Belle clutched her worn bag tightly on her lap, straining to look outside the carriage, but seeing only endless dark trees rushing by. She was not familiar with this part of the country. She'd mostly stayed in her own village. Her mind raced thinking of what she might be entering into, and how she planned to get out of it.
She had tried to look dirty, misshapen in her clothes on the auction block. Her plan to get her father's debts paid off selling herself off as a bride had been the first part. The second part was to get someone who would be an easy escape. Someone of lesser means, lesser intelligence, but just enough. Maybe take a few things that she needed to get by, then take off. She frowned as she saw how long their journey had been. Did this man really need to go so far to get a bride? She peeked her head out of the carriage and tried to ask how much longer, but he couldn't hear her over the din of the horses and the creak of the wheels. Frustrated, she flopped back down in the seat.
She woke with a start as the carriage stopped. Anxious, she fumbled for the handle.
"Wait – please Miss." The man said. She pulled her shawl around her shoulders and waited as the thin, tall man opened the door for her. He held out his hand and she gave him a fake smile as she stepped down the stairs, jumping off at the last step. It was almost dark now. "I am Lumiere, Miss-" he started but looked behind him at the imposing stone castle she was staring at.
"Is that – yours?" she pointed.
"Yes, well, no – I live here, I work here. The castle belongs to my master. I am his representative."
"His representative?" she repeated.
"Yes. I work on his behalf. Come, you must be getting cold." He gestured to the castle.
She swallowed hard. "Um, but you bought me at the auction, correct?"
"Yes miss, however I was doing so on the Master's behalf."
She felt her chest sink, and she started to step backwards to the carriage.
"Please – do not be afraid," he looked at her with concern, "He has no ill intentions for you, let me assure you. Please – let us go inside."
She looked at the horse's reins in his hand and realized that at least for tonight, she was stuck. She forced a smile and said, "Yes, of course." and followed him in. He refused to answer any more questions she had, taking her briskly through the cold stone walls as she rapidly looked around and took in her surroundings. Finally he stopped, "This can be your room, Miss," as he opened the door.
She nodded and slowly walked in as he rushed past her and started a fire in the fireplace. "I apologize, we had not prepared for you to be here, it will only take me a moment."
She looked around at the ornate, older furniture. A room that did not look used. It was beautifully done, but faded. The large bed looked comfortable, and the room was half the size of her whole cottage. She put her bag down as Lumiere stoked the fire and turned to face her, smiling nervously. "I will get you some things to eat and bring them back to you." She nodded and started looking around the room. All the drawers and wardrobes were empty. She pulled her bag onto one of the dressers, keeping her things in it. She let out a slow breath, starting to feel a bit of panic. This is not what she had envisioned. It had been a bit of a rash decision. Seeing a window, she went over and looked out the glass, realizing she was very high up, as the front of the castle was at the top of a hill, with this back part on the low end. She was at least 2 stories up, maybe more. She frowned and backed away. No getting out that way.
A timid knock at the door brought in Lumiere and a plump, older woman. "I just don't understand –" she was saying, when silenced by Lumiere. The woman looked at Belle with a mix of surprise and frustration. "Well," she said, "I put together what I could, I hope you like it." She walked in with a tray and set it down on the bed.
Belle stood stiff, unmoving.
"My girl, it's no use starving yourself on our account. What you're doing here is a mystery to me, but here we all are. No sense being shy. Eat." She gestured to the tray.
Belle took a few steps towards the bed and looked down at the tray, seeing a surprisingly nice assortment of dried fruits, cheeses and meat with a bun. She felt the hunger in her stomach. "Thank you." She said simply.
"She speaks!" the woman said, "That is a relief." She turned to Lumiere, "Fetch some water for her, she must be thirsty."
Lumiere bowed and Belle slowly chewed a piece of bun, watching him scurry out of the room. She'd completely misread him – he'd looked so well dressed and held himself with such calm at the auction, she'd taken him for a shop owner of some sort. Now she realized his plain but well-made clothes were a servant's uniform. She chided herself for not trying to get the attention of one of the farmers who were there instead. This fortress would be hard to get out of, if not impossible. She turned to look at the woman who had her hands on her hips. "I'm Mrs. Potts. What is your name, girl?"
"It's Belle."
"Belle, welcome to our home. I guess we'll figure out tomorrow what to do with you," she laughed, "you are a surprise."
Sensing this one was more talkative, she asked, "What do you do here?"
