She couldn't keep herself still. Her hands were clamping on and off the side of the table, and her breath was so fast now that it seemed to her that she wasn't taking any at all. Her will kept her from altogether screaming, when that was all she wanted to do. Beauty had never been this terrified in her entire life.
But she heard what Mssr. de Lioncourt said -- so similar to what Eric had said -- and she nodded in automatic polite gratitude. Thank you for not hurting me, Mister Monster, her internal voice said and she outwardly laughed at it, a thin, tittering thing, swallowed a second later in what was near panic.
Answers and protection were what she'd gone looking for tonight. Answers, she'd found, but she was a far cry away from protected. Regardless, she couldn't endure sitting here a moment longer. With some strength she didn't know she had, she managed to stand (not leap) from her chair. "Thank you, Mssr. de Lioncourt," she said. "Forgive me for excusing myself."
And that was as polite and kind a parting word as she could manage at this point. As soon as she'd cleared the patio and was out onto the street, Beauty ran for her home.