Now that she had decided her fate, Belle felt a lot better about what she had to do and how she was going to go about doing it. As she had told Ruby, she wasn't naïve, nobody was going to save her from her fate. A knight on a white steed wasn't going to turn up and rescue her from the clutches of the beast. There weren't going to be any princes, making the rounds, trying to find the mystery maiden, whose foot fitted the glass slipper they had left behind. If she was going to be saved from marrying Gaston, Belle was going to have to take matters into her own hands, because she was the only one, who could decide her fate and she'd be damned, if her fate was to spend the rest of life with Gaston.
Pacing the distance between two of the windows in her room, her skirts swished loudly as she spun round, retracing her steps. Deep in thought, Belle hugged her right arm across her chest, snug under her breasts, while she held her chin in the palm of her left hand, her elbow cradled in her right hand. Her eyebrows raised, dipped, scrunched, twerked with the different thoughts and scenarios racing through her mind. It was one thing deciding on her plan, it was going to be another thing carrying it out.
The most obvious obstacle she had to scale, was Lord Gold himself – What exactly did she know about him? Apart from the man invading her thoughts morning, noon and night, she knew absolutely nothing about him, except he was a father and a widow, and he had a smile to die for. She became dreamy as she pictured his soft gentle smile, inviting her to touch his soft brown hair, stroke her fingers down his face, down his neck, trail her fingertips down the taught smooth skin of his bare chest. Turning to pace the other way, she felt the warmth of the blush in her cheeks as she pictured his wicked smile. It was a siren's call to her. Exciting her and scaring her, because she couldn't, wouldn't, dare refuse him. It roused a heat deep within her, provoking the butterflies, who had taken up residence in her belly since his arrival. It was preposterous, how he could have her swooning so much over him, yet knew absolutely nothing about his character, his interests, his history, his wants and desires.
It was terrifying.
Her other concern was evading Gaston - If he happened to get her cornered, segregated from the others, giving him the chance to propose, she was done for. She had no allies, who could stand in her corner and had the authority to refuse Gaston. That ally was hunched over his diary, pen posed, ready to make a date for their wedding and put bets on when their first child would be born. No, she couldn't rely on her father. Other than writing to the King, there was no one, who could go toe to toe with Gaston and refuse his offer of marriage on her behalf, and annoyingly, unless she wanted to be shunned, she couldn't refuse either.
"Maybe you should stop pacing and just decide, which one you want to focus on." Ruby suggested from where she was lounging on the bed, her hands braced behind her head, her legs crossed at her ankles. "You can't focus your attention on both and you can't marry both of them, either."
Belle swished round to pace back, saying. "I've already chosen Lord Gold."
Her friend shot up and sat on the edge of the bed, her hands clasping the edge of the bed on either side of her thighs. "When did you decide that?"
Waving a vague hand towards the windows, Belle said. "When we were in the maze garden."
"Why?" Ruby questioned, pushing her finely plucked eyebrows together.
"Why what?" Belle questioned the question, not understanding why Ruby would be questioning her decision.
Ruby's eyebrows lifted up her brow. "Why Lord Gold?" Her brow slowly eased back down as she explained herself. "I would've thought Mr Mandermer would've been more your type."
"I don't know." Belle evaded answering. "Just picked him."
"Belle French, I've known you long enough to know, you don't just pick something at a whim. You always have you reasons and always think your decisions through before making them." Ruby pushed for an answer. "Why did you pick Lord Gold?"
"Because…!" Belle's words got stuck in her throat.
Because of what? Because her body screamed to feel the touch of a man, who was closer to her father's age than her own? Because she couldn't stop thinking about him? Because he had stolen her common sense and all she could rely on, was how she felt when she was around him, when she was near him or when she thought about him? Because of what, a crush? An infatuation? The first flutters of love? Because she couldn't bear to think about him leaving, but wanted him to go as she didn't understand what was happening to her? Which, or any of these reasons, would be good enough to reason?
Turning to face the window, Belle closed her eyes and drew her arms around herself, clutching herself tightly, wishing her mother was there to help her. Her mother would've known what to do, would've listened to her pleas to not marry Gaston, and would've found her suitable match. Someone, who would complement her interests, intellectually challenge her, offer her nothing but kindness and the warmth of their embrace. Someone that would excite her, like it did whenever she heard Lord Gold's name, smelled a trace of his scent or heard his harsh sweet accent.
