Chapter 15- Shattered but not Broken

Forcing herself outside after two days of wallowing in her misery, Belle brushed down Lisette vigorously, searching for a suitable distraction to occupy her time. Her mother hadn't been seen in all that time, and Papa had made some paltry excuse that her services were required in Montiquent for the week. She knew there was more to it, but she didn't have the strength to whittle it out of him. He had been there every moment the past few days while she cried more tears than she knew her body was capable of producing. The one constant she'd always have in her life, no matter what, was her father, and this week had been no exception. Today she was ready to try to get on with her life. If Beast was done with her, then she would be done with him. It was simple.

Except it wasn't.

Her mind tortured her every moment that it wasn't completely focused on a complicated task. Memories flitted through her mind like butterflies. His sweet, shy, boyish grin every time she caught him staring at her, the passion ignited in his azure blue eyes when he held her close, or most of all, the warm feel of his strong arms around her. Instinct told her something was wrong, that it wasn't really him who had said all those cruel things to her. But then it would replay the entire scene, and her heart felt like it shattered all over again.

Not today! she chastised herself. Today I am going to find a new adventure to focus on. Throwing a blanket over Lisette, she made quick work of outfitting the horse in her bridle and saddle.

"Belle, you're sure you shouldn't give yourself more time?" Maurice spoke softly as he entered the stable, looking warily over at his daughter. She was leading Lisette passed him out the stable doors with a look of determination that he couldn't mistake.

"Wallowing in self-pity isn't me, Papa. I need to do something productive and since school is still out for the harvest, I plan to spend the day reading under my favorite tree after giving Lisette a nice run. Then I'll head to the school for the evening class." His skeptical glance elicited a scoff from Belle as she mounted her horse. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I promise." And with a blown kiss in his direction, Belle took off at a canter that transitioned into a gallop across the field behind their little cottage.

Maurice sighed, shaking his head as he watched her disappear into the distance. Once out of sight, he headed down into the cellar to work on his latest invention.

Strolling into his old haunt, Gaston expected a warm reception at his gallant return from war. Following that uproar over his supposed murder of M. D'Arque, the Magistrate offered him the option to join the militia instead of serving a life sentence. Ever one to jump at the opportunity to put his remarkable hunting skills to use, he quickly became a highly sought after mercenary, spending most of his time in Germany.

Feeling enough time had passed for everyone to welcome him back with open arms—and his pockets lined with more wealth than he had ever imagined—Gaston set about winning the hearts and minds of his neighbors once again. He started by buying everyone in the tavern a round of drinks and regaling all who would listen grisly tales of his exploits. The de la Fontaine triplets were back to fawning all over him, and Dick and Stanley were more than happy to bring him back into the fold. Tom, M. Herbert the wigmaker and haberdasher, and M. Boulanger the baker gave him a much colder reception, moving to a table as far away from him as they could. Gaston dismissed them as fools and focused on those who were happy to see him.

LeFou was shocked when his old friend reappeared. He'd been running Gaston's tavern ever since the lieutenant was forced to rejoin the army. There had been many bumps in the road, but with the help of Madame Allemand—the barmaid who worked for Gaston since the tavern opened—they managed to keep the place running smoothly. He wasn't sure what it meant that Gaston was back. Did he intend to resume the management of his establishment, or was he even planning to stay long? One thing he was sure of, he was not going to go back to being Gaston's unquestioning lackey. Keeping a distance by busying himself with serving customers and directing the menial staff, LeFou managed to avoid any direct conversations with his former pal until it was time to leave for his class.

Leaving the place in Mmd. Allemand's capable hands, LeFou made what he thought was a clean escape out the back.

Gaston had noticed LeFou's lack of attention, and while by all outward appearances it didn't bother him, it definitely raised his ire. He'd been so generous to the small buffoon, leaving him to run and take half the profits from the tavern in his absence. It grated his inflated ego that LeFou hadn't instantly fallen back into step with him, or given him a full account of how his business was doing. He amused himself with those who were eager to hear of all the amazing battles he conquered when he caught sight of the little man disappearing through the back.

Leaning down, Gaston grabbed Stanley by his collar and pulled him in close. "Where is he off to?"

Stanley looked up wide eyed and with a toothy grin, answering, "Class. The new school headmaster has been offering classes for the grown folks for the last few months. Miss Belle assists him."

"Belle is here? You mean she hasn't taken up with that monster she chose over me?" he mused out loud, tossing Stanley to the side, not caring that the poor man crashed into two others, knocking all three to the floor. Rising from his armchair, he stalked out the door after LeFou.

