Beauty Within Chapter 4

She had no way of getting home. She was stuck here, for who knew how long. Mable started to shiver from the cold, so she stepped back from the door, trying to get her sluggish mind to think faster. She sat back down, barely noticing that Monsieur Carnier had closed the door and was now looking at her in concern. She tapped her fingers on the table, grateful for the silence that had blow in with the cold.  Quiet was what she needed right now, a chance to gather her thoughts. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

         She didn’t have to panic just yet. She would have to stay here a few more days, even though her family was probably worried, but there was really nothing any of them could do. Miss Carol had probably already called her sisters and they probably made arrangements for someone to stay with their father until they found Mable. It had been silly of her to worry about that, and a little petty, because she knew her sisters loved their father dearly. If Mable wasn’t there, it was incredibly likely that one of them had flown in to take care of him. The only thing left to do was to wait. The storm was bad, but it would stop eventually, and when it did she could walk back.  She just needed someone to tell her where the road was, and it was a matter of finding her car, and getting signal on her cell phone.

         Mable’s eyes flew open. Wait a minute. A phone was what she needed. She jumped up from the table, flying towards Monsieur Carnier.

“Where’s your phone? Can I make a call to my family? It won’t take me long, I just need to-” Mable broke off, sighing even as she puzzled over the confusion on Monsieur Carnier’s face. The phone lines were probably down, especially in this storm. There was no way she would be able to make a call. Though that didn’t really explain why Monsieur Carnier was looking at her like she had grown three heads.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand, my dear. What is this foam that you wish to have?” Monsieur Carnier asked, politely, but still looking a little lost.

Despite her problems, Mable laughed. “Not foam, a phone. Though I guess I would have been surprised if a castle this big had a phone in the first place. Well,” she said, sitting back down, “I’m stuck here, I’m afraid. You guys don’t mind if I stay here for a few days, do you?” Mable was pretty sure they would let her stay, because she had gotten such a warm welcome, and she couldn’t see any of them pushing a lost woman back out into the snow. But it never hurt to ask.

“You’re staying? Really?” Maddy had disappeared so quickly from Mable’s mind that she jumped a little when the girl bounced next to her, excitement etched all over her face.

Mable smiled at the girl, amused by her enthusiasm “Well, I don’t have much of a choice. As long as nobody minds…” Mable drifted off, looking at the kitchen staff. Everyone had gone back to their respective areas, but once again, work had stopped. Their stares made her uncomfortable, but they didn’t seem displeased that Mable was going to have to stay. In fact, their stares were friendly, albeit speculative. Mable had the impression that she was being sized up.

What they thought of her was to remain a mystery, however, because Monsieur Carnier had finally noticed that no one was working. He bellowed out an order curtly and before long the toil resumed, but Mable was surprised to see one of them wink at her before turning back to the counter. Nonplussed, Mable allowed Maddy to pull her upright.

“Nobody will mind, we were hoping you would stay! Would you like a tour? You’ve had breakfast and everything. Come on,” Maddy urged impatiently when Mable hesitated, “I know my way around the castle, and there’s nothing better to do, anyway. Plus,” Maddy’s voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper, “You don’t want to be in here when it gets close to dinner. Monsieur Carnier can get plenty mean when dinnertime rolls around and people are in the way. What do you say?”

How could anyone resist the urge to wander through an enormous castle?

“Okay. Let’s go!” Mable said; she was ready to share in the girl’s excitement. She didn’t want to spend the day moping, and rambling around a vast castle seemed to be the perfect activity to get her mind off of her predicament. Mable’s smile widened when Maddy squealed with pleasure and started to pull her towards the door. Mable dug her heels in quickly, and turned back to the kitchen, cheerfully shouting, “Later, Monsieur Carnier! I’ll be looking forward to dinner tonight!”

Mable was pleasantly surprised when she heard over the din, “It will be a dinner you shall never forget, Lady Mable!” Monsieur Carnier gave her a friendly wave from his position near the door, and his hearty shouting faded as Maddy and Mable went back out into the corridor.

“Which way shall we go first?” asked Mable, brightly looking up and down the corridor. This place was just longing to be explored thoroughly, and Maddy’s eagerness was catching.



