Philippe gets a shell shocked Antoine home without incident. As he dismounts, his daughters rush out to embrace him with squeals of delight.

Instead of receiving their embraces with pleasure, his eyes fill with inconsolable sadness. Reaching for the branch of long stemmed blood red roses, from his saddle Antoine's tears roll down his weary face.

"Here, Beauty, take these perfect roses and plant them. You cannot imagine how dear the cost of getting them was to your Papa."

"Please Papa tell us what happened."

Reluctantly, Antoine relates his near fatal adventure with Beast.

Marthe and Marie exchange loaded expressions.

"If it wasn't for those roses you're holding, Papa would not be at the mercy of Beast," Marthe glares accusingly at the visibly stunned Beauty.

"But you gave me the idea..." Beauty started.

"Do you see the pride of the scheming little wench," Marthe continues to Marie who shakes her head. "Beauty could have asked for fine clothes and jewellery, like we did; but no, she wanted to distinguish herself from us."

"She's the reason our poor Papa is leaving home forever. Look she doesn't even shed a tear," sneers Marie.

"You're right," replies Beauty softly, "I should not have asked Papa for anything, but to come back to us safe. Papa cannot suffer on my account. Beast asked the daughter who requested his roses to be his mate, and I accept." She turns to Antoine and says with resolve, "I'll go in your stead Papa."

"No," said Antoine, "Get that thought out of your mind child. That savage Beast could have ripped my throat in one movement. All the men in the village are no match for him and the magic that powers his palace," hugging Beauty he continues, "I'm humbled you would consider going in my place, but I cannot yield to it. I have lived a long and fulfilled life, even though I'll regret being separated from my dear children, I cannot let you be in the same room as that creature unchaperoned let alone mate with it."

"Papa my mind is made up," said Beauty, "you shall not go back to the palace without me. I'll follow you back."

"Papa, you have not been well since Mama passed on, let Beauty go in your place. If this creature needs a mate to bear it is unlikely to murder Beauty but it would be harder for an older man."

The two sisters exchange a charged look. "I agree with Marthe, let Beauty go in your place. There's less chance anyone would treat his mate unkindly. Give Beast the benefit of the doubt."

"Let's not argue. I'm exhausted and will have an early night. I'll consider all your arguments," said Antoine retiring to his bedroom. No sooner had he shut his chamber door, than, the pirate chest he had packed full of gold pieces materialised out of thin air. He was so afflicted at the thought of Beauty going to be Beast's mate that he forgot about the chest laden with gold.

The next morning when alone in the fields Antoine walks up to Beauty. "Beast gave me enough gold to let us live the rest of our days in luxury. This leaves in somewhat of a dilemma."

"Is it because Marthe and Marie want to move back to Paris and you prefer the sweet, country air of Avon?"

"You know us so well child."

"I think you should give them the means to move back if that is their wish."

"I'd have to maintain the house in Paris when I much rather spend my twilight years here," his eyes sweep over the farm.

"There's a way around that Papa, if you offer Marthe and Marie generous dowries, they would waste no time marrying Jacques and Tomas."

Indeed as soon as the sisters are informed about the substantial dowries their father put aside for them, they were married within a fortnight. Beauty threw herself in the planning of the double wedding celebration that included Raphaël, Jérémy and Pierre returning from the front.

The family had a few weeks of festivity and celebration and entertaining friends and family who came to wish Antoine and Beauty well before she went to Beast's palace for good.

The one month deadline had hung over the family like the sword of Damocles. The time to set out for a face to face meeting with Beast dawned...

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May, 16, 2015