Perhaps she's come to her senses and is ready to finally accept my proposal. A haughty grin stretched across his chiseled face as he silently followed his old buddy.

For the fifth time, Edmund explained the concept of percentages to a sea of blank faces. He questioned the pace at which he was teaching, second guessing if he had pushed the tired students too far too fast. Many were exhausted from the day's toil in the fields, but ever committed to the betterment of their minds, they still diligently attended class once a week. His companion was also gazing off into the ether, leaning against the window to his left and not paying attention to the lesson he was painstakingly trying to impart on the crowd.

With a sigh, he set down the pie he had cut in to help demonstrate the concept. The clattering of the tin on his desk startled Belle out of her haze, and her eyes snapped to him. Raking a hand through his disheveled hair, he looked over at her, giving her a sweet grin. She walked over to him, picking up a primer off the desk next to where the abandoned pie rested, gesturing to the students to do the same.

She turned to the students, as she brushed the stubborn lock of hair that never wanted to stay behind her ear, back out of the way. "Last week we left off on page forty-six. Who would like to read from the second section?"

LeFou raised his hand, and Belle nodded for him to continue. She tried her hardest to concentrate on the words her prize student read with perfect clarity, but her mind refused to focus on it. Maybe Papa was right, and I should have stayed home.

Edmund recognized the dazed look wash over Belle again and he walked up next to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, drawing her back to the present. She smiled over at him, and when he dropped his hand to his side, she grasped it and gave it a squeeze of thanks along with a half-hearted smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. He returned the smile and the squeeze before releasing her hand.

Suddenly the door to the schoolhouse flung open and a giant of a man, with wide shoulders, thick arms and legs, and jet black shoulder length hair that flowed freely around his sharply chiseled face, filled the doorway. Edmund stared at him from across the room with curiosity, recognizing the man from somewhere but unsure how. He was certain he'd never met him before. Belle stiffened beside him and dropped the primer in her hand, taking a few steps back, coming up against the desk behind her. Sensing her distress, he stepped in front of her, putting himself between her and the mystery man.

His voice was a low baritone that filled the room with the sound, drawing the eyes of everyone there. "What a quaint little school." Several people smiled upon seeing the familiar face, while LeFou buried his head in his arms, stopping mid-sentence, and laying the primer on the table in front of him.

Gaston stepped into the room, striding up the aisle in the center until he was face to face with the thin teacher. He was surprised that the man was in fact a few inches taller than he was, but found that hardly intimidating since he couldn't discern an ounce of muscle on the gentleman. However, the face was marginally handsome if you liked bean poles.

"Gaston, what are you doing here?" Belle spoke with a hint of annoyance in her even tone. She walked over to Edmund's side, looking up directly into the ice cold blue eyes she still occasionally saw in her nightmares.

"Why, to see you of course, my love." Gaston gave an elegant bow as he snatched her hand and placed a kiss upon it. "Didn't you miss me?" He gave her the most dashing smile he could muster, and faintly he heard a groan from behind him.

Belle recoiled at the touch, wiping the kiss off on the back of her apron. Her cheeks flushed at the absurd scene, feeling acutely embarrassed to be once again publically pursued by the dimwitted brute. Her posture was ramrod straight, and her chin defiantly poked into the air, meeting his eyes once more when he straightened.

"When are you going to take the hint? I have never, nor will I ever, have any interest in you. Now if you don't mind, I was in the middle of a lesson and you are interrupting."

She bent down to retrieve the book from the floor and she resumed reading where LeFou left off, determined to ignore the intruder.

Hot anger filled his body as Gaston turned on his heel and marched back out of the schoolhouse. He wasn't finished with her yet, but could recognize she wasn't going to cooperate with the reunion he had envisioned for the two of them. She'd rejected him now three times in front of a crowd. Her game of hard to get was growing tiresome, and yet his resolve to have her only intensified with each dismissal. While he walked down the path back towards the center of town, he convinced himself that if he only had her alone, he would get a more genuine reaction.

For a fleeting moment before entering, he'd watched through the window and worried she was involved with that teacher fellow—who he hadn't even bothered to introduce himself to—but it was dismissed immediately when he saw what a scrawny fellow the man was. No woman in her right mind would fancy a chap so incapable of providing safety and security for his family.

No, he would bide his time and find out everything he could about her current situation. He hadn't seen a ring adorning her left hand, which gave him confidence that she was still unattached. And clearly she wasn't still living in that castle, meaning whatever relationship she once had with the monstrous king of that place had to be over.

