“And how do you find serving your Master?” Etienne asked what I considered a rude question. I hadn’t sat down to lunch with vampires, except, of course, Lucien and Stephanie, but what I did for and with Lucien was personal, not a topic for luncheon conversation. And I didn’t like the way he put it. Lucien had called himself my Master in the beginning so I guessed this was accepted language in their culture. But I still didn’t think the way Etienne phrased this was nice.
My gaze again went to Lucien to see his jaw was hard and his eyes were still intent.
I was right, it might be accepted language but Etienne wasn’t being nice.
I forced myself to smile a small smile at Lucien, take in the elegant dining room where we were seated and I looked back at Etienne.
“I believe I’ve done well,” I replied. “At least for my part. You’d have to ask Lucien if he agrees.”
“Oh, Lucien always enjoys his meals to their fullest,” Cressida put in. I fought against my back going straight even as I felt the air in the room get thick but she wasn’t done. “Of course, considering all that is you, he’s enjoying it even more.”
“That’s enough.”
This was said quietly and surprisingly by Magdalene and all eyes went to her to see she was looking at Cressida.
“You are at Leah’s table in Leah’s home eating Leah’s food. She is concubine. She is Buchanan. And you have repeatedly disrespected her,” Magdalene went on, again quietly, her voice soft and if it wasn’t for the sharp look in her eyes, you wouldn’t know she was angry.
But that sharp look in her eyes, so sharp it was piercing, you couldn’t mistake it.
Magdalene wasn’t done.
“I know for a fact that if Lucien referred to your Teo as your ‘meal’, you’d challenge him without hesitation. And yet here you sit, at his concubine’s table in her presence and his and treat them both to your insolence. I’ve shown you patience, Cressida, until now. One more demonstration of your lack of regard for this family, it will be me who challenges you.”
Cressida’s brows went up. “This family?”
Magdalene sat back. “Are you not seated at a table with your son, his sister, their grandparents?”
“Are you not inferring that Leah is family?” Cressida shot back.
“If that is what you wish to read into my statement, be my guest. I, for one,” her eyes intriguingly slid to Etienne before going back to Cressida, “hold my concubines in deep regard so I have no issue with that.”
Cressida had no retort. It was clear she didn’t like this because her face went hard and her nose scrunched.
Magdalene dismissed her and looked at me.
“My apologies, Leah. I’m deeply sorry we’ve intruded on you and my son only for you to be treated to this behavior.”
“Good Christ,” Etienne muttered in clear contempt. “Apologies to a concubine?”
I so did not like Lucien’s father.
But with effort I ignored him, held Magdalene’s eyes and said quietly, “Thank you.”
She nodded to me and her face went soft.
I so did like Lucien’s mother.
I smiled at her, picked up my spoon and forced myself to take a bite of dessert. I was right. Lots of whipped cream with a hint of strawberries and chunks of moist, rich yellow cake. I was also wrong. Even the antics of Lucien’s crazy family didn’t make me not enjoy Edwina’s scrumptious dessert.
Edwina was a genius.
I was scooping up more dessert when I heard in my head, I’m proud of you, pet.
I kept my attention on my bowl when I replied, Thank you, darling.
Only when I swallowed my next bite did I look to Lucien.
His eyes were on me.
I grinned.
He grinned back.
I liked that. Therefore my grin got bigger and I gave him a smile I had no idea was dazzling. Not even when Lucien’s eyes warmed and his face got soft upon witnessing it.
Then I turned my attention back to my bowl and thus missed his family again exchanging glances.
Some were relieved. Some were hard.
All were knowing.
It was after dessert and coffee. Lucien had come down to my end of the table to pull out my chair, help me up and guide me out of the room with his hand at the small of my back.
We were walking through the double doors when I saw Magdalene and Isobel were hovering. As was Cressida, if further away. Julian and Etienne were moving to the formal living room which I found a relief.
No lounging in the comfy seating area off the kitchen for Etienne. No way.
I was wondering if I could tell them I needed to powder my nose and Lucien had to help me whereupon I would barricade us in our bathroom until they all went away when Magdalene came forward and wrapped her fingers around my elbow.
“Girl talk,” she said on a smile tipped up to her son.
I felt Lucien’s body get tight even as mine did the same.
“Oh goodie!” Cressida exclaimed.
My body got tighter and Lucien’s hand pressed into the small of my back
“Magdalene said ‘girl talk’, Cressida, not cat talk,” Isobel stated instantly,
Cressida sliced her a look but Lucien relaxed and I did too.
“I’ll behave,” Cressida declared, I knew lying through her teeth.
“No you won’t,” Isobel returned, knowing, better than me, Cressida was full of it.
“Reap what you sow,” Magdalene stated in her quiet voice. “You came here full of curiosity, like a cat, and recklessly indulged yourself in that curiosity, like a cat. Now you bear the consequences.”
Not giving Cressida the opportunity to reply, but I got a funny feeling I didn’t like all that much when her angry eyes cut through me, Magdalene drew me away. Then I saw Lucien give his daughter a look and felt his hand slide around my waist to curl at its side.
I stopped and looked up at him just in time for his mouth to touch mine.
When his head lifted slightly, he said gently but I still knew it was an order, “Don’t be long.”
I nodded. I could do not long. I could definitely do not long.
I had to say, it freaked me out he was so cautious about me being with his family. Sure, they were strange and he’d forewarned me about Cressida and Etienne but I sensed there was more.
I needed to ask him, Edwina or Stephanie about this. I didn’t know if I missed this when I missed my studies. Perhaps concubines didn’t socialize with a vampire’s family and his was just weird or weirdly nosy. I did know, whatever was happening, Lucien didn’t like it.
He let me go and Magdalene drew me away. I followed as did Isobel. Neither woman talked even after we moved outside. And they continued their silence as they moved me to the trail that led to the pier.
I knew what this meant. They didn’t want their family’s vampire hearing to catch our conversation.
I wasn’t certain this was good.
I was so uncertain, we walked in silence to the pier and when we arrived I was a bundle of nerves.
“You can relax, Leah, we’re all friends here,” Magdalene assured me softly as we moved onto the wooden slats, the serenity of the lake all around us. A serenity that did nothing to calm me. She could hear my heart, I knew, and read me.
“We just wanted to apologize personally for showing up out-of-the blue and bringing Etienne and Cressida,” Isobel added when we stopped. “I hope you see they both need to be handled with care.”
Oh, I saw that all right.
“Of course,” I murmured.
“When we return to the house, we’ll do our best to conclude the visit swiftly,” Magdalene told me.
“No, that’s unnecessary,” I semi-lied seeing as I liked them. I just didn’t like Etienne and Cressida. “Stay as long as you like. Lucien is enjoying his time with you.” That last was also a semi-lie.