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Belle woke in the start of the next morning, disoriented for a moment, watching the room where she was. Checking the hour on her watch, she noticed that it was past ten o'clock. She put her hand in her mouth in shock. Never in her life she slept until so late. Rising from the bed, she opened her briefcase and pulled her blouse and skirt the Section F considered appropriate to her disguise. Fixing her hair quickly in front of the mirror, went down to the floor to try and find James or Mary Margaret.
"Mr. Bougton is in office, mademoiselle," said Laura, realizing that Belle was alone in the lobby. "He asked to be there when you get up."
"Thank you," Belle said. She followed Laura to a door, knocked and entered.
James was standing near the window of the office. It was a comfortable room with a leather sofa, and a small fireplace and a desk. There was also a small bookcase with some books.
"Sit down, please," James stated the couch. "The night before, you Isabelle, met some of the most powerful Germans in Paris, and of course, Gold too."
Belle imagined several ways to start her mission, but never thought it would end that way knowing Gold, toasting. "Sir, I'm sorry, but what is the relationship that Gold has established with the German officers?" She understood that Gold was important for the Germans to provide data and information, but not enough to be invited to the same parties and dinners.
"I think you've noticed that Gaston does not like Gold?"
Belle had noticed the discomfort when Gold joined in the group, not only Gaston felt that way, but the other guests have acted the same way. "Yes. But why?" She could not understand. "Gaston has more authority and rights than Gold. If he wanted to accuse him of treason, Gaston just needed to snap his fingers to hold him."
"Beware Isabelle, don't rush with your deductions. Gold possessed a strong and dominating personality and he wishes to exert over others. They fear Gold as if he were the Führer himself".
"But that's ... Impossible!" Belle was surprised to learn that the Germans feared Gold, but above all, she was intrigued. Who was Adrian Gold? "How did he get so much power?"
James smiled sadly. "That Isabelle, it is you who will have to find out. And as you heard yesterday, you should redouble your care. "
Belle knew that James was right. "The Gestapo know I'm in France ...".
"Exactly, and unfortunately, Gold also knows. Did you notice how he was intrigued to learn that was another agent in France."
She agreed. What made her extremely worried because if Gold was considered the best of the SOE agent, Belle was sure he'd be trying to find out everything about Rose.
"You will be with us as long as necessary. Mary Margaret and I'll be trying to help you as possible as we can, but I'm afraid to say that you are alone from now," he said, watching Belle to the door.
"I understand" Belle knew James and his wife could not risk their disguises to help her in her mission. It was dangerous and too risky. She knew she was really alone.
"Great. Now, go find Mary Margaret upstairs. "
~.~
Three weeks have passed since the night she met Adrian Belle Gold. Since then, she had been unable to get any advancement in her mission. During all the days she spent her afternoons chatting with Mary Margaret, and realized that became increasingly friendly with her.
Mary Margaret was an extremely kind and intelligent woman. During the days before the arrival of Belle in the house, Mary had managed to get some information about Gold that could be used for the mission. Apparently, he had no family who lived with him in Paris. The only people who were seen along with him was the driver and the butler. In addition, Gold used to leave little, but when he did, he was more than five hours away, and at least once every two months he travels to other cities in France for a maximum period of one week.
While standing in the city of Paris, Gold had only a regular habit; Thursdays he insisted on going to the Café de Flore on Boulevard Saint-Germain; reached the site around five o'clock in the afternoon and enjoyed a few hours of rest , sitting on one of the tables outside the establishment, drinking a cup of tea or coffee while reading the newspaper.
That little detail that Mary Margaret had told her was enough to whet her senses. Isabelle knew the Café de Flore was a place where many writers and philosophers used to gather to enjoy the tranquility that the property offered. But, Café de Flore was also known to be a meeting place of some leaders of the French Resistance. What Gold would be doing in a place like that, where the German enemies were?
Belle knew that to advance her mission she just couldn't stand listening to the stories of Mary Margaret. She needed a new plan. In the first two weeks after her arrival, Belle decided to walk around the Café de Flore and, just as Mary Margaret told her, Gold was always there.
