TALL DARK AND HUNGRY Page 0,102

"I'll fetch myself a drink and sit, give my feet a rest," she assured him when Bastien didn't look happy. "Go on. Kate and Lucern will obviously just worry, and they shouldn't have to worry about any¬thing on their wedding day."

"I agree. You're a special woman, Terri." Bastien caught her by the chin and gave her a quick kiss. "I won't be long."

He straightened from kissing Terri and swung around to see where his cousin had got to. Unfortu¬nately, the man was no longer in sight. Frowning, Bastien headed in the direction he had last seen Vin¬cent leading Lady Barrow. His eyes scanned the peo¬ple in front of him worriedly. He understood that Vincent was probably hungry about now; it was around this hour that he usually went out to hunt. But they couldn't have him running around feeding off the guests!

"Brother!"

Bastien slowed his steps and turned as Etienne hur¬ried to join him.

"Lucern and Kate told me what was up, and asked me to help you."

Bastien nodded, then glanced around. "Vincent was headed in this direction when last I saw him. I thought to search this area first, then make a sweep of the rest of the hall."

"Good thinking." Etienne fell into step as he started to walk again. After a few minutes, he said, "So, a little birdie tells me Terri is... important to you."

"A little birdie, huh?" Bastien asked dryly.

"Yeah." When Bastien didn't either agree or dis¬agree, Etienne added, "I was talking to Terri at the party last night. She seems nice. Actually, she is nice," he said, collecting himself. He explained, "I read her mind."

"I can't do that, so it's good to know my instincts about her are correct." Bastien said.

"Well, I can read her, and I can tell you that I like her. She's like my Rachel--something special."

"Yes, she is," Bastien agreed. "She's sweet and beautiful and smart and--"

"And you can't read her," Etienne repeated. "And you love her. You've obviously found your life mate. Congratulations, brother! I'm very happy for you."

"Yes. Well, don't tell Mother that." Bastien shook his head as Etienne clapped a hand on his back. He didn't need any interference.

"Don't tell me what?"

Both brothers turned, groaning as Marguerite Ar-geneau joined them.

"Mother." Bastien kissed her cheek dutifully. Eti¬enne followed suit.

"I don't know why you boys keep trying to hide things from me. One would think at your age you would know better than to even waste your time trying. I am your mother. I see, hear, and know everything."

"Is that right?" Bastien asked.

"That's right," she said firmly. "And perhaps you will realize it in another two hundred years. It only took Lucern until he was six hundred to figure it out. Honestly. Boys are so much harder to raise than girls." Marguerite scowled at her sons for grinning at this oft-heard complaint, then sighed. "So, no doubt you don't want Etienne to tell me that you love Katie's little cousin Terri?"

Etienne burst out laughing at Bastien's grimace.

"Well, you didn't think it had slipped my notice, did you?" their mother asked with amusement. "Af¬ter four hundred years, one would expect me to know and understood my boy enough to recognize when he is in love." She sighed, then nodded. "I ap¬prove, by the way. She's a lovely girl. And it will ease some of Kate's feelings of loss when she has to give up the rest of her family. Not to mention that having Katie in the family will make it easier on Terri as well. Actually, this will all work quite nicely."

"I hadn't thought of that," Bastien said with sur¬prise. "I mean; them making it easier for each other."

"Well, that's why you have a mother." Marguerite patted his shoulder, then glanced around. "Have you tried looking out in the hallway, or the bars on the main floor?" When her two sons exchanged glances, she rolled her eyes. "Well, you didn't expect Vincent to bite her right here, did you? He'll use a nice dark corner. Come along, then. Let's find the boy before he gets himself in trouble."

"We can take care of this, Mother," Bastien said quickly. "Why don't you--?"

"Miss all the fun?" she asked. "I don't think so."

When Bastien and Etienne exchanged wry looks, she added, "Just thank me for deciding not to inter¬fere with you and Terri."

"You won't?" Bastien eyed her with a combina¬tion of hope and wariness. He found it difficult to believe she meant that.

"I won't," Marguerite assured him. "You seem to be doing well enough on your own.