Chapter VII
Enjolras encouraged Gabrielle to continue looking for a position as a governess, insisting that the baron couldn't have possibly turned all of the bourgeoisie of Paris against her in only a few weeks. Without support from Madame Gerard or her previous employer, however, Gabrielle had no luck, with everyone automatically assuming some sort of scandal must be the reason she came without any recommendation.
The only bright spot in the next week was finding out Marius Pontmercy was alive and well, and with his beloved, Cosette. When Enjolras learned the news, Gabrielle saw some of his old spirit come alive again, but it didn't last long. Even with his multiple bullet wounds and broken spirit, however, Enjolras' body continued to recover, and soon, Joly had convinced him to return to his law classes. Nearly a month had gone by since the barricade and Gabrielle was beginning to feel desperate. She felt she had overstayed her welcome, but Enjolras wouldn't even hear of her moving out.
One day, after an unsuccessful afternoon of searching for a job, Gabrielle ran into Enjolras coming out of their building as she was going in. They nearly collided in the doorway and Enjolras reached out to steady her.
"Good evening, Antoine – where are you off to?" She smiled in greeting, trying to convey a happiness she didn't really feel.
"Marius has asked me to dinner at his grandfather's. He wants me to meet his Cosette, his fiancé." Gabrielle could tell Enjolras resisted rolling his eyes at the word, for he certainly was not a romantic.
She laughed and patted his arm. "I am sure she is lovely and you will enjoy her company. And you have your good friend again, surely you are happy about that?"
"Of course. But..." Enjolras eyed her critically for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "I am sure Cosette would be happier with another woman in attendance this evening. Would you consider accompanying me?"
Gabrielle hesitated – she knew Marius' grandfather was wealthy, and even Enjolras himself had money. His rich and well-tailored clothing proved that. Comparatively, Gabrielle's wardrobe was drab and inappropriate, made of the cheapest material, well-worn, and plain. She would be completely out of place, and said so.
Enjolras did roll his eyes at that. "No one cares about your clothing, Gabrielle, least of all Marius or myself. Say you are coming with me." After a minute, he added, as if remembering it was polite to request and not command, "Please?"
"If you really think it's alright..."
"I do. Thank you, this will make the evening a bit easier." Enjolras offered his arm and she took it. They walked in the cooler evening air to Monsieur Gillenormand, Marius' grandfather's, house. They walked slowly, as Enjolras was still not completely himself, but he insisted that the exercise would do him good.
As they arrived at Monsieur Gillenormand's residence, Gabrielle stared at the imposing structure uncertainly. She had never been in a home so grand as anything other than a governess, and certainly never attended a dinner in one.
"I'm beginning to think this was a mistake," Gabrielle admitted as they entered through the front gate and went up the walk.
Enjolras stopped and looked at her, his expression serious, as usual. "Are you really that pre-occupied with what others think or say, by what society dictates?"
Gabrielle flushed at the disappointment she seemed to hear in Enjolras' tone.
"Antoine, you are wealthy, are you not?" she asked frankly.
He quirked an eyebrow. "Yes, I suppose."
"Then I truly think you have no right to judge the feelings of those who are not. You have never served someone who so clearly thinks you beneath them, who has no respect for your humanity or innate intelligence, who..."
Gabrielle was interrupted by the front door opening, and Marius peering out.
"Enjolras! Right on time, as usual." Enjolras gazed at Gabrielle for a minute, looking like he wanted to hear the rest of what she had to say, but he smiled as Marius warmly embraced him.
"Bonjour, Marius - you remember Mademoiselle Feuilly?" Enjolras gestured to Gabrielle.
"Of course. It is a pleasure to see you again, Mademoiselle," Marius said as he lifted her hand to his lips. "Thank you for joining us tonight, I am sure Cosette will be happy to meet you."
"Please, call me Gabrielle, Monsieur. My brother always spoke so highly of you."
"Then you must call me Marius." He led them into the house, limping slightly from his own lingering wounds, where Cosette was waiting just inside the door. Her beautiful blue eyes lit up when she saw Enjolras.
"You must be Monsieur Enjolras? I am so glad to meet you, at last." Cosette gripped Enjolras' hands. "I cannot tell you what a relief it was for my fiancé to hear you were alive, what it did to revive his spirit. I am so happy to see you well."
Enjolras looked a bit uncomfortable and mumbled incoherently while Marius beamed lovingly at Cosette, who soon turned her attention to Gabrielle.
