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( september 1832 )
ONE DAY, WHEN CORINNE and Amélie were busy cleaning the foyer, a knock on the front door grabbed their attention. Corinne was relieved when the other maid was quick to answer it, for after dealing with Monsieur Guillaume's meaningless criticisms while she cleaned up his empty plates at breakfast that morning, she wasn't exactly eager to put on a smile for whatever bourgeoisie gentleman was visiting that day.
"Straighten your posture," the man of the house had snapped when she leaned down to pick up his tray, "or else you'll end up like that hunchback whom people say lives in the Cathedral!"
Corinne had mumbled a "yes, monsieur," despite her shoulders and neck already aching from her overly-exaggerated posture. Around Monsieur Guillaume, she made sure to never appear as anything less than perfect– though not even that was enough for the cantankerous old man.
Enjolras, who was sitting at the opposite end of the table, had witnessed the entire interaction. When she moved on to collect his tray, she noticed him glaring at his father with the muscle in his jaw ticking.
"Ignore him," she'd whispered to him, "that's what I've been doing for nearly a year."
He said nothing in response, though he had reached out to brush his hand over her own as she picked up his tray.
The simple gesture had done wonders to dull the annoyance she felt toward his father's carping, and Corinne smiled upon remembering it.
She continued her meticulous sweeping while Amélie answered the door, far from interested in who was waiting on the other side. That is, until whoever it was spoke and said: "Is Monsieur Enjolras here?"
Looking up from her work, Corinne realized that it was Combeferre. She leaned her broom against the wall and went to join Amélie at the door. As she approached, her friend glanced back at her, then asked in her best unconcerned voice: "Who?"
Corinne giggled at her attempt at acting oblivious. "It's okay, Amélie. He's a friend," she said, offering Combeferre a smile. "How are you, monsieur?"
"Hello, Corinne," responded the bespectacled man. "You are staying with Enjolras?"
Corinne guessed that Enjolras never told Combeferre exactly how they knew one another. "Well," she laughed sheepishly, "I am a maid here."
Combeferre's eyes widened in surprise. "Ah, that is something he failed to mention!" He glanced over her shoulder as though looking for the aforementioned man. "Is he here?"
Corinne nodded. "Yes, I will go find him for you. Amélie–" she turned to the other maid, who was, rather unashamedly, staring at their visitor with a curious glint in her eyes. "Can you show Monsieur Combeferre to the drawing room?"
