Belle has the first dance

As Adam led Belle back inside, the crowd parted to let them come to the center. Belle avoided the gaze of the village men leering at her.

The music began the moment they stepped into the center of the room. Adam took Belle's hand in one of his and put the other around her waist, leading her in a waltz.

After a few moments, beautiful operatic singing filled the room. Belle turned her head and saw Madame de Garderobe standing erect on a plinth, singing with joy. "I had no idea she was so talented," Belle said in amazement. "The whole orchestra is amazing. Were these musicians here the whole time during the enchantment?"

"Some of them," Adam said. "Fife, the piccolo player was here. The organ player, Forte, was here as well. He was hired by my father before he died. The rest we brought in."

"I heard about Forte," Belle said. "From Hermione."

Adam gave Belle a spin, sending her away to face the crowd for a moment, before pulling her back in. "Doubtless nothing good," he said. "I brought back Maestro Cadenza as a surprise to the Madame. Most of the musicians came with him. That's why she looks so happy and why her singing is better than ever."

"Who's Maestro Cadenza?" Belle asked. "I feel like that's something I'm supposed to know but just don't."

"Madame's husband," Adam said. "He'd been dismissed by my father, but we tracked him down and invited him back after the enchantment was lifted. He arrived just in time for the ball. I gave him Forte's position and created a new role for Forte as the court composer. I couldn't just dismiss Forte outright. He kept me company through those dark times. I think he'll be happier composing music than dealing with the musicians directly. Hopefully, it's better all around."

Belle smiled at him. "It does sound like the best solution," she agreed. Noticing for the first time that no one else was dancing, Belle asked, "Why hasn't anyone else started dancing?"

"It's customary for the first dance to be led by the host," Adam said. "Once the first dance is over, I'm expected to officially welcome everyone and then the dance floor is open for everyone."

Belle nodded, feeling self-conscious at all the stares. Many were not friendly. Her parents, Estelle, the servants, and the three sisters beamed at them, but the rest looked either hesitant, wary, or downright angry.

"Don't worry about them," Adam said, bringing her attention back to them. "We'll sort everything out."

"It's hard not to worry," Belle said.

"I know," Adam said. "But let's enjoy tonight and work it out later."

Belle clung to the confidence in his voice and focused her attention on the music, losing herself in the dance. The musicians truly were talented.

All too soon, the music ended and Adam bowed to Belle, who matched his bow with a curtsey. Adam then took her hand and bowed to the crowd. Belle followed his lead and curtseyed. Perhaps half the crowd gave polite applause, but the rest stared at them stony faced.

In the back of the ballroom, Belle noticed for the first time that Adam's guards lined the walls. Was he expecting trouble?

Adam began to speak. "Welcome people of Villeneuve," he spoke in a carrying voice. "It is my honor to welcome you here and to reunite this castle with the village."

"Thief!" a voice cried from the crowd. Belle turned to look but could not detect where it came from.

Undeterred, Adam continued, "Undoubtedly, you should now remember that our village and court used to be tightly connected. Many villagers work in the castle and still work here. An enchantment kept us apart for many years, but now it's lifted and we will be connected once more."

"We were fine without you!" another voice cried.

"You took our loved ones from us!" another voice cried.

"Down with magic!" yelled yet another voice.

The crowd began to rumble with noise as more and more voices raised in protest. This was not going well. At all. Other villagers Belle recognized tried to placate the rowdy ones, Monsieur Levi among them, but they were rebuffed.

Belle trembled at the antagonism.

"Silence!" Adam roared, the echo of the Beast in his voice. To Belle's surprise, the crowd obeyed.

"I will address your complaints," he said. "But this is not the avenue for that. Tomorrow, I will hold court where you may bring your complaints before me and I will address them." He stared at the troublemakers one by one. "Tonight, we will make merry and celebrate our reunion." He beckoned and servants came forward, rolling barrels of wine into the room. "Let us all drink to re-establishing ties. Those who do not wish to partake peacefully, may leave." He gestured towards the guards around the room. "Willingly or unwillingly." There was no room in his voice for compromise.

Witnessing the armed guards surrounding them, the crowd fell silent. No one made a move to leave.

"All right," he said. "Then let's enjoy. I've brought out my finest wine. Let us share and toast to the future."

In the background, the staff had been filling wine glasses. At his words, glasses began to be passed through the crowd. Two glasses made their way to Belle and Adam. Wrapping her hand around the glass, she followed Adam's lead in raising it.

"To the future," Adam declared. "To the future," Belle and most of the crowd replied, following suit. The naysayers remained silent but downed their glasses of wine.

"Let's have some music!" Adam cried. At once, Maestro Cadenza cued the musicians and began a fast tempo'd song. Adam took Belle's hand and led her in another dance. Belle's mother and father stepped out onto the dance floor. Slowly, others began to follow suit. Once the dance floor had enough people on it, Adam led Belle off the dance floor.

"I need to mingle with the crowd," he murmured in her ear over the noise in the room. "That was very close. Too close. We anticipated some trouble, but I had hoped to avoid a situation like that. You don't have to join me, but I'd welcome your company."

"I'll join you," Belle said, feeling nervous but determined to make amends with the village.

