Chapter 2
By Monday afternoon, everyone in Gustave's classes had found out about his engagement. People stopped him to congratulate, and even ridicule, him. At the end of the day, he found his Uncle in his classroom. His feet were up on his desk while he read a book. He saw Gustave enter, but didn't move.
"I never said a word, Gustave."
"Well, I didn't!"
"Okay. I lied."
"Why? I don't need that now, especially with exams right around the corner."
"Since when are final exams held in March?"
"You are more than aggravating. No wonder you never married."
"Excuse me? Is this Marius standing in front of me? How many times have I said that I'm a bachelor by choice, not because I wasn't wanted? I'll have you know that I could have had any woman I wanted, even your mother or your aunt."
"It's a relief you didn't choose them. I might not exist." Gustave pulled a chair next to his godfather. "Go on. Give me one of your famous monologues."
"We have a good few months before that. Besides, that's more your father's job."
"I'd rather get it over with now, instead of right before the actual ceremony."
"Very well, but remember, you asked for it. Now, first of all, the woman you love is always right, even if she's wrong. Unless it's something completely wrong. It doesn't pay to have a woman mad at you, because she'll never let you live it down. Also, you can never say 'love' too much. Use it five times in every sentence. And above all, model everything after your parents. They have the perfect marriage."
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you." Gustave got up to leave.
"Oh, Gustave?" He turned to his Uncle. "Remember, my 1500-word essay on Socrates is due tomorrow."
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"Marius, the Laroches asked that we dine with them this Saturday."
"Who? Not all of us."
"No," replied Eponine, frustrated at her husband. "Just the three of us. Gustave and the two of us. I believe it's to discuss the marriage."
"I'll have to pick up Gustave on Friday afternoon."
"Maybe we should surprise him. You know he can't stand surprises, and this would kill him," she laughed.
"Are you sure about that?" questioned Marius sternly.
"Marius, have you lost every fiber of fun you used to have? Is that because you became a lawyer?"
"No, 'Ponine," he laughed. "It's because I married a nagging woman and had four children by her. Yet, even though I'm aware of everything I do, I'm still happy. Do you know why?"
"No, but I know you're going to tell me."
"Because all those years ago, I chose you over Cosette."
She came closer to him and put her arms around his neck. "You aren't the only one who's happy about that."
They both smiled and Marius leaned in to kiss her. A moment later, he pulled back and searched the room.
"No, Marius. Cosette is not here." She folded her arms across her chest and waited for an explanation.
"Don't you think it's odd that that was the first kiss that wasn't broken by calls of 'Mother' or 'Don't do that?'"
"No, I don't think that it was odd. It was actually very nice." She kissed him again.
"You're right."
"I always am."
Eponine walked back to where she was peeling potatoes. Marius came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"What are you doing?"
"Being a husband."
"And I'm being a wife."
"We don't need dinner."
"But our children do."
"So, I'll pick Gustave up on Friday."
"You won't have to leave until mid-morning. Charlotte, Nicolas, and Juliette will be in lessons."
"And I know exactly what to do." He kissed the side of her head.
"So do I," she smirked. "There's cleaning that has to be done."
"Far be it from me to understand the workings of a woman's mind."
"That makes two," said Nicolas coming inside. Juliette and Charlotte followed him in.
"You are far too young to figure out any woman's mind, besides your sisters' and mine."
"Mother, when is Gustave coming back to see Brigitte?"
"I'm not sure, Nicolas," said Eponine. "He has classes, and he can't be coming home every week."
"Well, he needs to come home every other week, then. Brigitte won't stand for that," Charlotte observed. "And, naturally, he will have to come home for the engagement party."
"Good thing she reminded us," Marius whispered to his wife.
"Juliette, you've been very quiet all day. Is something bothering you?"
"Yes, Mother. All this talk about Gustave and Brigitte..."
"What's wrong with it?" asked her twin.
"Everybody knows that Monsieur Laroche and Father don't get along. He clearly invited Gustave over on Saturday to break the engagement quietly."
"That's not true, Juliette. Monsieur Laroche would never have allowed Gustave to propose in such a public manner had he intensions of breaking it."