         Maddy, wrinkled her nose thoughtfully. “Hmm, well, let’s start with this wing of the castle first. We can work our way through the first floor, then move up to the second. Of course,” she said matter-of-factly, “we can’t see the whole castle in just one day. It’s too big. But my room is on this floor, along with the other’s servants’ rooms. I can’t wait to show you my room! Papa and I have our very own apartment in the castle. It’s small, but pretty nice. Oh! There are some people you should meet, too!” Maddy continued to chatter as she led Mable to the left, down the corridor. They walked at a far slower pace than when they had arrived for breakfast, and this gave Mable some more time to look at the paintings on the walls.

They were gorgeous scenic paintings, so bright and colorful that Mable longed to walk through the frame and visit that other world. A few were ocean scenes, with deep, sapphire waves and glittering white sand. Mable spotted tufts of grass poking through the sand in some of the paintings, and brilliantly-colored seashells in others. One even had a seagull, forever flying through the blue-grey sky. Mable found some other paintings that were forest scenes, with greens so dark they almost looked black. Gentle, russet-colored deer peered back at Mable through the frames, caught in the moment of treading softly through the ferns and underbrush. Little wrens and an odd finch sat immobile on tree branches, their black, beady eyes nothing more than a dot of paint on the canvas. Mable found a few paintings of the mountains, fabulous mixtures of dark grays and light blues. There were no animals to distract from the beauty of the mountain, no storm-riled sky to overdo its perfection. There was just the mountain, silent in its frame, yet solid in its entirety. Mable spent quite a few minutes looking at the mountain, wondering if it was half as beautiful in reality as it was in the painting.

A hand tugged at her sleeve, and Mable was snapped out of her hypnosis. The scenes had nearly pulled her soul into the images, leaving her body out in the castle corridor. Blinking, Mable looked down to see Maddy smiling in understanding.

“I know, “she said, gently tugging Mable away from the paintings. “I know. Everyone acts like that when they see these. It’s hard not to get pulled in. That was Her Majesty’s gift, you see. She loved to paint, and she put everything she had into it. Whenever she finished a painting, she put it in her gallery. People used to come from all around to look at them.” Maddy led Mable down another hallway, brightly lit by the lamps. This hallway had no paintings, however, just large table here and there, with vases filled with flowers. It reminded Mable of the foyer she had come through last night.

“Where is the gallery?” asked Mable, and breathed deep. The smell of flowers was intoxicating.

“It’s up on the fifth floor. I’ll take you there sometime.”Maddy answered, and pointed to a black, wooden door to their right. “That leads to the foyer. We are now officially to the front of the castle. If you ever get lost, find the foyer. All the doors lead to a different wing. This wing here is the northern wing, what we call the Star Wing. Your room is towards the eastern side of the castle, in the Crown Wing. The southern side is called the Flower Wing, and the western side is called Sunset Wing. There a symbol for each wing, so nobody gets lost. Come in and see.” Maddy opened the door, and Mable found herself once again in that incredible foyer.

The chandelier was as bright as ever, though Mable was still at loss as to how it worked. That didn’t matter though; it was a welcoming sight, as much as it had been last night. Mable felt comfortable in this room, probably because it was the one room she recognized. She ran a hand over one of the smooth, wooden tables, and went to get a closer look at the vases that were so expertly arranged. The flowers were still the same, jewel-bright and sensual, and Mable couldn’t resist going over to one and stroking the smooth, baby-blue petals. Up close, she realized that it was not a rose, as she had originally thought. Oh, it was like a rose, but not quite. It had far fewer petals, and its stem didn’t hold a trace of thorns, but the flower brimmed with life under her finger. Mable examined the other flowers, some she knew by look, and others that seemed completely foreign to her. The colors ranged from a deep, dark purple to a bright, eye-smarting orange. Their scents filled her nose, and Mable wished she had a perfume that smelled like these flowers. The aroma was utterly unique.

Mable turned to her companion. “These flowers are amazing, where do you guys grow them? How do you get them to stay so fresh during this weather?” Mable wasn’t surprised that the flowers were so exclusive, since there was nothing less she could expect. The whole castle just seemed to function on the incredible.

