Page 52 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1

I look over to Bella to see if she reacts to the news. I'm not sure why I think she'll be the one who tells me what's going on over Eliza, but something about the situation tells me that's going to be the case.

"This is my daughter, Lady Beatrice," Lord Fallmartin says, gesturing to me.

I swallow hard and dip into a curtsy. "A pleasure to meet you, Lady Tufflion."

"Hmm." She looks down her nose while she studies me, as if trying to find out the secrets of my soul just with a look.

"And my nieces, Lady Eliza and Lady Isabella," Lord Fallmartin continues, gesturing to Eliza and Bella in turn. "Along with Lady Isabella's husband, Lord Vermouten." He gestures to where Thomas is standing beside Bella.

"A bounty of girls, Lord Fallmartin," Lady Tufflion says.

"Indeed." He doesn't look as disappointed by that as I expect him to.

"I'm not here to meet them. Where is your heir?" the woman demands.

Lord Fallmartin nods, a tight smile on his face. "This is Lord Bastian, heir to House Rothorne."

My brother steps away from his position at the bottom of the table and bows to the woman, completely ignoring her daughter.

"Passable," Lady Tufflion says. "This is my daughter, Lady Ermentrude."

The woman behind her steps forward. She looks around my age, but I've already learned that appearances don't mean anything when it comes to vampires. She looks my age, but she could be five hundred years old for all I know.

"Lady Ermentrude," Bastian says.

"Lord Bastian," she returns coldly.

"Excellent," Lord Fallmartin says. "We should eat, and celebrate the betrothal between our two families."

I look down, mostly to hide my amusement at the horrified expression on my brother's face as I retake my seat next to him, with Bella opposite. I'm surprised the seating arrangements haven't been rearranged so that Bastian is sitting next to his wife-to-be. Or maybe Lord Fallmartin has realised what a bad idea that is.

Bastian scowls at his plate and cuts into a radish with a little too much force, sending it bouncing over the table. The urge to laugh takes hold of me, but I manage to squash it down. I don't think Bastian would react very well to me laughing at him, and Lord Fallmartin probably won't be best pleased either considering that we currently have guests.

"You didn't think you'd be free of Uncle's marriage pacts, did you, cousin?" Bella asks him quietly enough that my father won't hear, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"I won't be married to someone I don't know," Bastian mutters, glaring at nobody in particular.

"Oh, and what makes you so special compared to the rest of us?" I ask him. I should stay quiet. I know better than to provoke him, especially when he's in this mood, but I don't seem to be able to help myself.

Surprise flits over his face, while satisfaction comes over Bella's.

"You've got bite, cousin," she says, raising her glass to me.

"I am a vampire," I respond sweetly, picking up my goblet of blood and taking a sip.

Her lips quirk up into a smile. It almost feels as if we're bonding.

"You're both being ridiculous," Bastian counters. I think he's trying to be dismissive, but it mostly comes across as a bit sulky.

I shrug. "Then you should tell our father that you're rejecting Lady Ermentrude's hand, see how far it gets you."

"Are you trying to provoke me?" Bastian growls.

"I'm simply pointing out how it is, brother," I say. "Just like you've been doing to me since we arrived."

The look on his face almost makes me back down, but I don't. He's brought this on himself.

Lord Fallmartin clears his throat. "We've been given a great honour in joining our two Houses," he says. "Lady Ermentrude is the only child of the late Lord Tufflion."