Chapter 4

"And clearly the law states that felony, under all circumstances and conditions is completely inappropriate, therefore no exceptions can be made." Marius' pen tapped his knee uncomfortably under the large wooden desk seated in the middle of the conference room of the Associés au Droit de la Boulevardes Grands. He had always been eager to get back home from work, but now he had a particular sense of urgency. Over the past few weeks, Cosette's condition had worsened. Her stomach grew rounder, but the rest of her began to wither. Her appetite was failing, and any attempt at dining ended in her vomiting. The fevers had been particularly more severe, sometimes resulting in delirium. But still, his sweet little darling soldiered on, constantly insisting she was with child, not an invalid! Marius forced her to stay in bed in the mornings, insisting she needed the extra rest, but he was always unsurprised to find her dressed and often attempting to be quite active when he arrived home.

"So with that, gentlemen, you are dismissed." Marius quickly gathered his papers, hastily stuffing them into his briefcase and raced out the door, into the hall, and out to the streets of Paris. When he arrived home, he was shocked that he didn't find Cosette knitting by the fireplace, as she usually was when he came home. "Cosette? I'm home!" He listened for a moment before he heard the sound he most dreaded when he returned to his home. The incessant and hurried chatter of his wife. Nicolette raced down the stairs just as he was running up. "Nicolette! Is she all right? How long has this been?" "Since ten o'clock! She was walking through her garden and she fainted and-" "She fainted? Was she alright? Why didn't anyone come tell me?" "She was not injured, monsieur, she just asked me to bring her inside." "And why didn't anyone come get me?" "She told me not to tell you! She just asked me to bring her inside and lay her down!" Marius had had enough of this bumbling maid. She didn't think to come get him perhaps, when his wife was delirious with fever and probably couldn't form a coherent sentence? "Nicolette get Dr. Joulet now!" After the command, Marius had flown up the stairs, determined to comfort his sweetheart as best he could.

When he reached her room, she was crying hysterically. Her lips were white, and her golden hair spread about the pillow. He ran to her, taking her hot body into his arms. "Shhh, Cosette, shh my love. It's alright now, I'm here, and Nicolette has gone to get the doctor, just hang on." Marius continued to whisper words of comfort as he stroked her hair. But inside, his brain felt as though it was about to explode. He couldn't lose Cosette! She was all he had left! He had seen his friends, Cosette's father, his grandfather, most everyone he had loved, die. And in all these times, Cosette had been his angel. She had brought him out of these miseries, lifted him out of his depression and grief. He simply could not lose her.

Nicolette knocked not even ten minutes later. "Monsieur. The doctor has arrived." "Oh, of course." Marius said, quickly and gently laying Cosette back down on the pillow. He was sent out of the room during the examination, a fifteen minutes that seemed fifteen hours to the young husband. "Monsieur Pontmercy." "Yes!" "She should be fine as long as her fever goes down." "Excuse me for being so frank…but whatever is the matter with her." Marius said this in a far more desperate tone than he intended. "To be completely honest, I think she is ill on top of her current condition, making both especially dangerous to her." "Well will she be alright?" "As of now, I am putting her on bedrest." "May I go see her?" "She's sleeping now, but yes. Please, do not hesitate to call on me if complications arise."

Marius entered the room, finding his wife curled up and asleep. The color was out of her cheeks, but she looked better than just twenty minutes prior. He sat on the edge of the bed and began stroking her cheek. "Marius?" "Shhh, Cherie. You're fine now. Just rest." "Is my baby alright?" she asked sleepily. "Yes, Cosette. I wouldn't let anything happen to either of you." Her arms reached out blindly for him to hold her. He wrapped her up in his arms, kissing the top of her head. "I love you, Marius." "I love you, Cosette.

It had been a few weeks since the incident. Cosette's health was improving with bedrest, she still had episodes of feverishness and vomiting, but the color had come back to her cheeks and she had gained a bit of weight. Marius made sure she stayed restful constantly bringing her little things to entertain her. One day he brought her knew embroidery thread, another time he got her a lapbook of poetry. If she begged him, he would occasionally help her walk out to the garden so she could be outside.

On one of these days Marius had given in to Cosette's pleadings to go outside, the elephant in the room was brought up. "Marius I think we should talk about a name for the baby." "I thought you wanted to wait until it was born." "Marius, I've been thinking…." "What? I think it's a perfectly fine idea. Lots of families do it that way." "Yes, but I think its always good to think…ahead. You know, dear, prepare for any possible situations." We are prepared. We are most certainly prepared for any and all situations!" She let go of his arm and squeezed his hand. "Marius. I know that I'm not well. And we simply must be honest with each other. Now please, I'd like to have some say in what this child is named." Marius sighed. He couldn't let himself fly off the handle like last time. "I'm assuming Jean if it is a boy?" She smiled.