road_to_calvary: (Danger)
Jean Valjean ([personal profile] road_to_calvary) wrote2015-11-30 07:50 pm
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It is early May, but you would not know it in this cellar. The place is as cold as ever, it smells damp, and the usual guard against the stone's natural chill - the fire - is gone. Valjean stares at the place where it should be; he is quite still, but his mind is working furiously.

Yesterday he had stayed a long time. Basque had to come twice to inform Cosette that dinner was served, and the family was waiting. This must have to do with that, they are trying to tell him something, they are reminding him that he is here by their grace alone.

But, wait. No, that is too much. In an instant, the truth comes to him. 'Ah,' he says, to himself. 'It is perfectly simple. The cold weather has ceased.’ And why should they need a fire, indeed? It is quite warm outside, quite pleasant. That must be the answer.

He remains a little uneasy, and does not sit down at first. It is too cold for Cosette, to be sure. But he knows she will come, and so would not think of leaving.


lark_in_flight: Cosette in sunlight, her hair up, beaming happily (a heart full of love)

[personal profile] lark_in_flight 2015-12-15 05:57 pm (UTC)(link)
And there, see: her father likes Grandfather Gillenormand too.

Cosette glows. "He did. He is the handsomest man I've ever known, the handsomest man I've seen, don't you think so?"
lark_in_flight: Cosette smiling down, eyes closed, in private happiness or smug satisfaction (a heart full of joy)

[personal profile] lark_in_flight 2015-12-16 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
So many of their old subjects of conversation are difficult now; her father won't be easy, he calls her Madame and vous, he won't be her father. But this is still easy: they can talk of Marius.

"I don't know if he plans to take up law again. We haven't spoken of it. But you're quite right. He would be very good! He's good at anything he turns his hand to. You're perfectly right that clients would be impressed, they'd be pleased to have such a man helping them."
lark_in_flight: Cosette smiling down, eyes closed, in private happiness or smug satisfaction (a heart full of joy)

[personal profile] lark_in_flight 2015-12-16 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"We are so very happy. He's wonderful, he's the best of husbands. But you, monsieur, you're always so funny about carriages! I don't need a carriage. We have feet and it's springtime."

Don't you miss our walks, don't you ever want to walk with me anymore, won't you be my papa--

"But of course you're right, everything will be joy and enjoyment. It already is, you know, I'm very happy. Perhaps it's selfish of me to be glad to have Marius to myself, but I'm happy to be selfish, if so! About my dear Marius, I'm glad to be."
lark_in_flight: Cosette in sunlight, her hair up, beaming happily (a heart full of love)

[personal profile] lark_in_flight 2015-12-21 07:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Cosette beams at the well-wishing. She's never doubted it: whatever the distance and coldness he gives her now, whatever is going on in his head, whatever she's done or whatever marriage means to him (or to all of fine society?) that means he won't be anything but a formal Monsieur Jean to her -- in spite of all that, she's always known that he only wants the best for her. It makes everything bearable.

But it's always wealth and fripperies with him: he wants her to have everything fine, even when it's silly, even when she doesn't need it. Expensive presents from Grandfather Gillenormand, and urgings to buy anything he thinks a fine lady might like from Monsieur Jean, while he tells her household not to light the fire she wants lit. She finds a laugh: "We never had a carriage, monsieur! I like to walk. I like to see the city, on my husband's arm. Why should I shut such a fine fellow away in a carriage, when I can walk arm in arm with him in the sun?"

She finds a laugh, but it's tiring. Perhaps Basque will call her soon to dinner. Marius is quiet, and dear, like her father, and unlike her father she doesn't have to work to remind him to love her.