Armand carried Cecile inside. He held her in his arms as she clutched to his shirt while tucking her head under his chin. As he entered the house he noticed a candle burning in his parlor. He decided to go around to the other door, hoping that he would not meet up with Firmin. Armand knew Firmin's temper. He realized that Firmin would be furious that his wife was half naked and drunk as Armand carried her in his arms. He went through the backdoor and into his chambers. Lisette followed in silence. Armand instructed her to bring Cecile's night attire and robe. She scuttled off to Cecile's chambers and returned quickly, only to be dismissed by Armand. As he locked the doors, Lisette shook her head at her master's actions. She never knew him to be such a dishonorable man.
Armand had layed Cecile down on his bed. He closed the curtains on the posts of the bed for her comfort, and sat next to Cecile's body. She began to stir and soon took Armand by the arms and pulled him closer.
"Did you make love to me?" She asked in a dreamy voice. Armand hovered above her face, while bracing himself on his arms.
"No, Cecile, I didn't." He stated. She pouted.
"I thought I had asked you to..." she began to drift back to sleep.
"Well, if you would still like me to....all you must do is ask." He said feeling a bit guilty.
"Sure, if you're up to it." She smiled at him and he smiled back, amused. "You, Armand, have the most beautiful eyes!" He blushed and looked away as she stroked his hair. Turning to her, he felt the wine playing with his emotions. He leaned down and kissed her lovingly on the lips. She smiled, pleased, as he rest his body on hers. She moaned a bit and Armand looked up at her.
"Are you okay?" He asked, worried about his weight on her delicate body.
"Yeah....you're a bit heavy, but I'm not uncomfortable." Armand kissed her again and rest his head next to hers as his arms wrapped around her body. He somehow couldn't bring himself to make love to her. He swayed back and forth between his heart and his conscience as she ran her fingers through his hair. "Oh, you're hair is so soft....Armand, you're such a handsome man." He looked up startled. No one had ever said that to him since college.
"Why, thank you...You, Cecile, are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Helen of Troy is jealous!" He said while carressing her face. She grinned. That was two compliments in one day. She wasn't sure if she could stand it.
"Armand?" She asked as he put his head back down.
"Yes, Cecile?" He asked in a sleepy voice.
"Could you get me a glass of water?" She asked suddenly, breaking the mood. Armand chuckled, but then obeyed. He stood and left her to dress in her nightgown.
As Armand was nearing the kitchen he heard his voice being called. He turned to see Firmin standing there. He wore a tired, helpless look. Armand's adrenelin began to pump as fear ran through his body. Did Firmin know that he had his wife in his bedroom? Did he know that she was drunk and willing to make love to her husband's best friend?
"I wanted to talk to you." Firmin began as he stepped closer. Armand began to panick. He turned his back to Firmin and wiped at his lips, trying to remove any lip color that might have been transfered in a kiss.
"Yes, Firmin, what is it? It's late!" Armand snapped as if in a testy mood.
"I just wanted to appologize for the things I said today....it was foolish of me! I had forgotten that we are guests in your house, and that you are very generous for paying our way." Firmin said, humbling himself. Armand, once sure that there were no tell-tale signs of Cecile's audultry, turned to Firmin with a smile.
"Please, think nothing of it! I'm just happy that you could come, what with your job and all. I'm the one who should be sorry for not spending any time with you." Firmin's frown lightened into a small smile.
"No, you need not worry about us. I'm enjoying the countryside, and Cecile's keeping herself very busy with female things." Firmin said with a friendly, sincere smile. Armand hid his smirk, if only Firmin knew the half of it.
"After the masquerade, I'll have more time to spend with you....both." Armand held open his arms to Firmin, who embraced him quickly. They pat each other on the back and held each other tightly. When Armand pulled back, he had a smile on his face, but that slowly faded as he noticed Firmin's expression. Firmin had gone from a jolly smile to that of one of confusion. He stared at Armand's shirt and then pulled it to him, taking in deep breaths. His brow furrowed tightly as he continued to smell the shirt. Armand just stood with a horrified expression. Cecile's perfume had rubbed off on him. Firmin then looked to Armand's collar. It had a red stain, from lip color, on it. Firmin pushed Armand back and stared at him in disbelief. His expression turned from one of shock to one of contempt. His eyes turned angry as he grabbed Armand's neck in one quick fist.
