Not entirely sure why he was there, Khan sat in the corner of the Rose Crown. He'd been there an hour, the chess set ready. He'd turned down offers of games from several less than sober men. He was on the verge of putting the pieces away when the door opened, banging in the wind. A flash of disappointment hit when it wasn't the grinning face of Pip that he saw, but a hooded woman.

Heaving a sigh, he picked up the first piece and placed it in its box. “I'll play you.”

He looked up at the woman's voice and found Michaela D'Arcy standing in front of him. “A poor choice to find refreshment,” he commented. “Hardly the establishment for a young lady of your quality.”

“Well, when one wishes to find someone specific, one goes where they are to be found,” Michaela responded, slipping into a seat. She kept her hood up. “If it makes you feel better, there's a footman waiting at the door for me. If I don't come out in ten minutes, he'll come in for me.”

“What is it you want, Miss D'Arcy?”

The woman leaned forward. “Why hasn't Raoul de Chagny done anything?” she asked. “He sent you for reason. Revenge. So, why hasn't he done anything yet?”

Khan shook his head. “First of all, you cannot expect me to know the mind of another man,” he responded. “And second, Raoul de Chagny knows nothing of my presence here. He was not the de Chagny to hire me to find your friend and her husband.”

Shocked, Michaela frowned at him. “It was Philippe? Why? He had no part in what happened at the Opera Populaire or Katherine.”

“He wished to put an end to his brother's obsessive search for the phantom that was draining the family coffers,” Khan explained. He felt no loyalty to his former employer and saw no reason not to be honest to the woman. “Though, I believe John Arden manipulated him into the decision. My services are not cheap.”

Michaela steepled her fingers, a thoughtful expression coming to her face. “So why would Arden stay away after hiring you?” she wondered aloud. “It makes no sense if he was behind it all.”

“Insane men are never consistent.”

That brought her out of her reverie. “So, if you knew he was insane, why did you accept the job?”

Sighing, Khan shook his head. “The description...appealed to me,” he responded honestly. “I believed that the bare details of the story were of a man who killed without mercy or reason, and such a man needed to be brought to justice.”

“First of all, there is never any justifiable reason to kill,” Michaela told him. “But why you? Why did you want to bring such a man to justice?”

“Because my wife and child were killed by such a man, and he has never been found.” Khan couldn't look at her as he told her. He ran his hand over the chess set that had been intended as a gift for Cyrus. “I have never forgiven myself for not avenging Shadi's killer, and so vowed to do so for others who have no one to bring justice for them.”

For a moment, there was only the low chatter of the other tavern patrons. “So, why give up on bringing Erik to justice?” Michaela asked. “Knowing what you do about him, how he's killed in the past and no one has punished him for it, why just give up?”

“He said a man who does not regret something in his past is a man who has the most to regret,” Khan answered. “That tells me he does regret what he's done, and I believe it is because of your friend. I realized that the comte isn't seeking justice, and Arden has a darker purpose in mind. I will not be party to more bloodshed.”

“You warned me that Arden was coming, but he hasn't shown himself as the comte has. Do you know why that is?”

Khan lifted his head and met her steady gaze. “He may not have come with the de Chagnys, but make no mistake. He hasn't forgotten about your friend. He may have fooled the comte, but I promise you he is here and he is waiting for his chance.”

He could see that his words shook the woman. “Then, may I hire you to track down someone who has not been brought to justice?”

The simple, matter of fact request surprised him. “What?”

“John Arden kidnapped Katherine, among other things, and was never punished for it,” Michaela answered, leaning forward. “ I want Arden found so that he cannot harm my friends. You're in the business of finding people.”

Frowning, Khan regarded her. She looked completely serious. “I think we may be able to come to an agreement.”

~*~

A week passed. Every evening that Christine de Chagny sang, Erik was at the theater. All other times, he locked himself in his music room, only allowing Pip inside. Left to oversee her household, Katherine scanned over the list of foods before her. “This sounds wonderful, with one minor addition,” she said. Smiling broadly, the tiny woman who ruled the kitchen nodded and hurried over to a cupboard. She returned with a plate of scones and set it in front of the mistress of the house. “Oh, yes!”

Shaking her head, the cook stood back as Katherine took a big bite of a scone. Closing her eyes, the young woman savored the taste. “I'm told sweets really aren't the worst thing I could crave,” she said when she swallowed. “But after scolding Pip about eating too many, I feel a bit bad how much I'm eating.”

“Madame, there is a woman here to see you,” Abraham announced, entering the kitchen. His lips quirked as if he were fighting a smile as Katherine turned towards him guiltily. “A vicomtesse de Chagny.”

Sighing, Katherine cast a regretful look at her pate of scones. The cook patted her hand. “You'll include them with tea?” Katherine guessed hopefully. The mute cook nodded. “Oh, thank you. Where did you put the viscomtesse, Abraham?”

“The drawing room, madame.”

Taking a deep breath, Katherine left the kitchen and climbed the steps to the main floor. She was aware of her faithful butler trailing behind her as she made her way to the drawing room. Christine de Chagny, just as beautful as she remembered, was standing at one of the windows, looking out. She turned as Katherine entered.