Adam and Belle moved through the crowd, coming up to small groups of villagers. Two of Adam's guards followed behind them at a respectful distance. Belle noted that members of the staff had joined the crowd and saw tearful reunions of families.

One that made Belle extremely happy was the reunion of Mrs. Potts with her husband. "Mr. Potts!" cried Mrs. Potts, running through the crowd, Chip in tow. A middle-aged man turned towards them and exclaimed, "Beatrice! It's you! I remember now!" He embraced his wife and burst into tears when he looked down at Chip, who looked surprisingly shy. "You've gotten so big," he said, kneeling down. "You're almost a man now! Have you been looking after your mother?"

Chip nodded, looking in awe at the man in front of him. Mrs. Potts knelt down and hugged both of them.

Belle smiled and moved on with Adam, approaching Fifi with a family that Belle recognized as farmers. "Our daughter has returned!" exclaimed the mother. "We always knew something was missing."

Adam talked to the family, apologizing for everything that had happened and asked them if they needed anything. He listened earnestly to their troubles and promised that he'd send aid.

"I better call Cogsworth," he murmured to Belle. "I'm never going to remember everything."

"You called, master?" Cogsworth said, appearing out of nowhere and looking a little frazzled.

"Cogsworth!" Adam exclaimed. "When did you get here?"

"I saw you and thought that you might need help," Cogsworth said, his eyes darting around the crowd surrounding them. He looked harried and on edge.

"You were right," Adam admitted. "But are you already done greeting your wife? I don't want to keep you. You haven't seen her in a long time."

Cogsworth stepped closer to them and said quietly, "I prefer it that way. I don't need to see her for another 10 years."

"Henry!" a haggard looking woman called, following Cogsworth out of the crowd. "Where did you run off to?" Belle recognized the woman as one of the particularly devout villagers who regularly spent time at the church and spoke loudly against women doing anything besides being at home in service of men.

"Good gracious," he muttered under his breath. He faced her and said firmly, "the prince needs my assistance. We'll talk later."

"Don't forget the money you owe me," she said in a stern voice, pointing at him.

"Of course not," Cogsworth said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bag. "Here's a little bit to get you started."

Mrs. Cogsworth took the bag and weighed it in her hand. "Very well," she said. "But you owe me more than that."

"I know," Cogsworth said, looking positively embarrassed now. "You'll get it. Now be off." He shooed her away.

She acquiesced, pocketing the bag of money.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," Cogsworth said. "All she cares about is money. But she doesn't know anything about managing it."

"Why are you married to her?" Adam asked, looking shocked by the interaction.

"It was arranged by our parents," Cogsworth replied. "She keeps a home in the village, and I stay here, sending her money. During the enchantment, it seems she forgot about me and squandered everything." Cogsworth reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a small book. "Now, do you need me to document the outcomes of your conversations?"

"You always know how to read my mind," Adam said, recognizing that Cogsworth absolutely did not want to talk about his wife, and filled him in on the conversations they'd had so far. Belle helped filled in the gaps that Adam missed, for which Adam thanked her.

The trio passed through the crowd talking first to the villagers who had family members among the castle staff. Then they moved onto the more sympathetic villagers who merely seemed happy to attend the ball and see the castle for the first time. The sympathetic villagers thanked Adam for what he'd already done for them as far as aid and assistance. It seemed that Adam's scouts and spies had been busy in their reporting back to the castle, to which Adam had been quick to dispatch help or action.

Finally, after talking with all the sympathetic folks, Adam and Belle approached the group of the discontented, who — conveniently or inconveniently — stood congregated in a corner, surrounding the barrels of wine and drinking freely from the prince's stores. The majority of Adam's guards stood nearby, monitoring them.

"Well, well," the ringleader said. "The prince and his slut deign to talk to us."

Adam froze and glared at him. "I already told you what would happen if you said anything like that about Belle." He signaled the guard. "I won't tell you again. Escort him out."

Two of Adam's guards flanked the ringleader and escorted him out. He shouted behind him, "I'll be letting Gaston know where his wife is."

"Follow him," Adam said to one of his personal bodyguard, who nodded and disappeared into the crowd.

Adam turned back to the rest. "Now, anyone else have something to say?"

The malcontents muttered but said nothing. "Good," he said. "Enjoy my wine and food. If any of you would like productive work and good pay, feel free to come visit the castle tomorrow and we can talk. This is only a sample of what those part of my court gets to experience."

Adam turned to Belle, "Shall we take another turn on the dance floor?"

"Yes please," Belle said, eager to get away from the people she supposed had witnessed her wedding.

Adam led her back to the floor, wrapping his arm around her waist once more and grasping her hand.

"Shouldn't you be dancing with other people?" Belle asked, noting the women standing around the room watching them.

"Undoubtedly," Adam said, following her gaze. "I'll get an earful from my mother about it, I'm sure." He looked back into her eyes. "But I don't want to spend another minute away from you. I was stupid these past two weeks to not try to talk to you. It was cowardly of me."

Belle swallowed. "I was too wrapped up in myself," she said. "And I was worried you hated me."

"Never," Adam said, squeezing her hand and pulling her closer.

Belle wanted to rest her head on his chest, but didn't think it would be appropriate with the audience.

A large hand fell on Adam's shoulder from behind. "I'll thank you," said a horribly familiar voice. "To get your hands off of my wife."