In the weeks following the dinner, Toby and Belle began to see each other almost every day. If Toby had spare time during the morning, he was sure to stop by Belle's home to see her, or she would stop by the shop to see him. Elizabeth Marsden began to demand that the two not go anywhere unchaperoned since it was not proper for the two of them to be seen together alone. Toby and Belle accepted being under the watchful eye of her maid, Beth, since she was never directly behind them or even closely watching them for most of the time they were together. Toby was now officially courting Belle and much to her family's slight displeasure in the match, they continued to treat Toby with kindness, except for Belle's brother-in-law, of course.

Belle's feelings for Toby had grown immensely since the day she had met him. She did not fear him nor did his past change how she felt about him. Though his past made her feel a bit uneasy, it was more so an uneasiness toward the suffering he had experienced rather than an uneasiness toward him, himself. She adored his smile, his personality, and the ambition he had in order to make his shop successful. In her eyes, he was her perfect match. She never cared about wealth or titles; she knew Tobias Ragg could make her happy with or without those things.

Toby was both beyond happy and relieved that Belle enjoyed his company. He loved spending time with her and had felt so much for her that he had never felt for anyone before. Everything about her in his eyes was perfect and he was beyond grateful that she had attended the grand opening of his shop. Since being released from the asylum, Toby had noted how many wonderful things had happened to him: he had met Belle, the shop was more successful than it ever had been, and he had felt comfortable in society once again. In fact, Toby was so satisfied with his life that he knew he just needed to take one more step in order to make life perfect: he had to ask for Belle's hand in marriage.

"Have you finished Frankenstein?" Belle asked Toby as she slipped her hand through his arm. On this chilly morning that Toby was not working, the two decided to take a stroll through the park together. It had been almost two months of their courtship now and strolls together had quickly become one of their favorite pastimes. Beth was sure to follow them at a distance and so that she would not be seen as overbearing.

"I did, yes," Toby said with a smile. "It took some time but I made it through."

Belle smiled and looked up at him. "And what did you think of it all? Heartbreaking, isn't it?"

Toby made a face. "Heartbreaking yet rather gruesome. Practically everyone in the novel is killed by that monster. I find it difficult to believe that you enjoyed the book, Belle. I, for one, didn't really enjoy it."

"You didn't? I think I enjoyed it because it was riveting. I never knew what was going to happen next and the monster was just unpredictable. There was an ominous feeling throughout the book that was quite entertaining. I must admit I did have some nightmares because of the story, however. Though, I reminded myself that monsters don't exist. It's impossible for Frankenstein's monster to exist; it's all fantasy. That gives me some comfort."

Toby stopped walking and looked at Belle. "It may give you some comfort, darling, but it's a false comfort. Monsters do exist. They may not be like Frankenstein's monster but they are much worse. Trust me, I've met one before. Actually, I've met all sorts of monsters throughout my life. I pray you never have to." After Toby spoke, he lightly moved his arm away from Belle's hand and walked on without her. Belle stopped walking and stared at him in silence. A twinge of guilt began to come over her; perhaps lending Frankenstein to Toby had not been the best idea, especially if he had endured similar situations as the characters. She frowned and looked back at Beth, who was catching up to her.

"Is everything alright, Miss?" Beth asked as she approached Belle. "Where's Mr. Ragg gone?"

"Don't worry, Beth, everything is alright. He's just walked a bit further down the path," Belle said as she turned back ahead of her. Toby was now quite a distance ahead of her and he appeared to be walking over to a tree. He walked with his head hung slightly low and his hands were in his coat pockets. Was he really that upset over her words? She had to make things right. "I'll go speak to him," she said quietly and began to walk down the path to him.

Toby stared up at the large tree as he gathered his thoughts. He hadn't meant to walk away from Belle but he was surprised by her words. He had told her of Sweeney Todd and his actions yet she still seemed to be blissfully unaware of the evils people are capable of doing. Toby had not enjoyed the novel because it reminded him too much of the past but he had read through and finished it. He did not want to read another story similar to that one ever again.

"Toby?"

Toby turned and saw Belle standing before him with a worried expression on her face. "I'm sorry if my words upset you," she said before she took his hand and quickly kissed it. "I should have realized that-"

"It's fine, Belle," Toby said gently to her. "I'm not upset with you. Certain things just remind me of… Well, you're aware."

Belle nodded. "I am. I'm sure you only want to be surrounded by anything to make you forget what you've endured. I'm sorry."

Toby shook his head softly and walked around the trunk of the tree. He could no longer be seen by Belle but he held his hand out to her. Blushing slightly, Belle took his hand and was pulled behind the tree by him. The two were face-to-face and the distance between them would cause a scandal should they be seen. "I'm already surrounded by something that makes me forget all I have endured."

Belle tilted her head softly, staring into his eyes as he spoke. "Oh? What?"

"You. Being with you makes me forget all the bad that's happened. You make me hopeful, Belle, not just for a better life now but for a better future, and I hope I can share that future with you."