"Bonjour! I am Cosette, Monsieur Marius' fiancé." It seemed Cosette couldn't get enough of saying that word, and despite herself, Gabrielle found she instantly liked the young woman. She was one of the most beautiful people Gabrielle had ever seen, her golden hair soft and shining, her large eyes warm and sincere, and her figure small and petite. Her dress was fashionable and of the softest rose color, complimenting her ivory skin. She was the kind of woman men stopped to stare at on the street and other ladies envied, and she made it all look effortless.
"Bonjour. I am Gabrielle..." she stopped, for she had been about to introduce herself as a friend of Enjolras, but she didn't really know how true that statement was.
"Gabrielle is my friend," Enjolras rescued her. "And the sister of one of our fallen comrades, Feuilly."
"Oh!" Cosette's face softened and she took Gabrielle's arm, leading her into the parlour. "I am so sorry to hear of your brother, Gabrielle; what happened was so tragic and heartbreaking. It is horrible to lose someone you love, but I suppose we must be thankful that we still have Enjolras and Marius?" Cosette smiled and squeezed her hand.
"Yes," Gabrielle agreed. "I agree that there is always something to be grateful for. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage."
"Thank you!" Cosette's eyes sparkled and Gabrielle was a little bit captivated despite herself – is this what real love looked like? Is this how happy it could really make you? Perhaps it was something to envy, Gabrielle mused. "I confess I am rather anxious for the day to arrive. I do so wish my father could be here, but..." Cosette shrugged, a usually crude gesture that looked graceful on her, "...he is traveling and it cannot be helped."
Cosette and Gabrielle talked quietly on the sofa while Enjolras and Marius discussed their classes on the other side of the room, and Gabrielle soon forgot any discomfort she had felt on the way over. Cosette kept up a steady stream of chatter that was neither insipid or too serious and Gabrielle appreciated her company, and even found she was enjoying herself after a while. It was rather unusual, as Gabrielle had never really had much time to socialize with other girls her age.
She became distracted, however, when she heard Marius hesitatingly ask Enjolras, "And what of the Les Amis, Enjolras? Will we continue?"
Enjolras' back stiffened. "With who, Marius? In case you failed to notice, most of us are gone."
"Not all of us. There are men all over the city that would still be willing to join us." Marius sounded hopeful, and Gabrielle watched Enjolras closely, hoping he would react positively to his friend's request for his leadership.
Enjolras laughed derisively. "Yes, I am sure they will be falling over themselves to follow the man that got all of his friends killed. That makes complete sense."
Cosette had turned her attention to the two men, too, and was looking worriedly back and forth from them to Gabrielle.
Gabrielle stayed silent, but barely, feeling it wasn't really her place to pry.
"Enjolras, we may have lost the battle, but I do not believe we lost the war. There is still so much to fight for. Our friends would want us to continue." Marius had leaned forward, and Gabrielle was touched to see the fire in his eyes – the fire that had been missing from Enjolras since the barricade.
"Continue what, Marius? The people did not stir from their beds. Those that we fought for do not want our help. There can be no revolution without the people." Enjolras sounded defeated, and Gabrielle could tell he was getting annoyed and impatient from the way he began fidgeting.
"There are other ways we can fight, and other ways we can help the disenfranchised." Marius suddenly turned to Gabrielle. "Gabrielle, your brother was passionate about helping the abaissé and you attended many of our meetings yourself. What do you think? Is it best to give it all up as a lost cause or to continue to make our voices heard?"
"Well..." Gabrielle hesitated as Enjolras turned his cold gaze on her. She frowned back at him, choosing her words with careful consideration. "I think that there will always be those that need help in the world. That will never change, though I wish it would. What does it say about you if you give up everything you believed in now? There are still people suffering every day; you need only walk outside your door to see it. Until someone refuses to give up on their behalf, no matter what obstacles and heartache stand in the way, then nothing will change." She tried to make her voice sound gentle, but Enjolras scowled further, if it was possible.
Marius nodded encouragingly. "I agree, Gabrielle. We did not fight for nothing and there is still something to fight for."
"I never said that we fought for nothing," Enjolras said, a touch of anger in his tone. "And I do not wish to speak of this further tonight."
"Then we shall not mention it again, Monsieur Enjolras. Tonight is supposed to be a happy time, is it not, Marius?" Cosette gave her fiancé a pointed look and Marius suddenly looked apologetic.
"Yes, of course it is...I'm sorry, Enjolras, for speaking out of turn. Let us talk of other matters."
