Beauty and the Beast: Part III
Belle spent the night alone in the chambers she had been tossed into, although it was more like a prison. Shortly after the last of her tears had fallen, she had tried to make her escape. The door was locked, as she had expected, and attempts to force it open met with failure. It was a sturdy door and she was a petite woman. The window was covered with a simple wooden shutter but had no glass. Since she was in a tower though, the drop down would have killed her if she had tried to jump. After scouring the room for almost an hour looking for any possible route of escape, she had resorted to stripping her bed of its sheets and tying them together to use as a rope to scale down the tower. She tied the sheet chain to the foot of the bed and tossed it out the window. The sheet rope only reached half way down the tower. Even a drop from that height would risk injury. She eventually gave up, pulled the sheets back in, and remade her bed. She’d need somewhere to sleep, after all, if she had no choice but to stay here.
When she had finally resigned herself to sleeping, Belle had spent a good hour tossing and turning in her bed. She was still distraught by her sudden imprisonment and being separated from her father. Would he come back for her? Knowing her father, he’d fear for her safety if he antagonized her captor. She prayed he was at least safe now that he was set free. She would cope for now and try to find a way free when she could. All she could do was ponder about her circumstances as she listened to the sound of the rain pounding against the roof above her. At least she could be grateful that she was in a section of the castle where the roof was still intact.
After slipping into a state of sleep for a few hours, Belle was awakened by the sound of knocking. At first she thought it was the rain beating against the roof, but when the sharp knocks repeated, she realized someone was at the door. She remained buried in her covers. If she was a prisoner, why should she be entertaining guests.
“Mademoiselle?” The voice, distinctly female with a hint of a British accent, came from the other side of the door. “Are you awake? I’ve brought you breakfast.”
When Belle refrained from answering, she heard the sharp click of the lock and the door slid open slightly. A stout woman peeked inside, her wrinkled face scrunching up in a smile as she noticed Belle looking her way from the bed. “Oh good, you are awake.” She nudged the door further open with her hip and carried a tray into the room. “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion, but I expect that you’re quite famished.”
The servant woman placed the tray down on the edge of the bed next to Belle and smoothed the white apron she was wearing. The tray held a plate of freshly baked bread slathered in butter and jam, a bowl of grapes, and a steaming cup of tea. Belle didn’t make a move for the food. She still wasn’t certain whether to trust this woman.
The servant, noticing her defiant gaze, gave a sad smile. “I know it isn’t much, but the Master has been forced to cut down the house’s expenditures. I baked the bread myself, so I can attest to its freshness. By the way, my name’s Madame Potts if you be needing me in the future.”
When a reply wasn’t forthcoming, the servant woman gave a faint bow and edged towards the door. She hesitated when she reached the doorway and turned back towards Belle, who hadn’t moved an inch the entire time. “I must apologize for the Master’s behaviour. I pleaded with him to be lenient with you, but he has been in such a foul mood as of late. You must understand that life has been hard on him.”
“What could possibly cause a man to take someone prisoner without reasonable cause and lock them in a tower?” Belle said, sitting up in the bed and glaring at the servant.
Mme Potts’s gaze drifted to the floor. She wrung her hands as she stepped closer to the bed. “The Master has been going through difficult times. You see, he was just a boy when the Revolution broke out. His father decided to fight under the Prince of Condé, while he and his mother fled to Austria. When Condé’s army disbanded, the Master's father attempted to return to his estate here. As you can see, the revolutionaries did not treat the castle well, plundering it of anything of value. It is said that they learned of his return return and murdered him within these very halls. The Master has not taken the loss of his father well, even after all these years.”
After letting out a sigh, the Mme Potts sat down on the bed near Belle. She stared out the window, as if her mind was drifting off to another time and place. “The Master had spent so little time with his father and then lost him while he was still a boy. His mother doted on him, but the loss of her husband left her cold and despondent. Us servants have been the only family he has left, seeing as his mother passed away a few years ago. After his mother's death, the Master decided to return to his ancestral home, and us few that remained chose to join him. So please, be patient with him. He has been through so much and has lost those he loves. I am certain he will come to his senses in time and let you go free.”
The two remained quiet for quite some time. Belle wasn’t sure what to say. She did not know this lord and she didn’t care to either. Perhaps his life had been rough, but that didn’t mean he could go around locking people in towers. Then again, she understood what it was like to lose a parent. She wished more than anything she had been given a chance to know her mother. She could only imagine the pain of losing both her parents. Not bothering to look the woman in the eyes or let the defiant look leave her face, Belle gingerly took a piece of bread and started chewing away at it.
The servant woman smiled as Belle started to eat. She rose to her feet with a slight groan, age taking its toll. She watched Belle eat for a time and then turned to leave. Before she closed the door, she said, “If there is anything you need, just ask. I’ll make sure your stay here is comfortable as long as the Master insists on keeping you.”
The door closed behind the woman and Belle bit into another slice of bread. At least there was one reasonable person here. She took a sip of tea and sighed as the warm liquid swished around in her mouth. It was one of the most pleasant brews she had ever tasted. If she was going to be a prisoner, at least she was being well cared for. One day she’d get out of her, but for now she’d bide her time while sipping on tea like a lady.
