"Is there anything you children would like me to buy?" Mrs. Durand asked. Eponine and Azelma shook their heads, but Gavroche clearly had something else in mind for what he wanted.
"Sweets, candies, cakes, croissants, pastries, chocolate, more chocolate, nice clothes, an entire house for myself that I can run around in, a horse, a chicken, a chicken caretaker, a barn, a horse trainer, ugly dolls to tease Azelma with, pictures of bourgeois people to tease Eponine with… oh , sorry." Gavroche apologized. He had caught the glare that Eponine had given him. "I didn't really mean all the stuff. It's fine. I don't need anything."
Elise laughed prettily. Eponine admired her for that, which made her even gladder that Mrs. Durand was now their mom. She would be better than Mrs. Thenardier would ever have been in a million years. Mr. Durand joined in the laughter.
"Gavroche, we would buy you all the stuff if you really wanted it." Mrs. Durand replied happily. "We're just glad you're here. At first, we were just planning to have Eponine, but when she mentioned you two, we were just overjoyed! Three children? That's more than we can ask for! Plus," she whispered to them, a twinkle in her eye, "You're older, so we don't have to change your diapers!"
The family laughed. Mr. Durand suddenly had an idea. "Since you're in a rich family now, I think that it is most fitting for you to have a welcome ball! And Eponine may be introduced to some suitors." He smiled at Eponine and she felt herself blush.
"Suitors already?" she asked.
"Oh yes! It would be most lovely!" Mrs. Durand exclaimed. "We'll invite a bunch of people to the ball and we'll have a grand time!"
Eponine looked over at Azelma, and saw a smirk playing across her sister's face. Eponine frowned at her and muttered, "Don't look so smug. You'll be suffering through this soon enough." That wiped the smile off her face. Eponine was satisfied. She caught onto her new parent's conversation.
"… And the ball will require new dresses! I know a dress shop along this road! Let's stop there!" Mrs. Durand chirped. Azelma and Eponine gasped.
"New clothes?" they gasped.
"I'll have gorgeous dresses!" Eponine cried.
"Not that you don't have some already. I'll get so many hats!" Azelma said dreamily.
"And shoes!"
"And jewelry!"
"And make-up!"
"Does this mean I get the candy?" Gavroche asked. The two girls looked at him.
"Yes, you may get all of this. That will be your welcome gift. Feel free to go crazy in there!" Mr. Durand exclaimed.
"However, girls, we have to set a few rules. One, you will attend your lessons every day and do your work without any complaint. Two, we may have maids, but I want you to keep your room tidy and assist them when you have the time. Three, if there are guests at our house, you will be happy and welcome to them no matter what happened before. Is all that clear?" Mrs. Durand asked seriously. Both girls nodded.
"Yes, mother." They replied in unison.
"Soooo… does this mean that I have no rules, because you said 'girls'." Gavroche pointed out. The parents turned their attention on their new son.
"The same applies to you Gavroche. Don't think that you can live too carefree. You may have been a gamin before, but now you are the son of one of the richest families. You are expected to live this way, and it is not tough at all. There will be more challenges when you are older." Mr. Durand said.
"We are going to be moving soon, though. It is a day's trip from here to a town where we will be assumed to have more power and wealth. Your father has found a job there as the owner of a company, and we will be living in a huge estate. I can't wait!" Mrs. Durand exclaimed.
This news gave Eponine a pang of sadness. This meant leaving behind Marius, Courfeyrac, Combeferre, and all of her good friends from the Les Amis. Especially Enjolras. He had given her this life that she had right now. The carriage slowed to a stop.
"Are we here already?" Elise asked. Eponine looked out the window and saw a lone building standing in the middle of a flower garden. "That's it! Come on, girls! Let's go shopping!"
They got out and ran inside. Eponine was awed by all the fabrics that surrounded her. "Choose twelve day dresses, five ball gowns, and three night gowns. Don't worry about the price."
Eponine immediately went into searching for her dresses. After looking around for a bit, she found a beautiful navy pattern that she loved. The dress was navy with a v-neck that had white lace brimming the edges. Barely visible light patterns played across the fabric in shapes of flowers. She also chose a ball gown that was white and embroidered with delicate green vines and lilac flowers. When she moved in it, it looked like she was moving through white water, and was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
After some fitting, the family came out laden with packages. Eponine had a years' worth of clothes in her hands!
"And if you want more clothes, there's always a dress shop right next to our estate in our new home!" Elise winked.
Eponine and Azelma glanced at one another. Maybe this new life had a few downs with lessons, but this shopping was certainly an up. At least their parents cared about them. Crunching came from behind them.
"I got candy!" Gavroche announced.