"Oh, I am the cook, the housekeeper and anything else that might need to be done around here."
Belle nodded, "And the rest?"
Mrs. Potts blinked a few times, "It's just me, Lumiere, my son Chip and the Master."
Belle picked up a piece of cheese and gave a knowing nod, "So, I'm going to be a servant, is that it?" she knew a castle this size would need a large staff. "There's better ways to get help, cheaper too, than a bride auction. I don't have a lot of skills-"
Mrs. Potts shook her head no, "Most of the castle is closed off. We manage here just fine. Lumiere said you are here as our guest."
Belle felt a tightening in her throat, "Oh, I see." She thought about what would be transpiring that night as the Master would come in and take her.
Lumiere came in with several cups of drink for her, putting them on her dresser, "I wasn't sure what you may like, Miss."
"Let's go, so we're not staring at her while she tries to have her meal," Mrs. Potts turned for the door, Lumiere following her.
"Wait – what about the Master of the house? What about him?"
They looked at each other, neither saying anything. She frowned, trying to read their expressions. Finally Lumiere spoke up, "He will let you know what he wants you to know when it is the right time."
Afraid to ask more, she pressed her lips together and reached out for more food. They left quickly and she climbed up on the bed, eating the food with abandon, looking around the room as she did. Dark outside now, the light from the fire dimly lit the room as she brushed crumbs off her stained, floral dress and looked more closely at the objects in the room. It was pretty, but generic. Paintings of flowers, warm blankets on the bed. She went to the heavy wooden door and unlatched it, pulling it open to see Lumiere jump up off the floor, "Anything you need, Miss?"
She frowned and shook her head no, "Am I prisoner here?"
"No, Miss. The master asked me to stay outside your room until I can show you the castle tomorrow. There are certain parts that are open, and safe for you to enter."
"Alright, thank you." She pulled it shut and went back in the room, deciding nothing would be accomplished that night. She crawled under the multiple warm blankets and went to sleep.
The next morning, Mrs. Potts held a tray outside Belle's door, prodding Lumiere awake. He stumbled up and rubbed his eyes, taking the tray from her, "I'll take it in."
"Wait a minute," she said in hushed tones, "What is she still doing here? What was he thinking buying this girl? This is madness!"
"I agree," he whispered, "He had a moment of thought to save her, and impulsively paid for her. He wouldn't discuss it further with me except for making her comfortable last night. Maybe he's going to let her go today, I have no idea."
She snorted, "To where? The woods?" she shook her head, "Now she knows we are here. Best thing to do would be to take her back to her village before she learns too much, give her some money and be done with it."
"I will talk to him and see what we need to do." He reached out for the tray, and knocked at the door. He was bid entry and Belle was standing in the same clothes as last night, looking out the window. She turned, "We are surrounded by woods, it seems."
He knew she was fishing, "Yes, Miss. The nearest village is just a bit closer than yours, a day's ride in a carriage." He put the tray down.
She turned back towards the window.
He waited.
Finally she spoke, "Am I allowed out today?"
"I – will let you know what the Master says."
He left.
Belle sighed and turned and ate the food on the tray, then washed up and fixed her hair with the brush she'd brought, and changed into the other dress she had in her bag. She hadn't slept much, every noise she'd sat up in bed, expecting the Master to come in and attack her. She knew how much virginity would be prized and taken as such. She pondered how she might be able to incapacitate Lumiere and get away. "Need to wait and plan." If she moved too soon, taking a horse and riding off, they'd easily overtake her and bring her back, where she might then be under lock and key. If she obtained their confidence first, she'd have more success. She had a sudden thought, and reached into the bottom of her bag and took out a sheath with a knife and strapped it around the bottom part of her calf, under her dress. She had just smoothed it over when a knock on the door brought Lumiere in. "Are you ready to see the castle, Miss?"
"Yes – ready."
He held the door open for her and proceeded to take her on a tour of the castle. It was vast, amazing, She'd never seen a place like that before – only from a distance. She'd read about them in books, but nothing prepared her for seeing it up close. Lumiere seemed to enjoy pointing out different rooms and answering her questions. He casually gestured to one room, "And this is our library-"
"Your what?" she stopped.
"Our library. It's been closed off for quite a while."
She lit up, "May I go in?"
He nodded and she entered the vast room, covered with fabric and dust. She lightly pulled one away and gasped at the large collection of books behind it in the bookcase. "I've never seen so many books." She pulled one out, looking at the title, "May I read this one?"