The softest of caresses traced the arch of her neck, down from the back of her ear, tickling the border of her hairline, descending down to where the slope of her neck met with her shoulder. Smoothing along the slight decline of her shoulder, the touch came to a stop at her sleeve of her dress, covering the end of her shoulder, preventing the touch from continuing on its original path. Instead, it changed course, following the perimeter of the bare skin her dress left unveiled. Belle grasped at her upper arms, digging in her fingertips, as she bit down heavily into her lower lip, killing any sounds of pleasure before they could begin. The wisps of the touch shot straight down to her centre, compelling her to tightly clench her inner muscles as he whispered close to her ear, 'I want you', sending a delightful shiver down her neck in the wake of his warm breath. Releasing her lip, she let out the quietest of gasps, feeling the front of him press against the back of her. It was wrong. They shouldn't… not yet. Although, she really wanted them to, so she could unravel herself and give herself willingly to him.
"Belle?" Ruby called. "Are you alright?"
Snapping her eyes open, flinging her arms down to her sides, Belle whirled round, checking her imagery Lord Gold was gone with a quick glimpse, and faced Ruby, who was now standing within arm's reach of her. "Sorry… Yes, I'm fine. Just thinking."
"You were moaning." A narrow eyebrow raised at Belle.
"No, I wasn't!" She rejected the notion, viciously shaking her head. "Just mumbling my thoughts."
Ruby didn't look convinced as she said. "What were you going to say? Because of what?"
Belle opened her mouth to say something, anything, that wouldn't have sounded foolish, but closed her mouth again. It felt wrong to lie to Ruby and why should she lie? She had nothing to be ashamed of. For years, she had given Ruby her undivided attention as she recalled the things she and Peter had done, where they had done it, the stolen kisses and moments they had shared. How was this any different?
Yes, it was embarrassing to admit she had been having thoughts about Lord Gold. Sinful, lustful thoughts of a man, who was no doubt twice her age. Wanted to share how she dreamed about him visiting her, holding her, touching her, whispering sweet nothings into her ear, while he explored her naked body. Wanted to voice how she had never felt more alive than when she was sitting next to him at dinner. That she abandoned all sense, when he put something into his mouth and delicately pulled his fork from between his lips, and was mesmerised when he played with the stem of his wine glass, while he listened to Mr Mandermer. She wanted to tell her, how she secretly quivered with anticipation of him touching her, lending his hand to aid her, faintly feeling his gentle hand on her lower back as he allowed her to precede him away from the table.
She had to be brave.
"Because…" Belle uttered the word and nervously swallowed, sheepishly meeting Ruby's gaze before she proceeded. "Because I can't stop thinking about him."
Instantly, Ruby's brow scrunched down, partly covering her eyes in a shroud of her eyebrows. "About Lord Gold?"
Pursing her lips together, gathering all of her courage, she confessed her sins to her friend. "I can't stop thinking about Lord Gold!" Belle lurched forward, grabbing Ruby's upper arms. "Ever since they got here, I can't stop myself! I can't sleep! I can't read! It's… It's maddening! He's constantly interrupting my thoughts!" She waved a hand as she spoke. "I want him to leave, but I don't want him to go, either." Her shoulders deflated. "I want him, Ruby, I don't even know him!"
"Oh my…" Ruby had a smirk on her face, when Belle centred her gaze on her face.
"What…?" She asked, hesitantly.
The corners of Ruby's lips drew further back, curling up to reveal the hidden dimples in Ruby's cheeks. "I never thought I'd see the day, when you would lose yourself to something that wasn't written down in a book."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Belle queried with her brow knitted together.
"Belle," Ruby held her firmly in front of her. "It's time you experienced something for yourself, instead of from the safety of your library." A sadness cloudy Ruby's eyes, making them glisten. "Your mother wouldn't have wanted you to spend your life hiding."
"I haven't been hiding!" Belle declared, balking away from Ruby, restrained from going too far by Ruby's hold.