"Maybe she's right, Marius. Did you see the look on his face when Brigitte accepted? He nearly choked on his dinner!"
"I'll not have speculation about this!" Marius paused and looked at his family. "Let's just hope for the best. Especially since I know Gustave would have said the same thing."
"Now, enough gossip for tonight. Dinner isn't about to make itself." Eponine set her daughters in front of her as Marius took his son into his study.
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"Hurry up, Juliette. Mother won't be pleased with how frivolous you've been."
"Me? I wouldn't talk about being silly."
She paused and glanced down an alleyway. She heard a faint cry, and decided to investigate. She saw a figure in the shadows and retreated a little bit, but she moved forward again when she saw that it was a girl.
"Are you alright?" The girl whimpered. "Please, I won't hurt you. I want to help." She came closer still and saw that the girl's face was badly bruised and her arms were beaten. "Oh my God," breathed Juliette.
"Juliette! We have...oh my God. Don't worry, mademoiselle. We'll take care of you. Can you stand?" Charlotte saw the girl nod and stand with the aid of the two Pontmercies.
After a few minutes of walking, Charlotte told her sister to run ahead and tell their mother to prepare a bed for the girl. When they arrived, Eponine rushed them into Gustave's bedroom.
After the twins were born, Marius and Eponine agreed that their cottage would no longer do. They purchased an old Tudor mansion not so far away from where they had lived. Marius had left his old firm and set up his own with a few colleagues. Gavroche was even due to come and live in Rouen in order to work in Marius' firm, Pontmercy, Laroche, and Vassar. Eponine was half housewife and half schoolteacher. She was the house's cook, maid, and caretaker. She taught the children before they were able to attend lessons.
They set the girl in the bed, and Nicolas brought in a bowl of hot water and some cloth. He then took Juliette and went to the nursery. The girl hissed as the water bathed her arms.
"Try to relax," Eponine insisted as she dressed the last of the wounds. "Now, could you tell us some things?" The girl nodded. "Can you speak?"
"Yes," she said faintly.
"Who are you?"
"Claire."
"Just Claire?"
"Yes."
"And your parents?"
"I'm an orphan."
"How awful!"
"Hush, Charlotte. How old are you?"
"I'm 17."
"And how have you come to be here, in Rouen?"
"I lived in an orphanage until two years ago. Then I went to work in the mill in Paris, but I was fired about a month ago. I needed to support myself, so I had to..."
"Charlotte," Eponine cut in. "Go and get one of your nightgowns and a dress for Claire. She'll use them for the time being." Charlotte closed the door, and Eponine turned back to look at the girl. "I'm sorry, but I'd rather not have my daughter hear about...certain things. Go on."
"Well, I became a dancer in a tavern miles from here. One night, a man took me out back and tried to get fresh with me. But when I refused, he didn't take it that well."
"You poor thing."
"So I ran and ran for days until I just couldn't anymore. That's how I ended up in the alleyway where your daughters found me. I know that you may be sitting here questioning my morals, but please take my word that I'm an upright person. I wouldn't do anything like that again, even if it meant I would have to starve. I promise that if you let me stay here, I will be far from a burden. I can work to pay off my debts."
"Calm down," quieted Eponine. "I dare not judge the character of someone I met only moments ago. As for working, I will have to speak to my husband about that. I'll have Charlotte bring you some soup. For now, just rest."
"Thank you," said Claire.
Eponine closed the door and went down the stairs just as Marius walked in the front door.
"What are you doing home?"
"Hello to you, too," he said kissing her forehead. "Is something the matter?"
"Well, we have a guest."
"Who would this unexpected guest be?"
"A girl whom your daughters found beaten in an alleyway."
"And they brought her to the resident midwife."
"I talked to her. She seems very sincere."
"They do when they want something."
"Marius, I'll have you remember that I came from the streets. I believe that it takes one to know one."
"I suppose she would like to work for us. Is that the case?"
"You can talk to her yourself, but from what I gathered, she's willing to earn her keep."
"All right. Your decision is my decision. But, I will speak to her later."
"Yes, Marius. Now, would you please find Charlotte for me?"
"Can I refuse?"
"You had better not," she said smirking as she walked away.
