Charlotte shook her head. “It sounds t’ me as if ye’re just scared.”
“What do you even know about love?” Cosette countered with a sneer. “Have you ever felt as though your entire soul has merged with another person? To dare to sacrifice your own happiness so that the other one might have the chance to finally be at peace?”
Her friend was silent for a moment before she said, “Not in th’ same manner o’ speakin,’ but when my parents died an’ I lost th’ bakery, I was devastated. I thought I’d dishonored their memory somehow.” She shrugged. “After that, I felt that th’ workhouse was th’ best place fer a girl with nothin’ else t’ show fer her life. It was my personal penance fer failin’ their trust in me.”
“That wasn’t your fault,” Cosette said softly.
Charlotte shrugged. “Whether it was or not, it’s done. There’s no goin’ back. If ye do this, Cosette, ye’re goin’ t’ make a terrible mistake, one that ye might not be able t’ fix.”
Cosette considered everything that Charlotte said, but in the end, her mind was set on what needed to be done. “I will always be different, Charlotte. I will always have my parentage looming behind me, following my every footstep. I can’t change that, no matter how much I might reverse time and pretend none of this nightmare has ever happened. But in this, at least, I have a choice.”
She turned and started to walk away.
Cosette heard a heavy sigh, before Charlotte joined her. “I wouldna be a very good friend if I let ye head out on yer own with only that robe on yer back. Let’s go t’ Th’ Lion’s Share. Mr. Durant owes me some coin, and I’m sure we can get ye a decent dress. It won’t get ye far, but it’ll be a start.”
Cosette took Charlotte’s hand. “Thank you.”
