Chapter Two
LOST UNTIL SHE WAS FOUND
Enjolras left his college once his classes were over. The young man didn't sleep well last night, and his face looked tired and was his eyes were marked by dark rings. He had mad dreams about naked women and love making. He felt ridiculous for having such dreams when he should be focus on the Friends of the ABC activities and finding new people to join the revolution.
It was only afternoon, but Enjolras went his way to the Cafe Musain. When he was passing by Jardin du Luxembourg, almost near the Café, he noticed an enormous crowd of women in front of the garden's gates; that he found to be a strange and unusual event and, led by curiosity, went towards the crowd, to discover what was going on. While he drew near, he started listening to a strong female voice giving a speech.
"Enough is enough! We, women, are tired of receive less payment, or not receiving at all, for the same among of work as men! Why should we earn less than men? We do the same work! It's time for us, women, to raise our voice! We want equal payment! We want dignity in our work! Feel safe and not be afraid of being assault during our work!"
"Equal rights for women!" the female crowd was screaming.
Enjolras came closer and looked around: the women were responding with the same enthusiasm as the leader. When he looked above, to see who this woman was, Enjolras was marveled: it was a young woman, in her twenties, with long dark hair and fair skin, her delicate face, transfigured in determination, didn't match to her strong voice. The young woman was wearing a midnight blue gown with long, straight, sleeves; without the ornament of a wealthy women's gown but it had not the simplicity of the poor women's either. The fabric was, clearly, expensive and the gown was tight below her chest, and had white lace on the edge of the gown. She was not wearing a hat or any accessory on her head. Enjolras noticed she wasn't wearing a corset, like almost all women were obliged to; he could see the shape of her breasts through the gown.
"We, women, don't want to stay at home and look after our husbands nor having children for the rest of our lives! We want the right to decide our own future! Our future is not cleaning houses nor feeding babies! We are human beings not decoration objects for men's pleasure!"
"We don't want to spend our mornings on church!" one blonde young woman on the crowd screamed.
Enjolras noticed that this young woman was close to the leader because they exchanged smiles. He was perplexed with this strange event: since when women reunited on the streets? He had always thought that the Friends of the ABC were the only revolutionary organization in Paris.
"Yes! We want to study! Education for all women and not only for the rich women! Proper education! We don't want to learn piano nor singing nor embroidery! We want to learn the same subjects as men do! Equal rights for women!"
Enjolras was impressed by the determination and the toughness of this young woman.
"Equal rights for women! Equal rights for women! Equal rights for women!"
While the women were screaming along with the brunette leader, the sound of horses' hoofs started filling the air.
"Arrest them all!" the imperative voice of Inspector Javert demand to the others guards. "Guards, prove to this women what is the proper place for them!"
"Angélique! It's Javert!" the blonde young woman screamed.
The brunette leader jump off from the platform, running to her blonde friend, grabbing her by the arm.
"Come along, Jacques!" the brunette screamed.
The crowd started to dismiss and running away, while being followed by the mounted guards. Led by the impulse of saving them, Enjolras run towards the two young women, who seem not to know where to run to.
"Come with me, mademoiselles*!" Enjolras interrupted, pulling the brunette young woman by her hand.
The two young women looked at Enjolras with suspicious on their eyes.
"I will do you no harm." Enjolras said. "You can trust me."
"How can we trust you if we don't even know you?" the brunette leader asked, breaking free her arm "How can we tell if you are not an undercover guard?"
"I think you have no choice, really." Enjolras said with a little smile.
"Well, he's right, Angélique." the blonde young man spoke to the brunette. "Oh, come on, let's go! Before the guards catch us!"
The brunette Angélique looked at Enjolras and found the tender expression on his face worth trusting and held his hand and they started running away.
Enjolras led them to Place Saint-Michel, to the Cafe Musain.
Outside the building, they stopped, they were breathing with difficulty from the physical effort. Enjolras, discreetly, observed the brunette, flicking her long and wavy hair back, and he couldn't stop noticing how beautiful she was. Then his eyes went to her loose breasts; he could, perfectly, see their shape and they were waving from her heavy breath. His view was blocked when the young woman dressed a large dark overcoat. Feeling his disrespectful rudeness, Enjolras looked away.
"Thank you so much, Monsieur…" the brunette said, smiled at him.
"Enjolras."
"I'm Angélique." she introduced herself "This is Jacqueline."
"Enchanté, Monsieur.**" Jacqueline smiled "Everyone calls me Jacques."
"Isn't "Jacques" a male name?" Enjolras raised his eyebrow.
"If you take a closer look, everything is a male thing." Angélique said.
Enjolras smiled.
"I apologize if I've offended your political beliefs."
"How polite!" Jacqueline laughed. "Do you feel heroic for rescuing the damsels?"