But she needed more information about him to succeed, and for that, she could not stand just watching from afar. In the third week, she knew she needed to change her strategy and leave the defensive aside
On Thursday, she lunched amid the silence of the house. Then, still reluctant, Belle dressed like walk and collapsed in bed. She watched the clock move to position four-thirty. Determined, she took her hat and left the house.
Fifteen minutes later, she was entering the Café de Flore. Sitting at a table outdoors, Belle studied the menu, asking for a Gâteau au Chocolat Opéra, a chocolate pie that was one of the specialties of the local and she asked a tea and citrus fruits to follow.
The room was full of cheerful women, and fortunately there were no German uniform in sight. Ten minutes had passed, and she saw no sign of Gold. Picking up a book she had brought with her, a copy of Wuthering Heights by Emilie Brönte, she began to read it while sipping her tea and eating her pie.
The story was favorite of Belle, the story of Catherine and Heathcliff was one of the saddest and most beautiful she had ever read. Heathcliff loved Catherine desperately, and even after the death of his beloved, Heathcliff could not live a moment of his life without his feeling that each was devoted to her.
Belle was so immersed and concentrated on reading that soon she realized that someone was talking to her.
"... Excuse me?" Belle looked up from the pages of the book to see that Adrian Gold was standing in front of her.
"I just said Bonjour" Gold spoke with his French uploaded by his Scottish accent. He was standing in front of the desk she was, wearing a suit and leaning on his cane. The man smiled, but without showing his teeth, and Belle realized that the smile did not quite reach the rows of his eyes.
"Mr. Carruthers, forgive me. I did not hear you. I get distracted very easily when I'm reading" Belle smiled, standing up and holding out his hand to greet him.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Miss Chesneau" This time, Gold just held her hand briefly. "And I can perfectly understand the reason for this distraction. Emilie Brönte are really lovely to read," he said. "I did not know that you Miss, frequented this Café. You used to come often here?"
"Actually it's the first time I come here. James spoke to me about this place and decided to come here today." She said, trying to sound convincing. And really it was the first time she came to the Café de Flore as a customer; the other times she had spent close to setting off to watch the man who was talking to her right now.
"Interesting" The way Gold spoke made to her, made her shiver a bit; it was as if he knew she was lying. For a moment Belle considered the possibility that Gold had seen her watching him, but it was impossible because Belle had taken all necessary precautions not to be noticed. Both times she had been there, she wore a blonde wig that left her almost unrecognizable. Gold would never suspect it. "James was right to talk about this place. It is really nice and cozy. Ideal for women who like to entertain herself with a good read."
Belle felt her face flush a little with the comment that he had made, and that was, for her mission, unacceptable.
"Miss would you mind if I join you?" Gold said, pointing to the empty chair beside him, in front of Belle.
"That would be lovely. Please feel free" she indicated the chair, asking him to sit down. Gold had bitten the bait and now Belle could start the thinking game against him.
"... Empereur-Nung Chen, s'il vous plait" Gold asked to the waiter. "I see that Paris is doing very well for you" he commented after placing his order.
"Yes, it certainly is a nice change compared to rural Southern life," said Belle, sipping a little of her tea.
"And you Miss picked a great time to visit the city," he said, staring at her. "Paris is lovely this time of the year."
Belle smiled at that comment. For her, Paris was always charming, regardless of what season of the year they were. "How long have you been living here in Paris?"
"What makes you think I'm not a Parisian?" He asked, taking a sip of the tea that had just been placed on the table.
"The same reason that makes me believe that you are not French either" Belle smiled. "Your accent," she said quietly.
Gold ran a hand through his own hair as agreed. "It's always difficult to hide my Scottish accent"
"Scotland?" Belle tried to seem more surprise as possible, as if she did not know that. "It's a lovely place."
"Normally people would disagree with your opinion of this" Gold said. "What made you Miss, thought the country so ... Lovely?" He repeated the last word demonstrating curiosity, as if the answer she gave to him was extremely valuable.
