"I was grateful that I could turn into a bat and fly unnoticed into the house, instead of being introduced by the servants, and getting entangled, willy nilly into their quarrels. As far as I knew, Dame Alice had made Theresa the Administrator for George and Lilah, with a way to curb her enthusiasm for Reverend Moore. George would grow up to father Louis and Lenore, and he would inherit the business. I did not know how Lilah would fare, but as long as that piece of history went, I did not want to risk changing it.

"Still, I caught the snippet of Thomas mocking Frederick for his efforts in trying to entice one Lady Veronica Hamilton to visit them."

-0-

"So, you are going to tell her that you are a successful businessman, lure her here, romance her, and try to marry her and her money?"

"You are disgusting!"

"I know a thing or two. Which is more than you do. There is a reason why your investments tanked. And it is because you fall for a pretty story. Are you sure that his Lady Hamilton is who she claims to be? It would not surprise me if she was a fortune hunter and you two end up deceiving each other. After all you married that Spanish Countess, didn't you?"

"I forbid you to say her name!"

"I knew what she was and acted accordingly."

"You shamed us all!"

-0-

"I left them at it. It was not my concern, and Miriam's blood called to me.

"She embraced me enthusiastically, and so did I. I bit her, but I barely paid attention to it. I held her in my arms and began caressing her. I was aroused as I had not been for… for a very long time. And she was aroused too. We laid on the bed, sharing pleasure, as I drank…

"Rally, there should have been a manual to be given to new vampires. I had found out about being caught in the drama of those I fed on, and how I could not tell the difference between their thoughts and feelings and mine. And now I was risking killing Miriam and passing on my curse to her because I did not know what effect sexual arousal would have on me.

"Fortunately, Genevieve knew of the danger, and she stopped me. Her cold hand cut though me and an electric shock made me release Miriam before I took too much."

-0-

"You must stop. If you do not stop, she will become as you are, people will know that there is a vampire, and will start hunting for it. "

"Geneveive… I did not know it would be this way."

"I am not jealous of her. Our love could not be. The one you have with her… I am not sure if there is a future. But if you turn her into what you are, without warning, without a discussion, she will hate you. And you have something to do."

-0-

"I accepted her chastisement. I had been foolish; I had not thought of the danger."

-0-

"Soon it will be the full moon. You will need help to control Thomas. And I know who will help you."

"Irina. She still wants you to love her and is willing to show you her goodwill by helping you."