Ruby's eyebrows raised at Belle. "Don't lie! You've been hiding in your library since your mother died."
Twisting, Belle went to break out of Ruby's hold, affronted by the truth. "I haven't!"
Yes, she had.
When Ruby had managed to tear her away from her mother's lifeless body, they had sat in a crumpled pile on the ground, while Ruby had rocked Belle back and forth, shushing her friend's horrendous sobs, with a hand blocking Belle's gaze, shielding her from witnessing the men as they picked up the limp body of her mother. She had strained to see past Ruby's hand, when she had heard the men's grunts, heaving her mother's body up and onto a cart that someone had fetched. Her mother had always been so full of life. Nothing had bothered her. She always had a smile on her face, even if she should've been admonishing Belle for her latest misdemeanour. The harsh truth of her mother's arm, falling with a resolute thud onto the hard wooden surface of the cart, had slammed the indisputable truth into her. Belle had stared at her mother's hand, eyes wide, restraining Ruby from pulling her back into her arms, with the clarity of the situation before her.
Her mother was dead.
Refusing to face the absolute truth, Belle had batted her friend's hands away and had scrambled to her feet, tripping a step on her bloody skirts. She had run! Ran as fast as her feet could carry her with her skirts bundled up into her arms. Her feet had pounded on the dirt path. Her heart had raced, thudding like a loud drum in her ear. Belle couldn't face the truth, hadn't wanted to face it and had needed to get away from it.
There had been servants hurrying to come and help, and had been startled by Belle shoving past them, sprinting away from their reaching arms. She wouldn't let them touch her. If they had, it would've allowed the truth to catch up with her, assaulting her with the fact her mother was dead and it was all her fault. If she had been braver… If she had fought, instead of freezing… If she had been more like her mother… Had been fierce in the face of danger, squared up her shoulders and confronted the man, fought with him, instead of being a scared little girl… Her mother would've still been alive.
Screaming a heart wrenching 'NO', Belle had burst into the kitchen, scaring the young maids and Granny. Vaguely, she had been aware of Granny calling her name, beckoning her to come back, her arms wide and inviting, ready to wrap her up in a warm soothing embrace, promising to love her no matter what she had done. Any other time, Belle would've swamped herself into the refuge of Granny's arms, but not that day. The only arms she had wanted to surround her were the limp arms of her mother, but she'd never get to feel them around her again.
Belle had whooshed through the house in a teary haze, not really knowing where she had been going, sobbing uncontrollably. Pushing open a door and slamming it behind her, she had dived underneath the large table, which had been littered with the books she had been studying before her mother had suggested a walk. Firmly hugging her legs to her chest, she had buried her face into knees, releasing all the sorrow burdening her heart, unable to catch her breath between her miserable sobs. Belle's whole world had imploded, surrendering herself to her grief, frantically wailing into the skirts of her dress. She didn't know how long she had spent underneath the table. Or even when Ruby had found her and had joined her, protectively holding her, waiting until Belle's tears to subside and she had dozed off from exhaustion.
"Yes, you have." Ruby disagreed, reaching out to grab Belle again.
"I…" Belle was astounded with her realisation.
"Spend too much time with your nose in a book." Ruby completed Belle's sentence for her and leaned forward, narrowing the space between their faces, and asked suggestively. "What sort of thoughts have you been having?"
"Wha… What?" She sputtered out, barely able to recall what she had confessed to Ruby.
Ruby wasn't deterred by Belle's uneasiness. "What're we talking about, sweet innocent 'Oh, Lord Gold' kind of thoughts, where you exchange sexy secret smiles and lingering longing looks?"
"I… Ruby…" Her cheeks were on fire!
"Or…" A mischievous smile spread Ruby's lips. "Were they dirty, filthy thoughts, leaving you screaming, 'OH LORD GOLD!'" And Ruby had raised her voice, declaring 'OH LORD GOLD!', loud enough for anyone passing Belle's door to hear her shriek.
Alarmed, Belle glanced at her chambers door, holding up her finger to cover her lips, shushing Ruby to lower her voice, worried someone would hear and get the wrong idea of what was happening in her chambers. "SHUSH!"
