EXPLANATION: I know, I'm very bad at prolonging updates. But I figured that since I've finished the first book already, what's the point of making you all wait? That's just cruel. So, I'm going to post the rest of the book at several points today, two chapters at a time. I hope no one is upset for my quick updates. I know that sounds weird, but it happens.

Normal Note: This, my lovelies, was my second favourite chapter to write. It was so enjoyable! I just hope everyone else likes it as much as I do. I'm very proud of it! Oh, and thank you BlueDreamer31 for the two reviews!

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Chapter 10:

Trance of Flirtation

Lumiere was in the dining room that night, overseeing the last of the serving staff clearing the table. Dinner had progressed perfectly, but it had seemed far more draining them usual. The Frenchman sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. Perhaps his fatigue was because the young prince had seemed in a particularly foul mood, and therefore he had been on his toes all night, trying to not disappoint him.

Bidding the last of his staff goodnight, he groaned once the dining room door was shut. I still must manage to stay awake to snuff all of the candles. I will have help, at least.

As if on cue, the door creaked open, and Babette stepped inside. "Bonsoir monsieur" she greeted.

He looked at her fleetingly, "Bonsoir mademoiselle" he replied. He added as she approached, "We might as well start with the candles in here, because, as you probably saw, everyone is starting to retire to bed."

She nodded, before coming up beside him. The maid grabbed the snuffer from him, and started on a few of the candles in the room. She was, in truth, simply keeping herself busy to give her an excuse not to make conversation with the maitre'd. Their conversation earlier that day would not leave her mind. He protected me from the Master. Why would he do that?

Lumiere broke her from her thoughts, by asking, "Is something the matter, mademoiselle? You have not spoken much."

"No, I am fine" she replied.

The young man nodded, although he did not quite believe her. Why will she not tell me? He did not know what was wrong with the maid, but he intended to find out. Walking over to her, the maitre'd inquired, attempting to seem casual, "The dinner was lovely, no?"

"Oui. Although I wish that the Master had not been so picky and demanding" she answered.

The tall man nodded in understanding, "I had forgotten just how intimidating he could be, although he is merely a boy" he responded.

Babette sighed, "I can only fear for what he will be like when he grows up" she replied. Silence fell between them once more. The maid knew that he was trying to make conversation with her, but she had promised herself that she would stay as far away from men like Lumiere as possible.

The maitre'd, sensing his companion would not continue to speak herself, he decided to do so. "Did anyone bother you today?"

"Veronique and Amelia, as usual" she replied.

The Frenchman nodded, although he did not say a word. Since she had not spoken much, he was surprised when Babette inquired, "Why do you ask?"

Hesitating only for a moment, he answered, "You seem somewhat…terser this evening." Although, it seems that that is not a rare occurrence when she is around me.

The young woman, moving to snuff a new set of candles, replied, "I simply wish I did not have to do this."

Lumiere gave a small laugh, "I see we have something in common after all" he responded jokingly.

She scoffed, rolling her eyes, "Must you make everything a joke?" she asked in fervent annoyance.

He growled in reply, "I was simply trying to lighten both our moods, mademoiselle."

She chose to throw another lashing of words at him. "You truly want to know why I am so disagreeable this evening? It is because I do not want to waste my time with you!"

Lumiere took deep breaths. He was finding it more and more difficult to maintain his good humoured nature. The Frenchman locked eyes with her, glowering furiously. Voice cold, he replied with curtly, "Like it or not mademoiselle, you are stuck with me for the next month. Also, if I may remind you, I am your superior in rank, and I do not take kindly to being a deliberate target for your accusations and harsh words. To make this insufferable time even remotely tolerating, I strongly suggest that you hold your tongue with any more impoliteness that you desire to give me."

Babette answered irritably, "If you expect me to apologise for not doing so, then it shall not happen."

The maitre'd responded, "Well…I would at least expect you to thank me for what I did for you."

She turned to him, placing her hands on her hips, "What?" she snapped.

