Chapter Six

When night descended on the Chateau Mountains, the sound of a pin dropping would equal such noise levels as that of earthquake destruction. All the bustling about to carry on one's duties instantaneously ceased as the hours grew late, and the silence was constantly an obstacle Lina had to avoid breaking. One hint of movement brought guards out from nooks that no one even knew existed.

Opening her eyes as the clock struck midnight, Lina slowly sat up in bed. "Palmus bursto flamus," she whispered, and with a snap, her pointer finger lit a gentle flame, as if it were a match, to help her see in the darkness.

Silently, she crept out of bed and moved to her dresser, gathering the appropriate—or rather inappropriate—attire to change in to. Blowing out the flame, she gently pulled back the curtain at her tiny window, and moved to dress behind a small partition, using the light of the full moon to see what she was doing. Finally, with her shoes under her arm (walking barefoot always proved to be the quietest way to escape), she made her way to the hall clicking the door shut behind her.

Instinctively nervous, as expected when one tries to not be caught, Lina startled as she heard a disturbingly loud sound, identifying it as her father's snoring once she recovered her thoughts. She looked at her parents' door and rolled her eyes; it was slightly open, typical! As if that could stop her! No matter, she shrugged. Few things could wake Lumière or Babette once they fell into a deep sleep. They would not move a muscle if a heavy storm was thundering outside, she thought with a smirk, continuing to and out the door.

If only she had waited a few moments longer…

Inside their room, Babette drowsily opened her eyes, surprisingly having to only blink once before her mind fully began to function again.

"Lina," she murmured to herself as she rose, running to the adjoining door. Glancing inside, she scolded herself for actually believing that the girl would be sound asleep in bed. Prayers were useless against free will.

Upon returning to her own room, Babette shook Lumière with all her might without hesitation. "Wake up," she ordered. The only response came in the form of a disrupted snore and Lumière, groggily perturbed, pulling the blankets over his head. "Wake up now! It's urgent!"

"Not tonight…" the blankets protested sleepily. "Too…tired…"

"Mon Dieu," Babette growled, adding a few choice words as she walked around to her side of the bed. Aiming carefully, she forcefully shoved him out of it, and from a tangled heap on the floor, Lumière rubbed his head painfully.

"What was that for?" he groaned, tiredly getting to his feet.

"Perhaps next time I tell you to wake up, you will," Babette replied.

Lumière moved to sit down, wincing as the pain distributed evenly along his backside. "Please tell me—ow!—you have a good reason for this."

"Lina is not in her room; she left to meet with that stable boy, René." As his face transfigured into a scowl, she added, "That is hopefully good enough."

Lumière sighed angrily, painfully standing again to change. "This is your fault, you know."

"What do you mean it's my fault?" Babette hissed indignantly. "I did everything I can to stop her from going, no thanks to you!"

"She did not inherit the tavern hopping trait from me," he replied, putting on his coat; the nights brought a chill to the air even in the spring. "This is the millionth time I have had to risk my neck at one of those holes since following you that one night years ago."

Babette glared at him. "Very well, if you say so; just bring her home." She paused as he ignored her, and walked to the door sluggishly. "Lumière?" He turned. "You said 'not tonight'? Make that 'not tomorrow' as well."


Lina cringed as she took a swig of her drink; why had she not noticed how horrible it tasted? At her throat, René took his time in savoring her scent, and she grinned dreamily. There was her reason.

"Glad you came?" he whispered.

She kissed him sweetly. "How could I not be?"

"I don't know," he said, tugging her closer onto his lap. Brushing her lazily draped hair away from her ear, he nipped the tender place hungrily. "You seemed…distracted before; if you are going to be distracted, I would rather it be because of me."

Lina held her mug out as a young serving girl brought a pitcher to refill it, her second, or third that night; she had lost count already. Nonetheless, she downed the entire thing quickly. Forget the taste, she desperately prayed it would go to work in draining her of any sense. Babette's words had been haunting her all night, and René began to sense her nerves. Not a good thing.

But then again, neither was drinking it that fast, and she gasped as she fell under a coughing fit.

"Easy there," René laughed as he put down his own drink. "You have never drank…drunk—or whatever—heavily before."

Lina took a deep breath, laughing as she did. "First time for everything."

He grinned, murmuring, "Everything?"

She dazedly smirked. "Perhaps."

Clumsily, René gathered her in his arms, and she shrieked giggly as he carried her to a dimly lit corner. He slowly sat her on the floor where she rested seductively against the wall, luring him to her. He lingered above her, and with a single kiss, disintegrated every ounce of rhyme and reason she had left.

As he journeyed his lips to her neck, Lina took a glimpse around the room. No one she knew anywhere in sight; good, no witnesses her parents, especially Lumière, could bully an explanation from.

But there was someone watching her, a young man across the room. He could not have been much more older than she, handsome even, but nonetheless, she gave him a death glare for daring to watch. He showed no shame, however, and did not turn away. She raised an angry eyebrow, threatening him silently; still, he continued.

Not feeling any response from her, René stopped. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Lina answered, offering a weak smile. René glanced at their impertinent spectator, sending a menacing frown his way, but Lina pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Leave him be; he is obviously jealous," she simpered sweetly. "Wishing for the best, but that belongs to you."