Cosette turned to Gabrielle and asked brightly, trying to clear the air, "And what is it that you do, Gabrielle?" She didn't know that this was also a sensitive subject.
"I was a governess, actually, but I am no longer employed. I am trying to find work now, but I'm not having much luck." Gabrielle forced a smile, trying not to let it show that it bothered her.
"I am sure you will find another position soon," Cosette said optimistically. "Do you enjoy teaching?"
"I don't mind, really. Of course, there are other things I would rather do, but I may have to settle for anything I can get now."
"What would you rather do?" Marius asked curiously. "Are you an artist like your brother?"
"Goodness, no...I have none of his talent, though I wish I did. I really wouldn't mind going to university, actually. I envy you both – I think studying the law would be incredibly compelling. But I have a dream of publishing novels one day," Gabrielle admitted, blushing. "Of course, neither of those dreams are very likely to come true."
"How interesting!" Cosette said sincerely. "Can you imagine if women were allowed to attend university? Or enter politics? The world would look quite different, I'd imagine."
Cosette laughed, but Enjolras said honestly, "Perhaps better. Though I believe women to be equal to men, I do know our two sexes think and feel things differently. A woman's perspective would alter things for the better."
"There have been powerful women in history," Gabrielle insisted, happy to jump in and keep Enjolras talking about something interesting again. "But I do not know just how compassionate they were able to really be. It seems that they maybe had to be even more unsentimental than their male counterparts in order to keep their power. Nefertiti, Cleopatra...even the great philosopher and mathematician Hypatia of Alexandria. All were women who rose to power, but lost it at the hands of men who were threatened by them. I think it will be quite a while before the world accepts the equality of women..." Gabrielle trailed off, realizing Cosette was staring at her with a rather blank expression, as if she had no idea who or what Gabrielle was talking about.
Enjolras, however, had a thoughtful look on his face, and seemed engaged and interested for the first time in a long while. "I believe it is not just about women – sometimes the world faces great setbacks in the advancement of human rights and knowledge, generally. Hypatia's death and the burning of the library of Alexandria show just that."
Cosette's voice broke into their conversation, and Gabrielle swallowed her disappointment. She had missed the thrill that talking to Enjolras gave her. "Forgive me, Gabrielle, but may I enquire about some positions for you? Marius' grandfather knows quite a lot of people, and perhaps one of them is in need of a governess."
"Oh..." Gabrielle bit her lip said with some embarrassment, "I left my employer rather abruptly. I would appreciate you asking, but, I am afraid you may not have much luck once they learn more about me."
"I am sure you had a good reason for leaving. You think he is making things difficult for you now?"
"Yes. He was rude and I was rude in turn, I am sorry to say. I have no recommendation from him or from the school I attended. I have been searching for weeks and continually been turned away. I let my temper get the best of me, I'm afraid, and am now paying the price."
Cosette took her hand and squeezed. "I will help you! I know I can find something, let's not give up just yet."
Gabrielle felt taken aback. She wasn't used to being around anyone with Cosette's giving and sweet nature. She almost seemed to good to be true, and it was easy to see why Marius had fallen so deeply in love with her so quickly. Still, Gabrielle was rather used to being on her own and fending for herself, and it was odd to have an almost complete stranger offering her help.
Gabrielle awkwardly mumbled her thanks. The evening continued on a lighter note after that, and Gabrielle was actually glad she had decided to come. By the time she and Enjolras said goodbye and departed, Gabrielle was certain she had actually made a real friend, one of the first in her life. It was the first spot of light in a world that had been dominated by darkness in the last month, and she said a silent prayer of thanks as she walked home under the stars with Enjolras.
After another week of no luck, Gabrielle gave in and visited one of the many textile factories in the city. She was hired on the spot, and despite the relief of knowing she would have steady work and income, however small, she knew what the life of a factory worker was like. And it was not easy.
Gabrielle didn't tell Enjolras where she was going, and slipped out of the apartment and to work early the first day. She was taught how to stand at the carding machine and continually feed the sheets of separated fibers through the sharp metal teeth that would make them even finer. It was mindless and boring, and after only a day on the job, her feet and back ached horribly from standing in the same position for nearly ten hours. All she could think of was sleep by the time she wearily walked home.
Enjolras was working at his desk when Gabrielle entered and he looked up at her. "Good evening...you're out quite late tonight."
"Yes..." Gabrielle practically fell onto the sofa. She couldn't resist laying down and lifting her feet, no matter how unladylike it was. "I've been at work."
