after the party
Jan. 11th, 2017 11:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
It's quite late by the time the Twelfth Night party finally, fully ends-- and the exhaustion of hosting (much as Marius left that burden to rest on Cosette's shoulders) makes it feel even later as they at last step out of the darkened tent to head back to their room, and to bed.
Marius waits just outside the tent, peering in to make sure Cosette is really following, arm already lifted to offer to her as soon as she appears.
Marius waits just outside the tent, peering in to make sure Cosette is really following, arm already lifted to offer to her as soon as she appears.
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Date: 2017-01-18 06:31 am (UTC)Her very own house. Not Aunt Gillenormand's house, which has been given into her hands but which still has all its furniture, all its servants with their ideas of how things ought to be, all its weight of history. And Aunt Gillenormand, who never expresses an opinion about the running of the household, but Cosette has never been able to shed the feeling that she might, and that she ought to be free to. But in her own house, she could do everything just as she liked. She could make everything lovely. She could hire servants who would listen to her, who would listen to Marius. Their own house, really and truly theirs.
"But why couldn't we? Why couldn't we, husband? Perhaps Father even has that very house still! But even if not, we have money, we could rent the nicest little house, just you and me and a set of rooms for Father to live with us."
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Date: 2017-01-18 06:34 am (UTC)And also with the key benefit of not being his grandfather's house, not being the place he grew up.
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Date: 2017-01-18 06:44 am (UTC)"Our own little place. Something humble, something sweet, that's all we would need."
And then she falters a little, as a little more reality catches up.
"Do you think your grandfather would be very upset? We'd be in Paris still, we could visit very easily."
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Date: 2017-01-18 06:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-01-18 07:07 am (UTC)Such language, she's a little aghast. And against his good kind -- well, well-intentioned, mostly kind -- grandfather!
But he's smiling, too, and he's so earnest, and overflowing with that decisive generosity she loves in him. Cosette claps a hand to her mouth, blushing -- and then the tension breaks, and she's giggling, giggling, out of exhaustion and delight and the release of tense uncertainty.
"Oh," she manages, "I'm sorry, I'm only tired, it's only -- yes, my Marius, yes, please yes, let's do it. When we're back from Italy, let's do. Our own little house. Let's do. Even -- even if your grandfather's upset, I'm sure he'll come round, won't he?"
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Date: 2017-01-18 07:13 am (UTC)"Yes, of course he will. He adores you, he would deny you nothing." And him, too, supposedly, but-- even now he doesn't quite believe it enough to say so. But if he calls him father, if he promises they will dine with him every week-- then, he thinks, his grandfather can be brought around.
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Date: 2017-01-18 07:21 am (UTC)Cosette, feeling daring and scandalous, darts forward to embrace him.
"Oh! Then everything would be wonderful. Marius, I do love you. I'm so happy!"
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Date: 2017-01-18 07:24 am (UTC)And maybe, because it is late and dark and because they are alone-- and because they are married, after all-- he will even bend to kiss her, just quickly.
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Date: 2017-01-18 07:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-01-18 07:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-01-18 07:43 am (UTC)She tucks her hand into his elbow, and herself against his side.
"What a wonderful evening it's been!"
It's a dreamy, distant murmur -- and, to her own surprise, she yawns right afterward.