Chapter 10
Danielle followed behind Cosette like a puppy. Soon enough, they emerged into the square; across from the Gorbeau's tenement and parallel from the Café. Of course, Cosette didn't know the importance of the Café, and so paid it no heed, but Danielle gave it a reverent look before following her friend. It was midday and incredibly busy. People were milling about, minding their own poor business and trying to make their way in the world. Monsieur Fauchelevent was handing gold coins and food to several children and other beggars. Cosette walked anxiously to him and started talking animatedly. Danielle hung back awkwardly; she didn't want to impose and she felt out of place and nervous being in the square again without Enjolras or another of the boys around her. Marius brushed past her, Eponine close on his heels. He seemed in a hurry until he seemed struck by something across the way. Both Eponine and Danielle followed his gaze, which landed unequivocally on Cosette. One girl seemed ready to laugh, while the other seemed only confused.
Cosette glanced at the boy and found her gaze captured as well. Danielle pushed her way through the throng to get to the other girl. Just as she reached Cosette and realized M. Fauchelevent was being held by a band of thugs, Eponine's voice rang out.
"It's Javert!"
Like rats from a sinking ship the square cleared.
Danielle payed little attention to the policeman speaking to the general assembly, her focus was given instead to Cosette, who was embracing her father, who seemed to be hiding himself from the officers. She found that curious and tucked it into the back of her mind. Perhaps she would see if Enjolras would shed some light on the situation. He seemed a good person to decipher those things for you.
Danielle looked over to the Gorbeau's tenement and wondered how they were. She hadn't seen them in weeks. They must miss her as much as she missed them. She hadn't realized before that although it pained her to have little time to see her friends, it took more away from them than it did her. She delivered food to them, and they weren't receiving it anymore. She felt selfish and rude for not thinking about what she had taken when she became a lady again.
By the time she resumed examining what was going on around her, Cosette and her father were gone. The officer, Javert, seemed distraught that they would run away and then one of the thugs started speaking. He must have been the leader. Danielle looked to the men behind him. The younger one seemed terribly familiar. She didn't need to think about his identity for long.
Her eyes widened, her heart pounded and she walked as fast as she could while still seeming inconspicuous to the café. She glanced behind her every so often; she was afraid he would be behind her. It was the man who had haunted her nightmares for far too long. As soon as she crossed the threshold to the café she sprinted upstairs and straight to Enjolras. He stood, alarmed, as soon as he saw her frightened face and quick movements. He met her halfway through the room and didn't speak.
"He's out there, Enjolras. The man who tried to abduct me is out there right now." That was all he needed to hear and all she could say.
He ran back to his table, grabbed his revolver and holstered it, and turned back to her.
"Take me to him." He ordered her. She decided to shrug off his imperious tone this once and turned to go back to the courtyard. She was afraid to see that man again, but she felt some peace with Enjolras beside her.
"He's the young one with a large theatre hat and black hair." She debriefed him quietly as they approached the still converged throng. Enjolras seemed to pick the other man out because his eyes hardened and is hand twitched to the revolver. Javert was walking away and the mob was dispersing quickly. Enjolras wouldn't ask the police for help; Danielle should have known that. He'd probably just kill the offender.
"Be careful." She murmured to him. He looked at her skeptically before breaking away and approaching the other man. Danielle stayed behind; she didn't want to be in so close proximity to the man who tried to kidnap her. Her heart beat fast, and her mind raced from one possible outcome to another. The villain may shoot Enjolras, Enjolras may shoot the villain, someone could die; the scenarios were all devastating.
"Who are you? Who are you working with?" Enjolras kept his voice even, but frighteningly cold. The other man backed away a few steps and chuckled.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Monsieur. I am nobody, and I work for myself. Might I know why you find such hostile behavior to be appropriate at present?" He feigned ignorance, but Danielle knew it was him. She could not forget a man like that.