“Oh,” Christine said, her eyes widening.

That was generally the reaction when it was noticed she was pregnant. “Vicomtesse,” Katherine greeted. “I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Welcome to my home. Please have a seat.”

Flustered, Christine did as she invited, and the mistress of the house took a seat opposite her. “What brings you to Rose Lodge?” Katherine asked before the silence could stretch too long. “How did you even find me?”

“The managers at the opera house told me where you lived, and that you were the one who suggested I come here,” Christine said bluntly. “My husband doesn't know I'm here.”

Katherine raised an eyebrow. “Seems like I've heard that before.”

“Are you going to slap me again, Mrs. Ombra?”

The maid, Katie, came in, carrying the tea tray. “I don't think you will give me reason to do that,” Katherine answered, gesturing for the tea to be set by her side. She couldn't help but smile at the large plate of scones and the pitcher of lemonade. She forced herself to be serious as she dismissed Katie, who looked worried. “Tea, my lady?”

“When I was pregnant with Gustav, I had a taste for lemons,” Christine commented in an off hand way. “With Cordelia, it was ice cream. Tea will be welcome. Thank you.”

With a wry smile, Katherine poured the tea and handed it over. She poured herself some lemonade. “In answer to the question you didn't ask, yes, I did suggest that it be arranged for you to come to New York,” she said, settling back in her seat. “I knew you would never do so if I asked, so I went through the managers.”

“But why? I would think you would want nothing to do with me.”

Sighing, Katherine nodded. “I would have preferred it, yes,” she responded honestly. She sipped her lemonade and reached for a scone. “But...I was more than happy to do it for Erik.”

Her guest frowned. “I don't understand.”

“You alone could bring his song to flight,” Katherine explained sharply. She reigned her temper in with an effort. “I just...I couldn't stand to watch him struggle any longer. Though if I'd known the trouble my plan would bring, I might have thought of something else.”

“Trouble?”

“Well, your husband did send a spy to find us.”

Setting her teacup down, Christine shook her head. “What? Why would-? Raoul swore to me that he would let it be!” she said, her tone distressed. “After what happened at the soiree, he promised me.” Her voice softened. “He promised me.”

“He, John Arden, and your husband's brother hired a man to come here,” Katherine told her. “He's threatened my family.”

Her lips pursing, Christine met her gaze. “I knew nothing of this,” she swore. “I would have-. I wouldn't have let them if I had known. Please believe me.”

As she frowned at the other woman, Katherine realized that she did believe her. “Why should I?” she challenged, nonetheless. “When last we met, you were warning me away from Erik. You continued to call him a monster.”

“I must apologize to you,” Christine said, hesitantly. “I...am not proud of my behavior when we first met. As you must remember, I believed my angel of music to be dead, and you know why I had been frightened of him. When I realized that he lived and that you had befriended him, that you saw beauty in him that I had missed, I didn't react well.”

Katherine almost smiled. “You were jealous.”

Christine laughed softly. “Yes, I was,” she answered. “I was cruel to you, flaunting his music, when I could see that you loved him as I never did. I loved the beauty of his music, but never him. You were the one who saw past his face. I had every chance to do so, but I was young.”

“Well, I am no aged matron myself,” Katherine pointed out with a laugh. “Thank you, my lady. I accept your apology.”

“Please. Call me Christine. The vicomtesse de Chagny,” the woman grimaced, “is not me. It is a mask for society.” She picked up a scone and toasted Katherine with it. “I met your adopted son. A talented little boy.”

Beaming with pride, Katherine responded, “He'd never stand for if you were to call him a little boy. He believes himself to be a world wise young man.”

“They grow up so fast,” Christine said wistfully.

“Madame Giry said that you have a daughter now.”

The woman nodded, her eyes lighting up. “Cordelia,” she explained. “She's a year old now, and is the apple of her father's eye.” She hesitated, glancing at Katherine's round stomach. “This will be your first. Are you...afraid it will-?”

“Not really, but Erik is,” Katherine interrupted. She put her hand on her stomach and smiled. “He's fussed over my well being so much, I've had a hard time remembering that he once terrorized the theater world.”

“I can only imagine. Raoul was a mess both times I was with child. I wasn't allowed to do anything,” Christine replied. They shared a knowing look and smile. “I'm glad you found him. When I first saw him at your friend's home, I didn't even know him until he spoke. No one could ever forget a voice like his.”

“He asked you to sing.”

Christine raised her eyebrow. “A song that I sang once, when I put my father's hopes and dreams behind me,” she explained. “I'd let those dreams rule my life, and I was finally ready to have my own hopes. He must have heard me and wrote the music out for me. It felt...almost as if he was saying goodbye to me.”

“Do you mind?"

Smiling, the viscomtesse shook her head. “I have a good life with Raoul,” she responded. She sighed. “I have missed his music though.”

“Well, if he ever finishes his latest composition, that I have not heard a note of, I will send it to you,” Katherine found herself promising.

“I will speak to Raoul and Philippe when I return,” Christine promised in return. “Your family will not come to harm by our hand.”

For the first time in many months, Katherine felt relief. “Thank you.”