Révolution du Cœur – Unspoken Lines

The following morning was grey and over cast, rain threatening to escape the clouds. Enjolras rose and dressed quickly hoping to catch Arielle before Melodie came down to breakfast. He stopped outside her room and listened for movement within.

No sound came from behind the door, which he guessed could be good or bad, but he felt that luck was with him and made his way to the dining room.

Arielle was already there, buttering her morning roll and calling for the sugar bowl to be brought. She smiled at him as he came around the table to greet her.

"Bonjour Enjolras! How are you on this dismal morning?" She asked brightly. He grinned at her obvious attempt to lighten the day and was struck once again by how similar yet different she and Melodie were. Knowing Melodie, she would take one look at the grey sky this morning and decide it was a good day to dance outside.

"Bonjour Madam Arielle. I'm well thank you though I wish the weather were better." He answered amiably. Arielle nodded at his assessment.

"Yes I'm sure. It will unfortunately keep you and my sister out of the garden today. The library should keep you both thoroughly occupied though."

"Yes, speaking of that, I was wondering if it would keep you from going into town today." He tried to appear nonchalant but she saw right through him.

"No, it will not. Yes, I will do you a favor. No, you do not have to pay me back." She said rather quickly. Enjolras looked at her askance. She smiled slyly back at him and sat back in her chair.

"I grew up with Melodie and have been married to Fabien for nearly two years. I know the look of an underhanded request when I see one."

Enjolras nodded thoughtfully and pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket. He placed it in her hands and walked around back to his seat.

"There is a title I would like to read with Melodie on that piece of paper. I would be extremely grateful if you could acquire it for me from a bookstore." Arielle nodded and slipped the paper into her dress pocket.

"Do I get to know the title of said book?" She asked.

"I wish to keep it a … surprise. You said you grew up with her so …" Arielle nodded in agreement when he didn't finish his statement.

"Yes, you're absolutely right. She'd have it out of me before I could take off my cloak."

There was the murmur of voices from down the hall and they fell immediately silent. A few seconds later Fabien entered the room, having obviously just gotten the morning paper from the butler. He nodded in greeting to Enjolras and went around the table to greet Arielle.

Enjolras felt a pang of longing in his chest watching their quiet morning greeting and kiss.

He had been honest with Melodie when he had said he had never envisioned having a wife and home. But being within Arielle and Fabien's happy bubble these past few weeks had opened his eyes. He wanted that life, a life filled with joy and peace. If only he could have it when France was right again …

"Enjolras?" Melodie's voice slipped into his thoughts as her hand came to rest on his shoulder. He had been so deep in thought that he had not heard her come up behind him. He jumped up to pull out her chair for her and deliberately ignored Arielle's amused chuckle. Melodie smiled at him softly and sat.

As soon as they were both seated she reached out and touched the back of his hand.

"Are you alright Capitaine? You looked deep in thought." She murmured for his ears only. He flipped his hand over and squeezed her fingers gently.

"I'm fine, just dreaming." Melodie smiled at that and reached for a pain au chocolat.

They all sat quietly eating for a few minutes when both Fabien and Arielle both stood.

"Well, we'll be off my dears. I have some errands to run and Fabien must be getting to work. We'll be back in time for supper, à plus tard." Arielle bustled around the table to hug them both before commanding Fabien to follow her out the door.

Melodie winked at him as he moved away, which he returned with a grim shake of his head. Enjolras couldn't help but laugh at the display of domesticity.

"Quite the mother cat isn't she?" He offered after the couple had left. Melodie rolled her eyes.

"She's worse. She's a mother duck, always clucking about everything." Enjolras laughed out loud which cause Melodie to look extremely pleased with herself.

He stood and she made to follow, but not before he had pulled her chair out for her again.

"Shall we read in the library today seeing as the weather seems determined to keep us inside?" He asked as they walked out of the dining room.

"What, you don't want to go dancing in the rain with me?" Melodie waggled her eyebrows at him. He laughed again, both at her expression and at the fact she confirmed his suspicion.