“I’m not sure.” Maddy admitted, shrugging her shoulders. “No one’s allowed to take care of the flowers other than Madame Cecile. She won’t let anyone else touch them, not even to change their water. Everyone just does as she says, because Madame Cecile can get pretty scary when she’s mad.” Mable quickly pulled her hand away from the flowers.

Maddy pointed to the door they had just come through. “Come look at this. I think you’ll like it.”

Mable wandered over to the door, and smiled when she saw a large star carved in gold in the center. “I get it. The symbol represents the wing of the castle, right?”

Maddy grinned, pleased that Mable had caught on so quickly. “Yes, that’s it. See, this one leads to the Star Wing, where we just were. That wing is where the kitchen is, and the dining room, and the storerooms where all the food is kept. It also has the rooms for the kitchen staff, and Monsieur Carnier’s private office. Whenever you’re hungry, just go to the Star Wing.” Maddy pointed to a door in the opposite direction. “That’s the Flower Wing, to the south-east. Papa says that it’s to the south-east, and not the direct south, because if we went directly south we would end up back at the foyer. So, if you’re lost, just head south, and you’ll head back to the foyer.” Maddy, bit her lip thoughtfully, then added, “Unless you’re in the south already. Then you just head north. Get it?”

Hardly, but Mable nodded and went over to look at the door anyway. This one had an elaborate flower carved into the wood, one exactly like the flower she had smelled just a moment before. “What’s in the Flower Wing?”

“Madame Cecile’s quarters, Maestro’s rooms and personal office, and the conservatory. It also leads to the outside, where barracks and stable are, as well as the soldier’s quarters. You won’t see much of them; they stay in the barracks most of the time. ” Maddy counted off.”Oh, yes, and the blacksmith’s workshop is down here, too.” She added as an afterthought.

Mable gaped. She hadn’t even thought of this castle having soldiers in it. Desperately, she tried to think of a question that wouldn’t get her a complicated answer. “Who’s Maestro?”

Maddy smiled jovially. “He’s the Captain of the soldiers. He keeps them in line, and makes sure they practice every day, even though it has been years since we have been attacked. His real name is actually Jacques, but my Papa says people call him Maestro because of his work with a sword. He’s the master of the sword, or so I’ve heard. I’ve never actually seen him use it.” Maddy sighed in momentary disappointment, but perked back when she remembered what they were supposed to be doing. “Oh, yes, you should see the door to your wing.”

She wandered away from the previous door, and pointed a door with a large crown carved on it. This door was on the same side as the Flower Wing’s door, but farther to the north, close to the front entrance.

“This is your wing, the Crown Wing. The ballroom is in this wing, taking up the whole second floor. There’s a way around it, though. “Maddy assured her. “The first floor is mostly guest rooms, with parlors and sitting rooms for the guests. They all haven’t been used in a long time, though. You’re in one of the private rooms, up on the fifth floor. Those are for very important guests. The third and fourth floors have the library, Her Majesty’s painting gallery, and the stairs that lead to the towers. The towers don’t hold much, they’re just for look-outs. Then, there is the sixth floor which holds some private rooms. We can go see those later, if you really want to.”

Maddy went over to the other side of the hall, near the door they had come through originally. “This is the Sunset Wing. Let’s go through here first, it has my room.”

Mable only had a second to glimpse at the sun-shaped carving on the door before Maddy pulled her through. This hallway was also brightly lit, but had less flowers and paintings. There were small tables in the corners with bouquets, but not as many as the other halls. There were also a lot more doors down this corridor, unlike the others where the doors were all set far apart.

Confused, Mable asked, “What’s in this wing, anyway?”

“This is the servant’s wing, mostly. The male servants have the two bottom floors and the females have the two upper floors. Married couples, and their families, all have the top floor.” Maddy replied. “We’re going up to me and my Papa’s room. It’s on the top floor.”

Sure enough, Maddy had led them down another hall to a large, steep set of marble stairs. This stairway was not nearly as spacious as the one Mable remembered, and the thought of climbing all those steps made her weary just by thinking about it.

“Don’t you have an elevator, or something?” Mable groaned, putting a tentative hand on the sleek railing. She had a feeling as to what the answer would be.