"Oh, quit worrying. Nobody's going to be out there. They're all busy with preparations for tonight's dinner." Ruby waved off Belle's concern.
Covering her face with her hands, the heat of her cheeks burnt the palms of her hands, as she mumbled to Ruby. "You're going to be the death of me someday."
"Not quite yet." Ruby grabbed both of Belle's wrists and lowered Belle's hands down from her face, telling her. "Not until we're very old and very grey, and you've got to scream 'OH LORD GOLD!' once in your life."
"RUBY!" Belle admonished with a small smirk, glancing nervously at the door.
Ruby beamed a smile. "Lord Gold, eh?"
In her chest, Belle's heart was hammering away like a possessed woodpecker, while she blushingly looked away and back to Ruby, holding a hand to cover her heart. "I don't know why, I just… When I saw him down in the foyer, he… He's so handsome and fascinating, and… God, his accent does things to me."
"Whoa, whoa, little Lady BlueBelle." Ruby held up her hand to stop her friend from continuing. "Before you get carried away in some fantasy, involving our honourable guest, maybe it's time to go and see if they've returned. I can't see them spending all day in Avonlea." Her friend suggested, motioning to the door with her other hand.
"And his smile!" Belle blew out a hot breath. "His smile does indescribable things to me, like deep down inside of me, Ruby. I've never felt anything like it before! I just want to-"
"Okay!" Ruby said to cut her off. "Lady French, let's go downstairs." Ruby took a hold of Belle by her shoulders and turned her to face the door of her chambers, and propelled her towards the door.
Belle glanced back over her shoulder at Ruby, trusting her friend to guide her to the door, as she asked. "You think they could be back?"
"Maybe." Ruby forced a smile, reaching around Belle to open the door to the room.
"Oh, god, Ruby, what do I say to him?" Belle requested as the butterflies began to swarm inside of her belly.
Ruby directed Belle through the open doorway and closed the door behind them, saying. "Normally, I'd start with 'Good day, Lord Gold', I may even try a 'how was your day?', throw in a 'Would you like some tea?' and then I could be daring, and say 'Isn't the weather quite fine today.'"
"You're hilarious." Belle commented in a dry tone, rolling her eyes.
"You know, I can't help myself, if you ask me a stupid question." Ruby reminded, hooking her arm around Belle's to tug her closer, side by side as they walked to the grand staircase.
Briefly giving Ruby a lopsided look, Belle returned her focus to the end of the hallway, growing giddy with every step that brought her nearer to the landing. This was it. The distinct moment she could say was the point, where she took a firm hold of her future and made a choice for herself. For so long, she had done what had been asked of her, what she had been expected to do, following the word of her father's to the exact letter. It was, after all, her duty. Obediently follow her father's wishes, marry the man her father chose and submissively conform to the bidding of her new husband, which was exactly what Gaston wanted her to do. Belle was grateful her father was not as harsh as what he could've been. He could've ordered Belle to sit down and listen to Gaston, to allow him to propose, but he hadn't. A small gesture to allow her to choose, but a pointless act as her father would get what he wanted, rather than she would.
Walking out onto the landing, an uneasiness settled into the pit of her stomach, stilling the movements of the butterflies, killing her giddiness and wiping the hint of a smile from her face. She didn't know him as much as she felt she had known him all of her life, a deep eternal connection to him. Of course in her dreams, he never rebuked her, he was the one that initiated the contact, tantalising her with his fingertips, his hands, the warmth of his embrace as his lips brushed over her own, edging agonisingly slowly to press against hers. Her imagery Lord Gold worshipped her, basking her with his full attention, but that didn't mean the real Lord Gold would be the same. Cause they didn't even know each other. She had no idea how he liked his tea, did he enjoy reading, did he fence, was he scared of thunderstorms and would agree to hold her until they passed. So many simple questions, all their answers irrelevant, but would mean the world to her, if she knew the answers.
Belle halted at the top of the stairs, causing Ruby to swing round to face her via their joined arms. "What if he doesn't like me?"
"Don't be ridiculous." Ruby rejected the notion, waving her hand, while stepping down the first step of the stairs.
