Questionable Romance

Beauty and the Beast characters © Disney; Original Characters © Faith

Inspired by and dedicated to "the boss".

Chapter One

Paris, la ville d'amour. It was the city of love, life, and culture even in the days of centuries long since past. Every corner and winding road was filled with everything one could possibly imagine, from refreshment to merriment and of course, the arts. From street performers to grand theatres of reputation and honor, there was constantly something to satisfy the need of visual entertainment.

This was certainly not one of them, Lumière thought, standing by the box door and studying the aristocratic family he served.

It was more amusing to watch each of them as they observed the opera that night in their own distinct ways than to watch the performance itself. While the mistress, the Comtesse de Bontecou, listened intently to every note that flew from the prima diva's lips to her ears, her husband, the old Comte, quite eagerly awaited the dance acts. Finely tuned ballet melodies playing as young ladies gracefully fluttered about the stage in flimsy skirts and tight bodices. Come to think of it, maybe the night was not a complete bore after all, Lumière thought with a smirk, finding himself sharing the Comte's enthusiasm for those particular moments as one had just begun.

If only Lucien had remained awake a few minutes more, Lumière inwardly laughed. Perhaps then he would not have been seated behind his parents, his head lulled back with his mouth hanging open as he slept, obviously suffering from a severe case of ennui. Lumière shook his head with a smile; the man was sure to be kicking himself later on when the faithful valet told him what he had missed.

Despite each holding the titles of "master" and "servant", the two young men had been best friends since they were knee high. When they were little, Lumière was deemed a simple companion as he kept Lucien busy and out of the way of his parents' important matters, but as time went by, he was officially deemed the de Bontecou's boy's valet. Everywhere Lucien went, Lumière was made to follow, and with such a strong friendship already between them, neither one of them minded whatsoever.

As the ballet reached its ending moments later, so did Lumière's attention. Allowing his eyes to wander once again, he looked around to the nearby boxes, trying to see if there was anyone he knew. His eyes fell on the Comte Rodel de Solange, attending that evening with his daughter, Nicolette, Lucien's betrothed. Sitting beside the young lady was Jolie, her maid, someone that Lumière could honestly say he was most acquainted with. After a few shared smiles, he subtly gestured to the door, grinning in delight as he saw the girl nod and excuse herself into the hallway.

Quietly, Lumière politely asked the elder de Bontecou, "If Monseigneur will excuse me, I must see to an urgent matter outside."

The Comte replied knowingly, not averting his eyes from the stage. "A lady friend, you mean?"

Lumière could not suppress a grin. "You know me too well. May I?"

The older man, glancing at his sleeping son, shook his head with a smile. "If it means one of us will enjoy this evening, I do not see any harm in excusing you for a few minutes."

Lumière's grin spread wide across his face. "Monseigneur is too kind; a few minutes it is, no longer."

Gently closing the door behind him, Lumière tread softly through the lavishly decorated halls of the opera house, stopping only when he caught a glimpse of two daintily feminine feet waiting inside a cozy nook. Walking to the other side of the hall, discreetly turning to confirm who the feet belonged to, he smiled as his gaze met Jolie's.

Jolie was such an alluring little nymph, just ripe enough to be plucked from the garden of girlhood, and Lumière had had his heart set on her for the past few months. Since Nicolette was sent often to the de Bontecou household for her official courtship with Lucien, Jolie, of course, had to accompany her. As the master and mistress courted one another, so did their companions.

Taking her willing hand, Lumière gestured her to follow, quickly leading Jolie outside into the privacy of an alley, before hungrily making his first playful attack.

"I never thought the opera could be this interesting," he teased, reaching for her waist but missing his target when she moved away.

"Indeed, to think the mistress almost did not come," Jolie giggled, staying put to let him catch her on his second attempt.

"I can not tell you how glad I am that she did," he murmured, trailing his kiss along her arm towards the softness of her bared neck.

"I have strict orders to follow her everywhere," she replied, gathering his face in her hands. "I must not disobey them."

Playfully pinning her against a wall, Lumière smirked, "Respectable quality in our line of work; obeying orders as well as you do."

"Not exactly the quality I was thinking of right now."

Lumière recognized that all too familiar expression that he was convinced every woman knew and constantly perfected. Need, desire, and a tease blended together, forcing a surrender to her every demand, even if it was just a moment's worth of pleasure.

