Gold and Company – Chapter Two – Presenting Isabelle French.

Hey Lovelies - this is the rewritten chapter 2 - Now minus the horrible errors I hope.

The room was pale blue and large in size, golden brocade drapes were used as decoration, hung about the walls, and long beautiful windows flooded the room with sunlight. White painted oak furniture was placed carefully, so as to highlight quality, space and practicality. Beautiful silk rugs lay on the floor decorated with wild flowers, in colours of turquoise, buttercup yellow and dusky rose pinks. The centre piece of the room was an ornate Rococo bed, decorated with pretty gold flowers. Everything about the place suggested beauty and luxury.

Scattered about the place were books, some stacked, some alone, some large, some small, some open, some closed but they were everywhere. One of these books was at that moment being read by Belle, who was lying on her stomach on her bed. She wore a beautiful velvet lilac dressing gown, beneath which could be seen the hem of a soft peach silk nightdress trimmed with French lace. Her chestnut hair lay in soft curls down her back, with only a couple of pins to hold back the mane from her face.

'So my lady- What will you be wearing today?' Nannie asked. Nannie was a pear shaped woman, with thick grey curly hair twisted into a knot back of her head, her face was round and ruddy cheeked. She dressed sombrely in black, but she smiled cheerfully, her expression that greatly contrasted with the dark colours of her dress. As it was she was rifling through the large carved wardrobe at the side of the room.

'Oh I don't know the yellow I suppose...'Belle replied in a vacant sounding voice.

'You suppose?' Nannie pulled her head out of the closet and raised an eyebrow in Belle's general direction.

Belle sighed before rolling on to her back and staring up at the ceiling 'Well doesn't it seem a little petty to constantly be thinking of just the next dress or the next dance I'll be attending?'

'There are worst things to ponder my dear.' Nannie replied, placing the sun coloured yellow dress on the bed next to Belle. '-And you do have you have your upcoming nuptials, with Mr Flount. He is a very handsome man, if I was thirty years younger, I would be crying with envy.'

'Hmm-' Belle rolled her eyes and smiled at the comment.

'What is wrong today, really?'Nannie asked, pausing as she collected bits from around the room.

Belle's smile fell slightly. 'Oh I don't know, I'm not sad, I think I expected I would have to marry someone I don't love for so long I have just accepted it. I've numbed myself to it. Now I just want it to be over, the less fuss the better.'

'Oh my lady you cannot think like that, you're about to start an amazing adventure. I remember the day I got married like it was yesterday and when my daughter was alive, god rest her soul, I was happier than I had ever been. Marriage can be a truly beautiful thing.'

Belle sighed, rolling on to her back, whilst pushing her book aside.'But Nannie, you were in love. And I am not in love. And I honestly think I never will be.' Something in her throat caught. She blinked hard, fighting back a lone tear. Nannie moved towards her, her face filled with concern, she reached out towards Belle. Belle caught Nannie's hand, pulling herself up. Biting back her emotion she replied to concerned old woman, 'Really I'm not unhappy, some people need a fairytale but I don't.' Belle voiced, a little to forcefully, it was as though she was trying to convince herself more than anything. 'Besides I won't be the first to marry for the purposes of the grand scheme.' She added with a slightly sarcastic tone.

Nannie moved to say something of comfort – But Belle jumped to her feet, and strode towards the vanity.

'Anyway I really must get ready- I promised Lucinda Eller that I would visit her, before the baby is born.'

'Aye yes the Lady Eller, that was a surprising match by all accounts.' Nannie added her voice just a little sardonic.

'Oh Nannie, don't say it like that.' Belle replied, making eye contact with Nannie's reflection. 'The poor girl has seemed to have received nothing but criticism, just because she had humble beginnings. It's almost the 20th century and it still bothers us that people may find happiness outside of their class.' The annoyance in Belle's voice could not be hidden.

'Hmm...Yes my dear- but there are humble beginnings and there are dubious beginnings and I'm still not sure from which group she arrived. And if that means I'm a century or two behind, well I'm fine with that.'

'Oh Nannie!' Belle replied sounding frustrated. 'Anyway I couldn't give a hoot. I think she's lovely. And she and Lord Eller seem nothing but love's young dream. They have been married almost a year, and they still smile and stare at each other just as much as the day became engaged. I honestly cannot see any issue with that at all.'

'Oh bless your heart my dear girl, I hope you stay naive to the ways of the world as long as possible, for that time remaining I will be more at ease.' Nannie replied smiling.

Lucinda peered through the window, tentatively pulling back the drapes to get a better view of the street. She had been waiting next to the window for nigh on ten minutes passed, not once abandoning her post. Nervously she nibbled at her nails, her brow furrowed by nerves. However her expression changed in rapid anticipation as a carriage, baring the French family crest on the livery, approached and stalled at the front of the Eller establishment. Lucinda began wringing her fingers over her swollen stomach.

'Carrington...Carrington!' Lucinda called out. 'Carrington...Oh there you are!' Lucinda smiled emphatically, as a man, Carrington, in his late fifties dresses in a full butler's attire entered the room.

'Yes my lady?' Carrington's dour expression was unmoved by Lucinda's apparent enthusiasm.

'Carrington, Lady Isabelle French has arrived! Oh...oh... bring tea-'

'Yes my lady.'

'And cake...can you bring sandwiches as well?'

