Beauty and the Beast

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve:

Lumiere led Isabelle through the dense forrest.

"It seems like we are destined to share this experience more than a few times," Lumiere joked.

Isabelle forced herself to chuckle, not sure why she felt such a pit in her stomach.

It was getting rather dark, but Lumiere and Isabelle made good time back to the town. When the dim lights were visible Lumiere slowed.

"Isabelle," Lumiere said, "You know the way from here, my dear. Please, be careful. I will be at your cottage the morning after next to escort you back."

Lumiere paused, as if waiting for a reponse from Isabelle. She looked at him and nodded, completely understand the plan.

"Are you sure you don't want me to be with you?" Lumiere asked.

Isabelle nodded again, the pit in her stomach twisting. "I don't think I want to deal with what Cecile would do if I were to manipulate all your time and energy the next day and a half, Lumiere," Isabelle tried to joke. "I'll be fine. Especially because there is a member of Adam's staff with my father, correct?"

Lumiere nodded, but still seemed hesitant. "Alright, my dear. Good luck, and have a good time with your father!"

Isabelle nickered at Clementine to start walking toward the town, and she turned the corner, heading straight for her home.

________

Isabelle arrived at her cottage, it seeming like it had been weeks, not days, since she had been there last. She looked down at her attire and blushed. How quickly she got used to wearing clean and finer clothing...

She dismounted Clementine and led her over to their stables. She noticed a few things that surprised her. The stables were remarkably cleaner and the hole in the roof had been patched up rather nicely. Isabelle took the saddle off and tucked it away with the rest of the tak.   

As Isabelle was letting Clementine eat some carrots out of her hand when she heard footsteps behind her.   

"Mademoiselle Isabelle?" an unfamiliar voice called out into the darkness of the stables.  

Isabelle turned toward the voice and assumed it was the servant from Adam's staff. The voice was male and sounded rather old and tired, but worried.  

"Yes, it is me," Isabelle responded.  

The servant sighed, and Isabelle could finally make out his silhouette.   

"There have been two men poking their noses around the property the past few days, so I had to ask," the servant replied.   

"Two men?" Isabelle inquired as she approached the servant.

"Yes. One is rather tall and was rather drunk the one time I spoke with him. The other one is small and bookish."  

Isabelle nodded and said, "Gerard and Leonard. Gerard makes it his primary mission to pop in as often as possible to bully me into marrying him. There's nothing to worry about. Both of them are essentially harmless."  

The servant's eyebrow quirked up at Isabelle's last statement. "Somehow, forgive me, I do not entirely believe you."  

Isabelle chuckled, "What is your name?"  

"Edward," the servant answered, "And it would be my best advice, Miss, if we went into the house. It is far safer there than out in the stables."  

"How is my father?" Isabelle asked as she allowed Edward to escort her to the cottage.  

"Maurice is doing very well," Edward explained, "He has missed you the last few days, but I believe his condition is improving slightly."