"Obedience?" he teased, sliding his hands behind her back. Grasping the dress' cloth tightly, he pulled her closely against him.

Jolie's breathless whisper was all it would take for Lumière to lower every defense, and one hand fervently darted for her skirts.

"Respectability."


Lucien snorted, completely awake minutes later after an uncomfortable beating of his mother's fan.

"You can wake up now!" the Comtesse scolded. "You have officially wasted an entire evening! We pay good money for this box, and you use it as an extension of your bedroom!"

Lucien rolled his eyes discreetly, as he stood to stretch himself into a comfortable standing position.

"My apologies, Mother; won't happen again," he said mechanically, looking around as the family exited the box.

Lumière was nowhere in sight, and Lucien laughed under his breath, reminding himself to poke fun at him. The only time the man left his side was when there was a female involved, and sure enough, his suspicions were confirmed. He glanced down the hall only to see Nicolette's maid composing herself a bit before rejoining her mistress. Lumière was at his side a few moments later, right on schedule.

"Did I miss anything?" he asked, casual and calm as if nothing had happened.

Lucien looked towards Jolie one more time before he replied. "Obviously not; she appears to be rather satisfied."

"Quite satisfied," Lumière enforced, eyeing his latest affection with delight, as they began to leave. "Dieu Merci for daytime performances; I swore we would continue tonight when your family attends the dinner."

Lucien halted in place. "The dinner…tonight?"

Lumière turned to him. "Yes, the dinner before you leave next week? Official marriage preparations? The first of many important gatherings related to the engagement?"

"I know that!" Lucien hissed. He paused for a moment, as if to think, before he shrugged, a plotting expression taking over his young features. "Suppose they will have to miss me then; simply tell them I am ill or tired and can not go."

Lumière sighed. "This is the hundredth time that you have forced me to lie for you. Yes, I am your friend, and no, I will not tell them the truth. But do you know exactly what can happen to me if I am caught lying?"

"I rarely see you worry this much," Lucien said. "It is not natural. Since when are you, of all people, so afraid of being caught?"

"I know what I can get away with," Lumière answered.

Lucien shouted a quick order to a stable boy for their horses. Both of them traveled about by their own means of transportation, hardly ever seen in the de Bontecous' coach since the day they turned sixteen a few years ago.

As they waited he continued. "How many times have you ever been caught in a lie?"

"Never," Lumière responded immediately.

"Never been discovered when you are with a woman that you want to keep quiet about?"

"It is not the same," Lumière argued. "There, I can give different excuses."

Lucien nodded. "And no one doubts you!"

As the boy left them their horses, Lumière scowled as he followed Lucien's actions and climbed on his own. "How many more times will anyone believe that you are not feeling well?"

Lucien gave his horse a kick as Lumière did the same. "As many as I need you to tell them," he answered.

"I ask you once again," Lumière began seriously. "Do you honestly understand what can happen to me if they find out I am lying for you? As much as I appreciate your friendship, you are a noble, and I am your servant."

"There you have it. You are my servant and therefore, nothing bad will happen to you," Lucien promised. "Lumière, please. I will not cancel my plans tonight, I can't. I only have this week and next week before we leave to…attend an important meeting." While Lumière shook his head, he added, "I will make it up to you; you have my word."

Lumière frowned. "If you do not go to the dinner, then there is no reason for me to go. Jolie will never speak to me again…but if you can not cancel…"

Lucien smiled as he trailed off in defeat. "Then it is settled. Simply make my apologies to Nicolette; she will understand. I should have been at my meeting some time ago."

"I thought you said it was tonight," Lumière said, not expecting to have to think quickly so soon.

Lucien smiled. "As per the theme of our conversation, I lied." Breaking his horse into a run, he called over his shoulder, "Do not forget!"


A/N: Yes, I have returned with a new story! Justsome important notes. 1) None of this story would be possible without my fave fellow writers helping me out SO much: Trudi, Klaske, and Valerie, love you guys! This story is as much yours as it is mine. 2) I know I already did a beginning fanfic, but this was completely sparked by a simple story a fave actor and good friend of mine had to share. As I have his "blessing" to interpret it, I could not pass it up. I swear, it's unlike anything you may have read in Book I of my trilogy. Hope you guys enjoy it as it continues.