Yes, she was free, conveniently resident in her old cottage, and volunteering her time helping the people of their village. She was going to make him an excellent wife, and he pictured them leading this simple little town together. Everyone would love him again if he could only get her to.

The last student waved goodnight to the preoccupied teachers and closed the door behind them. Edmund turned to Belle who was sitting in his chair at the desk stabbing at the pie he'd tried using to explain percentages. She shoved another mouthful beyond her plump lips and her eyes sparked with golden flecks of anger. Her mood turned the moment that barbaric Philistine entered the schoolhouse and worsened after he left.

"Belle," he said softly as he sat on the opposite edge of the desk where she continued to devour the apple pie. "Who was that man?"

There was a loud groan, followed by several grunts while she attacked the pie with her fork but didn't consume any more of it.

"The bane of my existence!" She shoved the tin away from her as she leapt to her feet and began pacing. "Gaston Legume. Hunter, soldier, tavern proprietor, and dense cad who believes if he is persistent and relentless enough, I'll one day agree to be his wife. As if the very thought of such an existence didn't make my stomach turn."

Belle's cheeks were bright red with anger, and Edmund studied her carefully as he listened. "But where has he been? I've never seen him around the village in the six months I've lived here. And I am sure I couldn't have missed him."

"After the night at the asylum when Beast and I freed les charmantes and the townsfolk who were being held there, he left. I believe it was a condition of his pardon for the murder of M. D'Arque. I have no idea when or why he's back. Perhaps he served his time in the army or militia, and they sent him back. He used to be something of a town hero. Everyone loved him. Now, I have no idea what they think of him. Most were disgusted with his actions that terrible night, but as you well know, people forget things as time goes on. It wouldn't surprise me if most of them welcomed him back with smiles and beer." She snorted in disgust as she slowed her pacing and kept her eyes locked with Edmunds.

"Should we be worried about him? He seemed to dismiss me out of hand, as most people do, but he had a sharp focus on you. I know you rode Lisette here tonight, but I'd feel better if you allowed me to escort you home. He could be lingering about out there."

The concern in Edmund's light gray eyes gave Belle a feeling of warmth, and she came around the front to stand before him. In his position, half sitting on the edge of the desk, he was practically eye level with her. "Thank you. I would appreciate that," she said, taking his hand in hers and giving it a similar squeeze to the one she'd given him earlier.

It wasn't unusual for her to give him small, friendly touches like that, nothing too intimate as to give him hope that something other than friendship was on her mind, but enough to confirm she held a deep affection for him. Their friendship was unusual to have between opposite genders. They trusted one another in the way close friends did, and she often referred to him as such. Bonding over their passion for literature and philosophy, as well as sharing their knowledge with others, Edmund couldn't recall another person he'd ever felt closer to. He knew she was suffering once again, and throwing herself into work was her way of coping with the grief she felt. This obtuse cad was the last thing she needed at a time like this, and Edmund was determined to shield her from him as best he could.

After closing up the schoolhouse, they rode off side by side towards Belle's cottage. He wanted to ask how she was doing and let her know he was here for her in any way she needed him, but somehow he recognized she already knew that. The way she looked at him each time he offered his silent comfort was enough.

As they slowly took the long path that avoided the little village, Belle took in a deep breath of the chilly autumn air. She watched the last bit of sunlight fade into a beautiful golden and purple hue below the horizon. The trees in the forest were brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red, interspersed with some that had already dropped their leaves, standing bare to the elements awaiting the first snow.

How had so much time passed already since her spectacular adventure came to a close? She'd give anything to be back in that cramped little coach, her Beast sleeping across from her as she read aloud from a new tale of Jack and the Giants. It felt like a lifetime ago. Or more accurately, a beautiful dream that she had mistaken for reality.

Belle focused on the crisp air and silent company of her dearest friend while she tried pushing away the emptiness in her chest. This was her life now, and she needed to learn to accept it and stop dreaming of things that would never be again.

As they crossed the cobblestone bridge, Edmund asked, "Tomorrow would you like to help me sort through some crates my father's estate sent over? I thought I had donated or thrown away everything from that old manor house, but apparently the new owners found a few crates of things in the attic and forwarded them to me."

Belle mustered up a smile for him. "I would love to help you. You are too good to me, Edmund. I don't think I can ever repay you for all the kindness you have bestowed upon me."

He returned her smile, thinking to himself, that smile is payment enough.