Chapter 3: The Deal

Gaston had never been so proud in his entire life. Belle had accepted his proposal, just as he knew she would. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever known. He felt luckier now than he ever had, and he hadnever depended on luck. Everything had to be perfect for his wedding ceremony.

Gaston visited every place he could think of to arrange the necessities. He went to the church and sought out the preacher. The preacher happened to be an old friend of Gaston's father. When asked to perform the ceremony, he beamed and said he would be honored. Gaston left him and went to see the men in the tavern about food and drinks for the reception. He met the baker in the market and ordered the largest, most delicious cake the town had ever seen.

Gaston was insistent upon paying for every aspect of the ceremony. However, his money was refused. Everyone in town loved Gaston and just wanted to see him happy. No one had ever seen Gaston as happy as he was with Belle. They wanted to insure that the wedding would be the most extravagant that the town had ever seen. The townspeople naturally assumed that Belle was just as happy with Gaston. Who wouldn't be? She was the luckiest girl in the world to be marrying such a handsome, strong man.

Madame Ponfertt, the dress shop owner, offered to sew a custom wedding gown for Belle, at no charge. When Gaston brought news of this to Belle, she simply refused to take it for free. Her honor and pride wouldn't allow her.

"Belle," Gaston assured her, "Madame Ponfertt is more than happy to make you a gown. She wants our day to be perfect."

"I will be more than happy to have Madame Ponfertt make me a gown. But I will not take it for free. I insist on paying her in some way. I just can't. Everything else is being done, but the wedding dress is only for me. You should really not be having anything to do with it." Belle was not going to back down. She stood a full head shorter than Gaston, so slender and delicate. Her hazel eyes were burning with the fire of her convictions. No, his Belle wasn't a freeloader.

"Why don't I speak with Madame Ponfertt?"

"No, thank you, but I'll go tomorrow and do it myself." Belle was turning towards the house. Gaston could see that she was thinking about something. He wished he could read her mind as easily as she could read one of her books. He wanted nothing more than to make her happy. He decided to leave her to her thoughts. Gaston touched Belle's shoulder and gave her a reassuring kiss on the hand. "As you wish," was all he said. With that, Gaston returned to the town.

Belle went through the motions of the rest of the day. Her mind was going in a million different places all at once. Everything was happening so fast. It was only two weeks after Gaston had proposed, yet it seemed like it had all happened in a single day. Belle couldn't help but wonder if all brides felt this way about their impending marriages. She knew that Gaston would do everything in the world for her. He had proven that. He did love her. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't love him as much as she could. Her heart had always yearned for a "prince charming" to sweep her off her feet. Where was Robin Hood now? He would not hesitate to whisk her away to Sherwood Forest. Where was Romeo? With his sweet words and his kind manner, he was sure to come and melt her heart. Why didn't Gaston melt her heart? What would her mother think about all of this? And if Gaston wasn't her "true love," how would she ever find another?

The following day, Belle entered Madame Ponfertt's Dress Shoppe. The store was quaint with a hint of fresh flowers in the air. The dresses in the displays were lovely. Some were pink, some were green, a few were blue, and several were a lavender color. There were bows, ribbons, and fabric samples on the walls. In the back of the shop there stood three mirrors all centered towards a small stool. One of the young girls from the village was standing on the stool with her arms spread out as though she would fly away. Madame Ponfertt was kneeling at the girl's side placing pins here and there, making sure the dress fit just right. A tuck at the waist, a turn of the hem, Madame Ponfertt worked quickly and with great skill. Belle was unsure how she managed to work at such speed and not prick the young girl with her many pins.

"There, I've finished." Madame Ponfertt beamed at her work. Belle had to admit that the dress was simply beautiful. It was a pale pink color with sleeves that came to the girl's elbows and a full skirt. "Amelia, if you will, just take it into the dressing room and leave it on the counter for me."

"Oh, thank you Madame Ponfertt. It's so beautiful." Amelia glided off of the stool and into the dressing room.

"Belle," Madame Ponfertt extended her hands out to her in a warm greeting. "I'm so happy you have come. I feel so honored to be making your wedding gown for you." The short woman came forward, measuring Belle even as they spoke. Her rich auburn hair was brushed up into a mass of curls atop her head. Her sleeves were rolled up, revealing slender arms and hands covered in prick spots from years of working with needles. Her green eyes shone brightly, giving Belle the feeling of peace and trust.

"I feel so grateful that you would even consider making me a gown. But Madame, I must discuss something with you. It's the issue of payment." Before Belle could continue, Madame Ponfertt raised her hand.

"No, Belle. You are marrying a fine man and I couldn't be happier. Gaston's own mother, may she rest in peace, was one of my dearest friends. I will accept no payment for this dress."

"Madame, I couldn't possibly take a dress for free. Please, there must be some way I can repay you." Belle could see that Madame Ponfertt was a kind woman, and certainly generous, but she had to maintain some control over the whole affair.

"Why?" The kind dressmaker narrowed her eyes. She couldn't understand why a young bride would turn down a free wedding dress.

"Please," Belle began, "my mother is no longer alive. She always told me how much she loved the gown she wore on the day she married my father. She said it made her feel like the most beautiful creature on Earth. She sewed it herself. But, I can't sew like she could. Mend a stocking, fix a tear in a shirt, of course… but make a whole dress? I don't have that skill. So, if you insist on making the dress, I insist on paying for it. It's the only way I can think of to still feel as though I contributed something to the dress."

"Very well, if you really want to pay me, then you can do me a favor." Madame Ponfertt glanced around the room to ensure Amelia was out of earshot. Then she looked straight into Belle's hazel eyes. "Teach my daughter how to read."

"Excuse me?" Belle asked. Whatever she had been expecting, it wasn't this. "You want me to teach…what?

"Yes," said Madame Ponfertt, "I want you to teach Christine to read. She is a very bright girl and she will make a fine wife to any man, but I want her to be able to read to her children. She's never really been patient enough to learn from me and I want her to know."

"Of course I will!" Belle exclaimed. "I will be happy to teach Christine how to read. It would be a pleasure—an honor!"

"Oh, I'm so glad." Relief spread over Madame Ponfertt's face. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart Belle. You teach Christine to read and I will make you a dress fit for a princess!"

"It's a deal! I'll come back tomorrow and we will start." With that, Belle left the shop to go and choose her favorite books. Teaching someone to read would be a wonderful gift. At least then, she would be working for her gown. Suddenly Belle felt what she assumed was the first hint of excitement towards her wedding.