"We need more information on the layout of the barracks..." Enjolras said.

   They were still planning on the raid they were doing. The volunteers had already left and the sun was starting to set.

  "Clara or I may be able to pay another visit to the base again." Sébastien offered.

  Enjolras paused before nodding. "Yes, yes that can work." 

 "We'll need to decide on the groups as well, and Gavroche is recruiting his friends too." Courfeyrac added.

   "What can AJ and I do?" Kaylin asked.

  Enjolras looked at his sister. "For now, I'm not planning anything for you to do." He said.

   "But I want to help!" Kaylin protested, scowling stubbornly at her brother.

  "Kaylin, not now..." Enjolras sighed, "We'll see at the next meeting..."

 Kaylin huffed, frustrated.

   "I don't mean to intrude but I have to get going now..." Clara spoke up.

  "Already?" AJ looked surprised.

  "Unfortunately," Clara nodded, "I need to get back because I promised mother I would help Antoine with his piano playing." 

   "Well you can't walk back alone." AJ creased her forehead in thought.

  "What do you mean?" Clara asked.

  "I'll be staying here a while longer and so will Sébastien." AJ explained.

 "Oh! It's fine, really, I can walk back on my own." Clara said hurriedly, getting up from her seat.

   "Are you crazy?!" Kaylin exclaimed, "You could be robbed, kidnapped, injured or murdered in the streets! The streets of Paris are also home to thieves and pick pocketers you know. If they see you walking alone, who knows what they'll do to you!" 

  "Well, what do you suggest I do? Walk on the rooftops?" Clara blinked.

 "Let me think..." Kaylin pursed her lips in thought, "Enjolras, you're done here for the evening aren't you?" She asked, turning to her brother with a look that said, 'don't kick up a fuss'. 

   "Well, I -" Enjolras began.

  "Perfect! Clara, Enjolras can walk you back to the palace. And the Enjolras family is quite well known so anyone who sees you will think you were just coming back from our estate." Kaylin said.

   Enjolras was scowling but his sister took no notice of it. He had to walk her back to the palace! This was a nightmare! 

   "Oh! Honestly, I'll be fine! Enjolras is busy here anyway." Clara protested.

  "Oh don't worry! He's finished for the night. The rest of us will just be preparing for the rally in two days. You will be there won't you? Good! Anyway, you two better be off." Kaylin said, smiling.

   Clara stood nervously waiting at the top of the stairs as Enjolras put his jacket on, as well as  getting a book and a few of his speeches to take with him.

   "Shall we go?" Enjolras asked stiffly.

  Clara, not trusting her voice, only nodded.

 She followed him down the stairs and they were met with Madame Houcheloup.

   "Ah! Of already Enjolras? You're normally the last one to leave, if you even leave at all..." Madame Houcheloup said.

  "Yes, well... I managed to finish what I needed to do, so Kay sent me off to escort someone home." Enjolras explained.

   "Ah! The lovely mademoiselle! You know dear, you're the first girl Enjolras here has ever invited to his meetings. Kaylin goes because, well, she's his sister, and AJ goes because Kaylin forced him to allow her in." Madame Houcheloupe said.

    Clara smiled politely, not knowing exactly how she could respond to that.

  "Anyway, oh, I do hope you enjoyed your dinner." Madame Houcheloup inquired.

  "Oh yes! I did. Thank you very much! It was delicious!" Clara thanked her.

 "That's wonderful to hear, darling! Kaylin was fussing over my shoulder make sure everything was right." Madame Houcheloup chuckled and Clara joined in.

   "She's a fine young lady, Enjolras. A real delight! I hope you bring her back here again, if not, I'm going after you with a broom." Madame Houcheloupe threatened the boy who stood rigid, waiting to get going.

   "Yes, well, I assure you this won't be the last time you'll see her... But we really need to get going. Bonne nuit, Madame." Enjolras nodded before striding out of the Café, Clara following after she had said her goodbyes.

  For the next few minutes, they walked in silence, Enjolras staying a couple of feet away from her.

   "So, you're the son of pretty much the most wealthiest and well-known family in Paris besides the royal family?" Clara said, trying to strike up a conversation.

   "Unfortunately so..." Enjolras said vaguely.

  "Are the rumours true?" Clara asked, looking at him briefly.

  "What rumours?" Enjolras raised an eyebrow as he gave her a quick glance.

  "That you're the most suitable and well-sought for bachelor in all of Paris?" Clara elaborated, "At least, that's what AJ said." 

   "That's what they say anyway..." Enjolras rolled his eyes.

   "I still find it hard to get around the fact that you're the leader of the revolution." Clara said.