Enjolras noticed the look on Angélique' eyes; he knew what she was waiting for a stereotypical male answer.
"I have my own political problems with the Law as well." he answered.
"Do you?" Angélique asked with sarcasm.
"Yes. I'm the leader of a Republican organization, the Friends of the ABC. We are preparing a revolution to overthrow the King and give People what belongs to them." Enjolras explained "We usually reunite here, at the Cafe Musain, but we also organize public speeches, like yours."
"I've never heard of the Friends of the ABC!" Jacqueline laughed.
"I have." Angélique declared, staring into Enjolras' eyes "Although, I haven't met anyone of you… Until now…"
They didn't stop looking into each other's eyes.
"Our reunion is about to start." Enjolras said "Do you feel like joining m… us?"
"I'm afraid I can't." Jacqueline said. "It's late and my mother is awaiting me at home."
"What about you, mademoiselle Angélique?"
"I'll go." the brunette replied "I would like to hear the ABC political views on women."
"Good." Enjolras tried not to smile.
"I must go now." Jacqueline said to Angélique "Tomorrow?"
"Yes, at the same hour as today." Angélique answered.
"Bye, then. Take care." Jacqueline smiled and placed her hand upon Angélique' shoulder. "Merci, Monsieur Enjolras."
"Au revoir." Angélique smiled as her friend walked away from them.
An awkward silence formed between Enjolras and Angélique. The blonde young man felt ridiculous because, for the first time in his entire life, he felt uncomfortable near the opposite sex and somehow he had the need of pleasing her and was afraid of making a fool out of himself.
"How long have you been… giving speeches?" Enjolras asked to break the silence.
"Not for long." Angélique answered "But this was my first public speech and it didn't end the way I expected…"
"You looked quite comfortable for someone who was giving her first public speech." Enjolras praised "But you'll have to conform to the police intervention."
"The King will never accept the people who stand against him." she said "Not mine, not yours."
"I have a great interest in politics, but I have to say I've never hear of women demanding for equality. Where did you found such ideology?"
"I've always thought that women must have the same rights as men. Two years ago, I read two books from the XVII century by Marie de Gournay; "The Equality of Men and Women" and "The Ladies' Grievance" and I found a solid base to my beliefs. We, woman, must have the right to choice our own future and not depend on men's views about ourselves."
"I've never met a woman with interest in politics before." Enjolras confessed with bright eyes.
"I'm trying to change that fact." Angélique smiled "Although, I must admit I've never met a revolutionary man before. All the men I've meet were… misogynist bastards. But you are a Republican. What are your views on women? Do you believe we have the same rights as men?"
"Yes, I do." Enjolras confirmed "I believe that everyone is equal and has the right to a popper life, free of misery and hunger. I believe in democracy, the people should vote and not be command by some King that inherited the throne."
"Monsieur, you speak with great passion." Angélique praised.
"It's what I live for." Enjolras said.
"So do I… There's nothing more for me to live for."
"Nothing? Not even your man?" Enjolras asked but regretted it immediately "I'm sorry… I shouldn't have asked that…"
"It's fine." Angélique said with a light smile "I don't have one. And even if I had I wouldn't live for him, surely."
"Of course not."
"I don't want to be with a man who looks at me like an object but as his companion." Angélique said. "Don't you agree?"
"I agree with you but I don't have interest on those fields."
"Do you have interest on other fields?" Angélique raised her eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" Enjolras didn't understand what she meant.
"Are you a homosexual?" she asked.
"No!" he laughed. "I'm just not interest in romance. I have bigger things in my mind."
"Yes, so do I."
"We are much alike." Enjolras smiled.
"Yes, we are." Angélique whispered "Shouldn't we be going inside?"
"We should, yes, of course." Enjolras nodded "Come with me. I'll show you the Café and present you to my fellow comrades."
Translation (French - English) and Historical Facts:
* Mademoiselles or Mademoiselle - Meaning "Miss", or "Little lady".
** Enchanté, Monsieur! - Meaning "Delighted (to meet you), Sir!"
Women's Rights: Angélique and her fellows are inserted on the concept of Protofeminism; which is a term used to define women's rights movement that anticipated modern Feminist concepts, yet lived in a time when the terms "Feminist" and "Feminism" was unknown, that, is prior to 1872. During the XVIII century, in France and in England, rich women started mounting large scale public demonstrations and petitions for Women's Rights, although dismissed by the authorities of the day. Feminists in XIX century France were on the rise, starting the first Feminist Daily newspaper in France. In the XIX century and early XX century, they were focused on gaining the right of Women's Suffrage (right to vote), the right to be educated, better working conditions and double sexual standards, focus on economical, political and sexual rights; this period was called First-wave Feminism.
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