At first, she muses to his protest, “Well, I suppose you’re right~ probably we shouldn’t all the time literally, then we wouldn’t have any time for business or reading or supper or piano practice…”Clouds slowly formed across the bright sun as she tilted her head seeing his demeanor change. Before she could ask ‘What’s wrong?’ his words only made her more perplexed… and then, came the shock of an ocean wave crashing into her. The light was completely veiled now as she looked away, so confused and dreading if this was the real reason for their rendezvous.
“But why should that matter? – Especially when we make each so other happy… I’m happier around you than anyplace in the world! - Is that not enough…?” She pouted returning a searching gaze and a long period of awkward silence. She found someone who she could without hesitation call what she earnestly felt to be her soulmate.
“That’s not fair!”
Priscilla snapped back in protest with a furrowed brow, sucking in a deep breath afterward. She didn’t know whether to be more grieved of the thought of losing the love of her life or angry for him even remotely suggesting they part ways, so it somehow merged together into a whining tantrum. “I don’t care about fancy titles and fancy houses. I want to marry for love! Especially when I’ve already found that love standing here, right in front of me!“
That he’d expected this reaction only strengthened his resolve. She didn’t care about anything but love, so he had to. How he hated his self-appointed role sometimes… if successful he would be killing the best chance of happiness he’d glimpsed in his life, and it would be by a stab in the back. Nothing so honorable as a quick beheading.
“It shouldn’t.” The pain in his voice was nearly palpable and threatened to keep him from continuing. “But that’s not how it works.” Love wasn’t a currency accepted by most bankers. If it were they’d have no worries at all. He stood firm in the face of her whirlwind flare of temper. Something she said brought color to his cheeks, even though his implications were essentially the same. Yet, to hear her say it…
“Are you proposing?” Humorous, but no joke. The question was closely related to the topic at hand; both addressed a future less immediate than weeks or even months. Javert waited anxiously, breath caught in his throat.
It had to take the bluntness of his question to realize the weight of what she just said. Priscilla blinked, as all her fiery irritation and pain imploded as quickly as it sparked. She went still as she let out a soft gasp. Bright as a red rose her face flushed hot in embarrassment as she stared at Javert wide-eyed.
Nice work, Priscilla, now you’ve gone and done it!
“I —” Mouth ajar, she stammered trying to find words, but was suddenly tongue-tied. Oh no. This wasn’t protocol or what happened in novels! That end-all question was supposed to come from him! When just moments before she thought was to be a death-blow to both of them now suddenly took the most unexpected turn.
No point running away, as much as she wanted to hide in some shell. But she could neither move nor take her eyes off him. Faced with reality where she could only own up to her own words, she gave way to an awkward smile. Outburst as it was delivered, it was genuine. After a hard swallow, finally, she sheepishly spoke,
“I, I never knew anyone so kind and- strong, and - sensible… who loves and in all truth accepts me for all that I am… even when I’m animated, – and loud, and excitable —! — … So … Y-yes? I am?”