Chapter VIII : The Plan

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Enjolras' parents returned late in the night, they spoke softly - in distaste of their son leaving the ball without notice - yet they did nothing. These were matters for the morning.

The gleam of the winter sun suddenly filled the room, waking Joleigh up with a start.

"Ah!" She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"Good morning dear!" A stout older woman beamed at her from the window as she shook out the curtains. "Now, we're going to do this quickly as to not raise suspicion - I need to oversee breakfast before the Mr. and Mrs. awaken ," She strode over to the bed and threw off the covers. Joleigh blinked at her. "Come now child, out of bed!"

"Pardon Madame, who are you? Where is Enjolras?" She asked, stepping out of the bed and onto the cool wood floor.

"I'm Madame Courmier, now come along we need to get you washed and dressed. Monsieur Marc will meet us once that's done. " Joleigh was ushered towards the bathroom. The room was lavish and clean, everything marble and porcelain with subtle golden flourishes. In the centre,   glowing under the light of a large window was a bathtub already filled with water. Joleigh was baffled by the site, the bedroom was something, yet the bathroom was unlike anything she could imagine a bathroom to be.

"Oh my... oof!" Before she could protest, Courmier pulled the nightgown up and off of her and Joleigh sank into the warm water of the bath quickly to protect her modesty. She submerged herself under the surface and the grime of the streets melted off of her. It felt delightful.

"How's the water, dear?" Courmier asked as Joleigh came back to the surface, her long golden hair wet and cascading down her back and face. The poor girl moved it from her face with a beaming smile.

"Absolutely amazing!" Joleigh exclaimed.

"Good." Courmier gave her a warm smile and brought out a bar of soap and a scrubbing brush and began her work. She rolled up her sleeves and took Joleigh's arm, giving it a quick rub with soap, then used the brush to exfoliate her skin. Once that was done - she did the other arm and then moved to her back. All the while, Joleigh reddened with embarrassment - she had never experienced this treatment before. As Courmier moved to her right leg and began her routine, she spoke, "You gave us quite a fright last night when the young Monsieurs brought you in! How are you feeling now dear?"

"Much better thank you, um, you really don't have to do this - I can wash myself." Joleigh said sheepishly. The head maid gave her a chuckle and moved to her left leg.

"Oh it's alright, something tells me you need it." She winked and placed Joleigh's leg back into the water to rinse the suds from her body. Then she gave the soap to the girl. "However, I will leave you to clean your more private areas," Courmier got up and walked over to a cupboard, taking out a plush towel and laying it on the sink counter. " I'll leave this here for you, when you're done meet me back in the room and we'll get you dressed." She gave Joleigh another smile, "Quickly now child!" And she was out the door. Joleigh followed her orders and washed the rest of herself quickly. She only paused for a moment to look out the grand window, the sky was cloudy - yet the garden below was still beautiful. You could see past it to the other grand white houses lined up across the street. The sounds of the city awakening could softly be heard in the distance. Joleigh sighed and slipped under the water one last time before stepping out and drying herself with the soft towel she was given. Wrapping it around her body, she stepped back into the bedroom shivering slightly from the crisp air that greeted her.

Madame Courmier was immediately back in her face leading her over to the corner of the room where there was a wooden divider. Joleigh stepped behind it and was passed some white pantyhose and a simple pale blue dress that cut off just below the knee. "Here you go dear, put these on swiftly now! I'm sure they will fit you, the girl that left them behind was around your size. Monsieur Marc should be coming here soon."

"Yes Madame." Joleigh's heart fluttered a little bit when Enjolras' name was mentioned. I'm going to have to thank him a thousand times over for this - this is unimaginable!

"Oh! And these too," a pair of stockings was passed over the top of the divider, "I also noticed you had no shoes you poor girl! Here, see if these fit," a pair of simple black shoes with a slight heel were slid to her. Joleigh pulled the stockings up and put on the shoes. It felt strange to wear them, her rough feet were not used to it. Courmier shuffled on the other side of the divider, " Also this! For your hair," Joleigh was given a blue ribbon to math the dress. She pulled her hair back into the comfortable plait and stepped out as the bedroom door opened.

"Okay, how do I look Madame?" Joleigh blushed with her arms open.

"Wow..." Her eyes met with Enjolras' as he stood in the doorway dressed in his usual bourgeois suit jacket and slacks. However, his cravat was not tied and his golden hair was slightly askew - something natural to his character - but she had still never seen him this way. He was very handsome. The year did him well. "Uh, Amazing," the pair both blushed, "um,yes you look so much better. You're feeling well? " Enjolras tried his best to not show his delight, but the young baron still beamed at her. The better clothes helped her beauty shine through, her skin was soft and clean and her hair - God, her hair was like spun gold and of course it was in that braid.

"Yes, so much better. I can't thank you enough for this."  She smiled.

"My pleasure..." Enjolras bowed his head. There was a pause and they both seemed to study one another.

"Alright," Madame Courmier piped up, "I will leave you Monsieur to tell the young miss the details of your plan. I must check on breakfast and see if your mother and father have awoken. Jacques! Where is that boy?" With that, she bustled out the door leaving Enjolras and Joleigh alone.