Before Belle could respond, Toby placed a kiss on her lips and with a smirk, he walked out from behind the tree. He could hear the huffing and puffing of Beth as she ran over to him. He and Belle had been out of her sight for a brief moment and the worry was written all over her face.

"Where's Miss Marsden?" She asked.

Belle stepped out from behind the tree with a smile on her face. Her cheeks were a deep pink from the kiss but she kept her composure. "I'm here, Beth. I thought I had lost an earring somewhere here in the grass but I was mistaken."

Toby smiled to himself before extending his arm out to Belle again. "Yes, no need to worry, Beth. Belle and I shall walk for some time more and then we'll part ways since I need to start preparing for tonight."

Belle placed her hand through Toby's arm and gently squeezed him. "Well then, let's waste no time."

Belle returned home that afternoon as happy as can be. Toby's words of wanting to share a future with her played over and over in her mind and she could sense that perhaps a proposal was near. However, a different thought was also lingering in her mind, as well, and it gave her a horrible nightmare. As Belle fell asleep that night, she remembered what Toby had told her about monsters; they were indeed real, and she dreamt of one and would continue to dream of it in the nights that followed. She did not dream of a monster such as the one in Frankenstein, rather, she dreamt of a different monster she had not thought of for some time: the demonic apparition that had appeared before her during her the night at Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pie Emporium.

"When do you suppose he'll propose to you?" Vivian asked as she entered a small dress shop with Belle.

"I'm not quite sure, Vivian, as I told you," Belle answered as she followed her in. Though it had been a few days since Belle's walk in the park with Toby, she had only just told Vivian of what he had said to her. This piqued Vivian's curiosity and she had been pestering Belle with questions about her courtship with Toby all afternoon. Belle would answer her politely but she wanted nothing more than the questions to stop for the moment. With a sigh, Belle wandered over to a counter where lace gloves were displayed. She picked up a glove gingerly and held it against her own hand.

"Are you sure he can afford to support you both?" Vivian asked her, a bit too loudly. Other women in the shop glanced over nosily at the two sisters but then returned to their shopping.

"Vivian!" Belle groaned quietly. "Of course he can. I don't need much in life." She placed the glove back on the counter and walked away from her sister and to the dresses.

Vivian followed her quickly. "Belle, you may think that, but all your life you've had everything you've needed and everything you could ever want. Look at where we are: a dress shop! You won't be able to wear grand dresses such as this if you were to live in that pie shop."

"None of that matters to me, Vivian," Belle said to her. Her attention was then focused on a white gown. With a soft smile on her face, her fingers ran across the lace sleeves and skirts. She could imagine herself wearing it for her own wedding.

"You would look lovely in that dress, Isabelle," Vivian said, suddenly by Belle's side.

"Thank you," Belle smiled. "I like it very much."

Vivian then took her sister's hand. "I'm sorry, Belle. I can see that you care for Toby very much and I have a feeling that you will be happy with him no matter what. I just can't help but worry about you. You're my sister."

"I know I will be happy with him, Vivian. None of you need to worry about us," Belle said with a reassuring smile.

"Of course," Vivian said, as she went to a stack of hot boxes. "I'm sure he'll ask for your hand soon, though," she said as she quietly rummaged through the boxes. "I can see your excitement about it keeps you up all night."

Belle lowered her hand from the dress and looked over at her sister. "What makes you say that?"

"Well," Vivian began, "you've been somewhat quiet all afternoon and you look exhausted."

Belle straightened her posture and motioned to the door. Should she tell her sister of her dreadful nightmare? Perhaps she should, she thought. Afterall, Vivian was her older sister whom she could trust. The two had always confided in each other and shared their fears with one another. Belle knew it would even give her some comfort if she were to share with her sister. "I'll tell you but I'd rather not speak of it in here," she whispered.

Vivian nodded and hesitantly put down the hat box to join her sister outside. Once they left the shop, the two walked away together and stayed silent until they were no longer near people who could hear them.

"So tell me!" Vivian commanded anxiously once they were alone.

Belle sighed and began to think of how she could describe it all. "Alright, I have not been sleeping well lately because I keep having this recurring dream over and over again. Actually, I would say it's a nightmare rather than a dream." She could see curiosity written all over Vivian's face, so she continued. "For the past three nights, I've been experiencing a nightmare that always starts off with me walking into a room, which is always too dark for me to tell where it is. I'm not sure if it's a room I've been in before or not. I just keep walking and walking until I can see a dark and shadowy figure approaching me. This continues until him and I are standing before each other and I cannot make out the features of his face until a flash of lightning occurs and I see him-" Belle stopped when she heard Vivian's gasp.

"What does he look like?" Vivian asked, more curious than ever.

"He's deathly pale but his face is always covered with…," Belle stopped.

Vivian began growing impatient. "With what?"

"With blood, Vivian! It's not his own, I'm sure. He has this wild look in his eye and oh, he's just so frightening! He's always grinning at me, as well, and I can't wake myself up from the dream until he is fully revealed to me. I wake up wanting to scream but I can't because Aunt Elizabeth will think I've gone mad."