"This is not a free display," he growled, pulling her painfully close.

"I know, I know," she soothed over a wince. "Please, no trouble; I am here with you, not him."

René looked at her, lust once more building in his eyes. "Merci le Dieu…" he breathed, continuing their kiss passionately.

Lina moaned deeply. How something that felt so wonderful could be wrong, she did not understand. Kisses, caresses, his strong arms holding her close, it was incredible. The temptation to elope that very night filled every inch of her body; if all it took was marriage to make the next step legitimate, she was in high favor of it.

That is, until she felt his hand slip beneath her skirts. Immediately, Lina latched onto his wrist.

"Wait," she gasped. "Don't…"

René glanced up from the neckline of her dress. "What?"

"I told you…not yet. You know how I feel about that."

He laughed, trying to continue. "But we know the truth don't we?"

Lina slapped his hand to make him pull it away before doing so herself. "I mean it."

René took an irritated breath. "Another man looks at you, and it is over?"

"That is not what I said."

He grasped her shoulders so roughly that she could not suppress a cry of pain. "But you are thinking it, aren't you? That is how it was with François before me, remember?"

"At least he listened when I told him to stop!" she snarled, receiving a harsh backhanded slap for her words. Touching her throbbing cheek, she looked at him fearfully. "What is wrong with you?"

He clutched her face in his hands, not stopping when she fought him. "Teasing is not a game; if you think it is, be willing to accept what it leads to."

He kissed her aggressively, as if trying to prove his male dominance, but shrieked like a baby when he felt a burning force where Lina's hands struggled to get away. "Why you little…!"

The man across the room jumped from his seat as René raised his fist to her. Grabbing the brute by the collar, he picked him up and threw him back into a table. The entire room fell silent.

"What part of 'no' do you not understand?" he asked.

René shook his head to gain his bearings. "I could say the same about you and minding your own business!"

The young man nodded. "Just as I thought, nothing at all. It would be pointless to ask the same about 'respect'; you made that answer rather obvious before."

René moved in on his opponent, standing a good foot taller than him, and hence jostling his balance as he shoved him brutally. "Would you like to shut your smart mouth before you lose it?"

Lina stood, assuming the role of peacemaker. "René don't!"

The stranger only retaliated, verbally and physically. "The girl seems worth it; pity she can not tell a mule from a man."

That was all it took for a brawl to break loose. All around the room, everything from screams to cheers followed as the two men fought with all their might. At the bar, a few spectators reached into their pockets and announced their choice on the victor as bets were gathered.

Their fun was ruined, however, mere seconds later.

"That's enough!"

Lina watched in horror as Lumière moved in on the contender, struggling to keep them apart. As it died down, he shouted, "Nothing more to see! Get back to your own business!" Forcefully, he dragged René by the throat back to the corner, thrusting him into the wall. "Are you sober enough to listen to me?" he asked.

René clenched his jaw tightly. "Oui, monsieur."

"Good." Lumière saw Lina's red cheek, his fury racing to a boiling point. Examining René's wrists where he found the familiar mark of Lina's power, he snarled, "Then understand that you will never give my daughter a second glance ever again. God help me if I catch you even thinking about her! If you dare to speak to her, touch her, or slander her name in any way, the prince himself will have to get in line to have you executed, do I make myself perfectly clear!"

René did not answer at first, but when Lumière pounded him one more time into the wall and tightened his grip at the boy's throat, he gasped, "Yes…yes you have!"

"Very well," Lumière said, releasing him. "Then for your own good, I suggest you find your horse, start on your way home, and enjoy sleeping peacefully while you can. We will continue this in the morning, and when I am through with you…let's just say you will never sleep with your eyes closed again! Get going!"

When René was gone, Lumière turned to the other young man, who had sat down when his injuries made it too difficult for him to stand. "I trust that little tiff was over my daughter, oui?"

"It was, monsieur," he replied. "I was raised a gentleman, and taught to defend mankind as well as myself."

"You were taught well." Lumière frowned at Lina. "I just wish she deserved it."

"No one deserves what he tried to do."

Lumière nodded, "Well said. Do you live far from here? You are more than welcome to come home with us until you have healed if you do."

The man laughed, almost bitterly. "I can not accept such a generous offer. I serve a…strict family, and will have to face more than this if I do not return by morning."

Lina spoke up then. "Surely they would understand, considering what happened. I would pen the explanation myself."

"I appreciate it, mademoiselle, but non, I can not accept your invitation."

"As you wish," Lumière replied, hushing Lina with a look. "Then at least allow us to offer our thanks and apologies for everything you have done."

The man smiled weakly, rising to his feet painfully. "It was…no trouble." He tried to walk, limping as he did, and raised his hands in protest as Lumière and Lina moved to assist him. "Monsieur, mademoiselle…please, do not help me. I will be fine, I swear." Gently, he sat down again. "Maybe I will sit just a bit longer…but I will be all right."

Lumière nodded, guiding Lina by the shoulder as he led her outside. When they mounted their horses, he reached for the reins of her mare's bridle and tied it tightly to that of his own horse, taking every precaution to prevent her riding off.

