Eponine slipped in the door of her family's apartment, praying that they were asleep. Luck, however, was not on her side.
"Where the hell were you?" Monsieur Thénardier, her father, demanded immediately.
"Working," she said passively. She took Enjolras' coin out of her pocket and handed it to him.
"5 Francs for all that time you were out? Damn, you're not a very good little whore, are you? Could help if you were prettier, I suppose." He pocketed the coin. Eponine tried to slip away from him, but then he noticed her jacket. "Where'd you get that?" He demanded.
Eponine shrugged. "A gentleman on the street saw me shaking on the corner and he offered me his coat. I accepted." Again she tried to turn away.
"Not so fast," Thénardier snapped. "Let me see the coat."
Eponine did not want to take it off, but she complied, knowing the consequences of refusal would be dire. Thénardier took it. He inspected it for a moment.
"This is a good coat. Wool. We could sell it for a fair bit."
"No!" Eponine said quickly, knowing that Enjolras would be expecting it back. She had rarely seen him without it.
Thénardier looked at her suspiciously. "And why not?"
"Because – because – because," Eponine tried, but no idea came to her.
"Where did you really get it?" Thénardier snarled.
Eponine sighed. "It belongs to a – friend of mine."
Thénardier chuckled wickedly. "The same friend that gave you the money, no doubt. Well look at the little brat, bedding with the bourgeoisie boy that she's so smitten with. Maybe that fool will take you off the streets, but I doubt it. To him, you're nothing but a little whore!"
Eponine knew that he was talking about Marius, and his words stung. Most insults didn't go past her skin, but one reminding her of Marius' lack of interest in her went directly to her heart. "Just please give it back," Eponine murmured.
"And what'll I get in return?" Thénardier demanded. "You barely earn your keep as it is."
"I'll earn double tomorrow." Eponine said quickly, already becoming ill at the thought. Enjolras' coin was a true gift. She rarely came home with so much after three days.
Thénardier bent down to her level and held his face inches from hers. "You had better, or there'll be hell to pay."
He threw the jacket at her. She caught it and slunk off to her bed before he could say anymore.
