The Chocolatier's Wife (80 page)

“I
suppose
I
might
as
well.
The
better
to
see
what
harm
you
managed
to do yourself since last we met.”

He
led
her
onto
the
floor,
bowed
to
her,
then
took
her
hand
in
his
and
began the dance.
“You knew! How did you know?
I
told Ayers...
”

“To
avoid me.
You
cannot fool
me,
sir,
I
know
you.
I
know
you
in
my bones.”

“I have no idea if I should be delighted or terrified.”

“Try
determined
to
be
more
careful.”
She
looked
around
when
he
spun her,
located
Lavoussier,
then
turned
back
to
William.
“I
thought
I
would
die when he went after you and
you were not yet, well, you.”

He
spun
her
again,
and
then
pulled
her
close.
“Do
you
know
what
happens in just five
days?”

“Let me guess. The world ends? Dolphins fly
over the town?”

He
glared
at
her,
fidgeted
in
place
as
she
walked
slowly
around
him. “If
you
can’t
remember,
then
I
suppose
it’s
not
that
important,”
he
said lightly.

Step
to
the
left.
“Perhaps
I
am
worried
that
you
might
still
send
me home,
and
am
determined not to place my hopes?”

Hi
s
hand
s
wer
e
o
n
he
r
waist
,
an
d
the
y
steppe
d
close
r
t
o
eac
h
other
.
When other
s
steppe
d
away
,
the
y
steppe
d
close
r
again
.
“Ho
w
coul
d
I
sen
d
yo
u
away
?
Afte
r
all
,
yo
u
kno
w
me
,
i
f
no
t
i
n
you
r
heart
,
a
t
leas
t
i
n
you
r
bones.
”

“Let
us
go
somewhere
where
you
can
shed
that
ridiculous
mask,”
she
whispered, and he led her off the floor.

The
garden
was
too
cold
for
most
people
to
attempt,
so
there
they
found relative
pr
i
vacy.
She
pulled
the
fur
of
her
mantle
closer,
regretting
the
fact that
though
her
skirt
was
many
layers, the
wind
was
able
to
get
through them
because
the
cloth
was
floaty
and
fine.
The
cold
lights
bobbed
in the
trees
and
lined
the
railings. He
went
to
the
bridge
and
looked
closely, finding
a
space
where
a
cold
light
belonged,
then
carefully
removed
one from
his copious pockets and
returned it.

She laughed. “Are you mad?
I
mean,
truly?”

“I
am
not
ready
for
bedlam
yet.”
He
took
her
hand
and
led
her
into a
dance
along
the
path.
“Have I
told
you
how
utterly
perfect
you
look tonight?”

She
removed
his
mask
and
set
it
on
the
edge
of
the
bridge,
then
slipped her
arm
through
his.
He
jingled
softly
as
he
moved
with
her,
and
she
found herself
enjoying
just
being
with
him, even
though
she
was
still
a
little displeased.

“Have
I
told
you
that
if
I
am
supposed
to
keep
an
eye
on
someone
so
you can
sneak off
and
get
yourself
into
trouble
that
I
like
to
know it?
Will
you never
tell me things ahead of time?”

He
gave
her
a
gentle
smile
and
said,
“But
as
a
husband,
I
must
protect my wife from
all dangers.
I
did not wish you to be implicated.”

“Apparently
I
am.
He
looked
ready
to
clap
me
in
irons. But
why
worry about
pr
o
tecting
me?
You
have
nothing
to
prove
and
we
must
work
together, William.”

“I
do
have
things
to
prove.”
He
turned
her
so
her
back
was
against his
chest,
his
cheek
to
hers.
“You
may
still
leave. Many
women
would
be overjoyed to have
the chance to escape their marriage.”

“Do
you
really
think so?”
She
did
not
believe
it.
No
one
wanted
to
be alone,
and
most lived for
the idea, dreamed for
it,
that they would be wed.

“I
am
beginning to believe so,
yes.”

“Would
you
take
this
way
out? Would
you
have me
go? Would
you
be sad if I
did?”

“No,
no,
and
I
do not think
I
could bear it.”

“Because
of
duty,”
she
said,
pulling
away
and
turning, spinning
until she was as far
as their arms
would allow.

“If I
were a
man
for
duty, my sweet, we would not have
the troubles we do now.”
She spun back,
her chest to his.

“You
are
sad,”
she
said,
frowning.
“At
first
you
were
relieved,
even
a
bit victorious.
But now you are
unhappy. Have
I
made you so?
I
would not go, I
promise.”

“That
makes
me quite happy,” he said.

“Then tell me?”

He
sighed,
and
said,
“Do
you
know
the
saying
about
those
who
listen
at doors hea
r
ing things they would rather
not?”

She nodded, swaying with him
to the music.

“The
same
holds
true
for
those
who
rifle through
desks.
Please,
let
us leave
it
at
that.”
He
kissed
her
temple,
and
then
rested
his
jaw
against
it.
“It is
our
first
Magister’s
Ball.
I
have
a
beautiful
woman
in
my
arms,
and
when midnight
comes
I
shall
be
a
l
lowed
to
unmask her.
Let
us
enjoy
it,
and
not think
of sadness.”