   "And how exactly is it hard to believe?" Enjolras frowned in her direction.

   "You're parents are one of the most loyal supporters of my family." Clara explained.

  "I know that, and it's ironic, trust me, I know." Enjolras gritted his teeth. 

    "How long has the group been together?" Clara asked.

  "Quite a while... Combeferre, Courfeyrac and I have been friends since we were kids. Then most of us met at university." Enjolras said. 

   Clara nodded.

 "The sky is lovely isn't it?" Clara commented.

  "I guess..." Enjolras shrugged, "Don't think I haven't noticed you glancing at me throughout the meeting." He suddenly said.

   Clara's face put on a pale shade of pink at having been caught out.

  "Well, it wasn't what you think..." Clara mumbled.

  "Really...?" Enjolras raised an eyebrow.

  Clara nodded vigorously. 

   "Good, because I have no interest in women and have no plan on having any." Enjolras pulled his mouth in a thin line.

  "Really...?" Clara copied him.

 "The sun is nearly gone," Enjolras started singing, "the lights are turning on. A silver shine shine that stretches to the sea." He looked around at the sky, anywhere but at Clara.

  "We stumbled on a view, that's tailored made for two." Enjolras shrugged, "What a shame, those two are you and me..." 

   Clara bit her lip, wondering why this charming looking man had no interest whatsoever in love. He baffled her. Again, he was mysterious.

   "Some other girl, and guy, would love this swirling sky. But there's only you, and I," Enjolras leaned against a lamppost, scowling at Clara, "And we've got, no shot. This could never be. You're not the type for me." 

   "Really?" Clara rolled her eyes, breathing the word out.

  "And there's not a spark in sight," Enjolras ignored her comment and pushed himself off the lamppost, "What a waste of a lovely night..." 

    Clara scoffed before she took her turn.

   "You say there's nothing here? Well let's make something clear. I think, I'll be the one to make that call." Clara sang, slowly walking towards him. 

  "But you'll call?" Enjolras mocked her.

  "I know you look so cute, in your lovely satin suit." Clara continued.

  "It's silk." Enjolras corrected, rolling his eyes.

   "You're right, I'd never fall for you at all!" Clara sang.

   "That's good." Enjolras nodded.

  "And maybe this appeals," Clara slowly circled around the man, "to someone not in heels. Or to any girl who feels..." She sits down on a bench, "There's some chance, for romance."

    Enjolras scoffed.

  "But, I'm frankly feeling nothing..." Clara pretended to sound bored.

   "Is that so?" Enjolras turned his back on her, looking at the pink sky.

   "Or it could be less than nothing..." Clara raised her eyebrows and shrugged.

   "Good to know! So you agree?" Enjolras turned to look at her, face stern and eyes a piercing gaze.

   "That's right!" Clara nodded.

  "What a waste of a lovely night..." They sang together.

   They began to walk again, Enjolras welcoming the silence with open arms, and Clara thinking about the plans on raiding the barracks.

   "I hate it..." Clara suddenly burst out.

  "Hate what?" Enjolras sighed, annoyed. 

  "The way my father rules the country and how he treats his subjects... It's appalling! I wish I had know about all this sooner..." Clara ranted. 

   Enjolras stayed silent, waiting to see if she was going to continue.

 "Madame Houcheloup is very nice..." Clara commented, changing the subject.

  "Yes, she is. She pretty much mothers everybody in the 'Les Amis'." Enjolras nodded, "Spoils them, scolds them, you name it..." 

  "I can imagine that! Especially the scolding part," Clara chuckled.

 "Trust me... she's scolded me a few times." Enjolras said dryly.

 "Honestly, you don't have to walk me back to the palace. I know you'd rather not. I can find my way home." Clara said.

  "Wish I could just leave you to go home on your own, but Kaylin will have my head if I did. Plus, she's right, the streets of Paris aren't safe at night. And Madame Houcheloup will murder me if I leave you to your death." Enjolras explained stiffly.

  Clara pursed her lips, keeping silent.

 "Would she really?" She finally asked.

 "Would who really do what?" Enjolras glanced her way briefly before looking straight ahead again.

  "Madame Houcheloup. Would she really murder you if you did leave me to walk the streets alone?" Clara looked at him to see what his reaction would be.

   "Oh, believe me, I wouldn't be surprised if she did..." Enjolras rolled his eyes.

 Clara laughed lightly, picturing a scene of Madame Houcheloup chasing after Enjolras with a cooking pan in one hand and a dinner knife in the other.

  Enjolras was slightly startled. He hadn't heard her laugh before, and the sound was soft and gentle. Like how his mother used to laugh before... He shook his head, clearing the memory away.

