Chapter Ten

19th of February, 1742

"I cannot believe he is three already," said Aurelia with a somewhat wistful tone in her voice.

"Indeed. Happy birthday, son," Renaud boomed, his chest puffed out with pride.

It was the small prince's birthday. Maggie Potts had taken her young charge up to meet his parents in the fourth floor drawing room. Renaud and Aurelia beamed down at the little prince. They did not see their son very often. It was not that they did not want to spend time with the boy, but they just did not have time for it. Now that Renaud had taken over his father's role as the provincial prince regnant of Nivernais, both he and Aurelia were often too busy meeting with officials and attending various royal balls and parties to spend time with their child.

Clutching his nurse's hand tightly, the young prince stared up at his mother and father, a terrified look in his blue eyes. He gripped Mrs Potts' hand tighter and whimpered in fear. Mrs Potts had raised the prince since his birth, and she was the only parental figure in his life for the most part. To him, his real parents were complete strangers. On rare occasions his father would visit him just before he went to bed, and sometimes his mother would have a picnic with him and Mrs Potts in the rose garden, but other than that he had little contact with his parents.

"Christophe, come over here and give Mama a hug," said Aurelia softly as she bent down so that she was at her three year old son's level. She smiled warmly at him. The small boy shrank back in fear.

"Go on, Adam," urged Mrs Potts gently. "Give your mother a hug."

The prince relinquished the grip he had on his nanny's hand and moved forward so that he was face to face with his mother. His bottom lip trembled slightly. Aurelia lifted her arms and wrapped her son into a tight embrace. He whimpered slightly and she kissed him on the top of his head. Unfortunately, just as her lips hit his silky reddish blonde hair, the tiny boy burst into tears. Aurelia let go of him immediately, bewildered by her son's outburst. The prince quickly ran behind Mrs Potts' leg, tears still streaming from his soft blue eyes.

"I am sorry. He just isn't used to you," explained Mrs Potts apologetically, giving the prince a comforting pat on the head. "And the poor mite is probably a tad bit confused. You see, I usually call him Adam. He is not used to being called any other name."

"I see," mumbled Aurelia sadly, sounding close to tears. She had been so ill after her son's birth that she had not been able to properly bond with him as a newborn.

"You just need to spend more time with him," the older woman told her. "Then you won't seem so strange to him."

"But I am his mother!" Aurelia wailed. "I gave birth to him! I should not be a stranger to my own son."

"It is only because he isn't used to you," Mrs Potts reminded her gently. "Come down to his nursery and play with him sometime. He'll warm up to you in time, don't worry. And we must decide on what we should all call him. He's three years old and he doesn't have a proper name. The poor little baby gets so confused with all of the things that he is called."

"Yes," replied Aurelia quietly. She was still in shock from her son's outburst. "What do you suggest?"

"Well, he is used to me calling him Adam all the time. Why don't we refer to him by that name from now on? It is easier that way."

"Yes, you are right. It is easier that way," Aurelia murmured, a twinge of sadness in her voice. She preferred the name Christophe for her son. It reminded her of her father somewhat, but she did not have the energy to argue for it.

"Should we give Nic-I mean Adam- his gifts?" asked Renaud who had been watching the exchange awkwardly.

The prince peeked out from behind Mrs Potts. He did not understand why he was referred to by so many different names, nor was he entirely sure just who his parents were, but he did understand the word "gift".

"Josette is bringing them down now," replied Aurelia.

The heavy doors swung open and Josette entered the room, her arms laden with gifts for the young prince. She settled them down before Aurelia, and moved to the back of the room, carefully trying to not to make eye contact with her former lover. She normally liked to maintain as much distance as possible from Renaud.

"Look, darling," Aurelia said to her son who was still hiding behind Mrs Potts' leg. "Presents for you! Look, there's one Grandpere sent you from Denmark. And here is one from your Uncle Anselm."

Adam hesitantly came out of hiding and slowly walked towards his mother and the pile of gifts. He smiled for the first time that day and took the nicely wrapped present his mother was holding. The prince began to tear open the present eagerly, shreds of brightly coloured wrapping paper falling to the floor. Aurelia smiled.

"Say thank you, Adam," reprimanded Mrs Potts gently.