"Yes, yes of course," Lumiere walked forward. "There are more, we can take the covers off and you can look at them, take what you want."
"Really?" she tilted her head up and looked around the room, seeing what must be bookshelves lining every wall. She pulled drape after drape down, as Lumiere helped her, exposing more and more books, reaching all the way to the ceiling. For the first time Lumiere saw her smile as she made a pile of books on a table. "This is amazing. What a fantastic library! You are so lucky to have it here. How can it be all closed up? How do you not spend all your time here reading?" she marveled as she turned pages on a book in her hand.
He chuckled, "I am more of an outdoorsman, Miss. Hunting, horses, that is more of my liking."
She nodded, lost in the book.
"Um, Miss? There is more to see."
"Oh – can I – can I bring these with me?" she started to try to hold the large stack of books in her hands.
"We can get it on the way back. You are welcome to stay as long as you'd like in the library. You don't have to read them all in one day."
"Yes, of course." She put them down.
"Except – do not go down that hallway, it is closed off."
"Are there more books down there?"
He shook his head vigorously, "No," he became stern, "There aren't. It is off limits."
"Alright." She peered down the dark hall at the end of the room, turning her attention back to the vast supply of entertainment and knowledge that she craved.
He took her to the dining room and the kitchen, then outside the grounds. They were well manicured, woods edging all around. He showed her the stables, then back inside the front of the castle. She caught a glimpse of a large teenaged boy stacking wood, scurrying away.
"That is Chip," Lumiere said.
"Yes – Mrs. Potts said he lived here too. I must admit, I'm surprised you don't have more servants here."
"We are comfortable, and used to managing."
Maybe he's fallen on hard times and can't afford staff, she mused. It wouldn't be the first time that had happened to a Lord.
"So, am I going to meet the Master? What is his name?" she turned to Lumiere.
He did not meet her gaze. "We call him Master. I will let him tell you his name." he hesitated. "I do not know when he will call you to meet him."
She studied his reaction, but couldn't read him. The secrecy made her uncomfortable.
"You may spend time in the library, or wherever I have pointed out to you. Mrs. Potts will call you for lunch. I would be careful on the grounds, the wolves in the woods are more aggressive than the ones you are used to in your village." And with that, she was alone in the vast library.
Deciding to take full advantage of this gift for as long as she would be there, she eagerly opened and started reading one of the books she'd picked out. Lost in the story, she barely registered Lumiere's voice. "Miss? It's past time for lunch."
She looked up a little blearily, "It's that late already?"
"Yes Miss, it's past time actually."
She took in a deep breath and put one of her hair ribbons in the book as a marker and closed it, following him to the vast dining hall. She looked around at the ornate chairs, the velvet seats. Dust covered everything, except one area they had recently cleaned off. "Do you all eat in here?"
He shook his head, "No Miss, we eat in a smaller dining room closer to the kitchen."
"I think I'd rather eat there, if that's allowed."
He thought for a moment, "Yes, I think that would be alright."
She left and turned as she looked at the stately room, meant for parties, long ago abandoned. She caught up to Lumiere into a smaller room, wooden table with chairs. He hastily pulled out a chair for her, "Please Miss, sit here."
He went through an open arch around into the kitchen, as Belle looked around and took in this more informal room. It was more what she was used to. She heard voices and soon Mrs. Potts came out with a smile and a full plate of food. "Here you go," she put it down in front of her with a napkin.
"Are you not eating with me?"
"Ah, no Miss." Lumiere looked surprised.
"The Master of the house, where does he eat?" she asked, spooning up some stew.
"Here," Lumiere gestured.
Belle looked up and for the first time saw the other chair in the room. She stopped, "That's a very large chair."
"Yes, Miss." Lumiere said, and bowed and left the room.
Left alone, she ate the rest of her food and brought the plate and mug into the kitchen. She could see Lumiere and Mrs. Potts were in a deep conversation that stopped when they saw her. "I'll take that dear." Mrs. Potts reached out and Belle thanked her for the meal. They stood around awkwardly until Belle cleared her throat, "I guess I'll go."
"Yes dear, I'll see you at dinner."
