Chapter One

"Oh what am I to do?" Belle breathed as she sat back down after helping Papa with one of his other inventions waiting for further instructions.

"Now Belle," Maurice said while rolling out from under of his latest invention.

"You are to need a husband. And soon. I can't take care of you for much longer."

Maurice looked wistfully at his plaques over on the far side of the room before looking into the beautiful face of his adored daughter.

"Besides Belle, my inventions are not as they used to. It looks as though people have lost interest in the art of science." Maurice stated sadly.

Belle got up and placed a dainty hand on her fathers shoulder reassuringly. "Oh, Papa, you are very much wrong. Your inventions are as good as always."

Maurice craned his neck and smiled up at his daughter and patted her hand on his shoulder with his own. "Some day my dear, you're going to make for a very supportive wife."

Belle groaned. Every since her Papa lost his job at the university and they had to move from their place in Paris, to live in the small provincial town, he has been nothing but stressed about not being able to support their household.

"Papa, there is no need for such thing. Especially so soon. Why, if money gets scarce-"

"Belle! You're of suitable age," Maurice pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose.

"I will always love you my beloved daughter. It pains me so to see you so barely fed and to go. But as much as you dismiss it, we are very well near impoverish my dear."

Belle smiled warmly at her father. "You are over-thinking this Papa."

Maurice sighed at his daughters attempt to steer clear of the topic of marriage. Belle was a well spirited girl for her youth. He knew she wanted so much more than what he, or the village could provide for her even though she not dare voice it aloud.

"My dear, It would just give me peace in mind. Having a husband may not be all you may think. I'm not always going to be here, and where will that leave you? By yourself? I could not bare to leave this earth and leave you unattended for. Besides, I very much wish to see a few little ones around before I go."

Belle sat down on the small stool she occupied once before and sighed sadly. She could no longer argue her father to see reason with her. Each time the topic was bound into conversation it was getting more and more difficult to argue. She, her very self saw reason in her fathers arguments. But she could not see herself playing housewife. At Least not for a couple of more years.

"Alright Papa, and whom may you suggest? The town already thinks i'm peculiar and odd."

Maurice looked up at Belle stunned. "My Daughter odd?"

Belle nodded her head and knotted her hands in her lap and gave her father a small sad smile. Although Belle never paid much attention to the town gossip, because it was in fact gossip, it still hurt her some hearing herself judged. Especially since she has been nothing but kind and mannered.

"I'm afraid my 'reading,' has put up quite a topic."

Maurice nodded his head in thought. His oiled fingers slightly rubbing his chin on occasion as he waited to come to a solution. Belle waited and prayed that her would find fault and change his mind but she jumped when he snapped his fingers.

"I got it!" Maurice smiled proudly to himself. "What about that Gaston fellow?"

Belle crinkled her nose in distaste. "Gaston?"

"Why not Belle? He is very agreeable. You hear nothing but praise of him in the village about being the greatest hunter. And you are more than deserving to have the best. He would provide well for you," Maurice said thoughtfully while he started to clean his work space and place his tools in the box.

Belle took the advantage of his distraction to roll her eyes. Of course the village would boast about Gaston being the best. It fit, and fed his hungry ego sufficiently. Belle shrugged the thought off. She felt ashamed at such ill thoughts. Sure he was rugged and handsome, but nothing like the beloved heroes and princes she read about in her dear books. He was rude, and conceited, but she could come to overlook such faults in time. Hopefully. Everyone deserved a chance. Even somebody like Gaston. Not even in the slightest was he the person she could picture herself to marry. But Belle, knew very well that her dearly loved Papa had not much time left. He was in his 70th year, and it was a grand miracle she was even conceived at such a late age of 52. Although Belle would have, preferred another or better suitor, she would never deny her Papa happiness. Even if it was at the expense of her own.

Belle finally concluded that she would accept a marriage proposal from Gaston if he was to ask, but only because of her father's request and not of her own will.

"Alright Papa, I will marry Gaston if he is to ask. If it is to give you peace in mind"

Maurice dropped his wrench in his box surprised and looked over at his daughter. "Will you Belle?" Hope filled his voice.

Belle could not help the laugh that passed her lips at her father's surprised expression. It was quite a sight. "Yes Papa, I would be delighted to." Even though Belle struggled with the sentence she did not feel so burdened after saying it. It felt more than a confession than admission.