Chapter IV – Vincent and Lumière
"Cogsworth, Lumière! Prepare the horse and carriage! Belle and I will be leaving within an hour," ordered Vincent.
"Ah, très bien! And where will you be heading, master?" asked Lumière. He felt Cogsworth hit him with an elbow and replied with a small grumble.
"To the village. Belle wants to return for a while, and I have decided to go with her," said the prince. "No need to worry about a coachman. Belle and I will go alone. I'll drive the horses myself," he added.
"Very well!" said Cogsworth. "I'll make sure it is taken care of right away!" He quickly made his away out of the morning room, where Mrs. Potts had already laid out the breakfast table.
"I am very pleased, master," said Lumière with a smile. "Mademoiselle probably needs to leave the castle for a while, have a change of scenery. Do you think this a good time to ask the question?"
"I don't know, Lumière. Maybe she will think it is too soon."
"Nonsense! The whole castle is talking about it, master! Everyone anxiously awaits the day you are going to propose to mademoiselle!"
"I must, I have nothing to lose! After what happened last night, I'm sure she truly loves me! But then, the wedding night…" The prince paused and then shyly approached his faithful servant. "Lumière, what is it like to be with a woman?" he whispered.
Feeling a bit intimidated by the question, Lumière tried to react the best way he knew. "Well, master, you just caught me by surprise!" he said with a grin, although he was slightly nervous. "I… I…"
"Why are you so nervous? Out of all the men I've met, I'd say you're the one that would pronounce himself an expert in this matter!" the prince replied with a smile.
"I may have that sort of fame," said Lumière with a chuckle, "but you must believe I only have eyes for the one I love."
"Yes, I understand how you feel. But you haven't answered my question yet, Lumière…"
"Who, me? Well, Master, it is quite hard to explain… You must simply do what comes naturally! I… I…"
"Calm down, Lumière!" the prince laughed. "Maybe I'll ask something else: have you ever wanted to be with a woman, but weren't sure how she felt about it?" he asked shyly.
Getting Vincent's point, Lumière tried to say what he thought the prince would like to hear. "Of course, master! It's perfectly normal. Any man has the desire to… be with a woman. It's a part of any love affair!"
"How will I know she feels the same?"
"That, master, is something even I would like to know! My main goal in life is to understand what women really want, and when they really want it. At the looks of it I'll die without knowing, but the truth is, when a man and a woman become one, they understand each other mutually. At least that's what happened with my Babette. Love should be consummated when there is a mutual agreement, and most of all, true love. Master will know when the time comes…"
Lumière was interrupted by a feminine voice. "Vincent?"
"Belle!" called the prince. "I did not hear you wake up," he added, trying to cover the prior conversation.
"It's natural!" said Belle with a smile. "My room is on the other side of the castle! Bonjour, Lumière!"
"Bonjour, mademoiselle. I was just leaving. There is a lot to be done in the castle! Au revoir!" and without another word, Lumière left the grand morning room.
Belle turned to her beloved. "Why did he leave so quickly? People have been a bit strange lately. Seems like they're scared of being around us when we're together."
"They're all expecting me to… Belle, my love! Did you sleep well?" asked the prince, hoping Belle hadn't noticed his first words.
"Yes, thank you. What are they all expecting, Vincent?"
"Expecting… expecting…" Vincent quickly thought up of an excuse. "Expecting you to finish your breakfast so that we can leave! Everything's ready!" replied the prince, slightly proud of his improvisation.
"Ah yes, I almost forgot," she laughed. "I asked Papa if he wanted to come, but he naturally preferred to stay in the castle. Do you think that's all right?"
"Of course, Belle! Besides, he's not that young anymore. And he probably doesn't want to be reminded of his bad experiences there."
"Yes, you're probably right."
Belle glanced at the table previously set by Mrs. Potts. "My, this all looks so delicious! You're so lucky to have such a talented household!" she said as she sat on a chair. Vincent sat on the opposite side to her.
