Chapter Seventeen

RAIN WILL MAKE THE FLOWERS GROW

Angélique found a little room in rue des Grés, near Café Musain, where she stayed with Marianne from October until December of 1832; because, at that time, the money Madame Loire gave to Angélique achieved its end. The little girl has fallen ill for several occasions during these three months, due to Angélique's poor alimentation and, therefore, her maternal milk couldn't provide every ingredient that the baby needed. Lead by Christian compassion, the landlord accepted to offer Angélique and the baby one more month in the room and allow them to remain there until the end of January.

When February came, Angélique and Marianne found themselves on the streets again, begging for money and food. And life was once again uncertain. Angélique reached her lowest weight; her bone structure was visible in her yellowish skin and dark rings surrounded her eyes. The Winter was now hard to handle, for they were forced to sleep on the streets, and the knife Madame Loire offered her was useful for several occasions: the thieves and beggars were harsh companions full of persuasive words, although, Angélique was hard to influence. During this period, the cholera epidemic killed numerous people in Paris, and Angélique found herself praying, for the first time; praying for her and for Marianne to remain alive.

March 20th, 1833

Paris, France

Spring has arrived to Paris and the cold was vanishing away, slowly. Today, Angélique and six months Marianne were on the Place du Parvis Notre-Dame*, begging for money and food. The bourgeois woman and men, who were leaving the cathedral, looked down upon the woman with disdain, although, some devoted women showed mercy and offered them a few centimes.

"Marianne, it's time to sleep." Angélique whispered to her daughter. "I will sing you lullabies until you are sleeping…"

"Hello, beautiful mademoiselle!" an old woman with dirty teeth approached, smiling at her "What lovely baby you've got there!"

"Leave us alone, old woman!" Angélique said in anger.

"Hush now, dear." the old woman said "You could make some money with that child… Are you interested in selling the baby to me?"

Angélique raised from the cold floor and hold Marianne against her chest, fulminating the old woman with her deadly stare.

"Get out of my sight! Go back to your rat hole!"

"I would give you forty francs for the baby!" the old woman said with a smile. "Just think of that!"

"I don't want your filthy money!" Angélique said "I will not sell my daughter!"

"It's a girl, han? When she grows up, come to me and I will find her a nice job on the docks."

"Get out before I kill you, gruesome witch!" Angélique threatened.

"You're not hungry, mademoiselle? I could arrange you a job on the docks…"

"Of course I'm hungry!" she said "Everyone in the streets of Paris is starving! But I rather starve to death than became a prostitute!"

"Angélique?"

The brunette young woman heard a male voice calling her name and looked above: she saw Marius Pontmercy and Cosette staring at her; the blonde mademoiselle was wearing her church ensemble.

"Mademoiselle Angélique!" Marius confirmed.

The old woman spited on the floor and continued her walk, going away from Angélique.

"Mademoiselle Angélique… Look at you!" Marius said with concern, while walking towards her. "We came for the celebration of the Mass at the cathedral… And when we were leaving, Cosette saw you. You weren't present at our wedding last month… And we never saw you again… We've started getting worry about you."

"I apologize but I wasn't able to go." Angélique informed "Enjolras's landlord expelled me because I couldn't afford to pay the two months' rent I had in arrears, in September. And… many events occurred after."

Cosette and Marius noticed the wrapping of textiles she was holding and saw the baby.

"It is your child?" Cosette stuttered.

"Yes…" Angélique confirmed.

"I didn't know you were pregnant!" Marius said with shock "You could have told us! We would have helped you."

"Oh, Monsieur… I'm too proud to accept help…"

"Where are you living now, mademoiselle?" Cosette asked with concern.

"Here." Angélique answered.

"You are living on the streets?" Marius asked, perplexed.

"Yes… I don't have anywhere else to go." The brunette young woman declared "I can't go back to my family because my grandfather disinherited me. I live of alms now… People seem to pity me because of my baby child."

"We've struggle with financial problems as well." Marius informed "My grandfather was reluctant in accepting my marriage with Cosette, because she's not a noble woman. But now, everything is peaceful. I was offered a job as a lawyer and we managed to buy our own house. Come live with us."

"Oh, no, Monsieur Marius, I can't." Angélique declined.

"Don't be so proud." Marius said.

"Accept our offer, mademoiselle." Cosette smiled "You can stay with us until you find work."

"Only God knows how long that will take!" Angélique sighed without hope.

"There's no worry about you finding a work, mademoiselle." Marius guaranteed "You can stay in our home as our guest. I will write to Enjolras's parents about you and his child."

"His parents?..." Angélique asked "You do have their address? Where do they live?"

"They are currently living in the city of Rouen, in the North." Marius informed.

"And what if they refuse me or my daughter?" Angélique asked.

"They will not reject their grandchild, for sure… Enjolras was their only child." Marius said with convict "Come with us, please. Accept our help."

"I don't know, Monsieur…"

"Please, mademoiselle Angélique. We insist…" Cosette smiled with kindness.

Angélique remained silent for a moment. But then she looked down to Marianne and knew she wouldn't be able to raise the baby girl alone.

"Fine…" Angélique whispered "I accept your help. But I intent to pay for every expenditure."

"Wonderful!" Marius smiled "But don't worry about money, right now. Come with us."

Angélique and her baby daughter Marianne installed themselves in Marius and Cosette's home. It wasn't an enormous mansion like she imagined it would be, but it was cozy and elegantly decorated and the couple had a maid, Madame Amandine. Cosette guide Angélique to the guest's room.

"I imagine you want to take a bath." Cosette smiled "I shall ask Madame Amandine. Now, I shall leave you alone."

"Thank you, Mademoiselle Cosette." Angélique thanked "You and Monsieur Marius are being very kind to me and my daughter."

Cosette smiled and closed the door.

It was past ten o'clock in the evening. Angélique putted Marianne to sleep, dressed a new gown and went to the main living room. Cosette was sitting on the flower sofa, contemplating the nothingness.

"Is everything alright, mademoiselle Cosette?"

"Yes…" Cosette answered with little conviction "Where is Marianne?"

"She's asleep in our room." Angélique answered "Are you sure everything is alright, Cosette? You seem worry…"

"Oh… Why lie to you, my dear?" Cosette sighed "Marius only allows Papa to visit me one time per evening… But he does not explain me why. And I miss Papa so much…"

"How strange…" Angélique remarked "You never asked him why?"

"Of course I have!" Cosette answered "But Marius always says it's better for me not to know and that he has my best interests at his heart… I don't know what to believe in…"

"What are you two so secretly debating about?" Marius entered the living room.

"Nothing in particular, my love." Cosette tried to smile.

"Alright… I've already sent the letter to Enjolras's parents, mademoiselle Angélique." Marius informed, walking towards them and sitting beside Cosette. "It won't take long until they reply. Rouen is not far away from Paris."

"There are not enough words to express my gratitude." Angélique smiled "You are being so kind to me…"

"Go get some rest, now." Marius smiled "The next days will be busy and you need to prepare yourself and Marianne for the journey."

Translation (French – English) and Historical Facts:

*Place duParvis Notre-Dame – also called, nowadays, "Place Jean-Paul II" (meaning "Square of Jonh Paul II") is the square in front of Norte-Dame de Paris, the cathedral.

I'm so sorry that I took so long to update! I've been really busy lately.

The next chapter will be the Epilogue; therefore, this Fanfiction will finally meet its end.

Thank you for the reading.