D’Isgny Task #2 - Family & Friends, Part 1
Belle’s Family Tree as compiled prior to her journey to D’Isigny - black ribbon denotes deceased.
Maurice French - her father (Billy Boyd)
Dianne French - her mother (Isla Fisher)
Her father’s parents - Thierry and Adrienne French (Kevin Kline & Helen Mirren)
Her mother’s parents - Charles and Marie Thérèse de Artois (Donald Sutherlund & Blythe Danner)
Parental Secrets
“Daddy! I’m home”
Belle’s voice rang out over the sounds of her father’s workshop. She heard a clank, then a thud, and then her father’s voice. “Ouch!” Oops. She winced in sympathy and began to wind her way through all of the various machines and parts of machines scattered about the floor. Another corner turned brought her face to face with her father. “Belle!” He swept her into a warm exuberant hug before leading her back into the house. He fed her lunch and listened as she spoke about school.
“It sounds like you’re having a good time, then?” he smiled. His eyes crinkled at the edges and he seemed a little slower than he used to be.
“Daddy, I wish you would reconsider and move closer.”
“Belle, sweetheart, I need to tell you something.” Maurice sat down and took her hand. “I know you’re worried about me, with you off at school, but you don’t need to worry. I’m fine here – I shall always be fine in this house and on this land.”
“Daddy-.”
“Belle,” he repeated her name as he shook his head. “Did you never wonder why we didn’t move? Not even during a good year? It certainly wasn’t any loyalty to the village. No,” he shook his head again. “If there had been a way to move and remain safe, we would have gone somewhere, anywhere that we might fit in. But we needed to stay here.” He took a deep breath. “Your mother…she did not want to leave us.”
“I know,” she nodded, giving him a bemused look.
“No, sweetheart, no you don’t.” He looked down at their hands and then back up at her. “Belle, your mother…didn’t die.” She reared back in shock, but he refused to let go of her hand. “She’s not dead, and she didn’t want to leave.”
Belle shook her head, shock still coursing through her. She didn’t understand – it wasn’t making any sense! If… Then… Her mind floundered and then she took hold of herself. Belle forced herself to breathe, her mind becoming almost ruthless in its shift to a logical processing mode. The shaking in her hands stopped and she focused on her father once more. “Then where is she? Why isn’t she here?”
“Because it wasn’t safe,” he told her in a quiet voice. “For her or for us.”
“Where is she?”
“I can’t tell you that, sweetheart.” Her mouth flew open at his reply, but he let go of her hands to take hold of her shoulders. “Belle, do you trust me?”
“Yes.” And she did. Despite everything she’d just learned, she trusted him to mean the best…and to want her safety.
“Then I need you to trust me now,” he told her. “I can’t tell you where your mother is and I need you to give me your word you will not go looking.” She bit her lip and he gave her a light shake. “Promise me.”
“I promise.’
Her father drew her into a warm hug and she rested against him as her mind whirled. She’d given her word, and she wouldn’t go back on it, but it didn’t stop her from wondering.
What could be so dangerous about her mother?