Upon reaching the woods, Lina bit her lip, glancing down at the saddle horn as she held on tightly. Lumière was never silent with her. Even in anger, he always attempted to jest his way out of the tension, but now, he kept his eyes on the road ahead, ignoring her presence as if she did not exist.

"Maman was right about René," Lina murmured, forcing a grin. When she did not receive a response, she continued a little louder. "Don't you hate it when she is?"

Abruptly, Lumière halted the horses, jumping down to pace along the bank of the stream. Lina closed her eyes tightly, refusing to cry. Dismounting, she stroked both horses on the snout, leading them to drink as she followed her father.

"Papa?" she whispered. "Papa, please talk to me."

"I doubt you want to hear what I have to say," Lumière snapped, startling her. "You obviously did not listen to anything your mother said this morning; what makes my words any different?"

"She told you about our talk?"

"She did not have to."

Lina frowned in confusion. "But…how would you know…?"

Lumière finally turned to her. "Your mother is very talented at covering for me, you know that."

Lina's eyes went wide as she did not question, but stated, "Then…that was you on the table." He nodded, and she held herself tightly. "I did listen to her, Papa, really. I just…did not believe anything bad would happen."

Lumière sighed, holding her close, protectively. No matter how angry he was with either his wife or his daughter, it never lasted long. "Lina, listen to me. You are not invisible; everyone can see what an attractive woman you are growing up to be. You have your mother's beauty, which is both a blessing and a danger, and we have told you before. You have to be much more careful when it comes to flaunting it."

Lina nodded, for once not annoyed to hear the familiar warning. "I promise, I will…honest."

"I am holding you to that," he replied.

She pouted slightly. "Then you forgive me?"

Lumière smiled, laughing gently. "You really are just like your mother."

"That does not answer my question."

"Because it does not need an answer. You are, and always will be, my little girl, and I love you. With that love comes forgiveness."

"Bon, you do not hate me then."

"Never."

Lina grinned, hugging him tightly before they returned to the horses. As a gentle wind blew out the lantern he had brought with him, Lumière groaned.

"Wonderful," he said sarcastically. "Give me a second, candelabra to the rescue…"

"Oh stop complaining and do not worry!" she laughed, murmuring her chant and relighting the lantern with her finger. At his stunned expression, she smiled. "I've been perfecting it."

Lumière put his hand over his heart, wiping mock tears from his eyes. "I have never been more proud!"

Lina rolled her eyes with a smirk as they remounted the horses. "Papa, let's go home."


The young man waited at the tavern a good hour longer before he found enough strength to walk outside. The bartender thankfully had been a good friend of his father, and never turned him away as quickly as he did the other patrons.

When he reached his horse, however, he could barely blink before he found himself knocked to the ground once again.

"The last I remember, Etienne, I had told you never to show your face outside the manor walls. You know I can not run about at night looking for you."

He looked up, swallowing back the pain he refused to express. "I am a servant, Monseigneur de Crochet, not a prisoner."

Jacques lowered the hood of his cloak as he leaned down to examine the boy. "You were in another fight."

"Oui, monseigneur," Etienne answered. "There was a girl…she was going to be beaten if I did nothing."

"You pathetic little fool, thinking with your manhood instead of your mind!" Jacques scoffed as he rose. "I swear you will save me the trouble of killing you one day simply by doing the deed yourself."

Etienne could not hold back a look of disdain as he stood. "At least then I will see my father again."

"Watch your tongue, boy," the older man sneered. "You forget that your very life belongs to me, and I can do with it as I please. I chose to let you keep it that night; do not make me regret it."

Etienne lowered his eyes. "Forgive me, monseigneur; I am not thinking clearly."

Jacques paused before he nodded and mounted his stallion. "Fighting for a woman can do that to you. You should have known better, but nonetheless, you are forgiven."

"I guess I should have," Etienne continued, untying his horse. "She could have fought the good fight herself. I do not know what she did to the ass, but he had these awful burns on his wrists…"

"Burns?" Jacques asked, suddenly intense with curiosity.

"Oui, monseigneur," he responded. "There were no candles anywhere nearby but yet, there they were after her father nearly beat the man to a pulp."

Jacques rubbed his gloved hand. "You did not catch her name did you?"

"No," Etienne answered, climbing onto his horse. "Why? Do you know her?"

Jacques shook his head as he kicked his horse to move, the younger man following behind. "Do you think you would be able to find out where this girl lives?"

Etienne furrowed his brow in confusion and caution. He never trusted this man, not since he had his father killed, and the fact he was asking so many questions made him uneasy. "I…doubt it."

Jacques glanced at him, trying to determine if he was telling the truth, but Etienne turned away. "I see, I would have at least thought you smart enough to find out. They must be worrying about how you are faring, but never mind, we must get home. Injured or not, I will inform my sister that you are to be awake at dawn as you will have quite a list of tasks to complete for your disobedience."

Etienne moaned inwardly, but replied, "Oui, monseigneur." He would find that girl on his own, eventually, but for now, he was anxious to get all the sleep he could.