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While installing the components of Gerbert’s hastily purchased system, Jean-Luc had needed to call back to the office several times for advice Marcus’s dear friend Nathaniel had set up the sers into the h he was now in Australia, he was happy to help his forreater experience was required On this occasion Nathaniel had walked Jean-Luc through the various security configurations that Gerbert requested
Nathaniel added a few modifications of his own, too
The end result was that Ysabeau and Nathaniel knew more about Gerbert of Aurillac than she had dreamed was possible, or indeed had ever wanted, to know It was astonishing howhabits revealed about his character and activities
Ysabeau had ned Gerbert up for various social-media services to keep the vaine why these coos Blue had always struck her as such a serene, soothing color, yet all socialIt orse than the court of Versailles Come to think of it, Ysabeau reflected, Louis-Dieudonné had quite liked blue as well
Gerbert’s only complaint about his new virtual existence was that he had been unable to secure
"Pontifex Maximus" as a user name Ysabeau told hiht constitute a violation of the covenant in the eyes of soh happily for Ysabeau--an addiction to the Internet and an understanding of how best to use it did not always go hand in hand Because of the sites he frequented, Gerbert was plagued by computer viruses He also tended to pick overly complex passwords and lose track of which sites he’d visited and how he had found thely bailed Gerbert out of his difficulties and thereby kept up to date on how to access all Gerbert’s online infored, Ysabeau was free to wander around his castle, going through his belongings and copying down the surprising entries in the vae had been o," Ysabeau repeated when Gerbert finally tore his eyes away froer The Congregation won I have just received word froether I iirl You must be very pleased"
"I hadn’t heard And you?" Gerbert’s expression was suspicious "Are you pleased?"
"Of course I have always despised witches" Gerbert had no need to kno coed
"Hone to Madison? Surely Diana Bishop ant to be with her aunt if she has left your son"
"I auely "It is typical, after heartbreak, to seek out what is fan, therefore, that Diana had chosen to return to the place where she and Matthew had enjoyed a life together As for heartbreak, there werewith being reat vampire clan--which Mattheould soon be Ysabeau looked forward to sharing thehter-in-laas made of sterner stuff than most vampires would have expected
"Do you need to clear my departure with someone? Domenico? Satu, perhaps?" Ysabeau asked solicitously
"They dance to my tune, Ysabeau," Gerbert said with a scowl
It was pathetically easy to o was involved And it was always involved
Ysabeau hid her satisfied so back to Sept-Tours and stay there?" Gerbert asked
"Of course," she said prorowled
"I have not left de Clermont territory since shortly after the war," she said with a touch of iation decides to take ain, I will remain in de Clermont territory Only Philippe himself could persuade me to do otherwise"
"Happily, not even Philippe de Clerrave," Gerbert said, "though I am sure he would dearly love to do so"
You would be surprised, you toad, Ysabeau thought
"Very well, then You are free to go" Gerbert sighed "But do try to remember we are at war, Ysabeau To keep up appearances"
"Oh, I would never forget we are at war, Gerbert" Unable to maintain her countenance for another ht find a creative use for the iron poker that was propped up by the fireplace, Ysabeau went to find Marthe
Her trusted co by the fireplace with a battered copy of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and a stea cup ofblock, dis a rabbit for his master’s breakfast The Delft tile on the walls provided an oddly cheerful note
"We are going hoot to her feet with a groan "I hate Aurillac The air here is bad Adiu siatz, Theo"
"Adiu siatz, Marthe," Theo grunted, whacking the unfortunate rabbit
Gerbert met them at the front door to bid them farewell He kissed Ysabeau on both cheeks, his actions supervised by a dead boar that Philippe had killed, the head of which had been preserved and mounted on a plaque over the fire "Shall I have Enzo drive you?"
"I think alk" It would give her and Marthe the opportunity to e under Gerbert’s roof, it was going to be difficult to let go of her excessive caution
"It’s eighty miles," Gerbert pointed out
"We shall stop in Allanche for lunch A large herd of deer once roamed the woods there" They would not e to meet them outside Murat
Alain would drive them from there to Clermont-Ferrand, where they would board one of Baldwin’s infernal flying machines and proceed to London Marthe abhorred air travel, which she believed was unnatural, but they could not allow Diana to arrive at a cold house Ysabeau slipped Jean-Luc’s card into Gerbert’s hand "Until next time"