He sighed, aggravated, "You truly will not admit that you appreciated what I did for you?" he answered in disbelief and irritation. She is so arrogant that she will not even thank me for risking my own position just to protect her!

The maid sighed heavily, before reluctantly responding, "Very well. I…I am grateful for what you did, monsieur."

He nodded, "Merci, mademoiselle" he answered.

Babette questioned, "Why did you do such a thing?" She could not help the suspicion and coldness in her tone. The only reason a man is kind to a woman is if he wants something.

Lumiere raised his eyebrows. Turning to her fully, he replied, not holding back his confusion, "I did it because," he paused, "Because I would not like you to leave."

The young woman inquired, still somewhat mistrustful, "Truly?"

"Oui. But…that is…because I would not be able to handle my guilt if I let you leave because of something I have obviously done" he answered hastily. Mon Dieu, why did I say that?

Babette raised an eyebrow, "Something you have done?" she repeated, pretending to be curious. She had to hide her smirk. She wanted to hear him say what he did.

"Mais oui. It is quite clear that your avoidance of your morning duties had something to do with me" he replied matter-of-factly.

She clenched her fists, her anger mounting, "Really? Well, allow me to inform you what that 'something' is, monsieur. You were incredibly rude and insulted me! You called me a…a whore!"

Lumiere wagged a finger at her is if he were correcting a child, "No, I do not believe I did. If you remember, mademoiselle, I only called your actions such. I do not believe that you personally, are like that. Oh, and I also did not insult you, I was simply making a point" he answered.

Babette crossed her arms. She had to admit…he had a point. Even the maid would admit that her actions had been like that of a whore, and the maitre'd had never raised his voice or directly insulted her. The young woman took a deep breath, calming herself, "Very well, I…I suppose I did overreact" she said.

The young man smiled, and chose to gaze at her as they snuffed out the candles together. The firelight assisted in displaying her beauty, and made the strands of her dark hair practically glow in the light. She was…flawless. The maid then looked directly at him, and he froze. Dieu, now she will most likely yell at me for admiring her.

However, Babette simply smiled flirtatiously, "It is impolite to stare, monsieur" she teased playfully.

The Frenchman, refusing to look as though he had been caught off-guard, replied smoothly, "Forgive me, cheri, but I was unable to ignore your elegance in this particular setting."

The young woman laughed, and gave him a coy smile with a bat of her lashes, "Really? Then in what particular setting have you been able to disregard my…elegance?"

He chuckled, "Was I so obvious?" he asked. The maitre'd continued, "Just because I never said anything, does not mean I never took notice…besides, the setting has nothing to do with it."

She laughed, "You probably use a similar line against all the women you bed" she accused playfully.

"I see that you are already knowledgeable in my guilty pleasures" replied the Frenchman.

Babette answered, "Oh, I am knowledgeable of many things, monsieur, outside of what you fail to hide."

Walking closer, Lumiere placed a hand on her cheek, caressing it ssoftly, "Do you? Perhaps you could…educate me" he whispered suggestively.

She blamed it on the fire in the fireplace, but the maid could not deny the heat that rose to her cheeks. That was when she was broken abruptly from her somewhat entranced state. The maid noticed how the maitre'd was pressed against her, his hand moving from her cheek, down her neck, to rest on her shoulder. She noticed how the firelight seemed to make his grey-blue eyes glimmer, and was instantly entranced by them again.

However, Babette shook her head, breaking her trance-like state once more. Forcefully removing his hand from her shoulder, the maid stepped back. She said, her voice cold and her statement curt, "I trust you should not need my assistance any longer this evening. Bonne nuit, monsieur."

Lumiere watched, not saying a word, as she turned and ran from the room.

...

No! Don't run away!

So, like I said, I know what I told all of you, but I figured that I would just post the first book before I go back to school tomorrow. Not looking forward to it :(

Please remember to review!

See you in a minute with the other chapter,

-Babetteisawesome :)