Page 16 of Angel's Flight

“I can think of several reasons, but none that a ghost would care about,” Rochelle replied, face darkening.Meg turned from Rochelle to the other girls.Blanche looked guilty, and Marie dubious.Meg felt pity.

“We care,” Meg said softly.“We didn’t do or say enough, but we care.”

“It’s too late,” Rochelle said, waving her hand.“At least he’s dealt with now.Please have your mother send the ghost my thanks.”

“Rochelle—” Meg began, but the bang of their ballet master’s cane interrupted the conversation.

“Get back to rehearsals, all of you,” LaRoche declared, and the ballerinas rushed to comply.LaRoche caught Meg by the arm, holding her back from the others before they went in.“I hope you improve your performance for the rest of the rehearsal, Meg Giry.To be a troublemaker is one thing, but a troublemaker who doesn’t know her steps with no patron to protect her is another.”

“I understand, sir,” Meg muttered, feeling small and helpless.

“A few of them were interested today, so you know.Monsieur d’Amboise thought you were quite intriguing if you’d like to change things.”

“Perhaps,” Meg whispered, and it seemed to satisfy LaRoche.She rushed back into theSalon du Danse, shivering as she did.

She’d had a protector, once.Now, she was sure he was back.

Florence

It felt good to havea routine, Christine mused as she made her way to Les Halles to meet Pauline for the third day in a row.It was good to have something regular to pursue daily to give one a sense of normalcy, even in an uncertain time.

There were, of course, rhythms to the days she shared with Erik.They rose late more often than not, and someone would eventually decide it was time for food, and then they would fall into some diversion.Reading was a popular pursuit, though as much as that was a routine, so was Erik muttering about how he missed his library.He missed having a piano at hand too, but he hadn’t needed to complain about that of late, as he had been regularly meeting with Jack while Christine visited Pauline.

They would do other things, of course; or had done other things in the days and months of their travels.Exploration and invention and simply talking for hours.They would eat late and make love, though last night they had not for reasons that also made Christine happy she would see Pauline today.

“There you are, right on time,” Pauline called when Christine arrived at Les Halles.The other woman already had two pastries in front of her, and cups of strong Italian coffee as well.

“Old habit,” Christine muttered as she sat.

“From the theater?”Pauline asked with a curious smile.

“Oh yes.Early is on time, and on time is late,” Christine replied, quoting so many maestros and conductors.“There are a hundred other people who want the same job; if you’re late, they’ll give it to one of them.”

“That sounds quite cutthroat,” Pauline said with a laugh.

“Oh, it is.”Christine took a sip of coffee as Pauline looked her over.

“Did you ever have any great rivals?”she asked with a grin.“I’m sure there was competition for the roles you wanted.Did you ever have to fight someone for it?”

Christine nearly choked on her drink but covered it with a cough.Pauline couldn’t know how many people’s lives had been destroyed at the Palais Garnier in the name of rivalry, and how much Christine was responsible for it.“A few.”

“Oh my!Do tell!”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing more interesting than what you encounter among artists,” Christine said, strained.

“I stole a girl’s oils and threw them in the river for looking at me wrong,” Pauline said with an utterly calm expression that chilled Christine to the bone – until she broke into a smile and laughed.“Or not.”

The joke put Christine at ease.“There was one woman who tried to have me fired, more than once.Because I was better than her.”

“What a bitch,” Pauline grinned.“I can’t imagine wanting to take away someone’s livelihood over something as silly as a stage performance.”

“Indeed.”Christine looked down at her untouched pastry, nauseous guilt rising inside her.Sometimes Carlotta featured in her nightmares, screaming for vengeance.Christine had earned her grace in the end, but it didn’t undo the things both of them had done.It didn’t bring back Joseph Buquet or...

“Are you alright?”Pauline asked, and Christine realized her distress must be showing.

“I’m fine,” she lied, plastering on a smile.“It’s all in the past, and I had my triumph over her.Well, with help.”

“From whom?”Pauline asked, eyebrows raised.“Your mysterious husband and teacher?”

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