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Rebel of my Destiny: Thank you for your review, I'm glad you still like the story and I'm glad I brightened your day :) I hope you like this chapter too, I'm sorry it's taken since September to update! :)
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ChaosHasCome: Thank you for your review, it gave me the kick I needed to update again. Thanks also for the kind words, I'm glad you like my story so much to give it such high praise! Thank you and I hope you like this chapter too :)
Ok, I'm really sorry I've taken so long to get this up here, the chapter has been so hard to write, it really has. I have also had major upheavals and stresses in my life, which I know I shouldn't blame, but they have kept me from my writing and for this, I apologise. I can only throw myself to the mercy of you dear readers (those of you who have not abandonned Belle and I for a better story) and hope you will like this chapter as much as you seem to like the others. I have done my best, please forgive the length of time between now and the last. Anyway, enough entreaties, on with the story :) ...
Always the outcast, never the princess
A Lady?
Belle sighed as she slowly opened her eyes to stare at the canopy above her. It took her a moment to realise that the day before had actually happened and she still pinched herself to make certain.
The peace of the castle was what she'd hoped for and expected and this was gratified to some extent. The massive door had shut behind them, blocking out the curious eyes and murmured enquiries as to her identity. The peace was short lived as numerous questions were immediately thrown at her.
"Shall I take your luggae up to your room, M'Lady?"
"What is your favourite food M'Lady, cook would like to know,"
"Do you wish to wash and dress for dinner, now M'Lady, or shall I ask for your bath to be delayed?"
Belle had not expected such little breathing space, in fact she had not known what to expect at all, but so daunted was she by the stifling attention that she cringed - though she tried to keep this unsocial instinct hidden. She was unsuccessful and the staff appeared upset that they had affronted their new mistress so quickly. Seeing this, Arthur was about to dismiss them with an explanation, but Belle spoke before he had the chance,
"I'm sorry, I thank you for your kind attention, I'm just not used to such, um... Kind enquiries," she spoke diplomatically and whilst Queen Lillian had no knowledge of the girl apart from the basics of her situation - to which Arthur had begrudgingly enlightened her, upon delivery of the express sent ahead by Wentworth - she was disposed to like the girl upon such a natural display of tact. Belle smiled, taking a moment to compose herself, "as for your questions, I believe it would be very good of you to take my luggage upstairs for me, my favourite food is roasted apples, though I am rather fond of lamb and yes, I would dearly love for my bath to be ready for me."
Arthur was positively beaming now as the servants smiled, glad they had not angered the new lady within their charge and took their leave to undertake their tasks. He turned to Belle as did his Aunt Lillian and took the opportunity to welcome her proerply.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, child. Arthur has spoken little of the new friend he had made, but I see his judgement is not impaired, even if his mouth seems to be." belle didn't know how to reply to this initially, looking to Arthur's disgruntled face and smiling because of it, she thanked Queen Lillian and returned the favour,
"I am really honoured to meet you, your Majesty. To be honest, never in my life have I ever dreamed I would step foot into a manor, let alone such a beautiful castle. I can't thank you, or your nephew, enough for such kindness." She blushed at this point, having not spoken so many words together since the days her father was alive and the sincerity was as pure as the grass of the palace lawns was green. She looked to Arthur to see his good humour restored and a smile upon his face and Queen Lillian smiled knowingly to herself as she eyed the look between them.
"Do not fret dear, you are welcome here. Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to take a walk about the gardens before dinner, you will join us, I hope?"
"Of course, your Majesty." Belle dipped a curtsy because she felt it right and Queen Lillian beamed at the girl's natural humility and ingrained notions of respect, for as a gentleman's daughter, Belle was not expected to know the regulations of high society, though she was no pauper either. For her to have such manners was pleasing to see. As such, the Queen nodded in reply and took her leave.
"I'm glad you accepted my help," Arthur said quietly once she was gone, reluctant to meet Belle's gaze now, "when I heard Wentworth had delivered my letter with all royal ceremony, I knew I had to do something to fix the mistake."
"You weren't to know."
"But I should've warned Wentworth not to, to be honest, I was more worried about replying quickly and, I didn't think." Belle smiled, but Arthur didn't see it as he was still looking anywhere but her face - particularly the floor.
"You don't need to beat yourself up about it."
"But I should've though better."
"It's in the past."
"But I need to think more if I'm ever going to be a good king." Belle's look of confusion as to why he was so bothered was suddenly lifted. So that's what this was about, he was worried he was already failing in his new responsibilities. She reached out to him and placed a comforting hand upon his shoulder, causing him to look her in the face. He was surprised by her sternly reassuring gaze.
