“I’m sorry to disappoint.” He walked past her into the living room, taking his chair once more. The earlier solitude that he had resented now seemed a wistful luxury. “Why are you here?”
“You asked me that last time I visited.” She took the chair opposite him, resting one ankle on her knee like she’d been wearing jeans all her life. A disconcertingly un-Belle-like pose. “Why shouldn’t I be,mon amour?”
“Why didn’t you come and get me? You could’ve done.”
She leaned back with a trace of smugness. “I knew there was no need—I am not the only one who can track you, am I?”
“How do you know that?” The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Her lips curved in triumph. “Ah, so she can. The witch bond,n’est-ce pas?And Gabriel knows too, doesn’t he? No wonder he was so happy for you to be entombed.”
Antoine stilled, thoughts racing. “You set this up,” he said at last. “Why?”
“Là là,” she said dismissively. “Why would I care?”
“I don’t believe you. You could’ve stopped the Curia from punishing me, but you wanted me banished, and back with you.” His eyes narrowed. “Then you let it happen. Why?”
“Politics. Even I am not immune to such an insidious thing.” She rested her elbows on the arms of her chair and steepled her fingers, mimicking him with an air of mockery. Antoine hadn’t even realized he’d done it, and dropped one hand to his lap. “I had already agreed to your punishment, if you recall. I could not very well go back on that before the Curia, merely because banishment became entombment.” She waved a hand. “It didn’t matter. It was already apparent your friend Gabriel had a plan.”
Antoine fought to keep his tone neutral. “Why do you say that?”
“It was obvious, was it not? First, he moves to claim your territory and protect Cally from Roberto’s wrath. Then, he leaped at the opportunity to entomb you. He even volunteered to undertake it, didn’t he?” She laughed. “I would have liked to have seen Roberto’s face if he had agreed, only for Gabriel to entomb you in a broom cupboard and let you out half a minute later.”
Antoine shook his head, setting aside the conversation. He had let himself get distracted; Gabe needed further thought, but that wasn’t the matter at hand now. “Why are you here?”
“You already asked me.”
“You didn’t answer.”
“Do I need a reason to visit you?”
“You never do anything without a reason.”
She laughed again. “Maybe it is because you are so entertaining,mon amour.”
“Cut the crap, Belle. I’m not in the mood.”
Her smile faded, but the spark in her eyes lingered. “How very…Americanof you. Cally seems to have rubbed off.” She delicately sniffed the air. “I must say, she does smell nice.”
“Still not in the mood. Get to the point, Belle.”
“You are touchy about your little witch.”
“We’re done,” Antoine said, rising to stand. “Get out. Go back to France.”
Belle leaned back in her seat, looking up at him as he towered over her. She looked ready to settle in and refuse to move, but then her eyes lowered, the haughtiness of her expression fading away. “Je suis désolé,Antoine. Please, sit once more.”
An apology? From her?
So many years, and he’d never once known her utter those words. It wasn’t a relief, it was disturbing.
“What is it, Belle?” He sat back down. “What has you so… vulnerable?” It was never a word he would have associated with her, but it was the right one.
She gave a little laugh, forced and a pale imitation of her usual amusement. “Maybe at last I have grown up. Maybe that is what makes us vulnerable,non?”
“Speak plainly. My patience has its limits.”
“Oui, I agree. It is time for plain speaking.” She folded her hands in her lap, and Antoine didn’t begrudge her a moment to compose herself. “It is you,mon amour.It has always been you.”