"Well…" Belle hesitated a moment, remembering the forests she had to go through during the training before coming to France. "Was just because people think the place was... Unlike, that left me more intrigued. For me, the silence that the forests around the cities conveyed was something that came to be... comfortable. People fear these places precisely because they feel uneasy in front of the tranquility that is transmitted and maybe even feel intimidated, but actually, for me, is like a great mystery to unravel..." Belle hesitated again, without looking directly at the man. "People judge by appearance only and not realize they are actually missing out on a great adventure ..." She bit her lip slightly, stopping to talk. Ended up talking more than she expected. She needed to be careful, was her who had to ask questions and try to find something about that man. Belle realized that Gold was silent, and when she look at him, he was not smiling, and his face was serious. Not the way he looked at Gaston or James, but a deep seriousness, if something that Belle had told troubled him somehow.
"It really is a different place." He finally spoke. "You travel a lot?"
"Oh no." She smiled. "I just had the opportunity to go to Scotland only. But I always wanted to see other places... Able to see the world..." Belle did not finish the sentence, looking away again, taking a sip of her tea. She was feeling uncomfortable because she realized how easy it was to talk with Gold.
Gold stared at her intensely, probably trying to decipher her. "Probably when the war over you can have the opportunity to travel," he said.
"Even after the end of this war, it will take some time for everyone to adapt to the German government." Belle took care that her dislike for the Germans did not transpire in her voice.
"And you really believe that Hitler will win this war?" Gold said quietly, so that no one around them could listen, staring at her intensely to examine the woman's reaction.
Isabelle did not expect Gold to ask that. For a moment she thought the man sitting opposite her did not support Hitler; for a moment she thought Adrian Gold was innocent. But Belle remembered that he was accused of providing information to the Germans and several people died because of him. It was obvious that he was testing her.
"You do not believe, Mr. Carruthers?" She asked, hoping thus could know what were the real intentions of Gold.
The man did not answer, just nodded, which left her more puzzled than she had been before. If Gold, who had betrayed the trust of the British to support the Nazi cause, not openly stated his support for them? Both were silent for a moment, just enjoying each other's company. Belle put the book she was carrying in the bag, because she realized that would soon nightfall, then she should get ready to leave.
"Interesting book to read," Gold said when she saved the copy of Emilie Brönte. "Be careful with these books. The Germans enjoy an insatiable pleasure in burning books that they find repugnant or who simply are not the Mein Kampf. "
"I would never allow anyone to burn my books. They are my life..." Belle said, noting that Gold absorbed every word she spoke carefully, and observed that his eyes again contained that strange greenish-golden hue. He looked at her intently, and she felt like she was stuck with him.
"I noticed that you Miss really likes books. During the dinner at James's house I realized how you spoke about them with the teacher" he said. Then James was right to tell Belle that Gold had not diverted his attention from her any minute that night. She did not know if that pleased or terrified her. "And your plans for the future?" He asked.
"I think it's hard for any of us make plans for the future until this war comes to an end," she said as she finished her tea.
"But the end is inevitable, is not it?" Gold said with a glare that seemed to invade Belle.
"Of course," she answered quickly. "But until the people of France understand what is best for them, there is too much danger in the air."
"And what do you considers to be the best for France, Miss. Chesneau?"
Belle shivered with that question. She realized that at no time Gold stopped testing her. Reluctant briefly wondered if he had planned it all, if he expected her to be there that day, if he knew her real identity. But if he did, she thought, why did he not killed her yet? Maybe it meant that he knew nothing and was just asking a question unimportant. Still, Belle realized who was sitting in front of her was not the man known as Anton Carruthers, but the Spinner, ex-SOE agent.
"The end of the war," she said finally, staring at him like he did, his eyes were now solid, with no trace of green or golden she had noticed before. This time she looked away first. "I think I should go now" Belle looked at the clock, getting up. Soon the curfew would be sounded. "I do not want to take too long to get home."
"Please allow me to take you to your house." Gold also rose. "It's not safe for a woman to walk alone through the streets of Paris in these times."
Belle smiled, silently thanking and after Gold pay the bills, although she said there was no need, he led her to the car, where the driver, a tall man with black hair, bushy beard and blue eyes, waiting for them , opening the door for that Belle could enter.
