Cosette blushed in the dark, taking a step back.
"Hello," she whispered. She could make out his outline and a few features from the light in the fireplace, but his face was concealed in darkness. "I, umm... couldn't sleep."
He could hear the surprise in her voice, and it occured to him that she did not expect him to be awake. "Cosette, why do I get the feeling you've done this before?"
She relaxed upon hearing his calm tone of voice. "Because I have. Almost every night when you were sick, I came in here to make sure you were alright."
When he tried, he remembered hearing her whisper to him, and wanting desperately to respond. He remembered feeling her cool hands on his face and neck, trying to calm him. But he wasn't sure if that really happened, of if he had dreamt her presence. "Why don't you come here?" he whispered, patting the bed next to him. Cosette hesitated, and he felt the tension in the air for a second. "Oh, Cosette! Trust me a little, alright?"
Mollified, she skipped towards his bed and laid down next to him, pressing her freezing feet onto his, causing him to yelp. "Sorry!"
"Your feet are freezing!"
She squirmed up next to him, rest her head on his chest and breathing in the scent of him mixed with the cotton of his nightshirt. Instantly she felt better and sighed, closing her eyes.
"Are you going to be alright?" he whispered so quietly she could barely hear.
"Yes... as long as you don't leave me!" she spoke flippantly and poked him, but he heard through the frivolous tone of her voice.
"Don't worry," he said seriously. "I'm not going anywhere."
She kept quiet, but nodded into his chest. She no longer felt quite so lonely. "Are you excited?"
"For tomorrow?"
"Of course; what else?" she giggled, and felt him press his face into her hair.
"I've been waiting a long time for this," he said simply.
Eventually, with just a bit more idle talk, they fell asleep in each others arms.
The sun streamed through the gauzy curtains the next morning, and Marius felt the warmth on his face. Last night was one of the happiest night's he'd ever spent, and he let his thoughts dwell for a short while on the night that was coming fast upon him, and would likely eclipse all the other night's he'd spent with Cosette. Before now he had wondered about how nervous she would be, but now he knew that there would not be an issue. The strong bond of companionship and trust they had brought them together, and awkwardness was pretty much impossible. Before opening his eyes, he rolled over and reached to wrap his arm around her. But she was not there.
He opened his eyes and sat up and found he was alone in the room. On his left, a tray of food was balanced on the bedside table, along with a note.
Dear Marius,
Good morning! I hope you slept well (I know I did). I am leaving for the
church at nine o'clock, so don't you dare leave this room before then!
Here's some breakfast. Make sure you eat enough so that you're
not hungry until later-I'm not sure there will be much time to
eat until after the ceremony.
Marius laughed, rolling his eyes toward the ceiling. Did she think that he couldn't feed himself? But he could get used to her doting...
Anyway... I'll see you at the church (my heartbeat is picking up
already!). I'll be counting the minutes.
All my love, and lots more,
Cosette
He smiled, feeling very happy. If her note was any indication, she seemed cheerful enough this morning. He hoped, no matter what had happened the night before, that this would be a joyous day for her. He folded the note and put it down, and picked up a fork to eat his breakfast.