Master of the Opera, Act 4: Dark Interlude Read Free

remembered that she had no intention of marrying Roman. They were sucking her into their mass crazy. She didn’t want to contemplate the alternative, that all the madness in her world had one common factor.
    Her counselor used to tell her that if it seemed as if all her friends were being mean or if all sorts of bad things seemed to be happening, there were two possibilities: either everyone you knew suddenly woke up in a bad mood or you were perceiving it that way. Which was more likely, that the world had turned against you in a mass conspiracy, or that you were feeling persecuted?
    The answer was meant to be obvious. It was more likely that her head was messed up than that she was fine and everyone else was messed up.
    Thus, either everyone else was crazy—or she was.

2
    C hristy didn’t have an opportunity to speak to Roman alone until he took her on a tour of the grounds. Once they were well away from eavesdroppers, she screwed up her courage to tell him the truth. He looked so happy, she hated to do it, but she reminded herself that he’d created this situation. You don’t ask important, life-altering questions when the other person can’t say no.
    “If you like,” Roman was saying, “we’ll get married in this gazebo. My cousin did and the pictures turned out great.”
    “Roman, I can’t marry you.”
    She blurted it out loud and fast enough that he actually jerked in shock.
    “But you already said yes.”
    “No, I didn’t!” She laughed and threw up her hands, feeling an edge of hysteria. “You didn’t give me a chance to answer.”
    “Because it never occurred to me you’d say no.” He looked genuinely confounded. It clearly really hadn’t been a possibility in his mind, and Christy felt bad about that. How many girls would be giddy over marrying him?
    “I’m sorry,” she offered. It sounded weak, even to her.
    “But we always said we’d get married. I thought that’s part of why you moved here!”
    She couldn’t say he’d seemed beyond her reach; then he’d think she just needed reassuring. “No—I came here because this was where my father could get me in.” Or was willing to. Surely he hadn’t had this in mind. He might be a controlling tyrant, but he wasn’t feudal. Much. “Those jokes about betrothing us were just that—being funny.”
    “I thought you loved me.” His brown eyes held pain, like a dog she’d kicked.
    “I don’t really know you.” That was soft-pedaling, yes, but it was better than saying that she’d liked him more before she got to know him, back when he was more of a fantasy.
    “You just need more time, then.”
    “Well, no. I mean—”
    “I know this was fast.” He shook his head ruefully and gave her a chagrined smile. Picking up her hand, he examined the gorgeous old ring. “I was so excited about the timing, with the anniversary party, and when the ring fit perfectly, it all seemed so meant . Am I a romantic fool?”
    Her heart broke a little at his wistful question. Prince Charming, rejected. “No! It’s me.” Gah—had she really said that? “I just have so much going on, with the murder and Carla . . .”
    “The thing is—” Roman squeezed her hand, looked away at the house, his face settling into severe lines that made him look more like his father. “The thing is, the lawyers seem to think you could be in a lot of trouble.”
    “Trouble?” she echoed. The ring felt heavy. She should have wrestled it off while she had the chance. Now, with her hand so firmly gripped in his, she’d have to make it an even bigger deal.
    “I didn’t want to worry you, but the lawyers say the cops are really looking at you, and they might have a pretty strong case. They spoke with my father and they feel they can’t represent you unless your interests are also the family’s. Since we’re practically already family and I thought you felt the same way about me,” he grimaced, as if it all sounded foolish now, “I already told them you’re my