"I know," he murmured. "I know…"
Everything seemed so different, yet everything remained the same. Maurice sat at his little desk, working on a new invention. It no longer rained, yet it was starting to get very cold. I hope those two keep themselves warm, he thought.
Maurice got up from his chair and headed towards the door. He opened it a crack to see if there was anyone about. Not to his surprise, Cogsworth was running up and down the corridor. How strange it is to think that that man was once an enchanted clock, he chuckled as he recalled the first day their paths crossed.
"Bonjour, monsieur! May I do anything for you?" said Cogsworth as soon as he noticed Maurice standing at the door.
"Well, a hot cup of tea would be more than welcome," replied Maurice with a smile.
"Very well then! I'll have Mrs. Potts see to your request right away. Anything else?"
"No, that will be all for now. Thank you."
In a flash, Cogsworth had disappeared from Maurice's sight. Maurice decided to head back to his desk and continue working on his new project. He was suddenly interrupted by a ray of sunlight that illuminated his room.
How beautiful, he thought. Maurice approached the window as he heard a few noises coming from outside. It was his daughter and the prince, getting ready to head off to the village. Not being able to hear what the couple was talking about, Maurice could only notice his daughter's smile every time she looked at Vincent. Moments later, both sat in the front seats of the carriage while Vincent led the horse's reins. Then they shared a kiss and the horse started trotting. Maurice watched them until the carriage blended with the horizon.
"Your tea, monsieur Maurice," said an affectionate voice. It was Mrs. Potts.
"Ah, thank you very much! You may leave it on my desk."
Mrs. Potts fulfilled the man's request then prepared to leave the room once more.
"Anything else?" she asked before she left.
Maurice turned around to answer her, stunned by her eternal beauty. She was a little round, but held the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. The rays of sunlight cast a gentle glow on her white hair. Her blue eyes stared at him sweetly.
"Monsieur, will you be needing anything else?" asked Mrs. Potts.
"Maurice," he replied. "Please call me Maurice."
"Very well… Maurice. Allow me to say you have a wonderful daughter. Belle has surely brought a lot of joy to the castle."
"Thank you! In fact I am very proud of my daughter. She is my light, the only memory left of my late wife…"
"Forgive me for asking, but… what happened?"
Maurice remained silent for a while, as he recalled the wonderful times he had spent with his wife. Mrs. Pott's sympathy had taken over him, and he found no reason not to share this sad episode with her.
"She died of sickness, though we never knew what sickness it was. Belle was only four years old when it all happened. Oh, how Josephine loved her! Belle was the light of our lives. She would have loved to watch her daughter grow…"
"I'm so sorry…"
"It was inevitable. Yet I believe that Josephine has left with me her very own reflection. I see that reflection everyday in the eyes of our daughter. Sometimes it amazes me how so alike they are."
"I can imagine your wife was equally beautiful and sweet…"
"Oh, so much more than that!" he sighed. "Josephine was also a bit of a rebel at times, and always dreamt of big adventures. She'd find those adventures in the books she'd read. She wanted no less than the best for our daughter, and I'm sure she would be very proud of her right now."
"I'm sure of that too, Maurice. And you should also feel very proud. Belle probably wouldn't be who she is if it weren't for your love and dedication!"
"She gave me a few headaches every one in a while," he laughed, "but Belle is my everything. The day she traded her freedom only to set me free, I thought I was going to die. I couldn't live with myself."
"Yet you were strong and very brave! You never gave up, therefore you may be certain that Belle is very proud of you too," said Mrs. Potts with a gentle smile. "Well, I'd better get back to the castle chores. The master has made a special request for when they get back, so there is no time to lose! We shall see each other soon, Maurice!"
And as quick as an arrow, Mrs. Potts left the room. My daughter, my sweet Belle, thought Maurice. I don't know what I could do without you…
