As Marius and Eponine danced the late night away, a shadow watched them from the end of one of the two room-width balconies. Tears glistened in her angry eyes as she observed the happy scene below her. She tore at the end of her taffeta dress with her hands as thought of different ways of hurting the beautiful black-haired peacock who was dancing with her husband.
A hot breath blew against her shoulder. Cosette turned in surprise. She narrowed her eyes. Another hated person stood next to her, smirking as usual. Antoine.
"What do you want, Antoine?" she asked, irritated.
He looked at her with his steel grey eyes and said, "I want what you want."
"And how do YOU know what I want?" Cosette asked incredulously.
He wasn't sure if he should tell her, but Antoine was right outside the door of the library and heard every bit of conversation that had passed between her, Marius, and Eponine. "I…I can tell by the look on your face," he said simply.
Cosette was quiet. Down below her and Antoine, two very happy people danced together. She knew Marius loved her. She also knew Marius loved Eponine before Eponine "died" and Marius loved her still, but now Cosette was actually in danger of losing Marius this time. She turned her attention from Marius and examined Eponine. Eponine was now utterly beautiful. Even Cosette had to admit that. Eponine had cleaned up herself, become svelte, sophisticated, and articulate…and more of a threat.
Antoine leaned in closer to Cosette's ear and switched his voice to that hypnotic persuasive tone that usually had women dropping their knickers under his spell. But this time, he wasn't interested in any risqué. He had a plan in mind.
"Cosette, look down there," he said as he gestured to the beaming faces in which Marius and Eponine were the center. "That is supposed to be YOU. You are Marius' real lady peacock. Not Eponine. She is not good enough for Marius. You are." He put his arm around her shoulders and smiled inwardly when he felt her cringe. "Come with me, Cosette. I will win you Marius' full and uninterrupted attention. But I will need your help."
* * * * *
As the masquerade ended in the early Paris morning and nearly half of the guests had left or retired in their rooms and the music had softened, Marius and Eponine sat in a quiet corner reminiscing about old times.
"And remember the time you were trying to keep up with me as we were running and trying to get out of the rain?" Marius laughed as he slapped his hand down on the table.
Eponine burst into seemingly thousandth fit of laughter that night. "Oh yes! I slid and fell in the mud, completely dirtying my skirt! And you…you dropped your books to help me up! Oh Marius, you were too much of a gentleman! Your books were barely legible after that!" Eponine could hardly speak. Tears were rolling down from the corners of her eyes as her laughter shook her body.
"Oh Ponine! We have such good memories," Marius said as his laughter died down. He reached across the table and pulled her hands into his and look wistfully into her eyes. He was silent for quite a while, looking into her eyes the whole time and Eponine thought she was in heaven. Finally he spoke. "Ponine, I-I'm still trying to figure out how you survived. Your little body died in my arms, but here you are! I know you so well, but yet you are a mystery to me!"
Eponine leaned forward with love-stars in her eyes and said, "Marius, I've told you before! It wasn't a mystery why I am alive and talking to you right now. You were the only soul in the entire world who loved me…I didn't even love myself! You were the only one! And the fact that I knew this before I lost consciousness kept my spirit fighting! Marius, I owe my life to you. You are my saviour. I love you, Marius."
Eponine tensed. How could I be so stupid? she thought. Marius is married and I just told him that I love him! Oh, I am going to be so hurt, so rejected! Steel yourself, Ponine. You have returned to the former and Marius is going to love you, but never openly and never in the way you love him.
Eponine waited for the oncoming blow: the shifted eyes, the 'so sorry Ponine' speech, the retreat from her love like it was the Plague.
Yet to Eponine's surprise, Marius stood up, pulled her to him, and gave her a hug. A tight hug that consoles, is consoled, and where there exists a fear to let go. Eponine clung to him tightly and relished his warm body against hers, his strong arms around her. She wanted to hold him forever. She never wanted the night to end. She wanted to be his, have his babies, and give him all the love endless love she had for him. But he was forbidden fruit. She felt helpless because of that fact, but she smothered the thought and wrapped her arms tighter around him.