"Thank you," the prince said with a slight lisp, not looking at either of his parents as he spoke.

Josette giggled slightly before she caught Renaud's eye. He began to approach her. Josette panicked.

"I have to go," she said hurriedly. Renaud stopped and looked to the floor.

"So soon? Are you sure?" asked Aurelia from the ground where she was clearing up the mess made by her son.

"Of course, of course," said Josette, chuckling nervously. "A lot of work to be done, you know. Those floors aren't going to mop themselves."

"Can't you get someone else to do it," asked Renaud, raising an eyebrow.

"No, no. I like it," Josette lied. "It is wonderful exercise. I need it. I'm cooped up in this castle all day, after all. Good bye."

The maid pulled the door shut behind her and began to make her way down the hall. She breathed a sigh of relief and congratulated herself on managing to get out of that awkward situation so quickly. She heard a voice call her name just as she reached the stairs. Her sister came running up to her moments later.

"Jo, have you seen the new maître d'?" Babette asked breathlessly.

"The one who replaced poor old Poulin? I can't say that I have met him personally, but I have heard stories. He's quite the Lothario from what I can tell."

"He's the most charming man I've ever met. He told me that my eyes were browner and more delicious than the richest chocolate soufflé," sighed her sister dreamily.

"Right, well, I'm not really interested in him or any man at the moment. Now if you'll excuse me-"

"Oh, Josette. You should come down and meet him. You need to move on and forget Renaud."

"I wish I could," Josette sighed. "But it is just not that easy. Renaud is the only man I have ever loved, both emotionally and physically. As much as I want to, I can't just forget him and move on."

Lumiere, the Nivernais castle's new maître d'hôtel, spent his first night in the castle alone. This was quite unusual for him. At his old household in Paris, he had been worshipped by the majority of the female staff. Not because of his appearance, however. Even Lumiere himself had to admit that, with his gangly physique, long nose, and distinct lack of chin, he was not the most handsome man in the world, but because of his charm and personality. He was accustomed to waking up next to a beautiful woman or two, but he was tired from his journey and desired to rest more than anything else.

When he woke up on the morning of his third day in the castle, he was pleased to see that he was lying next to a beautiful woman with short, curly golden hair. He had forgotten her name, her job, and even what they had done the previous night, and, judging from the look she gave him when she eventually woke up, she could not recall the experience either.

He spent the third evening with another blonde woman whose name he could never forget. This was primarily because she would scream her own name when she reached the peak of her physical satisfaction. Lumiere was too much of a gentleman to ask her why as they were cuddling in bed after the deed had been done.

The fourth night, he was kept company by two red-haired kitchen maids. Spirited, energetic young things that Lumiere, who was approaching thirty years of age, could scarcely keep up with them. Still, Lumiere liked a challenge, and by the end of the night all three parties were exhausted.

The two maids were gone by the time he woke up on the morning of the fifth day. He got up, dressed, and began to get on with his duties. A dark-haired woman with generous curves and intoxicatingly beautiful brown eyes passed him the hallway on his way to the kitchens. Lumiere halted, turned, and stared back at her.

"Hi Lumiere! Hi! What're you looking at?" Peter, the perky sous chef, bounded up to him.

"Who is that bosomy goddess?" he breathed.

"Who? Oh, that's Josette. She's the daughter of the royal family's tutor," Peter told him. "She's been working here as a maid since she was fourteen."

"She will be mine."

"Josette? She's gorgeous, but no one has a chance with her. She's still hung up on-"

Lumiere had stopped listening by this point. He had already begun formulating his plan of attack. This beautiful woman would be his, for one night at least.

It was late at night. Josette did not know how late it was exactly, but she supposed that she must be one of the few inhabitants of the castle still awake. As she wiped down the dining room table down for a fifth time, she heard a sound coming from the kitchen. It sounded like a man singing. Placing her cloth down on the table, she went to investigate. The owner of the voice stopped and turned around when he heard the kitchen door open. He looked delighted when he saw Josette. He swaggered up to her.

"You are the new maître d', aren't you?" asked Josette.

"Oui, je m'appelle Lumiere." Lumiere kissed her hand chivalrously.

"You sing beautifully."