"No, I'm afraid the rain would impede my ability to dance. Perhaps another time." Melodie sighed dramatically and shrugged.

"Very well then. Meet in the library in a few minutes? I want to change my shoes seeing as we won't be outside."

Enjolras nodded and they split off.

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Melodie entered the library expecting to see Enjolras already in the chair before the fire. Instead she found him arranging some pillows in the window seat that over looked the garden. He looked rather sheepish at being caught so she graced him with a gentle smile.

"So what is our entertainment going to be today?" She asked as she moved to stand beside him. He fluffed one last pillow and turned to face her.

"I thought I'd let you choose another text today. I haven't had nearly enough time to peruse the shelves to find something fitting."

Melodie had already drifted away to bookshelves before he had finished what he was saying. He watched in no small amusement as she trailed her fingers over the spines of the books, all while biting her lower lip.

Her extremely kissable lower lip.

STOP.

Enjolras cleared his throat to catch her attention.

"Melodie?" He asked.

"Hmm?" Her eyes were still focused on the books before but she had tilted her head toward him.

"No more Shakespeare please. My voice can't handle all the parts again." She chuckled and waved a hand at him, indicating she had heard him.

Whether she would follow through was left to be seen.

She eventually returned to his side and held up a worn leather volume. Candide shined in dull gold letters on the front. He looked up to see her smiling face.

"Satisfactory then?"

He didn't answer merely handed the book back to her and tugged her hand to lead her over to the window seat. They settled themselves quietly, both leaning back against the opposing sill, Melodie with her legs stretched out in front of her and with Enjolras propping on foot up with the other leg dangling over the edge of the seat.

Melodie began again though this time her voice was soft and melodious. It lulled him into a sense of peace again and it allowed his mind to wander freely.

'Love you not deeply?'

"What does it mean to love deeply?" Enjolras hadn't even realized he had spoken aloud till he didn't hear Melodie's voice continue reading.

He looked up at her to see her looking out the window, brows drawn in concentration. He couldn't read her emotions this time. It was like she had built a mirror up merely reflecting his own seriousness. She was quiet for so long he jumped when she began to speak.

"Loving deeply is something that everyone can do. It means being there for someone in their time of need. It's listening to them and being that shoulder they can cry on when the time arises. Loving deeply is friendship at its finest."

She still wasn't looking at him but he felt the well inside her opening up.

"But?" She turned her face and smiled slightly at him.

"But loving unconditionally, that is something truly special. It's the type of love that only grows stronger. That love means loving someone for all of their faults and virtues. It's seeing a person as they are and not wanting to change them unless they want to change themselves. Unconditional love is the love that you have to always have an open heart for. It's the most beautiful gift you can give someone."

He reached out and cradled her jaw in one hand, passing his thumb gently over her cheek.

"When did you become so wise?" He murmured. Melodie shrugged and motioned to the rain falling outside.

"It brings out the best of people I think, the rain I mean. It washes things away, leaving only purity in its wake. It also reminds me of something my father used to say. He'd say that we need the rain to appreciate the sun."

She fell silent again, watching the water trail down the window.

"I'm glad you had such a father for as long as you did. You're his legacy Melodie. Never forget that."

Melodie smiled at him gratefully and placed a quick kiss to the palm against her cheek. She handed the book over to him and settled back into their nest to listen to him. They continued that way until supper, reading a sentence or two and then discussing the point.

They had just gotten into a discussion about Candide's belief in Optimism when Arielle entered the room.

"As cozy as you two look, I'm afraid it's time for supper. You both may want to change into something a bit nicer, we have guests."

They both scrambled to stand up and follow Arielle's quickly retreating form.

"Guests? What guests?" Melodie's voice was bordering on aggressive but Arielle waved her off.

"No one to cause concern I assure, you'll be fine. Everything is in your rooms."

She left them at the foot of the stairs, with Melodie glaring after her and Enjolras looking apprehensive. They eventually shrugged and made their ways to their separate rooms.

