Here you go my dears! Chapter 7 on Thursday, just like I promised.

This was the most enjoyable chapter in this book! I loved writing it! The interactions between Lumiere and Babette were so much fun!

Please enjoy and remember to review!

…

Chapter 7:

Pride & Prejudice

Babette calmly walked through the crowd that evening, serving drinks to the noble guests. For some, it would be a terrifying task, but to her it was simple and easy. However, the maid could not keep a small flutter of nervousness away. However, it was not for the task that lay ahead of her. She was a maid, and she had learned to accept even the most socially daunting of her duties. Her worry was in fact directed at the maitre'd. His pursuits have been most upsetting. Hopefully he shall not attempt anything tonight.

The young woman, after serving wine to a noble lady, noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Lumiere was standing at the door, formally greeting each of the guests as they entered. She noted, however, that he payed particular attention to any of the beautiful young women that happened to arrive. Babette rolled her eyes at this obvious display. So typical of him. The ball was for Prince Adam's birthday, although it had been while after his actual birthday, the royals were celebrating now. Of course, Lumiere was making it about himself and his pursuits with women.

As she continued walking around with the tray, the young maid would occasionally glance at Lumiere. She gritted her teeth, resisting the urge to storm over to him and say something. How can he flirt so openly, and to every single young woman? Does he have no shame? She scoffed, realizing that he most likely did not.

All of a sudden, she heard Angelique's voice call out musically, "Babette! There you are!"

The maid turned, and smiled upon seeing the decorator approach her. She watched as she glanced in Lumiere's direction, and an expression of slight disgust briefly crossed her face. She commented, "I still cannot believe he has not grown out of doing that. Flirting with every girl but never meaning anything he says."

"Oui" replied the maid. She added with a mischievous smirk, "But, there is still no harm in having some fun," her smirk disappeared, "Men understand that, but women long for commitment. Lumiere doing that is just hurting them."

Angelique replied, "But you do not wish for commitment."

"I did once, actually. I have just given up on it now. No man could possibly want commitment, so why should I deliberately give myself fully to a man, risking his inevitable betrayal, just on the very unlikely occurrence that I mean something to him" replied the young woman. She continued, "You know, we should really not just be standing around conversing."

Angelique rolled her eyes, "Relax. The nobles will just stand around talking until the band starts, so why should we not?" she replied rhetorically.

Babette nodded. All of a sudden, she noticed someone out of the corner of her eye, and her mischievousness returned. Her friend, who was glancing in the same direction, smirked as well. A handsome young nobleman was standing alone not too far away, looking at them and grinning.

Babette sauntered over to him. Stopping to stand beside him, the young woman batted her eyes invitingly, "Bonjour monsieur. Is there anything I can do for you?" she purred suggestively.

He chuckled, "Actually, yes, there happens to be" he replied with a wink.

The maid bit her lip seductively, and then leaned close to his ear, deliberately giving him a good view of her cleavage. She whispered in a sultry tone, "Well, then I suppose I am obliged to be of assistance. As a noble, you must be a man of many talents, no?"

"Indeed. Care to have me show you?" he asked.

The maid smiled, "Mmm, how tempting. I trust I will not be disappointed?" she inquired.

The nobleman replied, "Positively not. Now," he took her hands in his, "Let us go somewhere more private. I don't think anyone would approve of our amorous activities so openly."

The young woman nodded, "Oui, that sounds…lovely" she said in a low, seductive tone.

All of a sudden, she felt someone grasp her arm tightly, and it was not the nobleman.

Babette then felt herself being pulled away and into an empty room, and the door being slammed behind her. She whirled around to face Lumiere, who let her go from his grasp indifferently. The Frenchman hissed, "Mon Dieu, have you gone mad, woman?"

She glowered at him, "No" she spat.

"Well, I find that hard to believe. Do you have any idea that shame you could bring on this castle by flirting with so many nobleman, and so publicly?" responded the maitre'd heatedly.