"Tell me who you are and why you tried to hurt an innocent lady, or I shall have to let her shoot you again." Enjolras threatened, and Danielle suppressed an unladylike grin.
"She didn't shoot me, and I am Montparnasse, at your service." He bowed elaborately, doffing his top hat.
"Who do you work with? Who is behind her attempted kidnapping?" Enjolras pressed further.
"I don't know what you mean. I have never seen this lady before." Montparnasse gestured towards her.
"Yes, you have. Do not lie to me." Enjolras growled and hit the man in the jaw with the butt of his revolver. The other man crumpled to the ground. Danielle watched in terrible fascination as the interrogation continued and passersby simply ignored the brawl in the middle of the square. If only Javert had stayed his departure by five minutes, he would have a few arrests to make.
"Enjolras." Danielle tried to call him back from whatever bloody realm his conscious had fled to. He would simply continue the beating and questioning, undoubtedly until he had gained the information he wanted.
"Enjolras!" She called louder. Montparnasse had blood oozing over his face and neck, so much so that Danielle couldn't tell where it flowed from anymore. He was beaten.
Danielle rushed to Enjolras and tried to pull him from the other man. It was no use, but she felt as though she had to do something.
"Enjolras, stop!" She cried, trying to prevent his fist from landing another blow on the man's face. He ignored her once again. She huffed angrily and stomped her foot. Being ignored was not preferable in her opinion. She didn't mean for Enjolras to beat the man to a bloody pulp. But, on further reflection, she didn't exactly know what she did expect him to do. Probably beat him to a bloody pulp.
She didn't know what else to do, so she walked as quickly as decorum allowed back to the café. She looked in the first floor rooms for a familiar face, but didn't find any of the ones she wanted. She climbed the stairs once more, and spotted Joly and Bossuet were both near the landing. She rushed towards them, catching their attention.
"Enjolras is beating the man who tried to attack me." She mustered out. Between the adrenaline and the running she was out of breath. They both realized the gravity of the situation, and Bossuet took off down the stairs, with Joly at his heels. Danielle didn't wish to be involved in the ensuing caos, and so found a chair nearby the fire and sank into it. It was a lovely Spring day, but she found herself quite cold suddenly. Feuilly and Combeferre joined her.
"I'm sorry for your ordeal, Mademoiselle. You have handled yourself very well." Feuilly comforted softly. "Is there anything you need?"
"No, thank you. Just peace, I suppose." She smiled slightly and gazed at the fire. Combeferre nodded, stood, and walked to the other end of the room. Danielle looked to Feuilly in surprise.
"Did I offend him?" She inquired softly.
"Oh, no." He smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure he's just trying to find something to help you."
Combeferre returned and set a book down in front of her.
"It's terribly frivolous of me, but Jehan isn't the only one who reads poetry." He smiled. Danielle picked up the books and scanned the contents. It was a collection of poems by Robert Burns. She read a few verses of To a Louse, and smiled at the boy across from her.
"Thank you so much." She didn't deserve this kindness.
"I find Burns to be an admirable poet. His use of pentameter is truly exemplary." Combeferre seemed about to delve into a monologue about the importance's of iambic and dactylic pentameter, but Feuilly cleared his throat to interrupt him.
"Maybe now isn't the best time to discuss the finer mechanics of poetry. Mademoiselle may just want to enjoy the words." He gave the other boy a pointed look.
"How can she enjoy the words when there is so much to examine in the devices used?" Combeferre inquired imperiously.
"I'm fine, thank you. Perhaps we can discuss the literary terms he used later?" Danielle intervened.
Combeferre nodded seriously and continued writing something he was copying from a book. They all became absorbed in their studies then. Feuilly and Combeferre were no doubt the most studious and reserved students in the café fellowship, and Danielle was happy to spend time with quiet company. She was happy to have it, with Raul constantly talking about Christine at home, and Lady Baybridge constantly criticizing. It was refreshing to be with people and not be told you were a terrible mess of a person. There was the loud clamoring from the stairs that told Danielle the rest of the students were coming even before they appeared.