"And you are just plain beautiful," Lumiere told her, taking both of her hands in his. "Your eyes! They are browner and more delicious than the richest chocolate souffle."

"You said that to my sister, didn't you?"

"Your sister?" asked Lumiere in alarm. "Is she a blonde? Redhead?"

"No, she has dark hair like mine, but shorter."

Lumiere breathed a sigh of relief. Josette looked at him curiously.

"Wine?" He picked up a bottle that was sitting on a bench beside him.

Josette regarded the bottle in Lumiere's hands with suspicion.

"What are you up to?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I am new here," Lumiere replied in a defensive tone." I am only trying to make a friend. I do not know anyone in this castle."

"Oh, really? You've been getting to know several of the other maids quite well from what I've heard."

"Wine?" he offered again, holding out the bottle to her.

"I can't. I have work to do."

"It's ten o'clock in the evening," Lumiere pointed out.

"Fine," sighed Josette. "Just one glass, though."

They went back into the dining room, bringing the wine with them.

"So, my new friend, tell me about yourself," Lumiere said, settling down in the seat next to Josette and pouring them both a glass of wine.

"What do you want to know?"

"How did you become a maid?"

"I was born in the castle. I have never even left the grounds," said Josette, taking a sip of wine. "My parents were both servants. Papa is the royal tutor, and he taught me to read and write and count. My mother died of a fever a few days after Babette's birth. I was seven years old and it was up to me to look after her as Papa had to work. It was hard and I didn't have time to play much, but I do not resent her for it. It made me grow up fast and it made me stronger as a person. What about you?"

"I was born in Rouen," Lumiere told her, pouring himself a second glass of wine. "My father was a chef, and my mother was a musician."

"A musician?" Josette asked. "What sort of music?"

"She could sing and play the piano," Lumiere replied. "Not for money of course, but she was quite good at it. Her father taught her, and he was a brilliant composer. My own father instilled a passion for food in me, and Maman nurtured my love of music. My five older sisters taught me to how to treat and respect women."

"And how did you end up here?"

"I got a job working in a wealthy household in Paris when I was eighteen. I stayed there for ten years, and then I moved here. There is not much else to my story."

Josette slowly opened her eyes and sat up in bed. She looked around blearily. It took her a few moments to realize that she was not in her own room. It took her even longer to notice that she was not the only one occupying the bed that she was lying in. She looked over at the lump in her bed regretfully. She bit her lip and slowly began to turn back the covers.

"Good morning, cherie."

Lumiere sat up and grinned at her. Josette's jaw dropped.

"Did we… uh…"

Lumiere winked at her. Josette groaned and buried her face in her hands.

"No, no, no. I couldn't have," she moaned. "I don't remember it. I don't remember anything."

"You did drink an awful lot off wine last night, cherie," Lumiere pointed out.

"Stop calling me that," snapped Josette in an uncharacteristic manner. "I am sorry, but my name is Josette. It is one of the only things that my mother gave to me before she died. Call me by my real name. Speaking of which, what is your name?"

"Lumiere."

"No, I mean what is your full name? Is Lumiere your first or last name?"

"It is my surname."

"What is your first name then?"

"That does not matter. Just call me Lumiere."

"No, tell me what your full name is. Unlike several other girls in this castle I could name, I like to know the name of any man that I have intercourse with."

"How many men have you been with?"

"Just two," answered Josette. "You and- Never mind that. You still haven't told me your first name."

Lumiere winced and took a deep breath.

"My full name is Marie Seraphin Lumiere," he admitted finally.

Josette honestly tried not to laugh. She tried as hard as she could, in fact. But, after a few seconds, she could not hold it in much longer.

"Marie!" she cried between guffaws. "Your name is Marie Lumiere?"

"There's nothing wrong with it," he muttered.

"It's a girl's name!"

"It can be man's name too! It was the name of my father. He was a great man and I am very proud to share it with him," said Lumiere defensively.

"That doesn't change the fact that it's a woman's name. I mean, I have two aunts named Marie for goodness' sake."

"I am a man, and my father was a man, so it is also a man's name. You know just how much of a man I am," he said with an eyebrow waggle.

"Right, well. I have work to do so if you'll excuse me."

