XIV

Eavesdropping

The smile still lingering on her lips faded quickly as Belle opened the door to allow their guest entry. "Gaston!" she gasped, a hand rising to her mouth to hide the horror curling within her breast. "What are you doing here?" Better yet, how had he gotten through the gate? She glanced over her shoulder to make sure her master wasn't lurking about, and stepped out onto the stoop, leaving the door cracked behind her.

Rumpelstiltskin frowned as he slinked along through the shadows of the foyer, slipping easily behind the door. That meddlesome knight! No doubt he'd come to spirit Belle away and bring her back to Avonlea. Not bloody likely.

"Gaston, you shouldn't be here," she said with a weary sigh.

Her former betrothed cast her a rakish grin. "I thought you'd be happy to see me, Belle." He withdrew a letter bearing her father's seal from within his doublet, tapping the parchment on the back of his wrist. "Your father sends his regards. When he asked for volunteers to trek up the Dark Mountain to deliver it to you, I thought I'd take the opportunity to see you."

The Dark One narrowed his eyes as he listened. So, the king had written a letter, had he? The fingers of his right hand rubbed nervously over his thumb, itching to learn what the monarch had to impart to his daughter.

Belle took the letter from Gaston and stared down at it, her finger ghosting over the wax seal. "He could have sent it by dove, you know? You didn't have to come all this way."

The knight took a step closer to her, and she had to force herself not to retreat back inside. "I wanted to see you, Belle," Gaston declared. "I needed to see for myself you weren't being mistreated by the beast. Haven't you missed me?"

Rumpelstiltskin bristled. I'll show you a beast …

"He's not a beast, Gaston, and I'll thank you to show the proper respect for him in my presence," she replied tartly. She refused to address his overinflated opinion of himself. Missed him? He was the one person from her former life she hadn't missed at all. "You have no idea who my master really is."

He threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, Belle, surely you can't be so easily fooled. And here I thought you prided yourself on how smart you are. The Dark One is the most renowned purveyor of dark magic ever to live. He's a monster!"

"That's quite enough."

A smirk curled the knight's handsome mouth. "You care for him," he sneered, taking in the defiant gleam in her eyes. "He's bespelled you. Come home with me, Belle. Time with your family – distance from this place – it will help you forget the demon's influence."

Belle's hand shot out, planting in the center of Gaston's chest to ward him off as his fingers curled around her upper arm in a firm grip. "No! This is my home now, and I will not leave."

"He's muddled your mind. He's evil, Belle!"

"He's my friend!" she cried, ripping her arm from his grasp. "Now, leave. Tell Papa if he wishes to correspond with me to please use a different form of delivery. Do not return, Gaston. You are not welcome here."

Rumpelstiltskin poofed back to the Great Hall, his posture stiff as he stood next to his wheel, idly turning it beneath his hand. He didn't want Belle to know he'd been listening. His heart beat like a wounded bird's wings against his ribs as he recalled her defense of him. She cared. Oh, things were getting complicated. It was an effort to pull himself together as she came back into the hall.

"Master!"

He turned to face her, hoping his roiling emotions weren't evident on his swarthy features. "Yes, dearie? Who was at the door?"

Belle rolled her eyes as she hopped up onto the table, waving the missive in her hands. "Ugh! Someone who shouldn't have come, that's who," she snarked. "Father sent Gaston to deliver a letter. Won't you come read it with me?"

"Your betrothed? Here? You should have invited him to tea."

She arched a brow, clearly not amused. "I don't think so, Master. He's not pleasant company, and I wouldn't have him spoil our afternoon."

The Dark One could feel his lips curling into a smile against his will. "You don't like him, I take it? How odd considering you were fated to marry."

Belle sighed. "It was an arranged marriage. I never cared for Gaston. He is vain, arrogant, and much too superficial for my tastes. Father chose him because he's a skilled knight and leads many men who he thought could have helped us battle the ogres." Her voice lowered wistfully. "I never could have given my heart to one such as he. Love is layered, a mystery to be uncovered. Why should I ever settle for less? I want a man who will love me just as deeply as I will love him."

His voice was whisper soft as he leaned a hip against the table next to her and leaned in ever so slightly. "Love is weakness, dearie."

She smiled indulgently at her wily master, her dearest friend. "No, Rumpelstiltskin … love is strength."