Beauty Of Music

Chapter 10

Later that night, Catherine was having her singing lessons with Erik and this time when she had finished her aria Erik closed the lid of the Piano and looked up at her.

"Have I done something wrong?" she asked nervously.

Erik didn't speak.

"My voice does not please you" said Catherine feeling disheartened.

"Please me? Ha, ever since I was a child you are what I have been hearing in my dreams" chuckled Erik as he stood up from the piano bench.

He walked a few steps behind it and turned to face Catherine again.

"I can't teach you anymore. I mean you are ready" he said.

Catherine was surprised and confused.

"Ready for what?" she asked.

"To audition for the company" said Erik.

"Oh, but they are not holding auditions anymore" Catherine said unenthusiastically.

"Oh, you are not going to audition the usual way. Madame Carlotta would be much to jealous of your voice. Now, don't worry I know what I am doing just be patient" said Erik as he walked towards the Piano again but then took a detour around it and walked towards one of the mirrors.

He looked at his reflection with a stones expression.

"Maestro, there is one thing you have not told me. Where do you live?" she asked as she walked a few steps forward, so she was close behind him.

Erik did not turn to look at her but looked at her reflection in the mirror.

"When you sing, I live in the Heavens and when you do not, down below" he said being very vague.

Catherine smiled feeling flattered by his words. She then walked towards him and placed a hand on his right shoulder.

"How will I ever repay you for this?" she asked.

Erik did not answer for his eyes were fixed on Catherine's hand the moment she touched him. Catherine's face dropped when she thought her touch made him uncomfortable, so she slowly took her hand from his shoulder and looked up at him. Erik watched as she moved her hand away then looked up to meet her eyes.

Neither of them said anything for they were lost in each other's eyes.

XXX

Another month had gone by and the Opera House had now received a surprise visitor, The Count de Chaney. He was a tall man in his late twenties with short, blonde curly hair, wore a dark Brown coat, a light Brown waist coat with a Golden pattern, a White shirt and bowtie, sand coloured trousers and brown boots. He came riding up to the side entrance on his single horse drawn carriage and when he dismounted, he walked towards Jean-Claude's office with a spring in his step. He squatted down under the window and knocked on the glass. When Jean-Claude turned the young Count had quickly moved to the other side of the doorway.

"Bonjour, Jean-Claude" he greeted the older man.

"Ah, Monsieur la Count, we weren't expecting you for weeks" said Jean-Claude with a beaming smile as he shook hands with the young Count.

"I know, I was away on business and I saw my only business was to come back" chuckled the Count.

"Now Jean-Claude, please say yes. Are there two young girls here named Christine and Catherine?" he then asked.

"Christine, Catherine, Christine, Catherine?" Jean-Claude thought for a moment in a joking manner.

"Do not joke!" begged the Count.