"I'm not. I'm serious." Her eyes descended to the floor in front of her skirts, getting lost in her worried thoughts. "What if I can't do it? What if we don't have anything in common? Or I can't get him to agree to do it? What if he sends me away? I don't think I could deal with it, if he does."
"God, you really do like him, don't you?" Ruby stated, rather than asked, taking in the frantic look on Belle's face.
Fear made her blurt out her next statement as she looked up to her friend's face, saying. "I should just accept Gaston's proposal. I know what I'm letting myself in for then. Maybe I can change him-"
Ruby shook her by her arms, cutting her off. "Don't be stupid! You're braver than this, Belle Chloe French!"
"I'm not brave." Belle muttered, casting her gaze away from Ruby. "If I was, then she'd still be here."
"Stop it!" Ruby firmly jolted Belle. "We've talked about this, a million times over, there was nothing you could've done. You were a child and there was nothing you could've done. Your mother, God bless her, did what she did to protect you and because she loved you." She squeezed Belle's upper arms, the squeeze made Belle look into Ruby's eyes. "Now, you've got a choice, you can do something this time!"
"Ruby, I…"
Ruby shook her head and said to Belle. "We can walk down these stairs and go and find Gaston, and you can submit yourself to a future with him, if that's what you want to do. As long as you accept, you'll always regret not knowing what could've happened if you had tried."
Releasing one of Belle's arms, Ruby pivoted enough to motion down the stairs with her free hand, saying. "Or, you can bravely go downstairs, find him and see what happens, when you go after something you want."
Her friend was right, which was starting to become a startling occurrence. Normally, Belle was the wise one in their friendship. She was the one, who Ruby came to for advice and guided her friend to take the correct path for her. Ruby was the one, who ran into situations without caring for the consequences, which was why they were always getting into trouble when they were younger. The role reversal was surprising and enough for Belle to sober from her infuriating thoughts of failure.
"When did you become so wise?" Belle inquired, feeling rather small in front of her friend.
Ruby smiled. "I'm not." She led Belle to step down the first step of the stairs. "That's what you would tell me."
Lifting her eyebrows at Ruby, a small smirk tugged at the corners of her lips, whilst they descended the stairs to the empty foyer below. As they got closer to the bottom, Belle felt more certain about her decision. At the end of the day, she had nothing to lose by going to Lord Gold and talking to him. She was a good hostess, tending to the needs of their guests and entertaining them, even if the conversation was designed for her to learn more about him. If the subject broached onto the topic of marriage, which it may naturally do with a little bit of a nudge here and another nudge there. All she had to do was get a feel as to whether Lord Gold would be open to a union with her and go through the motions with him. Hopefully, he may return her interest, but Belle wasn't going to kid herself. Marriages for love between their class were seldom for love. She would just have a greater appreciation for her husband than most.
"Giles," Ruby called, gaining his attention by the front door. "Has Lord Gold and Mr Mandermer returned?"
"Yes, Miss Lucas." Giles nodded his head to both of them.
Belle straightened her back, raising her head, as she asked. "Where did they go?"
"Mr Mandermer went to the drawing room and I believe Lord Gold is in the library, M' Lady." Giles told them, waving one hand to the drawing room and then to the hallway leading to the library.
"Thank you, Giles." Belle told him, already crossing the foyer to the hallway, leading to the library.
Marching to the hallway felt like a dream. Bunches of her skirts in her hands, she strode purposefully into the hallway, hearing Ruby's shoes clicking behind her. At the corner in the hallway, Belle fleeted her gaze through the open doorway of her father's study, which was empty as usual as her father favoured inhabiting the drawing room. A niggle of a thought at the back of mind, worried about someone finding them, interrupting their chance to have a private minute. Then it grew as she approached the closed library door, remembering Gaston was out hunting the grounds for her and would most certainly be returning soon.
Belle halted in front of the library door, her hand on the familiar doorknob, and said to Ruby. "Can you make sure we're not disturbed?"
"Course, I will." Ruby smiled softly.
"Okay…" She uttered, slowly turning her gaze from Ruby to the dark wooden door in front of her.