Enjolras walked calmly to her and stooped until they were face to face.
"He will not bother you again." He assured her. He straightened and walked back to his usual table, dropping the revolver back on the wooden surface, and returned to his book. Danielle assumed that the discussion was over and any questions she had would be more aptly answered on another day. She stood, thanked Combeferre for the book, and picked it up when he told her she could keep it as long as she liked. She smiled thankfully and walked to the stairs. She didn't look back as the descended the stairs.
"Don't you think we're having a lovely Spring?" Cosette asked as they worked in the garden behind the kitchen. Danielle had begged her brother to allow her that one small act of deviance. Working wasn't proper for a Parisian lady.
"It's certainly warmer than usual!" Danielle agreed, taking her straw hat off and brushing her forehead with the back of her hand, "Would you like to go to the Opera with me tonight? Lady Baybridge wants me to be more 'cultured' and I thought we may at least have fun while we're doing it."
"Culture? I better stay away. The last thing we want is to be more like proper ladies. If I stay home I can maybe bring you back to normalcy after your integration." Cosette raised a brow and pulled a weed simultaneously.
"That's probably best. We don't know what kind of high and mighty lady I will be afterwards. You must be relied upon to save me." Danielle sniffed.
"Danielle!" Raul walked towards them from the direction of the house. "You are to be escorted by Monsieur Enjolras to the Opera tonight, and you are to treat him civilly." Danielle could see his glare from yards away.
"I'll be sure to do my best, Raul. I appreciate your concern." She replied coolly. He cast her a long suffering look and sighed heavily.
"Lady Baybridge expects a certain level of care be put into your appearance and demeanor. This betrothal isn't a certainty, Danielle. He can break it off anytime."
"Not without looking like a fop. You know that, Raul. Gentlemen don't break engagements." Danielle sniffed.
"Do not count on that." He warned. He seemed on edge and irritable. This could only be because of the Opera, and that knowledge made Danielle more inclined to go.
"In any case, I would say the chances of him throwing me over would be highly unlikely." She smiled.
"I think we can all agree that Danielle and Monsieur Enjolras have a somewhat tumultuous relationship. Can we please direct our conversation down a different path? We're experiencing very fine weather." Cosette smirked in the most lady-like way possible and cut a bloom of a rose.
"Quite so! The wind has been surprisingly blowy." Danielle chirped.
"Funny how wind seems to do that, isn't it!"
"Indeed! It's enough to make you suppose that clouds could bring rain!"
"Enough of this drivel!" Raul pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. "Danielle, you need to prepare for the Opera and Cosette needs to leave." With that pleasant remark he turned on his heel and headed back to the house.
Danielle turned to her friend and lifted her chin with a pompous air.
"I believe you should leave, because I must now take four hours to make myself irresistible for an event in which no one will be looking at me." She said pompously.
"I understand completely. I would not be so villainous as to take up your precious beautifying time." Cosette simpered.
"Honestly Cosette, please excuse Raul. He has had something weighing on him these past weeks. Don't take his comments personally. It's just his way." Danielle apologized.
"Danielle, I never had siblings. I appreciate Raul because he reminds me that I'm not missing anything extraordinary." Cosette teased.
"You are entirely correct there!" Danielle laughed. "Will we meet tomorrow?"
"Yes, let's! At the gardens?"
"Would you like to ride?"
"I would. Let's meet at noon."
"I look forward to it!" Danielle smiled as Cosette disappeared out the wrought iron gate and grimaced as she thought of what would be waiting for her inside. She was embarrassed at Rauls' conduct, and felt humiliated that his rude behavior had been directed at her friend. Sometimes her associates of high breeding were more vulgar than the poor people she was warned against.
A/N: Sorry it took me so long! Thank you so much for the encouraging reviews! It means the world to me! :) taytayfanatical, you seriously made my day when I got your reviews! Thank you so much!