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"You don't even know htest clue that I've got a chaperone" Belle looked over to Persephone and i The older lady seeitated ferret "Try to think of it this way," Belle offered hopefully "The aiet married, or so we're told Correct?"

Persephone nodded, but she looked dubious

"I'oal, and this reflects well on you, as my chaperone and companion" Belle smiled weakly, unable to think of the last time she had uttered such complete nonsense

Persephone shot her a look which seemed to say, "Oh, really?" in the ave in "It's an uncommon situation, I admit And people will probably talk about it for weeks We've siot to make the best of it And besides all that, I'm happy"

Persephone's lips curved into a romantic half-smile "Then that's all that matters"

Belle was certain that she would never be able to sleep that night, but she awoke the next ain the day before to tell her that he had found a priest ouldBelle had smiled, insisted that he keep her footmen for the rest of the day, and then politely pushed his to do

Deter, she arranged to have dozens of flowers sent to her house and then dragged Persephone out shopping for a dress Needless to say, they brought along several male servants as escorts Belle did not like to think of herself as panicky, but then again, she had no wish to be dragged off into another filthy alleyway

Mada dress on such short notice but nonetheless reen silk gohich needed only minor alterations The dress was siracefully to the floor froh ehtly bared and was adorned by layers of gauzy white material The dress was more appropriate for warmer weather, but Belle decided that under the circumstances she really couldn't complain

The rest of the day passed with surprising slowness Belle had always thought of weddings as requiring mountains of preparations but quickly found that these e was to be perforuests

And noas the day of herto do except sit around and be nervous She'd feel better when Emma arrived, she decided What she needed was some female company Persephone was lovely, but she'd never been married and wasn't much help She'd tried to have a "little talk" with Belle the night before, but it soon became painfully apparent that she had far less to "talk" about than Belle did And Belle was quite deterrated rather quickly

Unfortunately, E to London Belle wandered aimlessly about the house all day, quite unable to concentrate on anything She nibbled at breakfast, picked at her lunch, and then finally settled into aseat in herroom and stared out at the street

Persephone caht, dear?"

Belle didn't turn around For soaze was co the sidewalk "I'"