Innocence of a Child Chapter 16
Cosette's recovery is slow yet steady. Under Belle's love and care she is now thriving.
One of Cosette's favorite things she likes Belle to do is quote line from their favorite Shakespeare books from the bookshop/library back home as she is doing now. Also, the fact that Belle's gently stroking her hair is making it even better.
Madame de Garderobe is asleep once more snoring away. Her dog Froufrou is curled up on the bedspread with Cosette. Cosette loves the little dog even though he's a piano bench.
Both of them are completely unaware that a third party is listening in on their sisterly time together.
The Beast is standing in the hallway leaning against the wall beside the door in the shadows unseen. He's been doing this for the past few days. Each time he's tried to step inside, but then something stops him and he ends up walking away.
"Love can transpose to form and dignity. Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind and therefore-," said Belle, fiddling with strands of her hair.
Yeah, not this time.
"And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind," finished the Beast, stepping into the light.
Unlike the last few times where Belle gazed at him with fear, contempt, and disdain, here that is all practically nonexistent in light of all he's done for Cosette.
"You know Shakespeare," said Belle, smiling.
Nodding, crossing his arms, begrudgingly, Beast said "I had an expensive education."
"Actually Romeo and Juliet's my favorite play. I read it to Cosette a lot," said Belle.
Rolling his eyes, groaning, the Beast said "Why is that not a surprise?"
Brow raised, a bit defensive, Belle said "I'm sorry?"
Perhaps she didn't hear him correctly.
Oh she did all right.
"Well, all that heartache and pining and…," said Beast, making a retching sound showing his disgust for that kind of literature, shuddering dramatically.
Cosette giggled.
Belle gapped at him.
"So many better things to read," said Beast.
"Like what," scoffed Belle, challengingly, finding that hard to imagine.
After getting Cosette dressed Belle allowed him to take them to a certain section of the Castle they haven't been before. The best part of all.
The library.
Pushing open a pair of grand doors, the Beast said "Well there are a couple of things here you could start with."
Cosette squealed with delight jumping up and down holding her sisters hand. Belle gasped her eyes widening in awe.
Inside is what can only be the biggest and grandest library in all of France. Maybe all the world. There must be thousands of books on these infinite shelves with such wonders of the written word inside of them. Noticing Belle's behavior, genuinely concerned for her, the Beast asked "Are you all right?"
Shaking her head, Belle grinned "It's wonderful."
Shrugging at the grandeur since he's seen it hundreds of times, the beast said "Yes. I suppose it is." A thought then struck him of how he can make amends with them even more. "Well, if you like it so much, then it's yours."
Gleefully, Cosette said "Really?"
"Yes, really," said the Beast.
Cosette then danced around in circles laughing in delight. Belle and he Beast smiled in amusement at her apparent joy in so many books.
The Beast then started to live.
"Did you really read all these books," inquired Belle, speaking to his back.
Cosette is busy running all over the bottom level of the library with Froufrou in hot pursuit.
"What," scoffed the Beast, turning back around, shrugging. "Well, not all of them. Some of them are in Greek."
That last part he meant as a tiny little joke.
Struggling and failing to fight back a smile turning the corners of her mouth, Belle said "Was that a joke? Are you making jokes now?"
Frowning, returning partially to his regular grumpy demeanor, the Beast said "Maybe."
The Beast then continued on his way leaving the two sisters alone to enjoy their newly discovered spoils in the library.
That night for the first time since they've been here all three of them sat down together for the evening meal. It's awkward, but they're making due. It began quite satisfactory until the Beast dunked his face into his bowl of stew getting his mouth and chin totally covered in it. It got even worse when Cosette tried to mimic him in the fun of it.
Belle quickly put a stop to that.
Things just kept getting better and better from here on out.
Once Cosette got better she joined the two on their walks around the Castle grounds. Thankfully the fresh air seemed to improve her disposition even more.
Philippe wanders the grounds a lot when he's not in the stables.
One time when the three of them are out they encountered Philippe. The Beast tried to approach in order to pet him, but Philippe shied away from his touch. Who can blame him after the last couple of times? The Beast looked visibly put out by the rejection, something that made Belle sympathetic towards him and seek to rectify. Taking his hand and placing it under hers she moved forth to give Philippe the impression that she was going to touch him where instead it's Beast. This time Philippe didn't flinch he stayed right where he is. Beast stared at Belle in amazement and gratitude. She smiled and walked away heading up some stairs. Cosette remains on the ground playing in the snow.
.
There's something sweet and almost kind
But he was mean and he was course and unrefined
But now he's dear and so unsure
I wonder why I didn't see it there before
.
Belle bunched up a handful of snow rolling and packing it into a snowball. She tossed it at Beast. He didn't see it coming until it smacked him right in the side of the face. Beast grunted glaring at Belle indignantly.
Belle simply laughed.
Cosette wanted to have some fun. She threw her own snowball at Belle, but it fell really short. Her arms just aren't long enough to close the distance.
So Beast made a gigantic snowball that even made Belle wary. He threw the snowball and it landed right in the face. The force of the impact made Belle fall onto her back. Cosette and Beast had a very big laugh over it.
Later on that very same day the three of them had shared dinner again in the dining hall.
.
She glanced this way
I thought I saw
And when we touched
She didn't shudder at my paw
No, it can't be
I'll just ignore
But then she's never looked at me that way before
.
Beast picked up his bowl moving nearer to where Belle and Cosette are sitting together on the opposite end. Beast goes to dunk his head in again, but catches himself in time. That didn't go over so well previous. Instead of watching him slurp it right out of the bowl Belle has a more agreeable solution. To make him more comfortable Belle brought the bowl to her lips and softly sipped the soup out of it. Cosette and Beast followed her lead.
Cosette thinks it all great fun.
Belle encourages the staff to set about cleaning the castle. The staff got real into it going all out to impress their guests and make the castle shine once more as it used to.
As Belle is currently cleaning the ballroom with Plumette and the other maids who are fellow feather dusters she observed an endearing sight out of the window.
Beast is walking through the gardens with Philippe following beside him. On the horses back is Cosette. Beast has taken her out in a ride around the grounds. He has a hand on her back making sure she doesn't fall off. Despite not being able to hear them Belle can tell he's talking to her. Whatever he said has Cosette cracking up with laughter that made the Beast smile. He's been doing a lot more of that lately.
Even the staff have noticed the change in him as each day passes and not just from her.
.
New and a bit alarming
Who'd have ever thought that this could be
True that he's no Prince Charming
But there's something in him that I simply didn't see
.
The three of them spend a lot of time in the library now reading a ton of books. Often Beast stands there as the sisters are combing the shelves letting them stack the books in his arms. It's a good thing there are tables spread out that can relieve him of his burden.
The castle staff often enjoy monitoring them from afar and each day are becoming more hopeful that the curse will be broken. The tidings are good with how close Belle and Beast are getting.
.
Well who'd have thought?
Well bless my soul
Well who'd have known
Well who indeed?
And who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own
It's so peculiar
Wait and see
We'll wait and see
And a few days more
There may be something there
That wasn't there before
.
Lumiere, Plumette, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and Chip then headed out of the library to give them some more privacy.
.
There may be something there
That wasn't there before
.
Curious, Chip said "What is it? What's there?"
"I'll tell you when you're older," said Mrs. Potts.
There's a pause as Chip peered back at the three.
"Okay, I'm older," he said, cheekily.
Mrs. Potts chuckled at her sons antics.
Yes the days and prospects here are getting brighter.
Authors Note:
Hope you guys all liked this one! ;D
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