Cressida turned her (damnably I had to admit, gorgeous) sky blue eyes to her son and asked with fake innocence, “Stop what?”
Julian glared at her then ordered, “We need to talk in the study.”
She threw out an elegant hand to the dining table at which Edwina was currently serving us dessert. “But, we haven’t finished lunch.”
Julian pushed his chair back, declaring, “You have.”
“Julian, don’t be rude,” Cressida returned.
I looked to my lap and smiled because that was hilarious coming from her. She’d been rude from the get-go when she took my hand, squeezed it and murmured, “Mm… tasty.”
“Study, Mother, now,” Julian growled and I looked to Lucien’s son.
It was bizarre how Lucien, who I knew was over eight hundred years old but this didn’t penetrate considering his looks and vitality, had two grown children. It was also bizarre that his parents looked like his contemporaries. And it was equally bizarre how both his children clearly got the best selections in the gene pool they were offered. Julian was gorgeous in his father’s raw, manly way. Isobel was beautiful in what had to have been her mother’s delicate way but Lucien was still stamped all over her.
I liked them both. They were obviously close and affectionate with each other, their father and their grandmother and, until now, patient with Cressida. They also were cautious and watchful with their grandfather which meant they were far from stupid. And they were kind and welcoming to me which was nice.
On this thought, I heard Lucien command, “Go with Julian.”
My head came up and I looked down the table to the head where Lucien was sitting. I was at the foot. Lucien seated me where I was and I didn’t think anything was amiss with this, considering it was my house. But when he did this, the rest exchanged looks and I jotted this down on my mental list of what to talk to Lucien about later.
He was also glaring at Cressida and it was clear he did not find anything amusing.
Cressida looked to Lucien and grinned cattily, “I don’t want to miss Edwina’s dessert.” Her head then turned to me and she finished. “I’ve known Edwina for years. She’s the best cook. Don’t you agree?”
Her meaning was clear.
See?
Total bitch.
“You can go or I can carry you,” Lucien bit out, Cressida looked to him and I pressed my lips together.
“Oh,” she purred, her eyes flaring with a sultry light, her face softening seductively. Neither of which I liked. Neither of which I could do a thing about. “I’ll take the second option.”
Bitch.
Lucien opened his mouth to speak but I took my chances and got there before him.
“Lucien, really, Cressida’s right. No one should miss Edwina’s dessert,” I stated. Lucien’s eyes cut to me but I looked to Cressida. “As you can see,” I pointed to the bowl Edwina had set in front of me, “it looks delicious. Of course, if you wish to chat with Julian and not tax yourself after that rich lunch, Lucien can carry you to the study.” I shrugged and smiled at her. “Anything goes in Casa Leah. So, whatever you wish.”
Cressida’s eyes narrowed on me.
My smile got bigger.
I heard Isobel chuckle.
Cressida’s eyes narrowed further.
I forced myself to quit smiling.
“The Buchanan smell.”
This came from Etienne and I looked to him to see he was studying me in a way that made my flesh crawl.
“I have, of course, smelled it at Selections over the years but haven’t partaken. You, my dear, have changed that. I believe you have cousins who’ll be attending their Selections soon?” he asked but didn’t wait for me to answer. “I’ll be certain to arrange it so I’m free of concubine and I’ll act quickly at their Selections to declare my intentions.”
Oh yes, my flesh was crawling and I tasted bile considering it suddenly crept up my throat.
I didn’t want my cousins to service this man and my eyes flew to Lucien to communicate this fact. The instant they caught his, his locked on mine and they were intense. I knew what that meant and I swallowed the bile, deciding I disliked Etienne even more considering he put me off Edwina’s dessert. I didn’t know what it was but by the looks of it she’d used a heavy hand with whipped cream so I also didn’t care.
Now I knew I’d have to force it down.
I pulled in a breath, looked back at Etienne and lied quietly, “I’m sure they’d be honored.”
Actually, what I was sure of was that I’d warn my aunties about this and prepare my cousins for this eventuality. They could refuse him and would have to wait for another Selection but it would be worth it.