There Was a Time

Chapter Three: Could This Be Love?

        Felix Tholomyes held out his arm to Fantine. "Shall we go inside, Mademoiselle?" he asked. Fantine glanced over at Favourite and Blanchevelle, who were still kissing passionately. "Yes, let's," Fantine agreed.  "I think these two need some privacy."

        Felix laughed, and the two of them walked through the front door of Favourite's home. The tantalizing scent of Favourite's cooking wafted through the air, making Fantine's mouth water. "Mmm... That smells divine," she sighed happily.

        "We can eat now if you're hungry," Felix suggested. "I'm sure Blanchevelle and Favourite won't mind if we start without them."

        Fantine glanced out the window and saw that Blanchevelle's and Favourite's lips were still locked together. "Yes, let's eat," she decided.

        Felix escorted her to the dining room, where hot plates of delicious food awaited them. He pulled out a chair for her. Fantine smiled and sat down, her heart fluttering. Felix was so chivalrous and kind, making her feel like a princess. He seamed too wonderful to be real, like an angel sent to her from Heaven.

        "So, Mademoiselle Fantine," Felix began, sitting down and picking up his fork. "What do you do to occupy yourself?"

        "I make clothes," Fantine replied, taking bite of a warm pastry. "And I sell them."

        "Really?" Felix said, sounding genuinely intrigued. "And did you make that dress yourself?" he asked, indicating the dress Fantine was wearing.

        Fantine nodded proudly. "Beautiful," Felix remarked. Fantine felt the heat rise to her cheeks.

        "Thank you, Monsieur," she said softly. "It took a long time to make, but it was worth it."

        "I wasn't just talking about the dress," Felix said in a voice that was little more than a whisper. Fantine looked at him quickly, her mouth parted in surprise. Was she mistaken, or had he just called her beautiful? He looked as surprised as she felt, as if he had not meant to say such a thing out loud. Fantine looked down at her lap so that he would not see her crimson blush. "And what do you do to occupy yourself, Monsieur?" she asked, still blushing furiously.

        Felix cleared his throat. "I'm a business man," he explained. "I run my family's old business in Toulouse. I'm here in Paris on matters of business for the summer."

        "Oh, you don't live in Paris?" Fantine said, feeling disappointed.

        "No, Mademoiselle, I'm afraid I do not. It's much more quiet in Toulouse, and the peace makes it easier to work."

        "And what is it that you do for fun?" Fantine inquired. "How do you amuse yourself when you're not working?"

        "When I'm not working?" Felix asked with a short laugh. "I am always working, Mademoiselle."

        "Always?" Fantine repeated in wonder.

        Felix nodded. "If I did have the time, however, I would spend it reading. I love books."

        "So do I!" Fantine exclaimed happily, and then she blushed again. "Only, I cannot read," she admitted. "Favourite knows how to read, though. She used to live in England, and she learned there. Whenever I can, I make her read aloud to me."

        Felix smiled good-naturedly. "If you wish, I can teach you how to read," he suggested. Fantine let out a small gasp of delight. "Oh, you would do that for me?" she exclaimed. "Thank you so much, Monsieur."

        "It would be my great pleasure," said Felix.

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        Felix wasn't sure why he had volunteered to teach Fantine how to read. He had a mountain of work to do in Paris, and only a summer to finish it. He didn't have any time to waste with girls. And yet... and yet there was a strange new feeling within his heart, an ache that made him long to spend as much time with Fantine as possible. She wasn't like the other girls he had known in Toulouse, who had worn tight, low cut dresses in order to attract his attention and pretended to be someone they were not in order to win his affections. No, this girl was much different. She was pure and true to herself. He found her easy to talk to, and found himself longing to talk to her more.

        The door to the dining room opened, and Blanchevelle traipsed into the room with Favourite hanging onto his arm. The ruby bracelet sparkled around Favourite's wrist.

        "Fantine!" Favourite called out to her friend. "Are you boring Monsieur Tholomyes with your endless chatter?"

        Felix saw Fantine's cheeks turn pink. "On the contrary, I find Mademoiselle Fantine quite enchanting and pleasant to talk to," Felix told Favourite. The latter laughed sarcastically. "Don't let her hear you say that. She'll think you're in love with her."

        "Favourite!" Fantine protested, her face bright red.

        Blanchevelle laughed. "Tholomyes, in love? That's a spectacle I'd pay to see."

        Now it was Felix's turn to blush. "Sit down, you two,"  he told the couple. "The food is already cold."

        Favourite and Blanchevelle took their seats at the table. Blanchevelle immediately began to stuff his face with food, and Favourite daintily placed her napkin on her lap and began a long speech about a beautiful emerald ring she had seen a young lady wearing the other day, and how she hoped some kind gentleman would be so generous as to give her a ring like that. (She gave Blanchevelle a pointed glance.) Felix and Fantine did not speak for the rest of the meal, but Felix's eyes kept wandering towards her. Once in a while, she would raise her eyes to meet his, and she would give him a small smile, blush, then turn away. Every time this happened, Felix felt his heart soar.

        Lunch passed by much too quickly. Felix checked his pocketwatch and was surprised to see that it was already a quarter to two. He thought of the pile of work that awaited him, and reluctantly stood up.

        "I must be going now," he announced. Blanchevelle grumbled and complained, but Felix insisted that they leave. Fantine and Favourite walked them to the door. Felix turned to Fantine and took her soft, delicate hand in his.

        "It was a pleasure meeting you, Mademoiselle," he said, kissing her hand. "I look forward to teaching you how to read."

        "Thank you, Monsieur," Fantine replied with a dazzling smile. Felix turned to Blanchevelle, whose lips had once found Favourite's. Felix cleared his throat, and Blanchevelle reluctantly pulled away from his mistress. Felix noticed that when Blanchevelle's back was turned, Favourite discreetly wiped her lips on the back of her hand.

        "Remember the emerald ring," Favourite said.

        "Of course," Blanchevelle replied. He waved good-bye to Favourite, and the two men left the house.

        "Well?" Blanchevelle asked, raising his eyebrow. "Was Fantine really as bad as you imagined?"

        "No, not at all," Felix said quietly.

        Blanchevelle grinned crookedly. "Aw, Tholomyes is in love!" he exclaimed with a wink.

        "I am not in love," Felix said coolly. "I don't have time for such distractions."

        "Denial is the first sign," Blanchevelle said, grinning even more crookedly. Felix ignored him.

        Deep inside, he wondered if Blanchevelle could be right. Could he really be in love with Fantine?