I shall resume my duties as narrator.

Early Friday morning, there was a knock on the door of Andelbert and my room. I opened the door and was greeted by the Comtesse de Genlis.

“Good morning, Baron. I will be brief. Arrangements have been made for the opera tonight. There will be carriages waiting at the main gate at 5:00pm. We shall all have a grand time. Géraud’s operas never disappoint.”

“Thank you, Comtesse. That is most kind. We are looking forward to it.”

“As am I. I will bid you good day then.”

“Good day, Comtesse.”

That evening we took carriages to the river where a steamboat took us into Paris. As we entered the city, Elise stared in wonder.

“It is magnificent,” Elise said.

“This is only the beginning. We shall see many more wonders this evening,” I replied.

Our barge docked, and more carriages were waiting. We boarded them for the ride to the Grande Salle du Palais-Cardinal. As we passed the Louvre, Elise asked about it.

“It was once the Royal Palace but is now a center for scientific discovery and artistic endeavor. Andelbert and I were given a tour by Lafayette. We met several scientists who showed us wonderful discoveries, and we saw great artworks being created.”

“You have certainly lived a charmed life, Baron Blastfurnace.”

“And tonight, you shall enjoy the opera because of it.”

“I beg to disagree. I am quite certain it was my red hair and fair looks that earned you the privilege.”

The memory of Dieupart flirting with Elise stung, but I kept my composure. “As you say,” I said, then smiled.

Elise also smiled. Although I was unsure if she was smiling at the memory or because she was correct and I deferred.

We arrived at the theater and entered its Grand Foyer. The walls of the wide hallway were covered in paintings and gold, and crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. We all looked in wonder.

Comtesse de Genlis smiled. “Breathtaking, is it not?”

“Unimaginable,” Elise said.

“Come, we must go backstage and thank Géraud for the seats.”

We followed the Comtesse through a maze of hallways, past countless people who greeted the Comtesse as we passed. Eventually, we found ourselves in a large room with Dieupart and dozens of performers.

“Géraud, my Darling. We came to thank you for the seats and wish you much success.”

“Forgive me, Comtesse. I am afraid we are having a bit of a crisis,” Dieupart said with a frantic look on his face.

“What is it?”

“A stomach ailment has swept through the cast. Four of my performers are not able to perform. I have managed to find replacements for three, but I have no one to sing the barmaid’s song, and it is too high for the girls I have left.”

“Oh, dear.”

“That is the song the Queen sang to us,” Andelbert said. “Maria can sing it.”

“Andelbert! I am not a trained singer. I only sing for pleasure,” Maria protested.

Dieupart took Maria by the arms. “My dear, I am desperate. Sing something for me. Please.”

Maria started to protest again.

“Please, for me,” Dieupart begged.

“Very well,” Maria replied. She sang a lullaby.

“Thank the stars!” Dieupart said. “My dear, please say you will sing tonight.”

“But I don’t know the words.”

“I will write them on cards and hold them up while you sing. You know the melody. That is the main thing.”

“I have never sung in public.”

“My dear, this will be a moment you will remember your whole life. You must.”

“Yes, Maria. Please say you will,” the Comtesse added.

Maria looked at Andelbert.

“I love your singing. They will also,” Andelbert said.

“Very well. I will sing. But no promises.”

Dieupart kissed Maria on the cheek. “You have saved the opening. Come, we will practice while you get dressed.”

With that, Dieupart hurried Maria off to the costume room.

The Comtesse took Elise’s hands and bounced with joy. “Well, my friends, this opera just became far more exciting.”

“Indeed,” I replied.

“I just hope Maria doesn’t kill me afterward,” Andelbert added.

We all laughed.

“Come, let us take our seats,” The Comtesse said.

The inside of the theater was as opulent as the foyer, and gold seemed to cover everything. Dieupart has arranged for us to have seats in a private balcony where we looked down on the stage. He was very generous, I had to admit. But I didn’t have to like it.

Andelbert whispered to the Comtesse, who was seated by her husband, Comte de Genlis.

“Do you know when Maria will sing?”

“I am afraid not. This is brand new opera. And the reason Géraud was in such a panic.”

“I suppose we shall find out. I believe I am as nervous as Maria.”

“I sincerely doubt that,” the Comtesse said, then laughed. “You put her in quite a predicament.”

“I realized that. I am not sure what got into me. I usually think before speaking.”

“Perhaps fate meant it to be. You had no choice.”

“I hope Maria sees it that way.”

“If she sings well, all will be forgiven. I am sure.”

“I pray she does.”

The Comtesse smiled and patted Andelbert’s arm.

I turned to Elise.

“Have you ever seen anything like it?”

“No. It is truly remarkable. A far cry from the port town inns I usually spend my time in.”

“It is that.”

“I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy an opera, but I am truly excited to see Maria sing.”

“And me. What a wonderful turn of events.”

Elise laughed. “You sound like a Baron.”

“I am a Baron,” I said and smiled.

Just then, the curtain raised, and the opera started.

The opera was a political satire, and much of the politics was lost on me. Although the audience seemed to be enjoying it based on the frequent outbursts of laughter. We waited for Maria to appear, but two acts passed and no Maria.

When the curtain rose for the third act, the stage had turned into a tavern. Elise grabbed my hand and said, “There’s Maria.”

Her touch caught me off guard, but I welcomed it. When she didn’t remove her hand, I was even more pleased.

Maria played the part of a barmaid and wandered the stage serving customers through most of the act. Then she returned to the bar. A soldier entered the scene and approached Maria. The soldier informed her that her love had sacrificed himself protecting his queen. Maria collapses on the bar. When she rose again, tears filled her eyes. Then she began to sing.

The opera house was silent.

Maria’s voice was untrained but pure. It gave a touch of authenticity to the part. She sang of bravery and love lost. At the song’s end, weeping could be audibly heard in the audience. Then people started rising to their feet and shouting Bravo! I looked at Andelbert and could see the pride and love on his face. And the tracks of tears that had rolled down his cheeks. The Comtesse was hugging Andelbert, and the Comte was shaking this hand. Elise was jumping up and down, clapping and yelling Bravo with the rest of the audience.

The rest of the opera was inconsequential, and I could not focus on it anyway. I was reliving Maria’s song over in my mind.

When the opera ended and the curtain dropped, Dieupart ran to Maria and kissed her cheeks. Maria was beaming from the afterglow.

“My dear, you were a sensation. You did not tell me you could act.”

“I worked for the King and Queen. Of course, I can act.”

Dieupart laughed. “Is there any way I can convince you to continue performing the role?”

“Heavens no. Before I sang, I thought my heart would burst. I could not take such nervousness regularly.”

“It will lessen with experience.”

“It was a perfect moment. I think it is best left that way.”

“I am beyond disappointed. But it is for the best, I suppose. Being in an opera company is a life you must want desperately. Or you will not survive. But you have my eternal gratitude.”

“And you have mine. You were right. I shall never forget this night.”

“Indeed, you won’t. Nor shall I.”

The Comtesse led us backstage, where much hugging, compliments, and joy ensued.

“You were fabulous, My Dear. Truly remarkable,” the Comtesse said to Maria.

“Thank you, Comtesse. I still can’t believe it.”

“Am I forgiven?” Andelbert asked Maria.

“Of course, you foolish man. But never do anything like that again.”

“I promise.”

“Come, we must go celebrate!” The Comtesse said. And off we went into the Paris night.