Belle looked down at her map book, flipping through a few more pages before sighing exasperatedly and shoving it back into the pocket of her coat.
This was just her luck. She had finally graduated with a degree in architecture and history, saved up enough money to go on a tour of Western Europe, and she ended up on the wrong plane. She was in France, but not in Paris where she was heading. In fact, she had absolutely no idea where she was, couldn't find an appropriate map without the city name, and it was late in the afternoon so the streets were fairly empty. If only she had paid more attention when she exited the airport instead of running around excitedly...at least then she could have found her way back and arranged another flight…
Sighing into the chilly air she tightened the straps on her backpack and grabbed her suitcase, rolling it behind her as she searched for a district teeming with more life. Before long she located a street lined with restaurants and bars.
Passing a group of woman she called after them.
"Excuse me!"
They didn't seem to hear, happily entering a bar across the street. She tried again with a man smoking on a street corner.
"Excuse me sir? Do you speak English?"
He looked at her in confusion and said something in French. With a sigh she apologized for bothering him and began walking further down the street.
She started across a large street and stopped, her head snapping around to look at a gorgeous mansion at the end of the long road. Mentally debating on whether finding an English speaker was more important than investigating the lavish 1800's style mansion in the distance she heard a car honk beside her, startling her out of the street. The driver yelled something at her that was probably an explicative as she decided the building needed to be seen and wandered down the road towards it.
It was much later by the time she reached the mansion. A beautiful garden and high, white elegant walls set behind a fountain greeting her, making her grin. She HAD to see the inside.
Approaching the door she knocked gently, hoping whoever lived in the beautiful piece of art would be ok with a foreigner asking for a tour. She doubted it, but her heart was too far into the commitment of taking in the whole thing for her to stop her knuckles from striking the thick wooden door.
A very official looking butler answered the door, beckoning her inside. She stepped through the doorway and looked around at the graceful carvings and Baroque period décor filling the entry way and sitting area. It seemed to flow seamlessly into modern technology, the more updated facilities and electronics crafted in such a way to melt into the style without breaking the wonderful air.
"It's incredible…could I speak with your-"
She turned to find the butler had vanished, leaving her alone in the large house.
"-employer?..."
She checked the nearby dinning and kitchen areas, only managing to find a few busy cooks she didn't want to bother. Her only other options were to go upstairs or try the next wing, and she figured walking through the lower portion of the house would be safest. It would look suspicious if she went upstairs but the butler could very well have been up there.
Walking through the halls she peaked in open doors, calling softly.
"Mr. Butler? Hello? Mr. Butler, you shouldn't leave a stranger in the entry like that…"
Rounding a corner she saw the butler enter through a large doorway and followed, calling after him.
"Sir, please wait-"
She took a couple steps into a huge ballroom of sorts and stopped dead in her tracks. Standing around a table of food and beverages were six of the most attractive men she had ever seen in her life. They ceased talking when she entered and she felt her face heat up in embarrassment as all eyes turned to her, her hand death gripping her suitcase handle as she stammered out an apology.
"I-I'm so sorry, I was lost and I saw this beautiful house and had to investigate but the butler left me in the entry and I was looking for him and…oh God…you probably don't speak English…"
She covered her face with her free hand, cursing her luck. Within seconds one of the men, the tall man with shoulder length wavy blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, was before her. He seized her hand tenderly from her face, his own face uncomfortably close to hers. He laid a gentle kiss on her knuckles before looking up and smiling softly.
"I am afraid you are wrong, dear flower. I speak perfect English."
He practically purred, his voice flowing with a powerful French accent as he spoke. Belle let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm so glad! B-But I still feel bad for walking in on your…um…"
"It is but a simple get together, a casual party. I wanted to show my good friends my summer home, love."
He had a point. She realized all of them were dressed casually, most in t-shirts and jeans or slacks. Her eyes went back to the man in front of her and she realized his face was suddenly much, much closer. He smelled of roses and she could feel his breath caress her lips when he exhaled. The sudden proximity made her flinch back slightly, her face turning a dark shade of red.
"S-S-Sir?!"
"Yes, my dear?"
"Uh, er, you're…um…"
She fumbled for a way to tell him to back away without offending him. After all, he could help her.
"Move it! You're making her uncomfortable!"