Cecile couldn't get to sleep. She was so excited to be in the large, luxurious home. She stared at Firmin sleeping peacefully and kissed his temple lovingly. She then exited the bed and opened the door. She went exploring in the mansion. The marble floors were cool against her bare feet, but she didn't mind. She loved to streach her neck upward in order to see the high ceilings. She ran around the marble pillars in the dancing room, while glancing to the fine hung chandeliers. Armand loved chandeliers and kept a few dozen around the mansion. She continued through the many rooms, running up and down the steps in wonder. She loved the huge mansion and adored it's furnishing, wishing she herself could have one just like this.
All the running around made Cecile thirsty, so she headed for the kitchen. She came close to the door when it suddenly opened. She stopped stunned for a moment as Armand emerged. He stopped, shocked to see her.
"Oh, hello, Cecile....what are you doing up?" He asked, playing a pas de deux. Neither wanted to talk about their feelings for the other, because they never talked past that day in the park. They only spoke on a social level, hiding their private thoughts.
"Well, I just wanted a sip of water." Armand smiled at her skittishness.
"You could have just rang for the servants." Armand offered.
"No, I didn't want to wake them...besides, I was up anyway. I couldn't sleep. Why are you up?" She asked while rubbing one foot on top of the other to keep them warm as the night chill caught her. Armand sheepishly pulled out a sandwich and glass of water he had hid behind his back.
"Midnight snack. Are you cold? You were shivering." He asked as she rubbed her arms. He was relieved to change the subject.
"Well, yes, these marble floors are freezing!" She stated while looking at Armand's feet which had warm woolen slippers on them.
"Well, I must get you a pair of slippers then!" He slipped off his slippers and pushed them towards her as he took a bite from his stuffed sandwich. "For now, you may wear mine." Cecile slipped them on, enjoying their warmth.
"Thank you..." She smiled and then looked away nervously. "Armand, could we talk?" He looked at her surprised, but then nodded with a kind smile.
"Okay. Follow me." He gave her the water he was carrying so that she could have her drink. Cecile took the moment to study Armand. He had some of the finest clothes she had ever seen, even though they were nightware. She thought, sadly, that Armand's worst clothes, still were better then Firmin's best. As he led her back to his chambers, Cecile continued to look around, thinking of how all of this could be hers, but she had decided to marry Firmin and live a life of poverty. Armand opened the door for her while lighting an oil lamp. He set it by the bed as he sat down and pat the spot next to him. Cecile stood, nervous. This wasn't what she had in mind. She felt very vunerable in Armand's room, but she knew he was a gentleman and she trusted him. She glanced around the room. Even lit by the lamplight, she could see the massive fireplace which rest to her right, directly in front of the fourposter, canopy bed. That in itself could hold at least ten people, she thought. She looked out the window which stood across the room, sheilded in shrouds of curtains, which were stained in burgundy and accented with gold tasles. She looked up and noticed a copy of Michelangelo's Cistine chapel's Creation of man painted elequontly. Her eyes began to hurt at the size of the room, and so she went to Armand and sat by his side. Armand stared at her, with her long blonde hair hanging carelessly about her shoulders. She turned and smiled at him. 'This is how it should be. Cecile, as my wife, by my side.' Armand thought dreamily. Armand finished his sandwich as she continued to gawk at the size and elegance of his room. Cecile turned her attention to Armand without his noticing. He told them very little of his home, so both Firmin and Cecile felt uncomfortable. It felt as though they were beggars in the masters home. But Armand didn't seem like a master. Cecile noticed his features more plainly now. She glanced at his black hair, which parted on the side and hung carelessly among his ears, sometimes drifting into his face, only to be pushed back violently in annoyence. His sparkling blue eyes had begun to fade as wrinkles appeared around his eyes and mouth. The heaviness of his cheeks, pulled on his eyes, making them appear tearful and old. Armand was now in his thrities, but gave the appearance of someone at least ten years older. Suddenly something caught her eye. Her hand grabbed his hair in an immediate reaction.
"Oww! What the bloody Hell are you doing?" Armand screached in protest, which ecoed in the dark night air.
"Hold still!" She said and pulled away quickly which made Armand jerk upwards a moment. "There, I got it!" She said present Armand his first grey hair. He stared at it in disbelief.
"Oh, great....It's official, I'm getting old!" He said with a sad chuckle. Cecile smiled at him.
"No, you're not getting old...you just need to slow down, take some time off to spend with us!" Armand glanced away quickly, for he knew he could have no time off. He quickly diverged the topic.
"Well, what did you want to talk about." Armand asked as he picked up the goose down comforter and placed it around her shivering body. She was suddenly enveloped in warmth as she snuggled into it with a grin. He smiled at her sweetly.
"Well...you remember when you visited us?" Cecile began as Armand nodded with an attentive look. "We made everything seem perfect, when actually, Firmin and I are in a very tight finacial situtation." Armand looked down, because these things he knew. "I just wanted to tell you that life isn't as perfect as it looks. Firmin and I usually don't see each other that much because I work in a factory all day, and then he works the theatre all night. Although he enjoys what he's doing...he's actually quite miserable. And as for me....I'd like to have children, but Firmin's not home enough for us to....you know!" Armand smiled with a small chuckle.
"Cecile, this may come as a shock, but I knew all that. I could tell that there were some tense feelings." He looked at her as she gave him a caught deer look. "But, not to worry. You will soon find out that even my life isn't perfect." He said reasuringly. She looked confused.
