Actually, it'd be more like a "deleted scene." ;) As my beta-readers gave me their feedback, several of them agreed that the current chapter six I had changed Belle's personality, plus, it didn't move the story forward.
So, I rewrote chapter six, and I'm so much happier with what is in the book. But, I like things like deleted scenes, so here's what didn't make the cut (those of you who have read Befriending the Beast will notice that, yes, I kept a few sentences).
The Deleted Chapter Six
Anis hovered
behind Belle as she walked around the walls that guarded the secret garden.
Days had passed without any sight of the king, and idle waiting was wearying.
"Your
highness, are you certain this is a good idea? A lady of royalty should never
soil her hands -- and certainly not her garments."
Belle gave a
quick glance at the hem of her blush pink gown. A few pieces of grass peeked
from among the beaded hem.
"'Tis
nothing that cannot be remedied in the wash."
"That is
beside the point, your highness."
Belle ignored
her and studied the wall. "Do you think we can break into the gate?"
"Your
highness! 'Tis not proper--"
"Aye, I
know. But propriety never agreed with me."
Anis gasped and
Belle grinned. Poor Anis. She had suffered much from Belle's carefree attitude.
What would she say if she knew of the morning rides Belle had resumed?
Seeing Carpus in
the distance, Belle lifted her skirts and ran towards him. "Carpus!"
"Your
highness, a lady of good breeding never runs, and never raises her voice to
call--"
"Carpus!
Come here a moment, please."
The man stood up
straight then bowed. "Your highness," he called as he took several
strides towards her. "How may I assist you this morn?"
"I desire
access into the garden."
Carpus looked
over his shoulder at the castle and lowered his voice. "I am not certain
such is a good idea."
"Percy said
that Papa hasn't expressly forbidden it. Have you any idea how to enter?"
Carpus' forehead
crinkled as he thought. "One may scale the wall. Tisn't too high."
Belle spun
around to look at the wall. "I fear I shall send Anis to her death, dare I
try that method."
"Well,
then, your highness, I may be persuaded to break the lock." His brown eyes
twinkled as he winked at Belle.
"Then be
persuaded, for I am in dire need of entering today."
"Yes, your
highness." Carpus bowed.
Belle followed
the gardener to the gate and almost pranced as he worked on the lock, ignoring
Anis' comments about correct behavior even in excitement. Within a minute,
Carpus had the latch broken. The iron hinges grated together as the gate was
forced open.
He bowed low.
"The garden awaits, your highness."
"Much
gratitude," Belle laughed lightly as she skipped inside the garden. Her
laugh faded as she picked her way along the overgrown paths. Mama would have
never allowed the garden to reach such disarray. The rosebushes that remained
were overgrown with dead stems tangled in the growth.
She knelt and
gently fingered a faded rose petal. The roses were supposed to blossom all
year, yet only a few faded petals were left to fall to the ground. She plucked
one of them off. That was how she felt. Like a petal clinging to its stem,
hopeful of staying, fearful of being cast away.
With resolve,
Belle turned and walked back to the gate. "Carpus, can you please supply
me with garden tools?"
"Your wish
is my command." Carpus dipped a bow and hastened away. When he returned,
he pushed a barrow filled with shears, rake, and spade. "Your highness,
behold the tools."
"Thank you
kindly, Carpus. Now…" Belle took hold of a shear. "Mayhap you would
counsel me the best method with which to proceed?"
"Aye, your
highness." Carpus bowed low. "First, your highness might request her
lady to find a pair of thick woolen gloves lest your fair hands be
damaged."
Belle laughed.
"Excellent idea. Anis?"
The
lady-in-waiting nodded, but frowned as she walked back to the castle.
"Tell me
the process now, please, while we wait!"
Carpus took the
shears from Belle and went to the nearest rosebush. Kneeling, he brushed his
hand against the faded leaves and said, "A neglected bush like this must
be shorn."
"Must it
indeed?" Belle cried.
"Aye, your
highness." Carpus' eyes were serious now, the teasing glint gone.
"For there to be new growth, you must do away with the old."
Belle tilted her
head to the side slightly. "Like the new Christian -- the old man must
pass away."
Carpus raised
his eyebrows but smiled at the princess. "Dead branches like these -- and
damaged branches like these -- must be removed."
"Aye,
sounds simple. And the weeds must be pulled out?"
"Aye, your
highness." Carpus stood and Belle reached for the shears.
She surveyed the
area. "I used to know the names of all of the bushes. Now I can remember
nothing."
Carpus grinned.
"Mayhap I can assist you in that as well."
"Excellent."
Belle walked forward to one of the bushes whose stems were thicker than the others.
"Can you tell a rose's color by its stems, Carpus?"
Carpus walked to
Belle's side. "Other gardeners may. I cannot. Why do you ask, your
highness?"
"If I
recall correctly, Mama had a favorite rose. 'Twas a yellow rose. 'So yellow
that it sends a ray of sunshine where it's placed, a beacon of hope,' she used
to say."
"Tis
possible for the rose to still be here, but I wouldn't hope too hard, your
highness."
"Aye,"
Belle sighed at the irony.
"Your
highness, 't'will take a lot of hard work for this to become the garden it was
years ago. 'Tis a wonder that any of the rose bushes still survive."
Belle smiled at
the gardener's concern. "I am aware of the work, and it doesn't frighten
me."
"Your
highness, I am at your service."
"I know you
are, Carpus, but I think…" Belle surveyed the abandoned plot. "I
think I should like to do this on my own." If she was only guaranteed that
her idea would work.
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