“What’s an elevator?” Maddy asked, enunciating the word as if she didn’t know what it was. Mable sighed at the confusion on her face. Oh well, it was worth a shot.

“Never mind, let’s just get climbing.”

After several breathless minutes of clambering up the stairs, Mable finally huffed her way onto the sixth floor. Maddy had not been much help, running up ahead of her then waiting impatiently for Mable to catch up. Breathing heavily, Mable blindly followed Maddy as she opened a door just to their right.

“Here we are! This is my room!”Maddy shouted gleefully, and ran inside, gesturing for Mable to follow.

The room was cozy, despite its size, with tapestries of animals covering every wall. The floor was like the one in Mable’s room, a smooth, glossy pine floor that lay bare except for a pretty cerulean rug in the middle of the room. A child-sized desk was on one side of the room, along with a partially opened door that Mable could see led to a dressing room of some kind. On the other side was a short, plush bed covered in numerous colored blankets and pillows. The windows were also like the ones in Mable’s room, only these were faced towards the forest. Mable could barely see the hint of green through the blinding, white snow outside. Lamps lay unlit on the nightstand next to the bed, and the desk, but Mable doubted it would stay that way for long. The room was already dark, compared to the corridor outside, with just enough light for Mable to get a good look at the room. Even as she noticed this, Maddy had gone over and lit several of the lamps, filling the room with an unnatural amount of light.

“How do you get them to light up the whole room?” asked Mable curiously. Maddy gestured for her to step further inside the room, and Mable obeyed, closing the door behind her.

“They were made to produce lots of light, “said Maddy wisely. After she lit all the lamps, she ran to the middle of her room and spun around in a circle, throwing her arms out wide to encompass the room. “Do you like it? Isn’t it wonderful? I decorated most of it myself.” Proudly, Maddy bounced on her feet, waiting for Mable’s answer.

Mable smiled. She knew what a proud feeling it was, knowing you decorated your own space, and having others enjoy it as much as you did. She had to admit, the room was lovely, with its brightly adorned walls, and extravagant furnishings. It was a room every nine-year-old girl dreamed of.

“It’s great, I just love all the colors. Especially all the colors on your bed.” Mable said with a laugh, and Maddy’s face lit up. As Mable’s gaze wandered the room, she noticed another door. “Where does that go?” she asked, nodding her head towards it.

“That’s the main room, where I live with my Papa. Do you want to see it, or spend more time here?” Maddy asked. Mable had a little trouble deciding between the two. She was curious about the other room, but she didn’t want to hurt the girl’s feelings. Especially since she didn’t know her way back to her own room yet, and it would be difficult if she lost her guide.

“Well,” Mable said, taking the easy way out. “What would you like to do?” Maddy considered for a moment, and then went over to the door.

“Let’s go see if my Papa is here yet. He’ll sometimes come home in the afternoons if he’s not too busy.” Maddy said decisively, and led Mable to another brightly-lit room. This one was more adult, with creamy tones instead of the vivid colors she had seen in Maddy’s room. Coffee-colored rugs covered the wood floors, and the marble walls were covered with ivory curtains, reminding Mable of a posh, sophisticated sitting room. Which it was it seemed to be, since several plump, comfy chairs were placed elegantly in the center of the room invitingly. A large, dark-wood table stood in one corner, with a delicate teapot and teacups arranged pleasantly for when they were not in use, though Mable could bet they were used often. Lamps shone their glow, softer than the ones in Maddy’s room, but still managing to keep the room exceptionally well-lit. Mable could see a small space in the curtains, and could feel the chill where the windows were. She knew that Maddy’s father had the same thought she had; it was no use looking outside when there was nothing to see. Mable looked away from the window just in time to see Maddy plop cheerfully into a chair. Taking that as a cue, Mable also sat down, wondering briefly where Monsieur Lune was.

As if her thoughts had conjured the man, Monsieur Lune came into the room, appearing almost out of thin air. Mable jumped, not expecting this surprise, and giggled at herself cheerfully. Her spirits rose when she saw the familiar face, despite the fact that Monsieur Lune’s expression remained stoic when he came in. For a moment Mable wondered if he was unhappy to see her, but when he spotted the two of them, his face broke into a warm smile.

