Chapter Two

"Cosette!"

The girl sitting in the garden looked around. "Eponine!" She went to the gate and let her friend in. "How have you been?"

"I've been all right." Eponine stepped through the gate and into Cosette's garden. "Marius asked me to tell you he won't be able to make it until Thursday night, and also to give you this."

She watched, trying to calm her jealousy as Cosette took the letter from her, smiled, and put it in one of the pockets of her dress. "Thanks, Eponine."

Although not fanciful, Cosette's dress was blue silk, the kind Eponine loved to admire when she watched young women pass her on the streets in carriages: it reminded her of a time, distant but not entirely forgotten to her.

Eponine always wondered at how Cosette could always seem so offhand about Marius. She knew how much Cosette loved Marius, but always appreciated how little a deal Cosette made of it in public, even though she had never told Cosette how she felt about Marius.

Well, unless that weak moment counts, three months ago before Cosette met Marius. Eponine sighed a little. Ever since then, she had referred to her feelings for Marius in the past tense, on the rare occasions where it had been brought up. Cosette was like a sister to her; although Eponine's parents had never been good to her as a child, and didn't know they were still friends, Eponine and Cosette had always considered each other sisters, and Eponine had always been welcome at the Rue Plumet, where Cosette lived.

I wonder if Marius sees me as a sister, Eponine mused. He certainly did not see her the same way as Cosette; yet she had always wondered why he had always been so friendly, so open, more so than when he was with his friends at the ABC Café.

She noticed a quizzical expression on Cosette's face, and smiled reassuringly. "How is your father?"

"He's fine." Cosette leaned forward in confidence, looking around to make sure there were no others present at the garden. "Although I worry about him, to tell you the truth. He's been out a lot, these nights, and sleeps most of the day. I'm not even awake when he comes in. Do you ever see him around at night, Eponine?"

Eponine closed her eyes, not wanting to tell her the truth. "It is… difficult to say. You know I don't frequent these areas at night; if I ever do come around, it's hard to distinguish one man from the other, they look so similar at night. But I'll ask around and see."

Cosette nodded, leaned further forward, and lowered her voice so only Eponine could hear. "Do you think it can have anything to do with the revolution Marius and his friends are planning?"

How could she tell her what danger all of them were in? Eponine made herself meet Cosette's worried gaze. "I'll keep a lookout. Don't worry, Cosette, your father is a strong man."

"But he's also getting a lot older." Cosette leaned back, somewhat relieved by Eponine's words. "He asks about you a lot, you know."

"Does he know about Marius yet?" Vaguely Eponine wondered if Cosette had any idea how she really felt about Marius. Cosette had never brought it up, but she knew Cosette's silent, observational moods. Since Cosette and Marius had fallen in love, Eponine had resigned herself to mentioning Marius in passing.

Cosette shook her head, thoughtfully. "You know how protective Papa is, and I think he may know Marius from the barricades. I don't want him to suddenly change his opinion, if he does." She paused, watching Eponine before hesitantly admitting, "Sometimes I worry, Eponine. Did you know he's never told me about his life before he came and adopted me?"

Eponine didn't know what to say to this. "Everything happens for a reason. I'm sure you'll find out in time, Cosette."

Her friend nodded, reluctantly. "That's what Papa would say, though it's been so many years since then. I know I should wait, but I just want to know what's troubling him. It worries me that he hasn't told me anything about these changes. He seems to have so much on his mind lately."

A silence fell between them, and Eponine's gaze fell on an object lying on a table. "Is that the doll your father gave you when he first met you?"

Cosette seemed suddenly to come to her senses, and laughed aloud, focusing on the object. "It is indeed. I found her amongst some of my old things this morning. Can you believe she's still preserved after all these years?"

"With you, I'm not surprised. If I had been the one to receive her, she would be broken and her clothes torn today." Eponine laughed sadly, thinking of the limp rag dolls Azelma played with and comparing them to the beautiful dolls she herself had owned as a child. Her family's life now was so different to what she had had growing up, and she had often regretted that things had turned around while Azelma was still a child.

She let her mind wander, imagining if things had never changed, remembering how happy she had been, before she had found out the truth about her family. Lately all that seemed to be important in her family was protecting Azelma; her ten-year-old sister was still dependent and vulnerable, and Eponine would have sacrificed her life to keep her safe. I wish I could give all that I had to you, 'Zelma.

Cosette picked up on Eponine's sombre mood, and attempted to lighten the subject. "Do you remember how we used to fight over dolls when we were little, Eponine?"

Eponine laughed in spite of herself, glad to be rid of her thoughts. "How could I forget? They would end with my mother sending you out to fetch water from the well, which she knew you hated."

Cosette laughed and shuddered. "It's a memory I'd rather not relive, but it was a long time ago. Everything was a long time ago. I'm glad I found you again, though."

Sentiments such as this was rare to hear directly from Cosette, and Eponine smiled before noticing the shadows on the wall. "I'd better go, it's late."

"Thank you for the letter."

"I'll see you soon." Swiftly Eponine made her way to the gate and let herself out, walking to the park more from habit than from consciousness.

The sky was growing dark, and rain had started to fall, but she barely noticed any of these things, lost in thought.

"'Ponine!"

The familiar voice struck Eponine immediately and she turned around as a reflex, an automatic but genuine smile on her face. "Marius!"

He laughed, surprised. "I did not expect to see you so soon. How has your day been?"

Attempting to snap out of her pensive state, Eponine shrugged a little. "I just came back from the Rue Plumet."

"You truly are an angel, 'Ponine." Marius smiled and patted her shoulder. It was a friendly touch, but this set something off in Eponine. Unconsciously, her smile fell away.

He looked at her, concerned. "What's wrong?"

Too late she realized her abrupt change of mood. "It's nothing. I've just realized I must get home early, is all."

It wasn't a complete lie. After getting home so late the previous evening, her parents had repeatedly berated her for staying out and not returning home with any money. Trying to change the subject, she asked, "I thought you weren't free to see Cosette until Thursday?"

"I'm on my way to the ABC Café now, actually. Enjolras has scheduled another important meeting, and he's made it clear we can't miss this. Anyway, you'd better get home. I don't want to make your parents angry at you again."

Marius's concern for her made her feel slightly better. She nodded, and turned. "I'll see you around."

"Are you busy tomorrow night?" he asked, watching her, again wondering at her sudden tension and evasiveness. When she shook her head, he smiled. "Drop by the ABC Café for a while. My friends keep asking me where you are."

She shrugged, trying to play it off. "Then I'll see you tomorrow. Take care, M'sieur."

"And you. Thanks again, 'Ponine."

Eponine smiled again and turned to walk away. Twenty paces later, she steeled herself and turned around. His rapidly departing back was turned to her. He obviously hadn't looked back.