Although they had talked enough in the Café, the route to the home of James went into a deep and nasty silence. Gold not uttered a word besides speaking to the driver the destination, and Belle dared not break the silence.
Just the sound of the breathing of the three people filled the strangely dense atmosphere inside the car. Belle noted that Gold was sitting as far away from her as possible, if she were some kind of contagious disease.
Finally, after what seemed like decades, the driver stopped in front of the house of James. Gold was keen to get off the car and open the door so she could leave.
"Miss Chesneau..." Gold held the hand of Isabelle, bringing it to his mouth and pressed his lips gently on her skin, kissing her hand. Belle had the same feeling of the night at the dinner when he made the same gesture, and again, a strange sensation ran through her body like an electric current. "It was a pleasure to enjoy this afternoon with you, Miss. I hope to see you again soon" And there was again that strange greenish-golden color in his eyes. Belle felt her face flush unexpectedly.
"See you soon, Mr. Carruthers" Belle nodded, walking into the house and closed the door without looking back to Gold. She leaned against the door, eyes closed; just listening to the sound of the car away from the house.
What was happening to her? Why she blushed when Gold kissed her hand, with a gesture that was completely normal and no more meaning. She had to be careful not only with her actions, but with her heart.
Belle had to create a barrier against any kind of affection she could develop by Adrian Gold. It was unfair. He had betrayed Britain to ally with the Germans. The Nazis, who had barbarities with the French people, but Belle knew the cruelty of the Führer went beyond France, and just the fact of thinking about it and the horrendous things that were happening, she felt her stomach turn and the taste of bile climb down her throat. Who would get to join a cause as disgusting as this? Gold had joined them. This would be enough to create a barrier.
It was after ten o'clock at night when Belle went to her room. After washing up and put her nightgown, she let her hair, combing it with a brush to undo the knots that had formed. Throughout the night her thoughts were directed to Gold.
Failed to discover something important about him, but was not expecting it to be really achieve something. That was the first time that both were able to talk openly, and it was impossible that he would trust her to tell something he believed to be important.
But to her disgust, was Gold who managed to discover things not about Isabelle Chesneau, the woman who allegedly came from southern France to visit his cousin, but he found out about Isabelle French, the young and innocent girl who lived in London with her father and that love books.
Belle left with that man had to grasp things that were important to her, and that bothered her. She could not make this mistake again and let that Gold had knowledge about the things she kept in her heart. But, how she would have the strength to fight against it? Unfortunately, Adrian Gold made her feel safe... Protected from the dangers that afflicted her. How was that possible? She hardly knew the man. She could not be fooled by her feelings. She was no longer a little girl who believed in fairy tales and love at first sight. Belle was a woman. A woman that had to be brave.
Adrian Gold was a killer.
The moment that thought crossed her mind, Belle was reluctant to accept it. Was Regina who told her that. But she should blindly trust these reports? There was no concrete evidence that affirmed the betrayal of Gold. It could all be a lie.
No. Belle had to believe in Regina. SOE would never lie about something so serious, and they already had enough problems to face. They did not need to invent stories to send agents to War. Belle had to believe in Regina.
However, Belle remembered what Regina told her the night she was sent to France, that she could not trust anyone. The only person she could trust was herself. However, how to trust yourself when your senses are so shaken?
Belle felt the tiredness take care of her body. Her eyes began to weigh, and Belle closed them, feeling that would sleep soon.
Belle decided she needed to find evidence. So she would know whether to trust Regina or Adrian Gold, the man with treacherous eyes.
And at that moment, the eyes of Gold took over her mind. They were, for Belle, the greatest mystery of all. She noticed that the color of them used to change with his mood. They used to always remain in the shade of dark brown, which became intense when he was focused or worried about something. But Belle remembered the moments that briefly had the strange trait of golden-green that adorned the color brown. Belle could not decipher that color. Maybe they just stay that color when Gold was with Belle. No, she could not think like that, otherwise, she would be lost.
Making a note in her mind to pay more attention to his mood swings, Belle slept with the image of the intense eyes piercing of Adrian Gold.
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