“Lady Mable! How good it is to see you up and about. Did you sleep well?” Monsieur Lune asked, and sat himself down in a chair across from hers.

Mable smiled affectionately. “I slept wonderfully, Monsieur Lune. It’s good to see you again. I haven’t seen a familiar face since last night!”

“I apologize for that. We felt it might be more comfortable for you if Maddy came and got you. She does love to meet new people, right, ma cherie?” At this he turned to his daughter and ruffled her hair lovingly. Maddy laughed and pushed his hand playfully away.

Mable felt a tug of homesickness when she saw their mutual care for one another. It reminded her so much of her own father.  She missed the way her gave her those warm embraces, those playful tugs on her hair.

“Oh, I’m not upset at all. Maddy’s been the best guide I ever had.” Mable declared, and smiled when father and daughter both turned to look back at her. Now that they were only a few inches apart from each other, Mable could see the family resemblance clearly. Maddy’s eyes and nose clearly came from her father, though her hair was a lighter tone than her father’s. Her slender figure and warm smile were exactly like Monsieur Lune’s, and Mable again felt that brief ache of longing.

“That is good. Have you eaten, Lady Mable? I trust my daughter hasn’t pulled you all through the castle yet?” Monsieur Lune asked, pinning his daughter with a stern look.

“I’ve had plenty to eat, Monsieur Lune. In fact, this is the first place we’ve been to; Maddy wanted me to see her room first.” she explained with a laugh, and Monsieur Lune’s stern look faded.

“If that is the case, may I accompany you on the rest of your trip? I’m sure there’s a great many places you would like to see in the other wings, and the servant’s quarter is no place for an important guest such as yourself.”Monsieur Lune stood up, offering Mable a hand up. She took it and he pulled her up gracefully, the warm smile returning to his face. “I assure you there is nothing worthwhile to see here. Though, admittedly, Maddy’s room is worth the long journey up here. She insisted on furnishing it herself. I didn’t have the heart to tell her no.”

“It was a wonderful room. I remember when my sisters and I were given permission to redecorate our rooms. It made us feel…more grown-up, I guess. Right, Maddy?” Mable asked the girl, who was already on her feet and racing to the door.

“Yes, that was the best part. I did it all on my own,” Maddy bragged, as she waited impatiently for the two adults. “Well, all right, not all on my own. I had some of the seamstresses help me with the curtains, and the tapestries were a gift from Papa.” She admitted reluctantly, catching her father’s narrow glare.

The trio wandered out to the stairs, Maddy occasionally clambering down, and then waiting as the adults followed at a more sedate pace. She chattered nonstop as they continued, so Mable and Monsieur Lune let her talk without interruption. It was useless to try and get a word in, and personally Mable liked listening to her. It reminded her of when her nieces would come and talk constantly, paying no attention to their mother’s attempts to calm them down. It was familiar, and Mable needed something common in this place.

Eventually Maddy moved on from her own life, and wanted to know about Mable’s. “You said you have sisters, right? How many? Are they older or younger? What do they do? Do they live with you?”She pressed, her eagerness making Mable laugh.

“One question at a time, Maddy!” Monsieur Lune admonished, though it was clear that he too, was eager to know more about Mable’s family.

         “It’s all right, Monsieur Lune. I have two sisters, both older than me. They don’t live with me, because my eldest sister is a lawyer in Massachusetts, and my other older sister is a fashion designer in Prague.” Mable reeled off, and Maddy instantly asked more questions.

         “What are their names? Are they married, do they have children? What’s a fashion designer?” Maddy bounced off the bottom step and looked at Mable expectantly. Mable had barely realized that they had reached the first floor; she was too busy explaining her home life.

         Casually Monsieur Lune led them down a corridor Mable recognized, and she continued to describe her sisters and father to her young companion. She let the question about the fashion designer slide; she doubted the girl had much experience outside the castle, so it was natural that she didn’t know what a designer was. The small group went back through the foyer, and through the door that had the carving of a crown on it.

Monsieur Lune explained that perhaps it would be a good idea for Mable to know the way back to her room, for future reference. Mable strongly agreed. With Monsieur Lune and Maddy in the lead, Mable followed the father and daughter down a corridor, paying close attention to small signs she could use later. Not paying attention to where she was actually going, Mable turned a corner and, before she could veer to the side, banged unceremoniously into someone.