Belle nodded and left, trying to note if there was a cellar, a side door or another way out in that room. Feeling confined, she tested the waters and walked to the front door. She took the large wooden bar off the hinge and pushed it back. She pulled on the latch and looked behind her, expecting someone to run up and stop her, but no one did. She walked out and smelled the crisp air and felt the sun on her face. She walked back around the back and on the lawn, looking more closely at the trees, the flowers. She could see at the very end, an overgrown area with what had once been a fountain. "Shame." She said, imagining how grand that must have been. She turned back to look up at the castle, holding her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun. She caught a flash of a curtain move back in a window. She squinted to try and see more, but it was now closed. "They're watching me." She said. She walked briskly back to the castle and investigated the woodshed, the rooms around the back. There was no side or back entrance that she could see. Just the front door. She saw the stables, deciding to investigate those tomorrow. She headed back in, and back to the library.
She dreamt she was running through woods, something was chasing her, chasing her. She felt the wet ground on her bare feet. She was breathing hard, was almost away when she heard it pounce on her. She sat up with a gasp and her eyes darted around the room, disoriented. The book falling to the floor caught her attention and she remembered where she was. She rubbed her hands over her eyes and got her wits about her. She picked the book up and found her place, putting her ribbon back in it and closing it.
She stood up and stretched. After another solitary meal off the kitchen, she grabbed a book and took it back to her room. She changed and went to bed, reading by the firelight. A loud knock at the door startled her, and she bolted up in bed, expecting the master. "Who – who is it?" she called out. She put her hand on the knife still strapped to her leg.
Mrs. Pott's cheery voice bellowed in the room, "I wanted to see what kind of clothes you had my dear."
"My clothes?" she let her grip on the knife relax.
"Yes." She opened the empty wardrobe. "Where are they?"
"I only have 2 dresses, and this nightgown." She reached over and picked up her bag where she kept both of them.
"That's all?"
"Yes, I brought all I have," she said defensively. "If I had more money, I wouldn't have had to sell myself at a bride auction, would I?"
Mrs. Potts was contrite, "Yes, of course." She stood in front of her, "Can I get your measurements for the tailor?"
"What?"
She held out a long piece of cloth, "We need to get you more clothes. Provide for you."
"Oh," Belle swallowed hard, "Sure." She slid out of bed and held her arms out as Mrs. Potts got her measurements. "Lumiere is going to town tomorrow and is going to pick you up some things. Do you have any special requests?"
"No."
"Very well then, have a good night."
"Mrs. Potts?" Belle asked.
"Yes dear?"
"What does the Master plan to do with me?"
"I do not know. Good night," and she closed the door.
The next day went pretty much the same, with Lumiere absent. Belle felt eyes on her constantly, real or imagined, she didn't know. She sought refuse in the library, and enjoyed the hearty meals. She often had to scrape together meals for her and her father. She thought about him, if he was wondering where she was. Would she die out there in the deep woods and he would never know?
In the late evening she went back to her room to find a large tub inside, Chip and Lumiere were filling it with water. "It's hot now Miss, but if you give it a little time, you'll be able to bathe in it."
"That is nice, thank you."
"Yes, and I left packages for you there," he pointed to the bed, "I made guesses at what a young lady would like. The shop assistant helped me. I hope it's to your liking."
"I'm sure it will be." She waited until they poured the last pitcher of water in and left. She walked and peered in, it must have taken them quite a few trips to get that much water in. He had also left some scented soaps on the chair next to it with a blanket to dry off. She'd never had so much luxury before. She took her clothes off and ran her fingers through the water. It was warm but not so much she couldn't get in. She stepped her foot in one at a time and relaxed down inside. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth. She leaned her head back and tried to wrap her mind around what had happened to her in the course of a few days. Why would this man go out of his way to do so much for her, and not even make an appearance? She suddenly thought maybe he wasn't in the castle, maybe he was off somewhere. It didn't seem like that from what the servants said. She shook her head, it was bewildering. She took her hair down and let it fall low, dipping her head back in the water to get it wet. She reached over for the soap on the bench and sniffed it, enjoying the flowery scent. She spun around in the water and gasped as she saw a large shadowed figure back out of the entry to her room. Furious, she jumped up and threw the blanket around her. She ran out of her room, looking down both hallways, "Sir! Sir! Who is there!" She couldn't see anyone. She heard rapid footsteps approach, and Lumiere ran up towards her room, "Are you alright Miss?"
"Yes, yes. It's – nothing." She frowned and went back in her room, closing the door. To her dismay, there was no latch on it. She arranged a group of fireplace tools in front of it to alert her if anyone came in.