'Yes my lady.'

The deep sound of the doorbell rang. Lucinda jumped, her golden curls bouncing as she moved.

'She's here... She's here Carrington.'

'If I may be permitted-'

'Yes, oh yes.' Lucinda answered a little embarrassed at having already over looked the fact that her guest was at the door. Carrington left the room, leaving Lucinda dancing about debating on whether she should sit down or not. The only danger in that of course was if she sat down there was some chance she would not be able to get back up again.

A moment later Carrington re-entered the room. 'The Lady Isabelle French.'

Belle swept into the room, her gown swishing as she did. Lucinda couldn't help but smile at the image of Belle, her dress the most beautiful summer yellow she had ever seen in fabric form, it was trimmed with French lace, her hat too was ornate and yet elegant, her hands wrapped in soft kid gloves. But more than that, her smile radiated light and joy. Lucinda had adored idolized Lady Belle since the moment she had seen her. Unlike almost everyone else she had not judged her, Belle had invited her to tea and parties, always there to take her arm if she was alone or fearful. Without Belle, Lucinda feared she would never be accepted by this world in which she now lived.

Belle dipped into a curtsey, Lucinda returning the gesture as best she could in her current state. She raised herself slowly, and steadily. She turned towards Carrington. 'Carrington-'

'The tea my lady, right away.' He finished her request before departing the salon.

As the door clicked Belle ran forward and clasped Lucinda's arms firmly but not without gentility. 'How are you? It's been too long.' Belle enthused.

'Oh I have missed you so much Belle, it's been really quite... no, very lonely here.' Lucinda turned and gestured towards the chaise longue, before sitting down as gracefully as she could. Belle joined her, her face marked with concern at Lucinda's last comment.

'Why so lonely? Have people not been to visit you?'

'Not exactly... I don't think I am the most popular person round here.' Her face looked truly sorrowful, and almost ashamed at what she had had to express to her normally smiling guest. Her hand began twitching in her lap again. Her mind was drifting again to the comments made when she and Thomas announced their engagement. The bitterness, the bile and the looks shot at her with no warmth.

'Oh Lucinda... Ignore them, you don't need them. Most people are so utterly boring, you are better off alone than being in their company.' Belle interrupted Lucinda's negative thoughts, before she rubbed Lucinda's arm and smiled at her comfortingly.

The door was opened and Carrington walked in, followed by two maids carrying trays of tea and cakes. The girls placed the trays on the little table next to the chaise longue before departing the room. Carrington remained for a moment. His voice still humourless, 'Anything else my lady?' As Lucinda apparently oblivious as she stared onwards, Belle shook her head and Carrington left.

Lucinda blinked, shifting her expression from sadness, to at least forced happiness. 'I wanted to ask you something? Well Thomas and I wanted to ask you something, but...well...Thomas has had business to attend to in the country and so he couldn't be here.' She seemed to draw out her words as a method of building suspense.

'Well I'm filled with anticipation now Lucinda, tell me!'

'Thomas and I would like you to be the Godmother when the baby arrives.'

'Oh Lucinda I would love to.' Belle pulled Lucinda into an embrace. 'Oh this is so wonderful!' Belle leaned back, smiling Lucinda's grinning face. 'Who else have you asked?'

'Well we asked David and we were hoping that he would have proposed to Mary already, so we could ask her as well, but we're still waiting.' Lucinda carried on, with an expression that seemed to suggest this had been an ongoing predicament for a while.

'She's has been at the mission an awful long time, but Mary always did have a thing for adventure.' Belle moved to pour the tea. 'This all looks divine.' She added handing a cup and saucer to Lucinda. 'Is anyone else to be a godparent?'

Lucinda sipped her tea and then hesitating, 'There is another, but you won't know him... His name is... Mr Gold.' Lucinda's voice had changed, it had becoming almost wary in tone.

'Oh really? I never heard of him. Is he a friend of Thomas?' Belle asked in between sips of tea.

'No, not of Thomas... He was a benefactor of sorts, to me.' Lucinda replied hesitantly.

'Was he at the wedding, maybe I met him then?' Belle proffered.

'No he wasn't at the wedding.' Lucinda began to twitch again, fiddling with the silver cake fork, turning it over and over in her hand.

'Why not, he must be important to you, if he is to be God parent to your first born?' Belle added smiling.

'He wasn't invited...Thomas isn't very keen on him.' Lucinda gripped the forked hard, her knuckles turning white.

'So why on earth is he to be Godfather?' Belle's face was a mixture of confusion and worry.

'It's a little complicated...I made a promise a long time ago. A promise I can't break.' Lucinda's voice had become stiff, and disconnected.

Belle looked ever more confused. 'I really don't understand.'

'Belle... I... I... I can't explain...' Her face pained with something, something that Belle could not quite out her finger on. 'Let us change the subject.' She grasped Belle's hand 'Tell me about your upcoming wedding, I am sure it will be just as beautiful as mine.' Her enthusiastic smile returned as she moved to the other subject.

Belle frowned, reluctant to leave the topic of this Mr Gold behind, but also aware that Lucinda was uncomfortable to say the least about the subject. 'Well I know plans are being made.'

And as it was they spoke for the next two hours, Lucinda making suggestions, and Belle allowing the girl to find some relief in her company.

Thanks for reading sweeties - Really appreciated.