Beauty and the Beast

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven:   "Ready?" Cecile asked Isabelle as she led her toward the front door of the estate. Cecile had made Isabelle come back to her bedchambers to change into suitable clothes. As it seemed customary, Isabelle's riding jacket was a dark navy, and it went well with her khaki colored riding breeches and black riding boots. Cecile was done up similarly, but in dark green.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Isabelle said and forced a smile. She couldn't wait to get outside - the memory of the Master kissing her was scorched into her memory and stuck on repeat. She blushed... again. For what felt like the thousandth time, but Cecile did not take any notice.

Cecile opened the massive front doors, made of dark wood and etched with fine swirly patterns, and both young women squinted again the high sunshine.

"So, you brought your own horse?" Cecile asked Isabelle, ushering her toward the stables.

"Yes," Isabelle said, very grateful, in hindsight, that she did bring Clementine. They young ladies approached the stables, and Isabelle's breath caught in her throat. She wasn't quite sure what she was expecting, but the mere size of the stables overwhelmed her. The structure was wooden, but it looked like it had the potential to house at least fifty horses. The boy who she remembered from her arrival the day before was scooping up hay just outside the main entrance.

"How are the horses, Paul?" Cecile called and smiled. Isabelle also smiled a little, still trying to take in the massive structure.

"Tings are goin' pretta good, Miss Cecile," Paul answered. His dirty face had a genuine smile plastered to it, and his sparkled just a little bit.

"Have my horse brought to me, please," Cecile ordered, kindly. She patted the teenaged boy on his shoulders and he scampered off. In just a few minutes Paul was leading a rather tall, light brown mare toward Cecile.

"You remember my horse, don't you, Paul?" Isabelle spoke up and smiled warmly at the boy. He seemed to shy away from her, but Isabelle trusted that he was listening.

"Her name is Clementine. I'm sure she would relax if you called her name. Please, bring her to me," Isabelle said. When Paul looked anxious Isabelle chuckled and said, "Actually, I'd like to see the inside of these stables! Please, take me to my horse!" She said the last statement with a hint of comedic granduer. It broke the ice, and she was glad when Paul gave her a tentative smile before leading her into the stables.

It looked just like any other housing for horses with stalls, and stacks of hay. There were only about fifteen horses, Paul so thoughtfully pointed out as they walked toward Clementine's stall. Each stall was well cleaned and stocked, Isabelle noted and wished she had some money to pay the stablehand for his efforts.

In moments they found Clementine who whinnied at Isabelle's approach. She patted her horse's white diamond on her head and whispered sweet things before leading her out and saddling her up.

Within twenty minutes Cecile and Isabelle were saddled on their horses, headed down a trail through the forrest that acted as a perimeter for the Master's grand estate.

The longer they trotted, the more the ladies talked a bit. It started off a little forced. Isabelle was glad that Cecile was friendly, if not a little pushy, and easy to talk with. They both talked about their love of being outside, of riding their horses, and of books. Isabelle was relieved when Cecile told her about the library, but would have to ask the Master permission to let Isabelle in it.

"Excuse me if this is offensive," Isabelle started after a few moments of comfortable silence, "But how long have you worked here at this estate?"

"I remember being a little girl here, actually," was Cecile's answer, "I believe that my mother, Mrs. Potts and her daughter Nicole, Lumiere's father and Cogsworth's parents all worked here for the Master's parents."

Isabelle paled, somewhat surprised that a man such as he had parents at all. She also found it fascinating that these servants grew up here. "Are any of them still around? You know, the parents?"

Cecile gave Isabelle a sad look, "I'm afraid not, Izabelle. Something very terrible happened, and I don't have very many memories of it. But Master Adam, well, all of us really, have been without our parents for almost ten years."

Isabelle's heart lurched. She was aware of how much she already missed her Papa. Keeping herself busy and keeping up with the Master had kept the homesickness at bay, but she knew it would work for only so long. After ten years, things like that catch up with you.

"What happened?" Isabelle found herself asking in spite of her hesitations.

"I don't really know, Izabelle," Cecile said slowly, but inhaled before continuing. "It doesn't make any sense. Some of us think it has to do with magic, but most of think that we'll never really know the truth. But I do remember the night that it happened because there was a horrible thunderstorm through this area. Worse, even, than the one the other night."

Isabelle just listened, letting Clementine and Cecile's horse, Paisley, trot along the path.

"A few things we all know for certain, though. There was an old woman and she came asking for assistance. Master Adam's parents gladly gave the assistance, but were betrayed. The details were lost because those involved were killed. Mrs. Potts ez the only servant from those days that survived. She was in the kitchens, as always, and was completely oblivious. She was the one who found everyone."

Isabelle was struck with the horrible understanding of the situation. She was slightly confused about something, though. "What is this talk of magic?"

"You must understand, Izabelle, that Master Adam ez a very private man, and speaking of this will upset him deeply," Cecile said slowly, giving her a pained expression. She seemed to be weighing something out in her mind and said, "I'm sorry, but I cannot do it!"

Isabelle immediately smiled and nodded, "I understand completely, Cecile. Forgive me, I was simply curious."

Isabelle was, indeed, curious about a lot of things. Master Adam seemed to be at the top of the list. She was stuck in her thoughts until they path they followed cleared into a meadow. The meadow was very unique in one aspect - it was full of roses.