Gwenaëlle smiled happily as she made her way up to her room after bidding Enjolras good-bye. She entered her room just as Emma was helping her to put away her school books.
Gwenaëlle sat down on the chair by her table and smiled as Emma looked at her worriedly.
"What's wrong, Emma?" Gwenaëlle asked
"Mademoiselle… May I speak boldly?" Emma asked
Gwenaëlle chuckled, "Of course, Emma. You know you're always allowed to do so with me."
"Well… Mademoiselle… That was very scary." Emma said, "You almost got caught!"
"I know." Gwenaëlle said, "But I promise you, it will be the only time you'll get caught in that situation."
Emma nodded and closed the latch on the floor where Gwenaëlle's school books were kept.
"Has my parents returned yet?" Gwenaëlle asked
Emma shook her head, "Not that I've heard, mademoiselle."
Gwenaëlle nodded and let out a sigh of relief.
"Mademoiselle… May I speak boldly again?" Emma asked
"Emma… I already told you." Gwenaëlle said, "You don't have to ask again. We're all equals here."
"Thank you, mademoiselle." Emma said
Gwenaëlle gestured to her bed and Emma sat down.
"Mademoiselle, I think you need to consider stopping for awhile…" Emma said, "Your parents will be returning soon and I think that it would be unthinkable if they caught you."
"That wouldn't happen." Gwenaëlle said
"I know you are always careful, mademoiselle." Emma said, "But now that monsieur Enjolras knows where you live, he could come looking for Gwenaël."
Gwenaëlle nodded, "I understand your concern, Emma. But I promise you that won't happen."
She went over to sit next to Emma, "I'll make sure he doesn't come round without me knowing."
Emma nodded and just then, they heard a knock on Gwenaëlle's room door. Emma hurriedly stood up from her seat on the bed and hurried over to the door. She opened the door and to both of their surprise, there stood Gwenaëlle's mother.
"M-Mother!" Gwenaëlle exclaimed
Her mother smiled, "Gwenaëlle."
Seeing that she needed to leave, Emma curtsied to Gwenaëlle and her mother before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.
Gwenaëlle stood up from her seat on her bed and the two of them hugged.
Gwenaëlle's mother broke the hug and looked at her daughter, "You still look beautiful."
"Mother… You've only been gone a week." Gwenaëlle said
"Yes… But it feels like a month!" Gwenaëlle's mother said
"How was London?" Gwenaëlle asked
"It was... Interesting." Her mother replied
Gwenaëlle laughed and instantly knew that her mother meant the opposite. Having come from America, her mother was one hard person to please.
"How about you?" Gwenaëlle's mother asked, "Have you been misbehaving when your father and I are not around?"
Gwenaëlle shook her head, "I've been on my best behaviour."
Her mother laughed and pat her hand before asking, "How's Marius?"
"He's good." Gwenaëlle said
"Alright then..." Gwenaëlle's mother said, "We should get ready for dinner."
"Father came back with you?" Gwenaëlle asked
"Yes. He managed to finish his business in London." Her mother replied
Gwenaëlle nodded and her mother reminded her to get ready again before leaving her room.
During dinner, Gwenaëlle and her parents were eating quietly until her father spoke up.
"Gwenaëlle…" Her father said, "We need to talk about your future."
"What do you mean?" Gwenaëlle asked
"You are not getting any younger and it's time you found a suitable husband." Her father replied
Gwenaëlle put down her cutleries, "Father… I like how it is right now."
"You know that is not an option, Gwenaëlle." Her father said, "How is the relationship between you and Marius?"
"Father, we are just friends." Gwenaëlle said, "There is nothing else between us."
"Well, if that's the case, we'll throw a ball to find you a suitable husband." Her father said
Gwenaëlle never felt more annoyed than she was in that moment.
"Father! I am not a prize to be won!" Gwenaëlle said
Her father looked at her, furious with the tone that Gwenaëlle was taking with him.
"Gwenaëlle, darling, your father is just looking out for you." Her mother intervened
She looked over at her mother and gave her a small, polite smile as she stood up from her seat at the table.
"I can't take another bite." Gwenaëlle said, "I'm full."
She looked at her parents, "Good-night."
Before her parents could stop her, Gwenaëlle walked off, headed to her room.
Once she left, her mother looked at her husband who went back to eating, even though she knew that he was furious with Gwenaëlle.
"I know you're angry with her." Her mother said
Her father looked at his wife, "I don't know what else to say, Genevieve... She's getting out of hand."
"Gerard, you know your daughter." Genevieve said, "You can't just tell her she needs to find a husband."
"Then what am I supposed to do?" Gerard asked
"Give her some time. She's still young. Let her come to the decision on her own." Genevieve replied
He looked at his wife, "I don't know what it is with you American women… You always have a way of making me agree with what you say."
"That's how you fell in love with me, isn't it?" Genevieve said
Her husband smiled and pat her hand on the table before they continued on with their dinner.