"Work? Where?"
Gabrielle mumbled the name of the factory, putting an arm over her face in exhaustion, and she soon felt Enjolras looming over her.
"Where? What in the world do you think you're doing there?" He sounded furious, and his judgmental tone grated on her already frayed nerves and raw emotions.
She slowly lowered her arm and looked up at him. "Earning a living, Monsieur. Mind your high and mighty tone, if you will. I am not too proud to take what work I can get. It is respectable." She was too tired to bother with being polite, and his displeasure with her was actually rather embarrassing.
"You can't work there, Gabrielle..." he crossed his arms and stood his ground. "Your brother fought so that you wouldn't have to do work like that, tried to give you something better..." Enjolras suddenly cursed and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "What is this mess I've gotten you in? I killed my friends, I ruined your prospects..." He stalked back across the room and swept the books and papers off his desk, sending them flying in all directions. It was an unexpected outburst of emotion from someone who was usually calm and collected, except when standing on tables and delivering rousing speeches.
Gabrielle jumped and sat up. "I am not your problem or concern, Enjolras!"
"You are! And if you don't understand that, then you aren't half as intelligent as I thought you were." They glared at each other for what seemed like minutes, but was probably more like seconds, before Enjolras finally lowered his eyes.
He slowly unclenched his fists and absently reached up to rub his shoulder, which was still sore from one of the bullets that had pierced his body. His face slowly fell and his shoulders slumped as he fought for control of his emotions. "You are not a problem," he finally said in a conciliatory voice, "and I apologize for implying otherwise if I did. What I have done is the problem, and what it has caused. Whatever you say will not make me believe it is not at least partly my fault."
"I need to leave then, Antoine. I shouldn't be here if I am only going to add to your guilt. I must have a job, or else what will I do? I have to support myself." Gabrielle was still upset, and knew she sounded it. "Perhaps something better will happen one day, but until then, I will do what I must." She rose, despite her aching feet, and crossed the room to stand in front of him. He looked at her from beneath lowered lids, his hair hanging in his face, and she waited until he met her eyes. "I need you to understand that I do not blame you, Enjolras. Neither would my brother. Everything you are feeling, you are placing on yourself."
"I know. But knowing doesn't help," he said honestly.
"You have been incredibly kind to let me stay here..." she began, but he cut her off abruptly.
"You will continue to stay, Gabrielle. If it is the only thing I can do for you, please let me." His voice was pleading.
"I'm too tired to argue." She shrugged and reached up, unpinning her hair and letting it tumble down her back. "I just want to sleep."
"You should take the bed," Enjolras offered, and his eyes were soft as he gazed at her.
"No, of course not. It doesn't matter to me, anyway. I could sleep on the floor right now and I wouldn't care. You are still injured, no matter what you think, and you will keep your own bed." Gabrielle laid back down on the sofa and closed her eyes.
"Are you always so bossy?"
She opened her eyes and glared at him. "When I am living with such a stubborn man, then yes, I suppose I am."
His lips quirked upward for a moment and he shook his head. His amusement didn't last long, however, and he eventually sat down heavily in the desk chair, clasping his hands in front of him. "I didn't mean to make you feel inferior by what I said. I don't think less of you or anyone else that does any kind of honest work. It's only that the conditions...those are not fair. This is the kind of thing we wanted to change, and now instead I've practically sealed your fate with our failure...and I'm sorry." He sounded so sad, and it made Gabrielle feel helpless. Though she hadn't known the old Enjolras all that well, she missed him.
"No matter what I say, I won't make you feel differently, Antoine. I understand why you think that way. But I can't make you accept what's happened with my words. You're going to have to move on on your own," she said gently.
He said no more, and though she tried to stay awake in case he had anything else to say, her eyes became too heavy to keep open. She fell asleep feeling nothing but sympathy for the burden that Enjolras carried.
The reviews that I got for the last chapter were so amazing - thank you so much to each and every one of you. I'm trying to reply to everyone that signs in, but if you are reviewing as a guest, here is your HUGE thank you! You have all been so encouraging and I appreciate it so much!
I hope you all enjoy this chapter - big things are coming in the next, so I'm anxious to post it! And also - I hope you all find Cosette to only be mildly annoying, or not annoying at all, in this story. I think the musical makes her look like an idiot, but Amanda Seyfried's portrayal of her was actually the first time I didn't dislike her. So I'm trying to keep the Cosette love going...:)