Chapter Twelve - Proposals
Jean-Claude watched the happy couple from the shadows, cursing Enjolras name. The girl he was kissing was the same girl from the cemetery, the girl that Jean-Claude had seen Enjolras walk with in the market a few days ago. But his thoughts were momentarily stopped in their tracks when Enjolras lifted the girl into his arms and Jean-Claude saw her face properly for the first time. She was beautiful, she was laughing at something Enjolras was saying. Her head tipped back causing her hair to fall around her shoulders. Her eyes were shinning, she was breath taking.
Jean-Claude was instantly enraged. How could Enjolras be happy, it wasn't fair, no girl had ever looked at Jean-Claude that way. He was not a fool, he knew he was not handsome like Enjolras but it still cut at him like a knife to the heart. The jealousy that had been growing of Enjolras since they were boys was becoming something of a manic obsession.
It had been easy for Jean-Claude to find Enjolras now there was less of a presence from the Home Guard in the City. He had obviously let his guard down and was out of the flat more. History was repeating itself, Jean-Claude used to sneak around and spy on Enjolras when they were boys living in Bourges. It was how he had been there that day. It was how he had known that Enjolras had killed his father. He had seen it with his own eyes.
Jean-Claude's attention was drawn back to the couple. Their entire demeanour had instantly changed. Enjolras had moved the girl slightly behind him he was still holding onto her hand but everything else about his body language was bristling, his free hand was clenched at his side and his chin was raised up in defiance. Jean-Claude saw the figure that had caused the change, a tall thin man with a bony face and a pale nasty complexion. Jean-Claude had seen the man about the town and knew his name was Thenardier. Carefully keeping to the shadows he moved closer until he could hear their conversation.
'Come along now Eponine, you've had your fun with this bourgeois but your mother and I need you home now.'
'No Papa.'
'She's not going anywhere with you.' Jean-Claude saw the way that Enjolras was scowling at the man.
'I'm afraid she is.' Thenardier countered, he pulled a blade from inside his pocket.
Jean-Claude tensed. As much as he would love to see Enjolras cut into a thousand pieces he would be damned if he was going to let someone else do his dirty work. Enjolras was trying to pull the girl, Eponine, Thenardier had called her, further behind him but she resisted and took up her stand at his side.
'The thing is' Thenardier continued twirling the knife slowly in his hands 'Money is a bit tight at the moment. Me and your mother could really do with some additional income. Things ain't so easy to come by, not now we have lost our best look out. So we got to talking and we got to thinking that perhaps there was a better way to earn our money than stealing all the time. Which as you know is a dangerous past time, nearly got ourselves caught night before last.'
Jean-Claude could see the way Enjolras jaw was pulsing slightly where he was clenching his teeth, the girl was looking shockingly calm considering they were facing a man with a knife. Brave, he liked that.
'So we took stock of our assets' Thenardier had taken a step towards the couple, knife still in hand. 'And we got to thinking that our greatest asset was under our nose the whole time.' He waved his knife in the girl's direction.
'That would be you Eponine.'
'I will not be your look out again.' The girl had taken a step towards Thenardier and Enjolras had moved closer to her.
'No, no, no' Thenardier smiled wickedly 'Not that. Well can you not guess my girl, you always had a brain.'
'I don't know what you're talking about.'
'You Eponine, we're going to sell you. You're very beautiful and it's about time we cashed in on it.'
If Thenardier had spent most of his childhood in an obsessive study of Enjolras the way Jean-Claude had he would have known that the way Enjolras' eyes flashed in the moment was a warning.
'I've already had a nice offer for you, five hundred francs for your virginity, now what do you think of that?'
Enjolras took a step towards Thenardier, putting distance between Thenardier and the girl.
'There is only one reason why I am not currently beating your sorry hide into a pulp' Enjolras was saying slowly 'and that is because you are Eponine's father. And for that reason only I'm going to ask you to leave.'
Thenardier merely laughed at him.
'And who are you? What makes you think you can tell me what to do with my own daughter.'
'I am her fiancé.'
Jean-Claude's draw dropped, so did the girls', but Thenardier turned red and then purple in quick succession.
'You little whore!' He flew at Eponine his knife in hand. Enjolras let out an almost primal growl but Eponine had already kicked her father squarely between the legs, he yelped in pain just as Enjolras, who had already begun running before Eponine's quick thinking, charged into him sending Thenardier flying to the floor. Thenardier's hands flew to his cover his face when he saw Enjolras raise his boot, but Enjolras had no intention of kicking the man whilst he was down. He simply kicked the knife out of his reach.
Her father disarmed the girl spun round to face Enjolras.
'Did you mean it' she whispered.
'Yes, I told you I was new to this but I meant what I said. I care for you Eponine, in a way I have never cared for anyone else before. So let's see what we can find together. I will marry you, if you would like to be my wife.' Jean-Claude saw Enjolras slip off the signet ring he usually wore on his little finger and press it into the girl's palm.
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, when she pulled back her face was flushed.
'Yes' she cried 'Yes I will marry you.'
Enjolras picked the girl up off the floor and spun her round before turning his attention back to the man on the ground.
'Eponine has made her choice. You will not sell her like she is a piece of meat. Perhaps you could look into a more honest way of earning your living. Whatever you chose to do, Eponine does not wish to be involved. Is that understood?'
Thenardier whimpered in agreement.
'And Papa' the girl looked down at him 'tell Mother not to worry about buying a new hat. You won't be invited to the wedding.'
Jean-Claude watched them retreat hand in hand. So the man of stone had finally decided to care for someone. And the girl was this Thenardier's daughter, Jean-Claude laughed out loud, this was too perfect.
Still grinning he approached the man in question who was picking himself up off the floor.
'What do you want?' Thenardier glared at him.
'Was that your daughter?'
'Who wants to know' he sneered.
'That is not important'
'Then what do you want?'
'I' Jean-Claude smiled 'have a proposal for you'
