Page 66 of The Rebel

“Daisy, how do you like the perfume the grandmothers made for you?”

Daisy’s eyes went wide. “They told you about that?”

“Of course!”

Daisy looked at me a bit helplessly. “I love it. I’ve called to thank them.”

“Do you wear it often? Are you wearing it now?”

I was having trouble fighting the urge to laugh.

“Do you think it’s working?” Bella asked, but she was looking at me now.

“Bella!” I chastised.

She winced.

“I enjoy the perfume quite a lot, and yes, I’m wearing it now,” Daisy said slowly.

“Bella, tell the grandmothers that if they want to know something, they can call me.”

Bella’s smile fell. “Oh, come on, Uncle Anthony. I was practicing my spy skills. Why did you have to give me away?”

Daisy chuckled. “I feel lost.”

Bella turned around, grumbling. Since I’d already given us away, I decided to lay out all the cards for Daisy. At least that way, she’d know what she was walking into.

“Grandmothers asked Bella to spy on us, see if the lilac is working or not.”

Bella turned around abruptly, looking alert. “You told her about the lilac? Uncle Anthony, you’re not supposed to do that. I don’t think it works if you tell them.”

“Here’s a small secret, Bella. It doesn’t work at all, okay? Your grandmothers just like a good story.”

She folded her arms over her chest, looking so much like Celine that it was scary. I’d never made the connection. She had the same soft face but stern expression that only Celine could pull off. Her brow was knitted, but she didn’t quite manage to look severe.

“I won’t tell them that. They’ll be very upset.”

The corners of my mouth twitched. Coming from Bella, they probably would feel upset. They were used to us boys completely mistrusting the story by this point.

“I’m sorry, Bella. I didn’t mean to blow your cover,” I said honestly, and she smiled. I’d disarmed her just as fast as I always managed to disarm Celine.

I was still having issues cracking Isabeau’s code, but I did well with Celine.

“Apology accepted, Uncle Anthony.”

Daisy was still looking between the two of us like she couldn’t possibly understand what was happening.

“We owe Daisy an apology, too,” I said, “for putting her on the spot like this.”

Bella nodded. “I’m sorry, Daisy. I didn’t realize it would make you feel uncomfortable.”

Daisy smiled at her. “It didn’t. I mean, a bit. But you don’t need to apologize for it. This is just the most bizarre conversation I’ve ever been a part of.”

I winked. “That’s the thing with us LeBlancs. You’re not necessarily part of the conversation. There’s simply a conversation, and sometimes it includes you, whether you want it to or not. Like a tornado.”

Our turn came finally, and they both ordered the caramel drink.

“All the flavors sound delicious. I could taste all of them,” Daisy whispered.