Just so you all know, I am setting this during the Baroque period, which is roughly around the years 1600's to 1750. Just to help for your reader pleasure. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: The Du Bois Family

There was once was a merchant, Maurice Du Bois, who was the richest in the city of Provence, and with his fortunes, he had five children; his eldest were Adélaïde, Félicie and Ludovic, and all were spoiled to say the least. But when his wife had died, he married another, who gave birth to two more children of whom he loved the most. His youngest child, Jean, was an active boy of eight, who was very attached to his older sister, Belle.

Belle was Maurice's special child. She was the very essence of what beauty and goodness was; she was the last reminder of Maurice of his passed away love. He did not truly love his first wife, as it was an arranged marriage, but his second wife he had adored more than any other human in the world. She had passed away when Jean was born and Maurice could not find it in his heart to marry again, but with his children, he was the most happy; as long as they were happy, he was happy.

One day, when the merchant was in his gardens with his children, a man came to the mansion to tell that his ships had been captured by pirates, and that they were now penniless. This made his elder children rather unhappy, as they had enjoyed spending their father's money on themselves. Maurice, Belle and Jean were the only ones that were able to adapt to their now country way of life.

Maurice would work in the fields to provide his family, while Jean would go and fish and hunt for their food. Belle became the maid of the house and would often wait upon her half sisters and brother. Ludovic was not pleasant to his little half sister, nor was he rude; it was his sisters that made Belle's life so difficult. Indeed, they were jealous of her beauty and of the love that their father gave her, as well as Jean.

Belle would wave off their rude behavior but Jean wouldn't. One day Jean had brought in a nice sized fish, not huge and Ludovic had picked on him.

"Look at this short fry, not at all like what we would have at the mansion, but what can you expect when a boy is made to fetch our food. Short fry got a short fish."

"Leave the little urchin alone. He isn't worth the trouble." said Félicie.

"Right, he isn't like that annoying Belle. Always playing Father's favorite. Hope that brat loses her beauty from all her house work and grow an old maid."

"Oh hush, Adélaïde, if we do not get our fortune soon, we will be old maids as well."

"But we shall be the prettiest old maids, more so than Belle."

Jean couldn't hear anymore of this. It was one thing that they made fun of him, but not when they made fun of his sainted sister. He ran to her, with tears in his eyes as she was washing the floors. "Jean! Oh dear brother come here."

He went into her arms and hugged her. "Oh Belle. I hate them, I really hate them!"

"Shhh. Never say that. They are family Jean; they are our brother and sisters."

"Half brother and sisters."

"It doesn't matter, they are a part of our family and we must be good to them, no matter what they may say about us, or our mother." Jean continued to cry, but Belle had an idea. "Jean, would you like me to tell you about our mother?"

"Oh yes please!" He never had a chance to know his mother and loved it when Belle described her.

"Well, our mother met our father at a ball, and it was at that moment that he had fallen deeply in love with her. He had asked her to marry her right at that moment and she had said yes, for she had fallen in love with him. They had the happiest marriage that any two people could ever have. And soon they had a child, a daughter."

"You, I know it Belle! And Mother had beautiful light brown hair, hazel eyes with soft white skin. Just like you."

"Looks like you don't need me to tell you about her. In fact, I do have a surprise for you."

Belle stood up and wiped her hands on her apron. She went over to her father's desk and grabbed a small oval container. She sat back next to him and he marveled at the jewels upon it.

"Is that real jewels? And is that a gold frame? Why hasn't Father sold this?"

"Because despite how beautiful it looks on the outside, there is a greater beauty on the inside."

She opened the container and it reveled to be a picture frame. The picture was of a beautiful woman that Jean had described as their mother, sitting on a window sill, looking outside with one hand gently on her cheek and the other holding a white rose. It was the most beautiful portrait that Jean had ever seen.

"Oh Belle, is this our mother?"

"Yes. He had loved her so much that he asked a great artist to take her portrait. He asked for a small portrait so that he may carry it around with him. There are times I see Father stare at her portrait."

"She looks so much like you. Mother was such a beauty."

They heard footsteps coming; making Belle put the portrait back into the desk. It was only Maurice.

"Hello Father. How are you this fine morning?"

"Oh well, my dearest. Belle, Jean, we are having a guest here today."

Jean had gotten excited. "Oh really Father? Who?"

"Marquis Gaston Le Gume."

"Oh." Jean groaned and slumped down.

"Jean, don't slouch, and don't be rude. He has always been really good to us."

"Oh yes, and I can only think why he would." Jean looked to his sister, feeling sorry for her.

Belle knew that the Marquis would stare at her rather improperly, and it always made her feel uneasy when he did. But he was the best customer to her father, what can she say?

"Oh now really, he would never be that rude. He is just a good noble man that happens to visit often. He means nothing of it. But enough of that, he is to come in an half an hour and I want all of you to wear your best to receive him."

They went off the do as their father's bidding.

I haven't been on for a while, and I hope you are all pleased to hear from me again, and I have a lot of people to thank. To heartache12, kyuunbichan16, ShadowOfTheDay818, lalule, sammichs, Oceanmina101, AmaraHeart, and Madara'sEmoLover for favoring Ten Days; for Following Ten Days, thank you to ShadowOfTheDay818, kyuunbichan16 and GhostlyDay. Thanks to Aravi Velez, AmaraHeart and BlessedSiochan for reviewing Ten Days. Thank you for favoring me as an author to kyuunbichan16 and AmaraHeart. Thanks to Cerse18 and lokisqueen for favoring Snow White and Loki. Mandamoonrose, AmaraHeart, thanks for putting me on your author's alert subscribiton and thanks to Mandamoonrose, Bearsocks9 and to Madara'sEmoLover for Story Alerting Ten Days, and to Cerse18 for Story Alerting Snow White and Loki. I will post a chapter every Saturday, making it easier on me, but for something for you all to look forward to.