Josette got out of bed and started to search around Lumiere's room for her clothing.

"Last night was fun, Marie," she told him as she picked up a shoe from the floor. "At least, I would suppose it was. I don't remember any of it."

"Look, I will call you by your first name as long as you don't call me by mine. Do we have an agreement?"

"Fine," she agreed. "I have to go now, though."

"Are you sure you do not want to stay for another course?" Lumiere gestured to the lower part of his body as he spoke. He winked at her suggestively. Josette groaned.

"Last night was an accident. I'm not going to stay here and become one of your strumpets that you sleep with once and discard the next day. How do I know you didn't force me to come to bed with you?"

"I would never do that! And I don't use and discard women either," Lumiere retorted, aghast. "And I do not sleep with strumpets. I treat women like they deserve to be treated. With respect. That is the secret to my success with them. So many men take, but they do not give. I make women feel special. Didn't you feel special when I made love to you?"

"How very modest of you. I don't remember last night so I wouldn't know, but I can't say that I feel particularly special now."

"Then I have failed in my duty," he said solemnly. "Never mind, we can have another go at it some other time. How about tonight?"

"I am sorry. I-I cannot be in an intimate relationship with anyone right now," Josette stammered. "I mean, I can, but I'm not ready for one."

"Oh, no. I am not looking for a committed relationship, though any man would be insanely lucky to be in one with you. No, all I want is a few nights of mutual pleasure."

"Well, I don't want that either," replied Josette, pulling on her dress. "I just want to be alone."

"Is there someone else? Another man you are interested in?"

Lumiere certainly did not expect Josette to drop her clothes, double over as if she were in pain and start to sob.

"Yes," she cried. "I love him so much, but I can't be with him without hurting one of my friends. I want to forget Renaud. I really, really do, but I can't. He was my first and only love. When I close my eyes I can still recall every second of the first time we made love when we were fourteen. I can still feel the touch of his lips on mine. I don't think I will ever be able to love anyone else in the same way that I love Renaud. I can either marry a man I don't love or remain a lonely servant for the rest of my life. I'm twenty-eight years old and getting older by the day. My life is slipping away before my eyes. I have no future."

"Renaud?" repeated Lumiere in shock. "Your mystery man is the prince?"

"Yes," confirmed Josette as she wiped away tears. "I know it is foolish to be in love with a man I can never be with, but I can't help it."

"No, it isn't foolish. I understand completely," Lumiere told her seriously. "I never told you the full version of my story, did I?"

"No," Josette said curiously. "You didn't."

"I was very popular with the women at my old household. I was far from the most physically attractive man working there, but women loved me because I knew how to treat them. There was one girl there, however. She was different from the rest. She was my Master's niece. She was gorgeous, easily one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. She looked quite a bit like you, actually. The attraction wasn't merely physical, however. She was intelligent, witty, and kindhearted. She was the first woman I ever truly loved. I couldn't marry her, of course. I never even dreamed that I could. She was a wealthy noblewoman, and I was a mere kitchen hand. Despite knowing that we could never truly be together, we continued our affair until she got married last month. It was an arranged married. She told me that we could still be together, but I couldn't handle seeing her married to another man. That's the real reason I left."

"That is exactly what happened to me," Josette said, warming up to him. "When Renaud got married, he told me that nothing would change. That our relationship would be the same as it ever was. I couldn't bear being "the other woman" though. So I broke it off."

Lumiere and Josette smiled at each other.

"Thank you for telling me this. I do have to go now, though. Good bye… Marie."

Josette managed to get to the door before she burst into laughter again. Lumiere lay in bed listening to raucous laughter slowly drown out as she drifted further and further down the hall. Just as he began to think it was all over, he heard a second female voice shriek "Marie!" and a dozen high pitched cackles accompany it. Lumiere groaned and rolled over. No matter how hard he tried, he was never going to live this down.

Chapter ten yay! We're a tenth of the way through this part of the story.

I am sorry about this chapter. I cannot judge my own work fairly, but I had to force myself to write it, which is not a good sign.

The good news is that the next chapter is short and will be probably be out soon. Chapter 12, however, may well be the longest, fluffiest, disgustingly sweetest chapter in this entire story. I hope, for your sakes, that you like baby Belle.