One evening soon after this encounter Madam called me into her room.

"Madam." I greeted her.

"Bonjour," She said in reply, "Babette I have been meaning to talk to you for sometime now."

"Oh?" Now I was getting nervous.

"Yes, you see I have a window with a perfect view to the garden…"

Oh no!

"I have nothing against your relationship with Lumiere, it's just that," She paused, "Most workers in the castle don't even become friends let alone court one another."

"Well maybe it's about time that changed." I said.

Madam fluttered her eyelashes in surprise, "I'm sorry I've just never seen you speak out of turn before."

I instantly clammed up and I could feel my face go red, "I'm sorry I just-"

"No no no it's quite alright, I like a girl with some spunk. Back when I was performing at the royal opera, I was the most confident of all the singers there. Some people told me that this wasn't good, that I should learn my place. But you know what I say? Nevermind them! The king himself came to see me sing. Can you believe that? Me! And well-" Madam noticed my disinterest in her story, "Oh I'm sorry I must be boring you. People also tell me that I talk too much, and I only talk about myself for that matter."

"It's alright, you do have a beautiful voice." This was a lie.

Honestly I was surprised that the king would come to see her, maybe he did it as a joke. Because her voice was honestly terrible and she could never hit the right notes. I could tell because she was constantly singing when nobody was in her room. Her singing would echo throughout the entire household and it was just ungodly.

She blushed and covered her smile with her French fan, "Why thank you, Babette."

"Well I don't mind you and Lumiere being together but I am afraid that Mr. Potts or Cogsworth might become upset if they knew about it."

"Thank you for your concern but I have it under control." I said, brushing her off.

Madam shrugged and dismissed me from her room.

Later in the servant's quarters while I was taking a moment to relax I heard Cogsworth and Lumiere enter together.

"Calm yourself, Cogsworth" Lumiere told him, "Babette and I are under control and are in no need of your supervision. We're both adults for that matter."

"You're only nineteen!" Cogsworth exclaimed with disbelief, "I bet you don't even know how old she is."

"Of course I do, she's… she's…" Lumiere noticed me out of the corner of his eye, "Ah! Babette!"

I blushed, completely red.

"Cogsworth, close the door on your way out." Lumiere said, rudely dismissing him.

Cogsworth huffed and furiously left the servant quarters to attend to some other business.

"Lumiere," I paused to think for a moment, "Please, come walk with me." I smiled to try to entice him more.

"Hmm." He smiled at me and took my hand in his as we walked.

We walked down the long hall between the servant quarters and the great hall.

"Lumiere?" I asked quietly.

"Yes?"

"I hate to ask this question but I simply must know, what are we?" I asked.

"Well, I know that my love for you burns brighter than any flame. I don't know about your love for me through…" He responded with confidence.

"I don't know if I want a relationship like this though." I told him.

He frowned, "Que veux-tu dire?"

"What I mean is, after everything that has happened to me. I still feel as if I cannot let myself fall too far in love anymore. I'd still like to be with you though." I explained.

"But what does that change?" he asked nervously.

"It means, I don't want you to know how old I am."