While I was really frustrated with how slow it was, I think I realize what you were doing and it was effective. The anticipation was something I felt as an audience member, and I love seeing how open her facial expressions are. Your Beauty is wonderful and so sweet!
I love the frame with the Beast's paws/claws. I find hands (or, you know, paws/claws) so expressive...and I'm wondering if they're faintly gripping one another or resting gently and what either might mean for the Beast's state of mind.
In reference to both Marquesa and Kim's comments, I think we'll be finding that, despite fear, Beauty is much less guarded overall than The Beast.... Also, I think that panel is my favourite out of the entire book thus far.
(Looks at food on the table. Goes to make some ramen because she is lazy and hungry enough for that.) So, this page. You really got the chance to play with the black and white here. It's kind of amazing how much detail you can get in here with just that. Anyway, we get more hints of how eloquent and polite this Beast is - oooh, I love him already - and I think Beauty freely taking her father's place was an important element of this agreement. How that will play out or would have gone if she hadn't, I'm not sure, but I think Beauty has done the right thing, as far as it goes. She certainly surprised at how...not beastly he is being so far. I like it.
I'm wondering if the ellipses for "Then you do me great honor" is actually not for suspense purposes in terms of craft, but because the Beast is trying to hold back his own thoughts and emotions?
