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Ever since Eponine had started walking this way, there had been music coming from the balcony of the gated house on Rue Plumet.
She'd thought it was simply a nice tune the first time. Some church hymn. They would be church-goers, people so rich. People like that had no need to work any day of the week, let alone the Sabbath.
Still, as silly as she found it, she found herself coming back often. It was better than her father, who was always trying to rope her into some scheme or another. She hid herself behind the large tree outside the gates, so the singer—a young blonde woman—couldn't see her.
It was on a late night, just after it had rained, that she found herself at 55 Rue Plumet once again. Cursed luck that she happened to slip on the wet cobbles, going down hard. She couldn't completely stop the hiss of pain from her hands hitting the rough street.
The music stopped abruptly. "Who's there?" a soft voice—the girl, no doubt—exclaimed, her voice shaky.
She hid herself behind the tree, but she could already hear the slamming of the creaky wooden doors that led out to the balcony. It seemed that would be it then.
She crept out to sneak away, only to come face to face with the girl.
"I knew there was someone here," said the girl. She was clutching her shawl tight around her. She was shivering.
Eponine didn't think it was that cold out. Even with the rain, it was still late summer. Or maybe she was still scared.
"I'm sorry to bother you," she said. It seemed polite. "I just like to listen to your singing. It's very pretty."
It seemed to disarm her.
"I… I'm glad you think so. Papa says so, but I never get to sing for anyone else. No one ever visits."
"That's too bad. I think a lot of people would like it."
"Maybe someday Papa will let me explore the world. Then I could sing wherever and whenever I wanted."
"Do you never leave?"
"No… I wish I could, but Papa is very protective of me. He says he doesn't want me to get hurt. And I couldn't fathom ever leaving him behind."
Eponine was struck with a whim. "What if I took you out exploring? It's evening right now—we'd be back before midnight. Your father wouldn't know."
The girl fretted. "I wouldn't want to lie to Papa. But…"
It was unfamilar to Eponine. Her father wouldn't have cared if they lied, so long as it didn't muck up his plans. But she didn't want to drive the girl off so soon. She was a breath of fresh air, so different from the smog in her life.
"What if I came back and visited?"
"Oh, would you really? And you can tell me about the world out there… the one I never get to see."
"Then I will. Next week, maybe?"
"Yes, yes." She reached out through the gate and grabbed Eponine's arm. There was no trace of the shy, apprensive girl who had fled the balcony in fear. "Promise me you'll return?"
"Yes, I promise I will. Will you sing for me again?"
"Yes, I will! It's been so long since I…" she trailed off with a yawn.
"Maybe it's best if you get some sleep for now."
"Yes, I can't stay out here for too long. I'll wait here for you next time."
"Then I will meet you here."
She walked away. The girl would sleep, but she had a night of wandering ahead, as was often the case.
Huh. She'd forgotten to ask her name. It would just have to wait.