Ruby touched her hand to Belle's shoulder. "You're only talking to him. I'm sure, he won't bite you." Belle nodded her head and turned the doorknob, pushing it free of its door frame, as Ruby added. "Unless you want him to bite you…"
Stopping mid step, they shared a look, and a smirk, between them before Belle carried on into the library, peering round the edge of the door as she entered. She breathed in deeply, when she saw him sitting in one of the wingback armchairs, positioned in front of the large fireplace. The newspaper, he was reading, was held up in front of him, blocking the view of him. His fingers, curled around the edge of the paper, and his crossed knees, protruding out from the chair, were the only parts of him she could see from her angle.
The door closed with a quiet click as Belle took a light step and then another one, surveying him across the library. Lord Gold appeared to be oblivious to her entrance, so she took advantage of it and slowly approached him. The paper rustled and then flapped closed, revealing the view of Lord Gold's chest. Belle titled herself, trying to see more of him, but he opened his newspaper again, obscuring him once again. A small grin tugged at the corners of her lips, envisioning herself running over to him, ripping the newspaper from his hands, a look of pure shock on his face, whilst she clambered onto his lap, taking full advantage of him. She took in a hearty breath, her eyes fluttering close for a second, as she imagined carding her fingers through his light brown hair, lightly grazing her nails over his scalp, while she hungrily kissed him, loving the feeling of power she had over him.
The newspaper rustled and Belle opened her eyes, watching as he closed his paper, finger keeping his place, and leant forward in his seat, peeping by the edge of the armchair. Lord Gold's eyes widened at the sight of her and he launched himself out of the armchair, tugged at the hem of his waistcoat underneath his coat, a slight redness to his cheeks.
"Lady French." He graciously bowed to her, even though it was obvious he was out of sorts. "My apologies, I didn't hear you enter."
Belle didn't know what made her smile more: catching him unaware, the redness in his cheeks or his uncharacteristic uneasiness. Seeing him like that, helped to settle her own nervousness as she strolled through the library to join him at the armchairs.
"No need to apologise, my Lord." She curtsied to him, once she stood in front of him. "It is I, who should apologise for disturbing you."
"Not at all, my Lady, I welcome the intrusion." Lord Gold smiled awkwardly, the blush in his cheeks became more apparent.
Waving her hand to the armchair he had dwelled in, she said. "As you're welcoming the intrusion, please sit and I'll join you."
"It would be an honour." He nodded his head to her, stepping back to allow her to take the other armchair, his gaze locked with hers.
Belle smiled kindly at him, swishing the few steps, and gathered her skirts in preparation of sitting down, her gaze never strayed from his as she lowered herself into the armchair, asking him. "How was your trip to Avonlea?"
"Informative." Lord Gold shared with her as he retook his seat, lifting his right leg to cross over his left, his newspaper held to one side to prevent him catching it with his foot. "The blacksmith assures me the carriage will be repaired in three days."
"Oh…" She hid her unhappiness at the news with a beaming smile. "That's good news for yourself and Mr Mandermer." She told him, leaning partially forward, her hands clasped in her lap.
A small line of scrutiny appeared between his eyebrows. "Yes, good news."
"I bet you're looking forward to getting back to your son." She remarked to him.
"My son…" Lord Gold's eyebrows twitched further together, deepening the line between his eyebrows for a split second.
Lifting her brow, she worried she was mistaken, maybe she had misunderstood Mr Mandermer, explaining her comment to Lord Gold. "When I had tea with Mr Mandermer, he mentioned you had a son."
"Did he now?" He asked glancing to the closed door of the library, folding his newspaper down into eights, and tucked it down beside his thigh as he levelled his gaze on her. "And what else did he tell you?"
"Not much to be honest. He only mentioned it, because he was talking about his daughter, Grace." Belle told him, remitting to tell him the complete truth.
Propping his elbows on the arms of the chair, he steepled his fingers in front of him, narrowing his eyes at her over the top of them, while the tip of his tongue sneaked out and wet his top lip. Her eyes were drawn to the pink flesh that ran along his lip. She sucked in a shuddering breath, recalling the fantasy she'd had last night, of him excessively teasing her with his tongue. It had been so vivid. She would've sworn he was there, very aware of his weight on the bed, knelt between her legs, his hands braced either side of her, bent over her, trailing hot wet tracks across her belly. Needing an outlet, Belle clutched at her skirts, squeezing her hidden thighs together, deliberately letting out a soothing breath, trying not to think about the bare chest of Lord Gold… Or his fingers… His hands… His arms… His… Tongue…
"Ah, yes, my delightful goddaughter." Lord Gold professed. "The little troublemaker, who instigates a lot of the bedlam around my house."