Against Marius, she felt her love expand into a flame of passion. The massive amount champagne she had thoughtlessly consumed took hold of her and she want to kiss him, make him forget about Cosette, make him forget about his marriage. That struck match had grown into a bonfire in his arms and she wanted to cover him with kisses and show him what fierce love she could give him when the lights go out. But she couldn't forget about Cosette.
There was a cough behind her. "Marius?" It was Cosette. Eponine reluctantly let go of Marius as she slid out from his hold and turned around. Surprisingly, Cosette didn't look in any way angry or annoyed. She, in fact, looked happy. Perhaps Cosette just wasn't feeling earlier, thought Eponine. Maybe my earlier impression of her was wrong.
Cosette looked apologetic as she said, "I'm sorry Marius, but I'm exhausted. It's nearly three o'clock in the morning and I think it is better if we left."
"Yes, of course, Cos," said Marius, nervously. "I guess it is getting pretty late. Why don't you go get our coats and I will meet you in the foyer." Cosette smiled sweetly at Eponine and walked quietly away.
Marius turned to Eponine. "This is not the last time we will see each other, Ponine," he said as he put his hand under her chin. Eponine wanted to sing with the way his eyes were penetrating into hers. "I will come to visit you tomorrow and we will continue our…conversation. I'm determined to keep you in my life, Ponine. I'm not letting you go this time."
Marius tore his eyes away from hers and turned and walked away. Eponine kept looking after him afraid, so afraid that this would be the last time she would see him. In the distance, amidst a small crowd of people leaving, Marius turned around with that same lovelorn look on his face that she had worn so many times when she was loath to walk away from him. Eponine felt heavy inside like she was going to cry. This is not the barricade, Eponine said to herself. We will see each other tomorrow. We will.
For some reason Eponine could not explain, she felt impending doom. She had a premonition that something terrible would happen…and that it would involve Marius. Why do I feel such a chill of fear inside? she wondered.
"Are you ready to return home?" said a voice behind her.
Eponine turned around. No wonder, she thought. Antoine was near. She sighed. "Yes, let's go. I've been out far, far longer than I had told Uncle Erik I would be," she said. Suddenly, she smiled. "Yet, I think he won't mind very much once I tell him why."
"Yes, you and Marius," Antoine said knowingly.
Eponine's eyes narrowed. "How do you know?" she asked sharply.
Antoine smirked. "Just because Cosette and I are not very fond of each other, does not mean that we don't speak."
Eponine felt a bit deflated. She didn't like it at all that Antoine knew about her and her situation. It made it too easy for him to guess her thoughts and emotions. As much as Eponine hated it, she knew Antoine was a very intuitive man.
Antoine offered her a glass of champagne. "To you and Pont-I mean, Marius," he said as he raised his own glass.
Eponine raised the one he handed her. "Thank you," she said. She couldn't help smiling at mention of Marius. They clinked their glasses together and drank.
"All right…we'd better go so you can get as early a start as possible tomorrow," said Antoine. Eponine couldn't understand why Antoine was being so considerate and…somewhat motherly. It was as if he turned into a controlling, authoritative villain to an older brother in the course of a couple of hours. He ushered Eponine to the foyer and fetched their coats. He helped her put on her coat before he even looked at his. Is he tired? thought Eponine. Is that why he is suddenly acting like a gentleman to me?
Antoine helped Eponine into the carriage and sat down next to her. Eponine looked into his eyes and still saw that cold grey gleam in them. Except this time, the gleam was slightly blurry. She grasped onto her seat to hold herself steady. What's wrong with me? she thought. I hadn't had THAT much champagne.
She turned to Antoine and leaned back for his blurry figure seemed to loom over her. "What's wrong?" he said in a muddled voice. "Dear Eponine, how much champagne did you have tonight? You look so tired."
Everything seemed to be swimming like she was looking through a fishbowl. She felt like she was sinking. She closed her eyes, but it didn't help. She tried to pull herself up by grabbing onto a leather hold-and accidentally onto Antoine's thigh.