Vivian's eyes were wide with fear. "Why on earth would you dream of something such as that, Belle? What has come over you?"

Belle shook her head. "I don't know, Vivian," she lied. Belle knew she could not tell Vivian that she had seen the horrid figure the night she was at Toby's shop. That would make her seem truthfully mad and Vivian would be sure to tell their aunt about it all. "I'm sure I've been reading too many stories as of late."

Vivian nodded, wanting to believe her sister. "Yes, I'm sure that's it," she said. "Well, hopefully, that horrendous nightmare leaves you. Let's get your mind off of that and return to my home, yes? I'll have some tea and cakes made for us. How does that all sound?"

"Thank you, Vivian," Belle smiled. "That would be wonderful."

That same afternoon, Toby sat anxiously in the drawing room of Elizabeth Marsden. She had not been expecting him but Toby knew that Belle would not be home that afternoon, therefore making it the perfect day to speak privately with her aunt. As he waited for her, he reminded himself to be calm which he expected to be, but he was duped by his own expectations. His eyes wandered around the room nervously, never being able to focus on one piece of furniture or decor for more than a few seconds. He knew he had to say what he truly felt and that nothing would make him happier than to have Belle's hand in marriage. He only hoped that her aunt felt the same and accepted the match. If she were to not give him her blessing, would Toby be so mad as to elope with Belle? He wasn't entirely sure.

"Hello, Mr. Ragg," Elizabeth greeted as she walked in.

Toby nodded at her and immediately began his plan of action. "Good afternoon-"

"You are aware that Isabelle isn't here, are you not? She went out with her sister."

Toby nodded. "Yes, I am aware of that. I actually came to speak to you." Toby could have sworn he saw the woman repress a smile as if she knew what he was going to speak to her about.

"Sit, Mr. Ragg," she said. Toby immediately sat and watched her take the seat across from him.

"Well," Aunt Elizabeth began, "let's hear it then."

Toby was sure to sit up straight and look as confident as possible. "Well, the truth is, Lady Marsden, I am in love with your niece."

Aunt Elizabeth blinked. "And you think it appropriate to ask me if you may marry her or not?"

She was much too quick for Toby. "Yes," he said to her. He watched her sigh and rise from her seat, which made him nervous.

"You know that I am not quite fond of the idea of my niece marrying below her. How will you support her? She is used to this lifestyle, you know."

"I am aware. The income from the shop is more than enough, Ma'am. I'm sure she will live comfortably with me in the shop," Toby explained.

"At your shop," Aunt Elizabeth said in slight horror. "That's no place for a proper lady to live. Will you ever have a true home for yourselves?"

Toby cleared his throat. "It's possible."

Elizabeth was not satisfied with his answer and Toby was beginning to sense that he was failing. "And what if business should suddenly become slow?" She asked.

"Oh, that won't ever happen. There will always be people in my shop. I am confident about that," Toby boasted. "I can provide for her. Please, Ma'am. I love her so much and I would do anything for her!"

Elizabeth sighed deeply and faced the young man. "As much as I may not fully agree with this match, I can see that you do love my niece, Tobias Ragg. and for that reason, I give you my blessing to ask her to m-"

Toby shot up from his seat and ran to Aunt Elizabeth. He embraced her tightly without thinking. "Thank you so much!" he cried. "You haven't any idea how happy this makes me."

Aunt Elizabeth rolled her eyes and couldn't help but pat Toby's back before gently pushed him away. "How indecent of you," she scoffed. "No matter, I wish you two the best of luck and much happiness. When do you plan on asking her?"

Toby exhaled a sigh of relief because the worst was over. "Thank you. I plan on asking her next week."

"I'm sure that will be a very happy day for both of you."

Toby smiled widely. "I am very much looking forward to it."

That day could not have arrived any quicker for Toby. Before he knew it, it was the Saturday afternoon that he had been anticipating. The weather was cool but it was fine weather to take a stroll. The previous day, Toby had sent a short note to Belle asking her to meet him the following afternoon at the same park they always went to. Toby had arrived first. He anxiously fiddled with the simple ring in his coat pocket as he stood beneath one of the trees knowing that in a few moments, his soon to be fiancé would be here.

Outside of the park entrance, Belle was arriving in a carriage that her aunt requested for her. Beth had accompanied her and had been secretly told by Belle's aunt about the proposal that was to take place. She couldn't help but smile whenever she looked at Belle, but Belle did not find that unusual. Belle knew that Toby was going to ask for her hand in marriage eventually, but she didn't think it would be this soon. She simply thought this visit to the park would be like any other day.

"Isabelle Marsden, will you do me the honor of becoming my..." Toby's voice came to a stop when he heard the sound of the horses trotting up the road and stop near the park entrance. He had done all he could to prepare and there was no turning back now. When he saw Belle step out of the carriage, Toby took a deep breath and began walking to greet her. When Belle saw Toby approaching her, she smiled and immediately made her way to him not expecting to soon be asked a life-changing question.