Only Skin Deep

Just Not Yours

Mrs Saint-Clair had taken Angelique out to the market with her when the knock at the door came. Belle, slumped in a chair by the fire, strongly considered not answering it. But she reminded herself that it could be her mother returning and heaved herself out of the chair. She crossed the room and swung open the door.

“Oh!” Belle paused in surprise upon seeing, not her mother and sister, but Gaston standing at the door to the cottage. Just behind him stood a small man with a large leather case, who tipped his hat to Belle when she opened the door.

“Good afternoon, Miss Saint-Clair,” Gaston said rather formally with a nod. “I was sorry to hear that your brother has fallen ill?” He stood aside slightly to allow the smaller man to step forward. “My father insisted that we send our physician to see if there is anything he can do to help. May we…?”

Belle fought for a second between her contempt for the man in front of her, and her desperation for Maurice to receive medical attention. Shaking away her prejudices, she opened the door wider and gestured for the two men to enter the cottage. “Of course. Please, come in.”

“Where is the boy?” enquired the doctor, removing his hat as he entered the small living space.

“Just through there.” Belle pointed at the door to the twins’ bedroom and before she could say another word, the doctor vanished through the door. There was a pregnant pause.

 “Won’t you sit down?” Belle offered half-heartedly, still uncomfortable with Gaston's presence. Gaston nodded silently in thanks, and lowered himself into the empty chair in front of the fire. Belle seated herself opposite. Gaston was staring at her intently and her discomfort built, predicting the worst. Finally, he spoke.

“You don’t love me.”

 It wasn’t a question, but Belle still shook her head slowly in answer. Gaston’s broad shoulders rose and fell in a deep sigh.

“And you do not wish to marry me.”

“I’m... sorry,” Belle managed, slightly taken aback at his bluntness. “It’s just…”

“There’s no need for you to explain,” Gaston interrupted. “No one can expect you to marry someone you do not love, however well-suited they may seem for you.”

Belle’s eyebrows rose in surprise; this was a sentiment she had would have expected from anyone but the man in front of her now.

“I didn’t think you would understand,” Belle said in an almost dazed tone.  

Gaston tipped his head to one side, and Belle felt a strange stab of painful familiarity. She realised with a jolt that she was recalling how Alexander would do as such.

“I may not be the most intelligent of men,” Gaston began, causing Belle to wince as she remembered the many times she had expressed this opinion herself. “But I understand what it is to be in love, and I know that you are experiencing it now. Just not for me.”

Belle sat up a little straighter. “You believe me to be in love?”

“Well, yes,” Gaston remarked, looking at Belle in his own surprise. “You do not?”

“I… I honestly hadn’t thought about it,” Belle all but whispered. She pulled her eyes away from his inquisitive ones and stared into the spitting fire, lost for words.

“I’m so sorry,” Belle blurted suddenly. “I misjudged you horribly. You’re… you’re not what I thought.” She laughed sadly. “You know, you probably would make a wonderful husband…”

“… just not yours.” Gaston smiled at her and for a second Belle saw the future that could have been; a lavish wedding with the whole village gathered round, Maurice and Angelique playing in the gardens of Lord Beauchamp’s impressive manor, a mischievous young boy being scooped up in Gaston’s strong arms as Belle laughed and nursed a baby… and just as quickly as it had come to her, the vision vanished.

“My father will be displeased,” Gaston started, but was interrupted by the twins’ bedroom door reopening and the doctor emerging. Belle sprang to her feet and stared expectantly.

“Is he…?”

He will be fine,” the doctor assured her in a gentle tone. He pulled a small bottle of amber liquid out from his leather case and pressed it into Belle’s palm. “He will need to stay in bed for at least another week, and take one spoonful of this three times a day. A simple infection,” he finished with a nod. “With the right medicine, it will be cleared up in no time. Good day to you miss, sir.” The doctor replaced his hat and exited swiftly, leaving Belle and Gaston stood together in the centre of the room.

 “He’ll… be okay,” Belle breathed. “He’s going to be okay! Oh, Gaston… thank you. Thank you so much!” She rushed forward and flung her arms around him. “And please thank your father from us!”

Gaston pulled a pained expression and eased Belle away. “I’m not entirely sure that my father sent him out of compassion, Belle.”

Belle froze. “What do you mean?”

“My father does not share my thoughts on marriage,” Gaston sighed. “He believes the two of us to be a good match, whatever your feelings are towards me. I rather think he was hoping for this gesture to convince you to reconsider those feelings.”

“Ahh.” Belle shook her head and smiled. “Well then, I’m afraid he’ll just have to be disappointed.” She paused for a second. “There isn’t anything he can really do… isn’t there?”

Gaston couldn’t reply.