Chapter 4: Death in the Snow

"Isabelle, my dear! Florence!" Madame Delacroix hugged both of her guests, while leading them into her dining room. "Lunch will be served soon, however there is still one more guest to arrive!" She sat down at the table, while her maid took Florence's and Isabelle's old, worn out coats. Florence sat doen beside Madame Delacroix's oldest son, Frederic, and her oldest daughter, Sidonie. On the opposite side of the table were her youngest child, Sandrine, along with her fiance and father, Aubert. Sandrine was a lot like her father, grounded, soft spoken and gentle. Very much a contrast to her vain and shallow siblings, who took more after their mother. Her fiance, Jean, was a plain looking, but kind man, though rather poor. At first, her mother hadn't agreed with their relationship, but after she saw how happy her daughter was with him, she had given them her blessings.

"Bonjour, Florence." she said kindly. Florence returned the smile and greeting. Aside from Belle, Sandrine had always been the only person Florence considered to be a friend.

The doorbell rang and Florence knew that this had to be the last guest to be invited. She did not turn around when he entered the room, but noticed the large shadow falling over her. Who might that be?

"Oh, Sandrine, dear, would you might going one chair further, so our guest can sit there."

Sandrine gave her mother a confused look, but then nodded and did as she was told. Florence's heart almost stopped b eating when she saw that mountain of a man sitting down. "G...Gaston?"

"Bonjour, Florence." he said with a smirk. Florence drew back a little.

"Bonjour..."

The dinner was quickly served a finished, but all the while Florence couldn't really enjoy it. She just felt uncomfortable around the brute and even though she tried not to let it show, all she wanted was to just run back home. The worst thing was however, while eating, Gaston often shot her rather flirty looks and grins. What was he trying to do?

After the desert had been finished and Madeleine had cleaned the table of the dishes, Madame Delacroix raised her glass. "I think now it's time, Monsieur Gaston!"

He looked at her, nodding with a smile.

"You see, Florence, the reason we invited you is because Monsieur Gaston and me...oh, and your mother of course, had prepared a little surprised for you, right?" She looked at Isabelle and winked. but Florence's mother just returned a uncertain smile.

"Dear Florence," Gaston stood up, walked around the table and took, or rather grabbed, the young womans hand. "You may feel honoured and joyful, for I, Gaston, have made decision."

"A...a decision?" she asked, as she exchanged nervous looks with her mother.

"Yes! You shall be my bride!"

"WHAT?!" Florence shot up, looking at the other people in the room, all of them rather shocked about her reaction. "I, um, I need just a moment!" She slid her hand out of his fistz and ran upstairs. She still heard Madame Delacroix's words. "Young brides, always so shy."

She went out on to the balcony, looking over the snow buried village. Such a beautiful sight. She saw Maurice's and Belle's home, smoke coming out of the chimney. She saw them behind the window. laughing and talking. If only she could've be there instaed of here. She sighed, leaning forward. Maybe the height was not too much to kill her, she could just jump down and run...somewhere. Just away from this mess theses people had gotten her into.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder turning her around.

Gaston stood there, a grimace on his face. "What's taking you so long, woman?"

"I...I just..."

"Come!" he ordered. "The people down there want to be around when you accept."

"You big, idiotic moron! Accept? Why would I accept, after what you've done to Francoise!"

Gaston looked at her in surprised. "How do you...? Oh, yes, Le Fou thought he heard someone running away. I thought it had to be one of his hallucinations, but as it seems it was you, huh?" He grabbed her firmly by her arms. "So, what? He had it coming. One should never try to betray Gaston. Besides, doesn't every woman dream of marrying a strong, brave man liked me?"

"There is nothing brave about beating up people who are smaller than you."

The man just shrugged it off and dragged her towards him. "Either way, you will marry me. Your mother is poor, soon you'll have nothing left. Besides, what if...something ould happen to her?"

"W-what do you mean?" Florence asked in shock. "No, you...you wouldn't..."

"I won't...if you accept!" He leaned down and kissed Florence rosy lips. Furiously she slapped his face and shoved him away. Then she ran down the stair and without even grabbing her coat, she ran out of the house.

"Florence?!" Isabelle shouted, but she kept running.

"Wait!" Isabelle ran after her, trying to reach her, but suddenly she suffered another coughing fit and fell to the snowy ground. Florence turned around. "Mere!"

She ran back to her, trying to help her up. "Florence...all I want for you is...is to be happy."

"Mere, please...please."

"I'm sorry I wasn't always a great mother...but I hope you can forgive me..."

"Mother, you will live. Come, try to stand."

"I can't. I knew I had not much time left. Please, Florence, don't make the mistakes I..." Suddenly Isabelle fell limb. Florence clasped her mouth. "Mere...no...no!"

"Isabelle, what-?" Madame Delacroix ran over to them. "Oh no! Isabelle?! Isabelle!" She got on her knees, trying to wake her friend, but Florence, who slowly got up, knew that her mother would never rise again. She looked at the other woman with as much contempt as she could muster. "Your fault...it's all just YOUR FAULT!"

Through her loud voice, several villagers had caught their attention and came out of their houses.

"What's going on?"

"Why are you yelling like that?"

"Is that Isabelle La Noel?"

Madame Delacroix looked at her in shock, before the young woman turned around and ran off.

"Florence!"

But she didn't listen. Instead she ran straight out off the village