Belle didn't mean to simply leave forever. She had friends here – friends she would return to. Yet her excitement at the idea of seeing her father again would brook little delay, and within the hour she had changed into her own blue dress and saddled Philippe.

The servants came out to bid her adieu. She knelt down before them. "I'm sorry to leave you all," she said. "I promise I'll come back soon and visit – within a week, if you like. I wouldn't abandon friends like you."

Touched, they all tried to smile, but their hearts were heavy with the one part of the secret Belle had not overheard. Secretly, they had all clung to the hope that Belle would learn to love the Master in spite of herself. In a week's time, it would be too late. The Master's birthday was in three days. By the time Belle returned, the last petal would have fallen and they would be truly desolate.

Belle noted their expressions of sadness and felt it within herself. She gave them a weak smile and mounted Philippe. "Goodbye," she said. "You're good friends, I'll miss you." She dug in her heels. "Let's go, Philippe."

As the horse broke into a canter, she mouthed a silent wish. Please... please let me find a way to help them. There must be another way. Let me find another way.

Perhaps an hour later, Cogsworth Lumière and Mrs Potts decided to pay a visit to the West Wing. It had seemed like a good idea from the entrance hall. Closer to the West Wing, they all began to lose their nerve.

"Master?" said Cogsworth, cautiously.

"Yes?" came the voice from within, much quieter than they were used to. Encouraged, they trooped into the room.

"Master," Cogsworth said again. "Stop me if I'm incorrect. You saw the girl was unhappy without her father. You could not bear to see her unhappy because you love and adore her with every fibre of your being, and so you released her in what is quite possibly the most selfless act you have ever performed."

Lumière and Mrs Potts exchanged glances. The Beast remained motionless.

Cogsworth was working himself into a delicious state of agitation. "Why the devil didn't that work?" he exclaimed.

"It's not enough," said Mrs Potts. "She has to love him in return."

Without warning, the Beast turned abruptly and left the room. The servants were left looking at the rose.

Never in her life had the first glimpse of the village made Belle so happy. She dismounted in the garden, tethering Philippe and giving him the most generous helping of oats he had ever seen. Then, disturbing chickens all over the place, she ran up the steps and burst through the door.

Her father was studying a map that was a good fifty years out of date. He looked up sharply as she entered. "Belle!"

"Papa!" She ran across the room, throwing her arms around him. "Oh, Papa, I missed you!"

He drew back to look at her face. "I... I thought I'd never see you again!" He gestured at the map. There was a large red cross in the middle of the forest "I worked out the castle's co-ordinates but without Philippe I'd have had a terrible time coming to fetch you! How did you escape?"

She kissed him on the cheek. "I didn't have to. He let me go. I'm free now."

"That horrible Beast?"

Belle smiled a little. "Papa, do you believe people can change? That is, given the right..." she thought about it. "Motivation."

Maurice looked at her for a moment. "I believe you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it," he said. "Even making a man out of that monster."

"How true."

Belle leapt to her feet at the sound of the voice in the doorway. "Gaston! What are you doing here?"

He gave a sinister smile. "It's like the old man said. I just... put my mind to finding you."

Belle took a step forward. She was in no mood to humour the town hero today, especially not now that he had interrupted the reunion she had looked forward to. "Gaston, it's a pleasure as always, but perhaps whatever it is you want here can wait." She gestured pointedly at the door.

He ignored her, striding in. "You're right, Belle, it is a pleasure. A pleasure not everyone gets to experience. I'm getting tired of waiting for you. The last time I let you play your games with me, you disappeared."

Belle drew a deep breath. "Gaston, I don't think you understand. I won't marry you. I wouldn't marry you if..." She thought of something he would value. "If your life depended on it."

Gaston thought about this. "So, you still need a little persuasion." He sighed dramatically. "Well, anything for the woman I love." And with that, he snatched the map from the table and strode out of the house again.

"He's enjoying this," Belle muttered.

Maurice got up and locked the door. "Well done," he said. "Why, I'd sooner you married the Beast himself than that arrogant, conceited..." He stopped himself.

Belle shuffled her feet, awkwardly. "Yes..."

Maurice stared at her. "He hasn't asked you as well, has he?"

She shook her head. "No, no. But..." She sat down. "Perhaps I'd better tell you the whole story."

So she told him everything. About what she'd heard at the doorway, about the fire, about how awful she felt about not being able to help.

"And how do you feel about him?" Maurice asked, gently.

She hesitated. "He's a good man," she said, slowly. "He doesn't deserve so much punishment. I wish there were something I could do."