She breathed in, waking from her little daydream, saying. "Surely not. Girls are never troublemakers. I can vouch for that myself."
His sly smile pushed back his left cheek and made her insides squirm. "Oh, Lady French, I'm more than sure, you've caused quite a lot of mayhem in your younger years."
"I don't know what you mean." She couldn't help but return his sly smile with one of her own.
Lord Gold lowered his steepled hands and laced his fingers together, resting his joined hands in his lap. "I'd be very disappointed, if you hadn't."
"I'm a respectable Lady, my Lord, I wouldn't ever dream of doing anything that would cause 'mayhem'." Belle straightened her skirts, feigning innocence as she said. "Not anything anyone could ever say was done by myself."
"Beautiful, smart, mischievous – I can see how you've managed to elude the dear Baron." He commented as he unlaced his fingers, playing with his silver band on his right hand.
She blew out a breath, hating Gaston had come up during their conversation. "Yes, but I fear I'll soon be another one of his trophies, because I can't run forever."
His gaze scrutinised her as an easy silence descended over there. Belle let her gaze dart down to right foot, ever so slightly bouncing in mid-air. A small part of her was annoyed that Gaston had invaded their time alone. It seemed no matter where she went, he followed her like a bad smell, tainted by her reluctant association with him. What she said to him was the honest truth. If she had to give in and marry him, she wouldn't be his wife, she would be the newest trophy to his collection after a long and gruelling hunt. She closed her eyes, squeezing them shut, cursing herself for ever making Gaston's acquaintance.
"Tell me, Lady French," His brogue sent a shiver up her spine and awoke her, pinning her gaze to his face. "What is it you like to do with your time?"
"My time, my Lord?" She asked him to clarify as she raised her hand to wipe the beginning of a tear away from her right eye.
"Lady's tend to have hobbies to bide their time. What sort of things do you like to do?" Lord Gold waved a lazy hand, whilst he spoke.
Pursing her lips in thought, Belle roamed her gaze around the library, her sanctuary. "I love to read." She motioned to the library with a wave of her hand. "I've near enough read all of these books."
"What sort of books do you like?" He queried, raising his hands to steeple them again, genuinely interested to hear what she had to say.
She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again, smiling at the genuine interest he was showing her. Tilting her head to the side, regarding him, Lord Gold must have been the first man who had asked her such a question. Gentlemen made polite conversation, yet never asked anything so personnel. It was probably why, when she had attended social events, she had found her own company and a good book more interesting than conversing with those attending the event. They were by no means drawn to get to know her better. A lot of them only wanted to know your bloodline, your dowry or whether you could propel them further in the hierarchy. Whereas Lord Gold was openly attentive, wanting to know more about her. Perhaps, it was because he was of higher standing to her, but she liked to think it wasn't because of that.
"I have a wide interest, when it comes to books." Her eyes travelled across the bookcase. "Historical, politics, forward thinking, educational, fictional, romance and other things." Belle brought her gaze back to him, watching for his reaction.
His expression remained the same, whilst he inclined his head back to rest against the back of the chair, tapping his steeple fingers together. "Some gentlemen might find a well read lady to be intimidating."
She smirked at him. "I hope you don't find it intimidating, my Lord."
"On the contrary," The left corner of his lips curled up. "I find it refreshing to converse with a Lady, when she actually understands the subject matter instead of humouring me and feigning interest, when she's actually interested in talking about something else."
"I can assure you, I'm not humouring you and feigning interest. I'm quite enjoying our conversation." Belle guaranteed.
"Good." Lord Gold smiled broadly at her, crinkling the small lines at the corners of his eyes, exposing the dimples in his cheeks.
The fantasy Belle had had the first night of their stay came to mind as she studied his face. The shallow lines by his eyes were a new edition to his smile, emphasising his rugged looks. Tightly clasping her fingers in her lap, whitening the tips of her fingers, she held herself back from springing out of her seat, leaping into his lap, giving into her temptation to trace the tip of her forefinger along the edge of his lips.
