"And now I can do what I've been dying to all day," he swept Madeleine into his arms and kissed her. Happy to be back in Clopin's arms Madeleine returned the kiss eagerly. They pulled apart and he sighed.
"We don't get nearly enough time to do that."
"What with the dodging of guards I'm not surprised," Madeleine replied sadly as she leaned her head against his chest, her arms around his middle.
"It doesn't make it less infuriating though," Clopin replied. He pulled back to look her in the eyes.
"I know, when I come to get the supplies tomorrow you and I can go on a nice long walk, no Frollo, no guards, and no nosy towns people." Madeleine smiled.
"It sounds like heaven. I'll hold you to that promise."
"Of course, I would never break my word to such a lovely lady," Clopin replied in a joking tone. They kissed once again before Clopin left with a bow. Madeleine watched him go, eager for tomorrow.
HoND
Madeleine made her way to Byron's bookshop which was in the shadow of Notre Dame. She opened the door, causing the belle to ring. Byron looked up from the front desk, smiling from behind his white whiskers.
"Ah, Mademoiselle Clement!"
"Bonjour Monsieur Leandre," replied Madeleine with a smile.
"If you come to the back I have some of the books you asked for," he told her gesturing to the backroom.
"Wonderful!" Madeleine replied keeping an eye on the two other customers in the shop. She followed Byron to the back. Once the curtain was pulled just Byron brought out the medical supplies. He placed them in the basket Madeleine brought and added some books on top to cover the materials.
"There you are," he said quietly.
"Thank you," Madeleine whispered. They returned to the the front.
"Thank you for the books! I'm sure they'll be quite useful Madeleine said as she made for the front door. She smirked slightly. Mission accomplished. Now she could head home and meet Clopin. Her heartbeat quickened at the thought of the gypsy prince. She sped up her pace, eager to get home.
When she arrived the house was empty. Henri was out getting some spare parts. Setting the basket on the kitchen table Madeleine headed out back with some sewing to sit on the bench swing that hung from a great oak tree and wait for Clopin.
HoND
Clopin hurried to the Clement's house, eager to see Madeleine. He checked several times to ensure he wasn't being followed. As he approached the house he heard a sweet voice singing.
Heading around to the back of the house he saw Madeleine sitting on the benchswing absorbed in her sewing as she sang. Her blond hair glinted in the Clopin stayed out of sight for a moment to listen
"Come all ye fair and tender girls
That flourish in your prime. Beware beware,
Keep your garden fair. Let no man steal your thyme.
Let no man steal your thyme.
For when your thyme it is past and gone,
He'll care no more for you,
And every place where your time was waste,
Will all spread or' with rue. Will all spread or' with rue.
A garden's son was standing by, three flowers he gave to me
The pink, the blue, and the violet true, and the red red rosie tree
And the red red rosie tree.
But I refused the red rose bush and gained the willow tree.
That all the world may plainly see.
How my love slighted me, how my love slighted me."
Clopin snuck up behind her and covered her eyes with his gloved hands
"Bonjour my little songbird."
Madeleine gasped in surprise but then laughed as he removed his hands and came to sit next to her. She set aside her sewing and they kissed.
"You didn't tell me you could sing," Clopin said when they pulled apart. Madeleine blushed a pretty shade of pink.
"I don't like to show off." Clopin chuckled at Madeleine's modesty.
"Ma Cherie, your voice is lovely I only wish you could perform with me." Madeleine smiled.
"Perhaps one day. For now your performance's are plenty enthralling for the children as they are."
"I appreciate the vote of confidence mon amour," Clopin said squeezing her hand lightly.
"You really love entertaining those children don't you?" Madeleine asked with a soft smile. Clopin shrugged.
"They are innocent. They don't hold the prejudice that the adults have."
"They haven't had their hearts hardened and influenced by the world," added Madeleine with an understanding nod. Clopin sighed.
"I suppose a part of me hopes that the children will remember the morals of my tales as they grow, so that they do not continue to spread the hatred towards those who are different."
"That the next generation may be an improvement upon the last," suggested Madeleine. Clopin nodded. Madeleine always seemed to be able to perfectly understand him. It was one of the things he found so wonderful about her. She squeezed his hand.
"There's always hope."
"I'm afraid I have to keep reminding myself of that fact," Clopin replied.
"Oh that reminds me," Madeleine said taking some coins out of her apron pocket and handing them to him. Clopin looked at her in confusion and Madeleine laughed.
"It's for the performance yesterday. I was going to give it to you then but those stupid guards showed up." She gave a slight huff which made Clopin smile. She really was adorable.
"You of all people don't need to pay me," he told her but she shook her head.
"The happiness you give those children and the rest of your audience is worth more than any gold." Seeing she was not to be detered Clopin pocketed the gold. He wrapped an arm around her and Madeleine leaned her head on his shoulder.
They stayed life that for a while chatting merrily. They were interrupted by the sound of heavy hooves clopping out front. Madeleine and Clopin both sat bolt upright.
"That's not Henri," said Madeleine suspiciously. They hurried inside and Madeleine peaked through the closed curtains. She gasped.
"Frollo!"
Author's note: Another chapter done! As usual thank you to everyone who is reading this and especially those who have commented. PLEASE take the time to leave a note in the comments about your thoughts on the story. It really means a lot. The song is called Let no man steal your thyme from Far from the Madding Crowd. Until next week folks!