"Eponine…" said Antoine's faraway voice. "You just lie back and let me take care of you…" And just before Eponine passed out, she felt his hot lips caressing her neck.
A hot breath blew against her shoulder. Cosette turned in surprise. She narrowed her eyes. Another hated person stood next to her, smirking as usual. Antoine.
"What do you want, Antoine?" she asked, irritated.
He looked at her with his steel grey eyes and said, "I want what you want."
"And how do YOU know what I want?" Cosette asked incredulously.
He wasn't sure if he should tell her, but Antoine was right outside the door of the library and heard every bit of conversation that had passed between her, Marius, and Eponine. "I…I can tell by the look on your face," he said simply.
Cosette was quiet. Down below her and Antoine, two very happy people danced together. She knew Marius loved her. She also knew Marius loved Eponine before Eponine "died" and Marius loved her still, but now Cosette was actually in danger of losing Marius this time. She turned her attention from Marius and examined Eponine. Eponine was now utterly beautiful. Even Cosette had to admit that. Eponine had cleaned up herself, become svelte, sophisticated, and articulate…and more of a threat.
Antoine leaned in closer to Cosette's ear and switched his voice to that hypnotic persuasive tone that usually had women dropping their knickers under his spell. But this time, he wasn't interested in any risqué. He had a plan in mind.
"Cosette, look down there," he said as he gestured to the beaming faces in which Marius and Eponine were the center. "That is supposed to be YOU. You are Marius' real lady peacock. Not Eponine. She is not good enough for Marius. You are." He put his arm around her shoulders and smiled inwardly when he felt her cringe. "Come with me, Cosette. I will win you Marius' full and uninterrupted attention. But I will need your help."
* * * * *
As the masquerade ended in the early Paris morning and nearly half of the guests had left or retired in their rooms and the music had softened, Marius and Eponine sat in a quiet corner reminiscing about old times.
"And remember the time you were trying to keep up with me as we were running and trying to get out of the rain?" Marius laughed as he slapped his hand down on the table.
Eponine burst into seemingly thousandth fit of laughter that night. "Oh yes! I slid and fell in the mud, completely dirtying my skirt! And you…you dropped your books to help me up! Oh Marius, you were too much of a gentleman! Your books were barely legible after that!" Eponine could hardly speak. Tears were rolling down from the corners of her eyes as her laughter shook her body.
"Oh Ponine! We have such good memories," Marius said as his laughter died down. He reached across the table and pulled her hands into his and look wistfully into her eyes. He was silent for quite a while, looking into her eyes the whole time and Eponine thought she was in heaven. Finally he spoke. "Ponine, I-I'm still trying to figure out how you survived. Your little body died in my arms, but here you are! I know you so well, but yet you are a mystery to me!"
Eponine leaned forward with love-stars in her eyes and said, "Marius, I've told you before! It wasn't a mystery why I am alive and talking to you right now. You were the only soul in the entire world who loved me…I didn't even love myself! You were the only one! And the fact that I knew this before I lost consciousness kept my spirit fighting! Marius, I owe my life to you. You are my saviour. I love you, Marius."
Eponine tensed. How could I be so stupid? she thought. Marius is married and I just told him that I love him! Oh, I am going to be so hurt, so rejected! Steel yourself, Ponine. You have returned to the former and Marius is going to love you, but never openly and never in the way you love him.
Eponine waited for the oncoming blow: the shifted eyes, the 'so sorry Ponine' speech, the retreat from her love like it was the Plague.
Yet to Eponine's surprise, Marius stood up, pulled her to him, and gave her a hug. A tight hug that consoles, is consoled, and where there exists a fear to let go. Eponine clung to him tightly and relished his warm body against hers, his strong arms around her. She wanted to hold him forever. She never wanted the night to end. She wanted to be his, have his babies, and give him all the love endless love she had for him. But he was forbidden fruit. She felt helpless because of that fact, but she smothered the thought and wrapped her arms tighter around him.
