Chapter Text
Cosette waits by the window for Marius to return home. It’s his first day away from her side since their honeymoon had ended. She feels a little silly for missing him; after all they have the rest of their lives together. Still, the house seems bigger without him somehow, especially as it grows darker. Marius had told her he would probably have to stay late to catch up on what had happened during their honeymoon, and she was holding off dinner until his arrival.
She can see a carriage begin down the driveway, which gives her enough time to make it to the front door to greet it as it pulls up. Inside, Marius is in deep conversation with Enjolras and Grantaire. Once he notices they’ve stopped, he leaps out of the carriage to greet her. It would seem he has missed her as much as she has missed him, taking her in his arms as soon as her can reach her. Grantaire wolf-whistles them, and Enjolras quietly admonishes him, which causes Grantaire to laugh.
She turns so that she is facing the carriage, leaning back into Marius’ embrace. “It’s good to see you both. I trust you had a productive day?”
Grantaire smiles, half-leaning out of the carriage door. “As productive as the government ever is. We won’t keep you two though.”
“I was hoping I could borrow you for a moment? I need your artist’s eye for the lighting in the garden,” says Cosette.
“But of course,” says Grantaire, stepping out of the carriage.
“And then of course you should both stay for dinner,” Cosette continues smoothly.
Enjolras frowns. “I don’t want to impose.”
“Nonsense!” says Cosette brightly, “any friend of Grantaire and Marius would never be an imposition.”
Grantaire’s smile widens. “I suppose you could say it’s more like politeness?”
Cosette laughs. “Exactly. I’ll let the staff know to set the table for four places tonight and then you can accompany me to the garden.”
When she returns Marius and Enjolras have picked the thread of their discussion back up, and she and Grantaire slip from the room almost without their notice. The garden is lit with a few lanterns, but Cosette would like there to be more. They walk arm in arm through the garden, discussing the area Cosette wants to renovate for entertaining. If she is to hold charity events outdoors, there is much to be done first.
Grantaire’s advice is, of course, the secondary reason to her pulling him away from the others. She stops them before they return to the house, sitting down on a small bench. The stars are coming out, and she points out a few of the constellations. Grantaire tells her a few of the more bawdy stories behind them that he’s heard in his travels, and she laughs into his shoulder. They sit together in silence for a few moments after their laughter subsides, Grantaire’s arm around her to warm her from the cool night air.
“I'm glad to see you so happy,” says Grantaire, “I have never met someone so deserving of it.”
Cosette smiles. “How strange. I was just thinking the same of you.”
They sit together quietly until Eloise fetches them for dinner, sharing warmth as they look at the stars.