"Artie, it's not your fault. You're new to this, you're going to make mistakes, it's your duty to learn and improve, not to reproach yourself for being human." At this point she blushed, " I hope you do not reproach yourself for trying to fix your mistake, because I know I do not." with this, and she wasn't sure what impulse overtook her, but override her senses and shyness it did, for she leaned forth and placed a quick and gentle kiss on his cheek before blushing furiously and quietly adding, "I'll see you at dinner." and turned to walk up the staircase behind her, finding a maid waiting for her at the top of the stairs.
Arthur nodded, staring blankly after her for a few moments before mumbling in quiet surprise,
"I shan't reproach myself now at all."
Belle had been nervous after that breach of her shyness and reserve to attend dinner, but she did and as Arthur smiled with the same shy nervousness, she was both worried and relieved. Worried that she may have made her one and only friend uncomfortable, and relieved that she had not upset him sufficiently for him his appetite to be stalled because of her presence.
She had convinced herself whilst washing and dressing for dinner that her display of thanks and affection for her friend was truly innocent, because he really had saved her from what seemed a never ending nightmare. For this she would be forever grateful, but his friendship was even more of a treasure to her, thus her worry that she may have offened him in some way.
Dinner passed quietly and uneventfully, though Belle was both touched and amused to see roast apples amongst the dishes served and her mind was put to rest - the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere and conversation stated that Arthur was not cross, far from it in fact. After such a long day, Belle requested that she be excused, an entreaty that was granted most kindly and so she retired to the peace of her room.
Upon waking, the staff seemed alert to her state of consciousness within minutes, giving her only a few moments of quiet contemplation - this being where she pinched herself to make sure her current circumstances were, indeed, real.
"Your bath is drawn M'Lady, and your gowns have been readied, which one would you like to select?" Belle, who had barely had time to fully collect her thoughts thanked the maid quietly and blinked, responding to the question simply with, "the blue one." only then wondering if she did have a blue gown, as she wasn't entirely sure. She'd spent so long in her Worcestershire uniform and was so tired that she couldn't recollect the gowns she did own, apart from the best of which, which she had already worn the day before.
Once ready, Belle was alerted to the fact that the King and his Aunt were waiting for her in the dining room for breakfast and so she joined them.
"Good morning dear, I hope you slept well." Queen Lillian greeted her as a footman helped her to her seat. Belle smiled when she realised it was Wentworth and thanked the Queen with the affirmitive,
"I did, it was far pleasanter than I am accustomed to." The allusion to Worcestershire woke Arthur up slightly, he was still slightly sleepy from staying up - a troubled mind was the cause of this - and the reference caused him to remember something he'd forgotten to address the day before.
"Belle, I thought you should know, your tutors will arrive today."
"My tutors?" Belle asked curiously, taking leave of the breakfast placed before her for a moment. Arthur nodded and Queen Lillian smiled,
"You take great interest in your studies, Belle?" Belle nodded,
"Oh yes, you Majesty, I have always dearly loved to read and I am, by nature, quite inquisitive, my father-" she paused at this point, pressing her lips together to compose herself, reminding herself of him was still painful, "my father, God rest him, wanted me to get the best tutelage in the land and thus sent me to the Academy."
Queen lillian nodded, moved by the emotion displayed at the mention of her father and the composure which she managed to reclaim. She pondered at that moment that, whilst not a Lady by birth, Belle held the natural hallmarks of such, though not present consistently. In her opinion, Belle was a diamond, not an old family heirloom, but newly discovered in the lowly settings of the Earth, rough around the edges and only in need of refining and polishing.
"Excuse my curiosity, but who are my tutors to be?"
"Their names escape me for the moment, though I know you'll be introduced to them upon their arrival. I do know, however, that you'll be tutored in the same subjects as at the Academy; magic, history, politics and ancient languages... as well as deortment, etiquette and dancing."
"Dancing?" All the others were quite natural to her, she had been taught all of those subjects at the Academy and could see their use and importance, but deportment, etiquette and dancing?
"Yes, Belle. Dancing."
"And etiquette and deportment?" Arthur nodded, Queen Lillian sipped her tea in silence. "But those are the lessons of a Lady."
"Which you are, Belle."
"But-" Belle floundered slightly and, not wishing to offend by pointing out that everyone present knew damn well she wasn't a Lady by rank, simply a lady by nature, she bit her tongue and instead said, "but I don't know how to dance..." Arthur and Queen Lillian chuckled, before the young Kind said,
"That is what the lessons are for, Belle."
"Belle nodded, but her confusion and curiosity were far from resolved."
"More to herself, rather than anyone at the table, Belle mumbled only loud enough for her lap to hear,
"I am to be a Lady?"
So, I hope you liked this chapter, I can only apologise again for the extraordinarily slow update. I hope you can find it in the kindness of your hearts to review and will be nice :) lol. I have a possible idea for the next chapter, but I have chores to do first before I'm able to pen (or rather type) it, so I can only, once more, appeal to your patience and grace. Thank you! :)