Page 47 of Vampire so Virtuous

“May I ask a question, sir?”

“Of course.”

Marcel paused, as if weighing the right words. “It is no secret Minh regards you as an ‘outcast,’ sir. Do you think it is possible he will use that as a justification to ignore the Code?”

A faint pop came from the fire as a flame sputtered and died. Antoine’s fingers tapped absently on the arm of his chair.

“If he doesn’t, I’ll be very disappointed.”

*

Nantes, France, 1749

“Oh Antoine, my sweet.”

He heard her calling from the drawing room, and her tone was pleasant. That either meant she was in a good mood, or she wanted to play. As his pain and misery put her in a good mood, it was usually the same thing.

“La Curia est partie, alors?” he asked as he entered. She was sitting alone, holding a letter.

“Yes, they have gone. It is safe to come out,mon amour.”

“Pas en Français?”

“Because we need to practice, my pet. English is the future.”

Antoine paused mid-step in surprise. “English? The future? What makes you say such a thing?”

“Vampires must always have an eye to the future. The British are in India, Jamaica, Barbados, and now the colonies. Whether or not they retain their holds, they have spread their language around the globe.Deberíamos practicar nuestro español también.”

“Spanish too?”

She tutted. “You need to be more adaptable, my pet. It is only through embracing change that vampires will survive.” She tapped the letter pointedly against the arm of her chair. “The visit from the Curia has made that quite clear.”

“What did they want?”

“To offer me a new territory.”

Antoine frowned. “What’s wrong with this one?”

Belle laughed, her eyes sparkling at him. “Nothing, my pet, nothing.” She paused deliberately. “They have offered me Paris.”

“That is… quite a coup, my lady.”

“It’s not the whole of Paris,c’est dommage, but yes. Yes, it is.” She looked decidedly smug.

His brow furrowed. “How has a new territory come available?”

“An excellent question, my pet. But it is not a new territory, it is an old one. The vampire who was there has been, how do you say,expulsé? He broke the Code.”

Antoine took a small step forward. “And will I remain here?”

“Do you mean, will you get my territory in Nantes?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Certainement pas!” She laughed, clearly amused. “No, my pet, you will remain by my side,” she said in fractured English. “I am not done with youyet.” She rose from her chair, leaving the letter on her seat, and approached him. Her movements were slinky, her expression heated, and Antoine braced himself for what was about to come. He knew well the moods of his mistress.

She trailed a fingertip down the open neck of his shirt. “Lady Beatrice suggested to me I had been remiss in respect to you.” She circled him, trailing her hand across his collarbone and over his shoulder. “Do you think I have been remiss in respect to you?”