         Stuttering an apology, Mable took a step back to get a good look at her victim, and gaped. It was as if someone had gathered all of Mable’s insecurities about her looks and personified them into one gorgeous woman, and a sharp knife plunged right into Mable's self-esteem. The woman didn’t look any older than her, but that hardly helped. The woman was taller than her by only an inch, but her long legs and slim body made it seem like a foot. Her hair was a dark shade of brown that Mable had always envied, which flowed neatly down to her shoulders. Mable felt distinctly grubby with her reddish-gold locks tied into a plump braid. The woman had a round face, but that only made her chocolate brown eyes, framed by the longest lashes Mable had ever seen, look even more sensual. She had an arched nose, which sadly didn’t distract from her beauty, but only gave her face more character. Her lips were curved gently in a smile, and Mable’s traitorous mouth smiled back, despite the fact that this woman was so beautiful it made her look like a hag in comparison. Even the maid’s uniform that the woman wore did not make her look tasteless or unpleasant; on the contrary, it made her look serious, more feminine.

         Mable found herself incredibly glad that she was not wearing her grubby sweatshirt and jeans.

         Unaware of Mable’s inner battle with her confidence, Maddy cheerfully butted in between the two women.

         “Good afternoon, Madame.” Maddy said politely. Maddy’s father had also returned, and came over to properly introduce the two ladies.

         “Lady Mable, this is Madame Labelle, the head of the maid staff. Madame Labelle, this is our new guest, the Lady Mable Lawrence.” Mable had the distinct impression that he was trying not to laugh. Ignoring the fact that her cheeks were now burning with embarrassment, Mable reached out to shake the woman’s offered hand.

         “Quelle surprise!” Madame Labelle exclaimed, and Mable jealously noted that Madame Labelle had a beautiful voice to complement her looks. “It is quite an honor, my lady! I was hoping I’d get to meet you today.” She compassionately grabbed both of Mable’s hands. “Oh, I do hope you are feeling better after last night. It was such a terrible storm, and you walked all the way here, all by yourself. How perfectly awful. You have had enough rest, I trust? Was everything to your liking?”

         Mable was already starting to like her. Damn it, it was just too hard to hate someone who was so nice. Mable sighed inwardly. It wasn’t the woman’s fault she was so pretty, no matter how much Mable really wanted to blame her for it. If Madame Labelle was willing to be friendly, then Mable just had to live with it, just like she had to live with the royal treatment, even if it did make her uncomfortable.

         “Everything was great, thank you. I slept better last night than I have in years. I feel so refreshed.” Mable smiled at the woman, who returned it wholeheartedly.

         “I am so happy to hear you say that.” Madame Labelle gushed, and gave Mable’s hands a squeeze. “I heard about your…predicament. I am so sorry that you cannot get home. Though, I am glad that you are staying with us longer.” She said joyfully.

         Madame Labelle let go of Mable’s hands, to her intense relief. “Well, I guess I am a little glad to be able to stay a little longer.”Mable confessed. She just could not lie to this woman. “But as soon as the snow stops, I do have to leave.” She warned.

         “We understand that you are worried for your father, my lady.” said Monsieur Lune gently. “We cannot begrudge you for that.”

         Mable looked at the earnesty on all their faces. “Thank you.”

         “Your welcome!”Chirped Maddy, and made Mable smile.

         “It is our duty, and our pleasure, to serve you, Lady Mable.” said Monsieur Lune with an elegant bow. Madame Labelle flapped her hand at him.

         “Well, enough of that, there is still much to do. Lady Mable needs the tour and I still have to see Master Theo.” Mable blinked at the name. It sounded so familiar.

         “Who’s Master Theo?” she asked, and the group exchanged glances.

         “No one has told you about Master Theo yet?” asked Maddy, and Mable interest grew. She was certain Maddy had been the one who had mentioned ‘Master Theo’ earlier. Yes, when she mentioned his mother…

         “No, I’ve only heard the name in passing. Is he someone I should know?” She asked quickly, because now all three of them looked alarmed.

