Chapter Two

"Maman, I won't go! I simply won't!" Adele cried, tearing the acceptance letter to bits. "I can't leave you and Papa! What if the baby is born while I'm away?"

Cosette sighed. Although Adele was shy among strangers, she never ceased to be strong-willed at home. "Don't shout Adele. You know ladies are never to speak louder than a whisper."

"I'll shout if I please! Mother, how could you?"

"Adele, when I was your age I would have jumped at the chance to go abroad. Now I'm too old to leave, at least until the baby was born. This is your chance to go for me. Your father agrees with me, so don't go begging him to change my mind. You are going to America." Adele opened her mouth to respond, but thought the better of it. Instead, she turned and ran to her room.

Cosette laid a hand on her stomach as the baby kicked her violently. She grimaced and lectured it softly, "Little on, if you are even a little bit as fiesty as your sister, you and I will not get along." She sighed. "But you know I love you anyway."

How could I have been so wrong? she wondered. I thought Adele would love to go away. She is seventeen, after all! She should be courting fine young gentlemen, getting betrothed to some sweetheart like my Marius.

But, her conscience argued, she still has many years ahead of her. She could easily wait two or three years before marrying. You don't want her to have your life, do you? Married at fifteen, a baby nine months later, then miscarriage after miscarriage until your husband refuses to touch you, he's so afraid you'll break?

"No," Cosette whispered. Tears flooded to her eyes, but she quickly brushed them away with a swollen hand. She began to stand, but dizziness overcame her and she had to lay down again. "Marius!" she called, hoping her husband was in the house. She called out again, but there was no reply. Finally she groaned and swung her legs over the bed. As she was overcome by nausea, she reached for a bedpost, but instead fell back upon the pillow. It was never this bad before, she thought as her head throbbed and her stomach churned. Eventually she managed to stand, the dancing butterflies turning to lead in her stomach. She grabbed her swollen belly, intense pain sending spasms throughout her body. She looked around desperately for a bowl or a pot, but by the time she found one, itwas too late. Everything she had eaten for breakfast was displayed on her nightgown.

"Oh! Now I have to change my clothing as well!" She pushed the unused pot back under the bed, and had just changed her clothing when Adele burst through the door.

"Maman! What are you doing out of bed?"

Cosette smiled feebly. "Coming to find you. I've decided you don't have to go to America if you don't want to go."

"But, Maman, I do want to go!"

"What do you mean? Don't go just because I would like you to, my child."

"I'm not. I'm going because I want to go. When do I leave?"

"Next week. You will take the 3 o'clock train to the city, where you will board the Saint-Christine. You will be in America by Monday next. Someone there will meet you and take you to the school.

I've arranged for you to stay with another French girl; her name is Sophie. She's the daughter of a wealthy vicomte, and she's only 3 years younger than you are." She sighed. "Are you sure you want to go?"

"Yes, Maman. As long as I can be home to help you with the baby...?" Her statement was left hanging, andshe feared that her mother would contradict her.

To her great relief, Cosette replied, "You will come home on break in December and stay until after the New Year. The baby isn't coming until Christmas." Adele smiled, as did her mother. "Now go pack."

Adele hugged her mother and walked away, a slight bounce in her step. Cosette sighed and ran her hand through her hair, then climbed back into bed. Thank you, Lord.