Once Javert recovered from his shock, he went to guest room to check on Eponine. He found her sitting on the bed, with her head lowered.
"Mademoiselle?"
Eponine looked up and Javert could see her cheeks were a bright pink. Had she been crying or was she blushing?
"I'm sorry, Monsieur. I shouldn't have kissed you." Eponine said quietly.
"Well, it was of no consequence."
"It was a moment of madness. I had forgotten my place."
Javert shrugged. "It was harmless."
"You're not angry?"
"If I were to get angry, I would only delay your recovery. That is something that I do intend to do."
"It's strange, Monsieur..."
"What is?"
"You've changed since you've saved me. You've placed me above yourself, you've done everything you could possibly do for me."
"Well, if I remember, Mademoiselle, I had told you that I owed you my gratitude for preventing my death."
"Even so, I can tell that I've been here too long. Soon, people will become suspicious and you'll be the center of a scandal."
Javert could tell Eponine only wanted to leave because she felt that she was effecting his personal life by her staying at the house. Logically, Javert knew she was right to think that. People would soon begin to wonder what Inspector Javert, a righteous man and who held good morals in the highest regard, was doing with his guest. Nontheless, for some reason he could not explain, he did not want Eponine to leave. It was almost as if she walked out the door, he wouldn't see her again and that, though he could explain why, would break his heart.
"Mademoiselle, if anyone questions me, I will be forward when I answer. Until you recover, you are my guest."
"And then what happens, Monsieur? I go back to the streets, and you return to your duties."
Javert hadn't thought about what would happen once Eponine recovered completely. He certainly didn't want her to go back to the streets, there would be no guarantee she would survive with beggars and thieves willing to do whatever possible to get by. Still, she couldn't stay beyond her recovery, Javert couldn't put her through the terrible judgement that would be placed on them.
"That is your plan, Monsieur. You wish to see me back on the streets."
Javert shook his head slowly. "No. You won't go back to the streets, Eponine. We'll find you some sort of residence."
Eponine smiled slightly. "You said my name, Monsieur."
Javert cleared his throat. "A slip of the tongue, Mademoiselle. My apologies."
"No, please don't apologize. You may call me Eponine."
"Very well. If that's what you want."
That was what Eponine wanted. She loved the sound of her name when Javert said it. She used to love it when Marius said it. Now, the revolutionary student was fading from her mind, and Javert was beginning to consume both mind...and heart.