By Monday afternoon, everyone in Gustave's classes had found out about his engagement. People stopped him to congratulate, and even ridicule, him. At the end of the day, he found his Uncle in his classroom. His feet were up on his desk while he read a book. He saw Gustave enter, but didn't move.
"I never said a word, Gustave."
"Well, I didn't!"
"Okay. I lied."
"Why? I don't need that now, especially with exams right around the corner."
"Since when are final exams held in March?"
"You are more than aggravating. No wonder you never married."
"Excuse me? Is this Marius standing in front of me? How many times have I said that I'm a bachelor by choice, not because I wasn't wanted? I'll have you know that I could have had any woman I wanted, even your mother or your aunt."
"It's a relief you didn't choose them. I might not exist." Gustave pulled a chair next to his godfather. "Go on. Give me one of your famous monologues."
"We have a good few months before that. Besides, that's more your father's job."
"I'd rather get it over with now, instead of right before the actual ceremony."
"Very well, but remember, you asked for it. Now, first of all, the woman you love is always right, even if she's wrong. Unless it's something completely wrong. It doesn't pay to have a woman mad at you, because she'll never let you live it down. Also, you can never say 'love' too much. Use it five times in every sentence. And above all, model everything after your parents. They have the perfect marriage."
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you." Gustave got up to leave.
"Oh, Gustave?" He turned to his Uncle. "Remember, my 1500-word essay on Socrates is due tomorrow."
************************************************************************
"Marius, the Laroches asked that we dine with them this Saturday."
"Who? Not all of us."
"No," replied Eponine, frustrated at her husband. "Just the three of us. Gustave and the two of us. I believe it's to discuss the marriage."
"I'll have to pick up Gustave on Friday afternoon."
"Maybe we should surprise him. You know he can't stand surprises, and this would kill him," she laughed.
"Are you sure about that?" questioned Marius sternly.
"Marius, have you lost every fiber of fun you used to have? Is that because you became a lawyer?"
"No, 'Ponine," he laughed. "It's because I married a nagging woman and had four children by her. Yet, even though I'm aware of everything I do, I'm still happy. Do you know why?"
"No, but I know you're going to tell me."
"Because all those years ago, I chose you over Cosette."
She came closer to him and put her arms around his neck. "You aren't the only one who's happy about that."
They both smiled and Marius leaned in to kiss her. A moment later, he pulled back and searched the room.
"No, Marius. Cosette is not here." She folded her arms across her chest and waited for an explanation.
"Don't you think it's odd that that was the first kiss that wasn't broken by calls of 'Mother' or 'Don't do that?'"
"No, I don't think that it was odd. It was actually very nice." She kissed him again.
"You're right."
"I always am."
Eponine walked back to where she was peeling potatoes. Marius came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"What are you doing?"
"Being a husband."
"And I'm being a wife."
"We don't need dinner."
"But our children do."
"So, I'll pick Gustave up on Friday."
"You won't have to leave until mid-morning. Charlotte, Nicolas, and Juliette will be in lessons."
"And I know exactly what to do." He kissed the side of her head.
"So do I," she smirked. "There's cleaning that has to be done."
"Far be it from me to understand the workings of a woman's mind."
"That makes two," said Nicolas coming inside. Juliette and Charlotte followed him in.
"You are far too young to figure out any woman's mind, besides your sisters' and mine."
"Mother, when is Gustave coming back to see Brigitte?"
"I'm not sure, Nicolas," said Eponine. "He has classes, and he can't be coming home every week."
"Well, he needs to come home every other week, then. Brigitte won't stand for that," Charlotte observed. "And, naturally, he will have to come home for the engagement party."
"Good thing she reminded us," Marius whispered to his wife.
"Juliette, you've been very quiet all day. Is something bothering you?"
"Yes, Mother. All this talk about Gustave and Brigitte..."
"What's wrong with it?" asked her twin.
"Everybody knows that Monsieur Laroche and Father don't get along. He clearly invited Gustave over on Saturday to break the engagement quietly."
"That's not true, Juliette. Monsieur Laroche would never have allowed Gustave to propose in such a public manner had he intensions of breaking it."