"Though, I'm not ignorant to the fact, you're using me to avoid the Baron." He commented with a knowing glint in his eyes.
"That's more of a secondary reason for coming here." She confessed to him.
Lord Gold slanted his head to the side, considering her over his steepled fingers. "Then what's your main reason for being here with me?"
"Because I'd quite like to get to know you, my Lord." Belle told him earnestly, keeping eye contact with him, while feeling a heat tingle up her neck to pool in her cheeks.
Etiquette dictated, she should behave in a certain manner - cool, courteous, serious manner. Years of schooling from her mother and the governess she'd had as a child, teaching her the ways of a Lady, forgotten in a blink of an eye. Everything outside the four walls of the library didn't matter. The man in front of her was all that mattered, etiquette and ladylike principles could be damned. Time was against her and honesty was all she could offer Lord Gold, which she hoped would be enough to convince him, when the time came to approach the subject with him.
"It's unusual for a Lady to be so brash." He declared, his expression was unchanged, however there was a softness in his gaze.
"Do you find that intimidating, Lord Gold?" Belle asked him, a hint of a sultry tone to her voice.
Parting his hands and opening his mouth to respond, he was interrupted by the sound of the library door opening. It was a first instance their gazes had parted, both turning their attention to the door, watching Mr Mandermer enter with his head bowed, reading what appeared to be a letter in his hand.
"Rumford, you ought to read this." Mr Mandermer announced upon entering the room. "It's a letter from Mrs Potts. She's worried about…" He lifted his head, bringing his gaze up from the letter to where they were sitting in the armchairs and stopped. "My apologies, my Lord and Lady." He bowed his head. "I shouldn't have been so rude."
"It's no bother, Mr Mandermer." Lord Gold stated, pushing himself up from his chair, taking his newspaper with him.
Mr Mandermer began walking towards them, holding the letter out for Lord Gold to take, as he said to Belle. "I'm truly sorry for the intrusion, Lady French."
Belle stood up, telling him, at the same time Lord Gold took the letter and began to read it. "That's quite alright, Mr Mandermer, we were only talking. No harm, no foul."
"Hmm… She does appear to be quite worried about the preparations for the ball." He commented, stroking a thoughtful finger across his upper lip, as he read the letter in his other hand. "I'll respond to her immediately." Lord Gold stated, folding the letter to put into his right coat pocket.
"Well, if you're going to do that, then I shall return to the drawing room." Mr Mandermer shared with Lord Gold before swivelling on his feet to face her. "Would you care to accompany me, my Lady?"
"I'm going to decline your kind offer, Mr Mandermer, as I'm going to stay and read for a while." She said to him, smiling at his kind offer.
Mr Mandermer bowed his head to her. "Then I shall excuse myself and return to your father."
A curt nod was shared between the two friends, a grin on Mr Mandermer's face, and Mr Mandermer left the room, both of them watching him leave, with Lord Gold tapping his newspaper lightly against his thigh. Once Mr Mandermer was out of the room, the door left open behind him, Lord Gold took a large step towards her, bringing him obviously within arm's reach, which should've prompted her to quickly take a step back, but she didn't. Etiquette could be damned in this instance.
"I must regrettably excuse myself from your company." He said earnestly.
Belle smiled softly at him. "I understand, my Lord, you've got to attend to the needs of your estate."
Bowing his head to her, maintaining their eye contact, he answered her question from earlier. "In answer to your question, my Lady, I find you not at all intimidating, but absolutely charming."
Taking in a deep breath, she curtsied before him, smiling, and bobbed back up to her normal height. In time with her, he straightened himself, returning her smile. This was the closest she had been to him. His scent wafted around her, engulfing her into an embrace as she wished his arms would in that moment. If there wasn't a question of Lord Gold's feelings, Belle would've thrown herself at him, capturing his lips into a burning kiss, while her fingers buried themselves into his hair. Her breath quickened at the thought and the lure of doing so, tittered her forward onto the balls of her feet, just as Lord Gold turned and strolled away from her, leaving her to watch him leave the room.