"Where is my wife?" He demanded. Armand's eyes filled with tears as began to repeat the words "I'm so sorry, Firmin" over and over. Firmin let go of Armand's neck and stormed through the house, directly to Armand's room. All the servants were awake and stood back in horror as Firmin raged to the doors in a passion of fury. He threw open the doors to Armand's chamber and saw the bed curtains closed. Armand had followed him and Firmin gave him a harsh look before he marched to the bed and tore the curtains from the rod. His look turned into one of confussion. He turned back to Armand who looked shock to find the bed empty. Cecile had come to her conscience and left his room. Firmin tossed the curtain aside and pushed past Armand, who stood in the doorway, as he preceeded to his room. He looked to the bed and he found Cecile sleeping peacefully. Armand looked into the room as Firmin turned back to him.
"I don't understand...how is it that you smell like her and yet she's been sleeping? Armand did you sneak into our room and...." Firmin's sentence was cut short as Lisette entered with Cecile perfume in hand. The small girl was a quick thinker, and wanted to save her master from any violence that would befall him.
"I'm sorry Monsieur, but I had no other perfume....and I wanted to smell good for M. Moncharmin." She said apologetically as she replaced the fragrance on the dresser. "I didn't mean to, but we had a date tonight..." Lisette lied. Firmin's face turned a crimson red as he thought Armand was enjoying the help, not his wife.
"My God, I'm embarrased here, Armand. I didn't realize that you and Lisette were...." Firimin stuttered as he tried to explain his actions. "I feel a fool for thinking that you would....oh, God!" Firmin stammered as he pushed past Armand and Lisette. Once into the hall he came upon the rest of the staff who had gathered to witness the comotion. They stared at him with a disgusted look. He took his coat and went walking in his shame.
After Firmin had left, Armand turned to Lisette and thanked her profusely for her help and her quick thinking. She just smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before she left. Armand crossed the room and gave Cecile a quick kiss before retiring for the night.
The next morning Cecile was sitting at the table with a hot cup of tea. She would recline in the seat and rub her head in pain. She had consumed too much wine the night before and was feeling the effects of it. Armand had sent Lisette to the Noble in order to get his work for the day. Armand had decided that it would be better if he stayed home, in case Firmin would return. He sat at the rounded table and sipped tea while working on the stacks of papers. He had finished telling Cecile of what had transpired the night before. She continued to blush, thinking of how much of a fool she was.
"Armand?" Cecile asked shyly, as to not disturb his work.
"Yes?" He asked while looking up.
"I'm sorry for last night. I mean, the position I put you in was....well..." Armand smiled at her and sipped his tea.
"Cecile, I love you." He said while leaning over the table with a grin. "I know that you love me, but then I understand that you also love Firmin. So, please, put your mind at ease. I promise you that I will never take you to my bed again.....even if you beg." She just smiled and looked out the window as Armand chuckled at his own joke.
"I wonder where he is." She said while crossing the room to look out the tall windows.
"I don't know." Armand said as he followed her. "It's not like him to just disappear without a trace...." He put a comforting arm around her and she snuggled close to him. "I hope he returns soon, the ball is in five days." Armand sat back down and continued his work as Cecile took her seat at the bench in the window.
"The thing that concerns me the most is that when I woke, Firmin's things were gone." Armand looked up startled.
"What?" He asked as Lisette entered with the morning news and the mail. She set it down on the table and gave a curt bob before leaving.
"I looked all around the room and his clothing, watch, everything, were gone!" She looked to the ground in dispear. "I doubt that he left indefinitely....it's not like him....he would leave a note or something." She continued as Armand sorted through the mail. Most of it was bills and charities, but one caught his eye.
"Oh, Cecile, there's a letter here for your husband." He said holding it up. "It's from the Opera House....maybe you should open it." She slowly made her way back to the table.
"No, Armand, I couldn't. Firmin hates me to look at his mail....but then you're right, it might be important." Armand handed it to her. She turned it between her fingers and held it to the light, trying to see what was written.
"Well, why don't you wait until tonight, and if he hasn't returned then, I'll give you permission to open it." Cecile smiled and tucked the letter into her dress.
Armand sent his finished work back to the castle and then took Cecile for a peaceful carriage ride through the countryside.
After a long exhausting day, Armand finally picked up the paper when Cecile went to bed. His heart suddenly went flying as his eyes feverently read the words on the paper. The article was about his beloved Charlotta. She was now performing at the Paris Opera House. He thought of how much he loved Cecile, but his infatuation was always with Charlotta. For him, she held beauty, mystery and a special charm that was subtle. She was always Armand's unreachable dream. After reading the article over and over, until he was exhausted, he fell asleep happy with the article tucked neatly under his pillow.
As Armand slept peacefully in joy, Cecile sat in bed crying with the letter tucked under her arm. She read the letter again, barely making out the words through her tears. But much to her dismay, the letters on the paper would not change, and her worst nightmare had come true.