Upon entering his room, he immediately grimaced at the navy blue frock coat Arielle had laid out for him. It wasn't nearly as bad as the coats he remembered his father wearing, but still the thing was not what he deem comfortable.

Next to it though was a wrapped rectangle. Ignoring the coat for the moment, he hastily tore off the plain brown paper to reveal a simple burgundy book. Enjolras smiled at the title, rather pleased with the copy Arielle had been able to aquire.

Suddenly the frock coat didn't seem to bad …

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Melodie twitched her skirts nervously. The dress was of Arielle's choosing, mauve in color and trimmed with delicate Belgian lace. The neckline was fairly conservative and for that she was grateful. She hadn't completely forgotten her upbringing and if they had guests it wouldn't do to look like a complete street strumpet.

Thinking of those guests though …

Who the devil would her sister invite when she had fugitives in her house?

Certainly not anyone in the government. Perhaps one of their parents' friends from the palace. No, that would cause too much of a flurry, even for a place like the royal court. So who? Who would her sister dare to bring into her house when things were the way they were?

"Melodie?"

"EEEEEEPPPP!" She jumped a foot in the air and spun around to find Enjolras standing in the doorway. He grinned at her in amusement as she smoothed her skirts and glared balefully at him.

"I did knock but you didn't answer, so I thought I'd investigate."

"You should announce yourself more carefully next time!" She continued to glare at him. He raised his eyebrows and shrugged at her.

"How do you suggest I do that?"

"You just – you should just – well that is …" She sputtered, still struggling arrange her thoughts. As Enjolras continued to watch her, she noticed his eyes begin to darken, his pupils dilating. Her breathing quickened in her throat as began to saunter toward her.

"Perhaps I should alert you to my presence like this?"

He reached out and gently turned her so her back was facing him again. She felt his breath on her neck and her own caught in her throat. She refused to let her knees quake when she felt his fingers graze along her arms. Her breathing did become rather uneven though.

His fingers left her arms and settled on her rib cage. She hadn't realized how thin the gown truly was until she felt the heat of his hands searing and melting her control away.

His slowly skimmed his fingers down her sides, slowly applying more of his palm. As he caressed the dip between her ribs and her hips, Melodie felt the slow building fire in her body spiral out of control and she let out a whimper of need. Enjolras's hands tightened on her hips and he pulled her back against his chest. Melodie melted into him with a sigh of longing and tried to focus on her breathing, but her ears were filled with his own ragged breath.

Neither of them spoke. Something had changed between them in those moments. An unspoken line had been crossed and frankly, Melodie didn't care.

The silence lengthened and then, slowly, reluctantly, Enjolras's hands drifted away from her body. She took an unsteady step forward and pivoted to face him.

Enjolras's fists were clenched at his sides and he seemed to be fighting for control. His eyes were nearly black, they had gone so stormy. She took a hesitant step back toward him and was grateful when he didn't pull away. She raised her hand slowly and placed it over his heart. It felt as though the organ would jump through into her hand.

"Enjolras?" She whispered, afraid of pushing him. His eyes, which had been fixed at a point above her head, finally met hers. He seemed to be at war with himself. She kept steady pressure on his chest, reveling in the warm contact.

She watched his gaze flicker away and followed it. It rested on her neatly made bed.

She swallowed and looked back at him. His eyes stayed fixated on the sheets. Eventually he dragged in a breath and looked toward the floor. His fists loosened and a hand came up to rub the back of his neck. The same hand came down and he extended his elbow to her, once again the picture of a perfect gentleman.

"Come, we shouldn't keep your sister waiting any longer."

Melodie nodded and took his arm without a word. As they left her room and descended the stairs, she couldn't help but think that she had been moments away from locking the door and forgetting about dinner entirely. The dark promise in Enjolras's eyes had been … exquisite.

If only they both didn't have a sense of duty toward Arielle tonight …

They entered the dining room to find Arielle and Fabian chatting quietly with their guests. Melodie heard and then felt her gasp.

"Mon Dieu!"

In a matter of seconds she was across the room and in a pair of waiting arms.