"Maybe she's right, Marius. Did you see the look on his face when Brigitte accepted? He nearly choked on his dinner!"
"I'll not have speculation about this!" Marius paused and looked at his family. "Let's just hope for the best. Especially since I know Gustave would have said the same thing."
"Now, enough gossip for tonight. Dinner isn't about to make itself." Eponine set her daughters in front of her as Marius took his son into his study.
************************************************************************
"Hurry up, Juliette. Mother won't be pleased with how frivolous you've been."
"Me? I wouldn't talk about being silly."
She paused and glanced down an alleyway. She heard a faint cry, and decided to investigate. She saw a figure in the shadows and retreated a little bit, but she moved forward again when she saw that it was a girl.
"Are you alright?" The girl whimpered. "Please, I won't hurt you. I want to help." She came closer still and saw that the girl's face was badly bruised and her arms were beaten. "Oh my God," breathed Juliette.
"Juliette! We have...oh my God. Don't worry, mademoiselle. We'll take care of you. Can you stand?" Charlotte saw the girl nod and stand with the aid of the two Pontmercies.
After a few minutes of walking, Charlotte told her sister to run ahead and tell their mother to prepare a bed for the girl. When they arrived, Eponine rushed them into Gustave's bedroom.
After the twins were born, Marius and Eponine agreed that their cottage would no longer do. They purchased an old Tudor mansion not so far away from where they had lived. Marius had left his old firm and set up his own with a few colleagues. Gavroche was even due to come and live in Rouen in order to work in Marius' firm, Pontmercy, Laroche, and Vassar. Eponine was half housewife and half schoolteacher. She was the house's cook, maid, and caretaker. She taught the children before they were able to attend lessons.
They set the girl in the bed, and Nicolas brought in a bowl of hot water and some cloth. He then took Juliette and went to the nursery. The girl hissed as the water bathed her arms.
"Try to relax," Eponine insisted as she dressed the last of the wounds. "Now, could you tell us some things?" The girl nodded. "Can you speak?"
"Yes," she said faintly.
"Who are you?"
"Claire."
"Just Claire?"
"Yes."
"And your parents?"
"I'm an orphan."
"How awful!"
"Hush, Charlotte. How old are you?"
"I'm 17."
"And how have you come to be here, in Rouen?"
"I lived in an orphanage until two years ago. Then I went to work in the mill in Paris, but I was fired about a month ago. I needed to support myself, so I had to..."
"Charlotte," Eponine cut in. "Go and get one of your nightgowns and a dress for Claire. She'll use them for the time being." Charlotte closed the door, and Eponine turned back to look at the girl. "I'm sorry, but I'd rather not have my daughter hear about...certain things. Go on."
"Well, I became a dancer in a tavern miles from here. One night, a man took me out back and tried to get fresh with me. But when I refused, he didn't take it that well."
"You poor thing."
"So I ran and ran for days until I just couldn't anymore. That's how I ended up in the alleyway where your daughters found me. I know that you may be sitting here questioning my morals, but please take my word that I'm an upright person. I wouldn't do anything like that again, even if it meant I would have to starve. I promise that if you let me stay here, I will be far from a burden. I can work to pay off my debts."
"Calm down," quieted Eponine. "I dare not judge the character of someone I met only moments ago. As for working, I will have to speak to my husband about that. I'll have Charlotte bring you some soup. For now, just rest."
"Thank you," said Claire.
Eponine closed the door and went down the stairs just as Marius walked in the front door.
"What are you doing home?"
"Hello to you, too," he said kissing her forehead. "Is something the matter?"
"Well, we have a guest."
"Who would this unexpected guest be?"
"A girl whom your daughters found beaten in an alleyway."
"And they brought her to the resident midwife."
"I talked to her. She seems very sincere."
"They do when they want something."
"Marius, I'll have you remember that I came from the streets. I believe that it takes one to know one."
"I suppose she would like to work for us. Is that the case?"
"You can talk to her yourself, but from what I gathered, she's willing to earn her keep."
"All right. Your decision is my decision. But, I will speak to her later."
"Yes, Marius. Now, would you please find Charlotte for me?"
"Can I refuse?"
"You had better not," she said smirking as she walked away.