A/N Two chapters in one day!
A well-dressed potbellied man peeped his head around the door checking his pocket watch as he did so. "Right on schedule." He addressed the air next to his left ear. Someone let out a relieved chuckle, but the soldiers did not relax their position.
Blinking, as though suddenly noticing the commotion, or rather lack thereof that his presence caused, the little man waved a hand in front of his face as if he smelled something rank, and gestured in what was unmistakably the sign to "carry on". The crowd dithered for a moment before turning their attention back to the sport at hand.
'how fickle they who have everything to lose are' Belle thought remorsefully. Her brief respite was over. Crossing her arms she repeated her forceful statement "I would rather die". Men jeered, those who weren't leering at her exposed ankles. Gaston moved forward again, ready to rip the clothing off her back as the overzealous auctioneer started the bidding. She backed away from Gaston as the bids started coming in high.
"We have 5 francs from the Vice Admiral Meley, 7 from Sergeant Leon, 15 from Lieutenant Ferrier." The auctioneer's voice sounded far away to Belle as she twisted from Gaston's grip.
Maurice attempted to close the bid at 20 francs and an old jewelry box Belle knew he treasured. "29 francs" Gaston huffed out just as he had caught a handful of her skirt. He grinned at Belle, cornered between two of his men and the fire. Behind them, Maurice sadly shook his head, Belle knew they couldn't afford a 10 franc buy-out let alone 20. A moment of silence greeted the square, 29 francs was a fortune most of them had never seen let alone spent on a single purchase. Which was what she was reduced to now.
A high, yet resonant voice split the momentary lull. "30." It was the pot-bellied gentleman. Gaston's hackles raised, "35." The stranger laughed, "Very well then, 40 livres."