Babette scoffed, "Are you even hearing yourself speak monsieur? If you are, then I presume that you are being deliberately unobservant. For, unless my eyes deceived me, I believe I just witnessed you flirting with about every pretty girl you came across, and rather enjoyed yourself, I might add" she countered.

Lumiere responded, attempting to keep calm. "I was doing nothing of the sort."

As if to prove her point, the maid looked up at him and batted her eyelashes as she had seen one of the ladies do. Imitating the woman's high-pitched voice, she said, "Oh Lumiere, how lovely to see you," she pretended to fan herself, "Me, beautiful? Thank you. Since I am such a vain little brat I do appreciate recognition from anyone, even if I do spend two hours in the morning on my appearance!" She continued heatedly, "Those women are absolute…"

Lumiere interrupted spitefully, "Whores? Before you say such a term, mademoiselle, I suggest you go and find a mirror, because you certainly did look like one back there."

Babette gasped, "How dare you?" she growled.

The maitre'd rolled his eyes, "Finally, she recognises a true offense when she hears one. Pour le Dieu, you take everything as an attack. It seems like whatever I say to you, you believe it to be an insult!" he said.

The maid put a finger to his chest in accusation, "You, monsieur, just cannot see how wrong your actions against me have been" she replied.

That comment caused the maitre'd to reach his peek of frustration. He pushed her finger from his chest and responded, "Myactions against you? I am inclined to believe I misheard you, mademoiselle, but then again, I have heard similarly ridiculous notions leave your lips before" he countered. He continued, his anger building further, "You, mademoiselle, are the proudest, and most irritating woman I have ever met!"

She ignored his statement as if he had not even said it, "Lumiere, you have been purely annoying to me, and obviously do not like me."

"At last, the lady says something intelligent" interrupted the maitre'd, now fuming.

The maid stepped closer "Now you are just being mean!" she snapped.

"You are being very childish, Babette" replied Lumiere.

She gasped, insulted, "I am not!" she argued, arms crossed.

Lumiere scoffed, "And yet, you have replied to me in such a manner" he answered.

Babette hissed, "You are just far too proud to…"

He interrupted curtly, each word coated with anger, "Proud? No mademoiselle, I believe you have it wrong yet again."

The maid growled, "Leave."

Lumiere threw his hands up, "Sacre Dieu! As soon as you do not have a witty comeback, you command me to leave, and actually expect me to listen. You just hide behind your words, mademoiselle, and I find that irritating in a woman" he said angrily, paying little head to his volume. He turned to her and sneered, rising to his full height so he appeared more intimidating, "I pity the fool that is prepared to wed you, and hope he knows what he is getting into."

Babette gave a short, bitter laugh, "You are forgetting one thing, monsieur. I will never be wed to anyone" she replied.

"So be it. All the better for the unfortunate soul, then" he spat. Feeling his anger had risen far too much, Lumiere excused himself wordlessly.

Once out the door, the maitre'd forced a smile to the remaining arriving nobility, attempting to calm himself.

Cogsworth, when he saw him, demanded, "Lumiere! What was all of that about? Why did you drag Babette off like that?"

The maitre'd glared at him, "It is nothing" he replied sharply.

The Head of Household, taken aback by the tall man's manner, nodded. What's the matter with him?

…

Didn't you hear the argument Cogsworth? That's why.

To answer a possible question, yes, I did make a Jane Austin reference with the title. But I love that book and I'm reading it right now, and I felt that the title really summed up the chapter. Did you like the argument scene? I loved writing it.

Please leave a review my dears. I like hearing your thoughts on my writing. I'll take any criticism, good or bad, because the good makes me feel happy, and the bad helps me improve my writing.

Like I said, I won't be updating for quite a while. I'm so very sorry, but I can't help it. Blame school. School is at fault for everything.

Well, I'll see you dears soon,

-Babetteisawesome :)

P.S: I know my chapters are short, but that's just the way I write. I've never been able to do long chapters or stuff like that. I hope that doesn't bother anyone.