Against Marius, she felt her love expand into a flame of passion. The massive amount champagne she had thoughtlessly consumed took hold of her and she want to kiss him, make him forget about Cosette, make him forget about his marriage. That struck match had grown into a bonfire in his arms and she wanted to cover him with kisses and show him what fierce love she could give him when the lights go out. But she couldn't forget about Cosette.
There was a cough behind her. "Marius?" It was Cosette. Eponine reluctantly let go of Marius as she slid out from his hold and turned around. Surprisingly, Cosette didn't look in any way angry or annoyed. She, in fact, looked happy. Perhaps Cosette just wasn't feeling earlier, thought Eponine. Maybe my earlier impression of her was wrong.
Cosette looked apologetic as she said, "I'm sorry Marius, but I'm exhausted. It's nearly three o'clock in the morning and I think it is better if we left."
"Yes, of course, Cos," said Marius, nervously. "I guess it is getting pretty late. Why don't you go get our coats and I will meet you in the foyer." Cosette smiled sweetly at Eponine and walked quietly away.
Marius turned to Eponine. "This is not the last time we will see each other, Ponine," he said as he put his hand under her chin. Eponine wanted to sing with the way his eyes were penetrating into hers. "I will come to visit you tomorrow and we will continue our…conversation. I'm determined to keep you in my life, Ponine. I'm not letting you go this time."
Marius tore his eyes away from hers and turned and walked away. Eponine kept looking after him afraid, so afraid that this would be the last time she would see him. In the distance, amidst a small crowd of people leaving, Marius turned around with that same lovelorn look on his face that she had worn so many times when she was loath to walk away from him. Eponine felt heavy inside like she was going to cry. This is not the barricade, Eponine said to herself. We will see each other tomorrow. We will.
For some reason Eponine could not explain, she felt impending doom. She had a premonition that something terrible would happen…and that it would involve Marius. Why do I feel such a chill of fear inside? she wondered.
"Are you ready to return home?" said a voice behind her.
Eponine turned around. No wonder, she thought. Antoine was near. She sighed. "Yes, let's go. I've been out far, far longer than I had told Uncle Erik I would be," she said. Suddenly, she smiled. "Yet, I think he won't mind very much once I tell him why."
"Yes, you and Marius," Antoine said knowingly.
Eponine's eyes narrowed. "How do you know?" she asked sharply.
Antoine smirked. "Just because Cosette and I are not very fond of each other, does not mean that we don't speak."
Eponine felt a bit deflated. She didn't like it at all that Antoine knew about her and her situation. It made it too easy for him to guess her thoughts and emotions. As much as Eponine hated it, she knew Antoine was a very intuitive man.
Antoine offered her a glass of champagne. "To you and Pont-I mean, Marius," he said as he raised his own glass.
Eponine raised the one he handed her. "Thank you," she said. She couldn't help smiling at mention of Marius. They clinked their glasses together and drank.
"All right…we'd better go so you can get as early a start as possible tomorrow," said Antoine. Eponine couldn't understand why Antoine was being so considerate and…somewhat motherly. It was as if he turned into a controlling, authoritative villain to an older brother in the course of a couple of hours. He ushered Eponine to the foyer and fetched their coats. He helped her put on her coat before he even looked at his. Is he tired? thought Eponine. Is that why he is suddenly acting like a gentleman to me?
Antoine helped Eponine into the carriage and sat down next to her. Eponine looked into his eyes and still saw that cold grey gleam in them. Except this time, the gleam was slightly blurry. She grasped onto her seat to hold herself steady. What's wrong with me? she thought. I hadn't had THAT much champagne.
She turned to Antoine and leaned back for his blurry figure seemed to loom over her. "What's wrong?" he said in a muddled voice. "Dear Eponine, how much champagne did you have tonight? You look so tired."
Everything seemed to be swimming like she was looking through a fishbowl. She felt like she was sinking. She closed her eyes, but it didn't help. She tried to pull herself up by grabbing onto a leather hold-and accidentally onto Antoine's thigh.
"Eponine…" said Antoine's faraway voice. "You just lie back and let me take care of you…" And just before Eponine passed out, she felt his hot lips caressing her neck.