-Claude, who became a sort of uncle figure to the girls, and in the evening after Catherine tidied the costumes away she would have her singing lessons with her 'Maestro' in one of the music rooms whilst Christine practiced her Violin playing in their room. Halfway into the month Catherine had begged for her 'Maestro' to allow her to tell Christine about their lessons with the promise she would keep their secret since she felt guilty about keeping a secret this big from her sister. After much reluctance, Erik gave Catherine his permission and true to her word Christine kept their secret and was happy that her sister was being given the lessons she wanted from the start and from there life went on as normal. The salary both sisters were paid even allowed Christine to buy new dresses to wear for performances nights. She tried persuading Catherine to buy a new dress but was happy with the one she already had and preferred to put her money aside for other expenses.

XXX

There were some in the Opera house who weren't so happy. For the entire month since he came Monsieur Cholet had been receiving several notes every day from 'The Phantom' and when opening night for the Opera House's production of Norma had come around he and the chief of police Inspector Ledoux were discussing the letters in the lobby.

"Listen to this one, just arrived 'Norma is a fine Opera and I approve of its selection. What I do not approve of is your wife being in it'. Does not approve of my Carlotta being in it, this is her Paris debut the most important of her career and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA DOES NOT APPROVE!?" said Monsieur Cholet quoting from one of the notes and finishing with a tone of outrage.

"Monsieur it-it is only a note" said Inspector Ledoux trying to reassure Monsieur Cholet.

"From a ghost, since when do ghosts write?" Cholet asked rhetorically as he held up the pile of notes.

"This has been going on for a month everyday insults, demands! Listen to this 'I expect Box 5 to be reserved my own personal use at every performance signed The Phantom of the Opera'" he exclaimed.

"I was told the previous manager always gave him Box 5" said Inspector Ledoux as he walked around Monsieur Cholet and made his way toward the balcony that overlooked the rest of the lobby.

"Ha-ha! Inspector Ledoux he's getting no preferential treatment from me! Not in my Opera House!" Monsieur Cholet chuckled and exclaimed making it clear to the inspector his word was final.

XXX

Meanwhile in the dressing room, the chorus members were changing back into their regular clothes after the final dress rehearsal before tonight and Catherine was weaving her way around the women, picking up the costumes from the table whilst humming happily, much to the irritation of some of the woman.

"What had she got to be so happy about?" sneered one woman with light brown hair tied up in a bun as she stood in her undergarments.

"She and her sister have been here over a month and all she does is hum" commented another woman standing beside her who was stripping off her costume.

"She's getting better at it too" commented a third woman as she was tying the belt of her skirt.

"I can't stand her" said a fourth woman who was also standing in her undergarments.

"Dear have you or your sister heard from the count?" the fourth woman asked Catherine stopping her in her tracks.

The three other women laughed at Catherine, but she didn't let it get to her, she held her head up high and quietly left the room.