Joleigh noticed that her clothes and bag that she had draped over chair by the dresser had disappeared. Montparnasse's coat...my book, " It seems that you've taken my belongings away - "

"Oh yes, I'm sure Madame Courmier took them to be washed and cleaned." Enjolras stepped more into the room, then sat on the edge of the bed, his heart thumping in his chest. "You really are looking better, Joli." Joleigh gave him a smile and gazed out the bedroom window.

"Your home is beautiful." She mused aloud as her brow furrowed. She turned to him. " Why am I here Enjolras? Why have you given me these clothes? As wonderful as it is I cannot accept it - you've done so much!"

"Ah, but that's where my plan comes in!" Enjolras stood so she was next to her.

"And what is that?" Joleigh sighed shaking her head, but still gave him a smirk.

"Well," Enjolras clenched his jaw and ran a hand through his hair. "I think that you could live here and work under Madame Courmier.... Hear me out - " He took her hands as she started to protest, " I'm serious; you'll have a room to yourself in the servants quarters, you'll have food, you'll have clothes on your back that get washed, and you'll be paid! My parent's won't notice as they hardly ever see the staff. And Courf, Jehan and Combferre come here all the time and you can see them too - "

"Enjolras - I..." Joleigh processed everything that had been offered, taking her hands from his. "I shouldn't - "

"Come on Joli," Enjolras begged, " If I'll be honest, I don't want to see you leave and return to the streets. The conditions are terrible. You won't survive the rest of winter." He touched her shoulder tentatively and she looked back at him with her round blue eyes. Then she looked away.

"I'm embarrassed..."

"But, why?"

"I don't want to be your - your servant!" Joleigh scoffed. Enjolras let out a short laugh.

"It's just an offer of a home, something temporary until you can make enough money to ether get another job or even buy a home for yourself," He explained, "The most you'll do is buy produce from the market or just dust some rooms, Madame Courmier will help you." Enjolras paused and waited for her response. Joliegh kept staring out the window, her lips pursed in thought. He had to do something to get her to agree. Then he had a thought, and held out his hand to her, "Come - let me convince you."

Joleigh tentatively took his hand and let the young baron take her to the door. "Where are you taking me?" She asked as they stepped into the hallway. Enjolras smiled.

"You'll see, it's just down the-"

"Joleigh?!"  Courfeyrac and Jehan  appeared at the top of the stairs at the end of the hall.

"My god, look at you!" They both ran towards them beaming.

"Me?! Look at you two!" Joleigh laughed as she hugged each man. Their chatter rang through the hall, "My, it has been long!"

"Friends, quiet." Enjolras cut in, "My parents..."

"Oh, yes yes of course." Jehan whispered. " Why can't they know..."

"Why do you think? You really think they'd be fine with their precious Marc with this stranger?" Courf rolled his eyes. " No offence Joleigh, his parents are..." Enjolras and Joleigh both turned red.

" I've heard stories." Joleigh said. " It's so good to see you! I cant wait to see Combferre."

"How long will you be here?" Jehan asked.

"Let's explain as we walk shall we?" Enjolras ushered his friends along the hall. " I just need to show Joli something."
As they walked Joleigh explained the plan to Courfeyrac and Jehan. For the most part the understood, however both men were on Enjolras' side - they couldn't understand why Joleigh would ever want to go back to living out on the streets.

Enjolras led them towards the stairs, to the left and down another hall with tall windows that illuminated the dark walls with sunlight. At the end of this hall were two double doors.

"We're here," Enjolras paused and looked at Joleigh, " this is my families library." At the mention of the type of room Joleigh perked up.

"Oh, of course." Courfeyrac smirked and whispered to Enjolras, " You know her too well."

Joleigh's heart beat heavily as the doors opened and they walked into the moderately sized room. Once again, she was dumbfounded. Book shelves for polished dark wood filled the walls, all stocked fully with books of different sizes and colour. They were organized by type: fantasy, science, non-fiction, mystery - Joleigh stepped further into the room, eyes wide and mouth agape. Light from the windows gave the library a magical glow, dust floating daintily in the air. But the farthest window was a quaint but comfy seating area, perfect for curling up and reading. 

Joleigh stood in the middle of the room, just turning slowly and taking it all in. She then went to the closest shelf and pulled out a book with a hard blue cover. Opening it she took a big whiff of the scent between the pages. It smelt musky and crisp, just how all the best books smelt. She put it back and just stared at the shelf.

"If you take my offer, all of this, " Enjolras waved his hand out towards the room, " can be yours to delve into. You'll have to be weary of my parents, but they don't come in here often."

There was a pause, the Joleigh spun once around on her heels to face him. Her eyes had lit up with excitement.

"Alright Monsieur," Joliegh grinned at him, " you've persuaded me."

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Welp, looks like I only seem to update once every two years... I'm sorry guys.  As I'm sure you understand life happens - hobbies change - and sadly this is one I left behind.

However, after revisiting my account I had this huge feeling of nostalgia, and seeing your comments and support it inspired me to write again! I can't guarantee how often I will be updating, however I do have the rest of the chapters of this story planned out. So hopefully that puts a little bit of your faith back in me 😅

- K xx