   "Find the thought of me dead amusing?" Enjolras raised an eyebrow at her.

  "Oh no! Not at all. I was just imagining her chasing after you with a cooking pan and a dinner knife." Clara explained, still giggling.

   "I see..." Enjolras' face showed no emotion but his eyes held a hint of amusement. 

  "Thanks for inviting me to the meeting tonight, even though you were forced to." Clara said.

  Enjolras nodded, acknowledging her thanks.

    "I also have something else to thank you for," Clara turned to look at him.

   "And? That is?" Enjolras looked questioningly at her.

  "Thank you for the birthday present you gave me. I really like it." Clara smiled.

 "You're welcome," Enjolras held her gaze for a few moment before diverting his eyes elsewhere.

    A few minutes later, they arrived at the servants entrance of the palace. 

  "Thanks for walking me here. I'll make it up to you some how, I don't know what..." Clara said.

  "Perhaps you could start by getting us some more information on the barracks? Bonne nuit, I guess I'll see you in two days..." Enjolras bowed before disappearing off.

   Clara stood there a while longer before entering, slipping up quietly to her room to get dressed before heading back down to see to Antoine's piano playing.

~⚜~

   "How was Madame Ophelia, Clara?" Queen Maria Amalia inquired that night in the drawing room as they were all gathered together while Antoine practised in the background.

   "Oh! She's fine, she's asking for all of you and sends her regards." Clara replied. It wasn't a lie. She had seen AJ's mum that day, she had gone there before the meeting and then she and AJ left. 

   "That's nice of her, I hope you gave her ours?" Queen Maria said while looking over Adélaïde shoulder while she embroidered a lace handkerchief.

  "Yes, I did, mother." Clara nodded, before wincing as the needle pricked her finger. She found embroidering a tiresome job.

 "Sébastien, what have you been doing?" Queen Maria Amalia turned to her second eldest child.

    "Oh, I was just with my friends..." Sébastien replied, looking up briefly from a book.

   "I've met them, quite a lovely group you've got. So polite! And I have to say you made a good choice making friends with the Enjolras boy. You met most of them at university, am I right?" Queen Maria Amalia said.

   "Yes, that's right." Sébastien nodded.

  "A very nice group of friends! I also got to have a few words with the Courfeyrac boy and the Combeferre boy. Both very nice boys. Apparently those two have been close friends with the Enjolras boy, what's his name again? Marcelin? That's right! Lord Marcelin Enjolras, quite a charming man isn't he? No wonder he's well-sought for. But apparently he takes no notice at all in women." Queen Maria commented.

   "That's right, Enjolras is also known as the 'marble man', because he's so serious." Sébastien confirmed.

   "You've met him at your ball, haven't you Clara, dear?" Queen Maria turned again to her daughter.

   "Yes, I have. He's... exactly as what Sébastien described, 'marble'. He's nice in a way though." Clara said, pulling the needle through the fabric.

  "By the way, darling, who gave you that lovely ornament that's on your bedside table?" Queen Maria Amalia asked.

  "Oh! That was from Lord Marcelin Enjolras, for my birthday. It's very beautiful, isn't it?" Clara looked up, laying the embroidery down on her lap.

   "It is! It looks absolutely gorgeous!" Queen Maria Amalia nodded, agreeing entirely with her daughter.

   "Enjolras? Got you a beautiful present for your birthday?" Sébastien looked up from his book again, turning his attention to his sister with a look of disbelief. "You know he never gets any girl a present. Except for his sister of course... and AJ when Kaylin forces him to." 

  "I know..." Clara rolled her eyes.

  "Clara, a princess doesn't roll her eyes. But, surely Lord Marcelin isn't like? He seemed such a lovely boy." Queen Maria said.

  "He can be, when he wants to..." Sébastien returned to his book.

  "Well, it's getting late. I'm going to go to bed. Goodnight!" Clara smiled as she left the drawing room.

  Looking at the glass ornament, thoughts of him and their conversation came into her mind.

  "You're not the type for me."

  "You're right, I'd never fall for you at all."

  Clara knew it. She had lied. 

  "Perhaps..." Clara placed a finger on the cool glass, "maybe... I've fallen for you..."

 "I know I said I wouldn't. I know you'll never see. But I can't help the feeling, I'm feeling. Perhaps... maybe... I've fallen, just a little bit, for you." Clara sang under her breath before she switched her lamp off, plunging the room into darkness.

~|~*~|~⚜~|~*~|~

    There's chapter 8 for you!!! I couldn't leave for two weeks and not post a chapter for you! 

  (That last thing Clara sings I just made up, you can put it to any music you think might go, or you can make up your own...) 😊

  Claire xxx⚜