         “Well, we had hoped someone had told you by now. But considering the circumstances, I guess it cannot be helped.” Monsieur Lune said, looking at Madame Labelle expectantly.

         “Master Theodore Beaumont. He is the lord of this castle.” began Madame Labelle. “He took over the lands and the people after his father died, right before his sixteenth birthday.” Madame Labelle gestured for all of them to follow her. “I need to go and speak with him. Come, I will tell you the story on the way.” Mable obediently followed.

         “Master Theo was the only child of the Lord and Lady of this land. We called them Majesties, but they were not really a king and queen. They just owned the land and took care of the people in the nearby villages. Lord Acelin Beaumont was a kind man; very devoted to his people. Everyone loved him, especially Master Theo. When he was little, he would follow His Majesty everywhere, and tried to be just like him. When he wasn’t with Lord Acelin, he was with Jacques and me. We grew up together, you see. He would play with us some days, when his father was too busy to pay him any mind. He was a sprite thing, full of fun and mischief. After his father died, all of Theo’s mischief and fun seemed to die too.” They had started to climb a marble staircase now, but Mable wasn’t paying any attention to her surroundings. She was completely enthralled with the story.

         “Poor boy. It wasn’t fair that he had to lose his father so early in life.” said Monsieur Lune softly. Maddy nodded sadly.

         “Lady Liana was crushed, and she locked herself up in her rooms, after that. It is said that is why she painted. She released her grief through art. Master Theo was left in the care of the castle’s servants, like Monsieur Lune. He stopped playing with Jacques and me, though we didn’t mind too terribly. We understood that he had just lost his father, and we were busy ourselves. I was taking over my mother’s place as the Housekeeper, and Jacques was training to become Captain of the Guard. Theo began his training for becoming Lord of the castle, with Monsieur Lune to help guide him.” Mable could hear the sadness in her voice.

“When I wasn’t busy with my own work.” Monsieur Lune interrupted. “By that time, Maddy was born, and my own wife had died. I found myself taking care of not just one child, but two. He was a great help, though.” Monsieur Lune said quickly, as if Mable had reproached him. “He took to my Maddy almost instantly, and kept her company while I did my daily work. I let them be, since it seemed that Master Theo needed my Maddy as much as she needed him.”

“Monsieur Lune’s wife died in childbirth.” said Madame Labelle quietly to Mable. “He was devastated, but he was determined to raise Maddy with as much love as possible.” Mable’s respect for the man rose considerably. He sounded so much like her father.

“Master Theo is really nice. He used to play all sorts of games with me, and he took me out riding a couple of times. He even taught me how to play chess.” said Maddy cheerfully, oblivious to Madame Labelle’s last comment.

“Yes, he does have a fondness for children.” said Monsieur Lune. If he had heard Madame Labelle, he showed no sign of it.

“Lady Liana died when Master Theo was twenty-one or so. All her paintings were framed and put up around the castle, and Master Theo even arranged for a gallery to be constructed in her honor. Most of her portraits and watercolors are there. Master Theo took over as the new Lord shortly after that, and has been the Lord ever since.” Madame Labelle finished.

         Mable was huffing strongly by this time, for they had treaded up several flights of stairs and they were now on a completely different floor. Mable looked around. This corridor was larger than all the others, and a lot more ornate. Framed paintings like the ones downstairs covered the walls, but the frames here were gilded with gold and silver, unlike the simple pine ones in the other halls. This hall also didn’t have any flowers, leaving the dusty side tables miserably bare.  There were only a couple of doors down this way. Madame Labelle had placed herself in front of a door that seemed the most taken care of, and was waiting patiently for Mable to come closer.

         “That’s Master Theo’s private quarters.” Maddy whispered in Mable’s ear. Suddenly feeling tense, Mable walked over to join Madame Labelle in front of the door.

         “Right,” continued Madame Labelle. She placed a hand on Mable’s arm, warning her to stay still. “I am going to inform Master Theo that you are here. There are still more explanations to be given, but they will have to wait, I’m afraid.”          

         Madame Labelle curtsied gracefully to Mable, and before she could come up with an appropriate response, Madame Labelle had walked through the door, leaving Mable gaping on the other side.