"How do you mean? Your life is great! Why just look at this huge home you've made! I'd love to live here." She stated.
"And what makes you think that...because I have money. I can asure you that I'm not content. I don't have a wife, or any children. My boss, whom you'll meet, treats me with no respect, and he works me all day and night. I was surprised that he left me off to pick the both of you up from the trainstation!" Armand began to frown.
"Oh, well, I'm sorry to hear that. We haven't met your boss yet." Cecile appologized.
"No matter. You'll see that I'm not as perfect as you think." He looked down. "For example, I could be thinner!" Armand said as he rubbed his belly. Cecile smiled and kissed his cheek.
"You're perfect, Armand." She said with a girlish teasing smile. He looked at her and fell under the trance of her bright green eyes. He felt as if it was only them. He felt his heart go out.
"I love you, Cecile. More than you could know. You were to be my wife....I miss you so...I, I....." Armand stumbled over the emotions that swelled up inside him. Cecile stood horrified at what he had said.
"But, Armand, you're the one who told me to date Firmin....I thought you didn't want me anymore!" She shouted angrily, but then looked around in suspense. She thought for sure the entire household had heard her.
"No, I just wanted you to make him feel loved, then come back to me." Armand cried desperately as he fell to his knees in front of her. Tears fell from her eyes as she realized that she loved Armand more than Firmin. He crawled to her feet and held the bottom of her gown as he cried painful tears, and heartbroken sobs into the cotton nightshirt. "I thought that all this time you just figured that you loved Firmin more!" Armand cried through his sobs of dismay. Cecile knelt down and grasped his shoulders.
"Armand, I can't believe that we've both loved each other and yet, we didn't know it." Armand's eyes light up at a thought. He kissed her firmly on the lips and stated,
"Cecile, become my wife!" Armand said with dilerious eyes. She backed away in shock.
"No, Armand!" She pleaded.
"Why?" He asked angrily.
"Firmin." She said and he sat back heavily on his heels and put his face in his hands. "I love you...but I still am devoted to Firmin." She said as she stood. "I'm sorry." Her voice echoed in Armand's head as she left his room. She returned to her room and stood for a moment, looking at her husband as he slept peacefully. She thanked God that Firmin never knew and soon retired to the bed, giving Firmin a goodnight kiss on the lips.
The next morning, Cecile awoke to find a French servant in her face asking if she'd prefer ham or sausage for breakfast. She looked to Firmin, only to find him gone.
"Where is everyone?" She asked the servant who lowered her head respectfully.
"Monsieur Moncharmin and Monsieur Richard left early for work. They told me to tell you that they will be home later tonight." The servant handed Cecile a steamed cloth. She took it and wiped her face down. As she did she realized just how nice it was to have a servant at her beck and call. She savored the moment, smiling for her Armand. " Also, M. Moncharmin told me to tell you that he left some extra quid on his desk for you to get a costume made. I'm instructed to take to the finest shop in town, after breakfast, to have your face and body made." Cecile stared at the servant, Lisette, in confusion.
"Oh, I think you mean a salon?" Cecile guessed. Lisette nodded. Cecile just sat amazed at Armand's generosity. She smiled and replied.
"Great...I think I'll have ham!"
"And finally, here is my office!" Armand stated as he entered the small room.
"My, it's a bit cramped compared to the rest of the home." Firmin stated. Armand gave a knowing smile and just brushed it off.
"The noble has a huge masquerade party coming up, so I'm busy making plans and writing checks." Armand said as he leafed through the stack of papers on his desk.
"My goodness...." Firmin said while skimming the guest list. "You have some pretty important names on this list...Oh, I know them....Messieurs Debienne and Poligny, they manage the Paris Opera House. Are you sure that you want me to come?" Firmin asked while he counted how many were nobles and how many barons.
"Yes. Cecile's getting costumes right now, so you'll never be recognized!" Armand said.
"Oh, my goodness..." Firmin's face lit up in delight. " you have Monsieur Daae, the great violinist, as your entertainment. I must meet him! I'll be there, even if I must be swinging from the rafters!!!" Firmin said as he turned to Armand with bright eyes. As soon as Firmin's eyes met Armand's, Armand turned away. He could still see Cecile kissing him and their pleas of love to each other, but he couldn't tell Firmin.
"I don't see a problem." Armand said cheerfully. He was happy to see Firmin so delighted, it took years off his face. "Besides, who's the noble to tell me..." Armand was cut off by his door which swung open fiercely. The noble walked in with a stack of papers.
"You, do these before the end of the day." Demanded the noble as Firmin just stood there. "And who the hell are you?" He demanded, noticing Firmin.
"Oh, um, that's my friend Firmin Richard of the Vienna Opera House. He's acutally...." The noble glared at Armand.
"Now listen up you fat piece of shit, this party means the world to me, so nothing had better go wrong if you want to live past Saturday night!" The noble screamed at Armand and then exited. Armand sighed and Firmin stood, stunned. He then crossed to Armand and grabbed him tightly by the arm.
"Do you just let him talk to you like that?" Firmin asked, stunned at his best friends spinelesness.
"Well, he does pay me handsomely." Armand assured Firmin.
"Yes, but is money worth your pride and integrity? How could you let him do that to you? I mean, you have a large gut...use some of it for courage!" Armand snapped his head around to Firmin and glared at him with narrowed eyes.
"I think you had better leave!" Armand avised him. Firmin let go of his arm and left with an angry stare. He picked up his pace and walked quickly home.