"Leader, if you have a moment?"

Patrick turned to face the young Viscount of Barton. Dressed in his evening formal wear, the Viscount looked the part of a perfect English aristocrat. Of course, Patrick thought wryly as he looked about the dining room, none of the guests would ever dream that the man was a German born Vampire nearing his one-hundredth birthday.

"Go ahead Henry, is something wrong?"

Henry had the grace to blush as he shook his head in the negative. "No, nothing is wrong. I was just wondering, Leader, if I could move to a different city."

Uncertain why Henry seemed so hesitant with his request, Patrick replied easily, "You know you are permitted to move whenever you like. Just come by my house and I will show you the list of accommodations that is available in the various cities of the Northern Clan territory."

"Thank you," Henry smiled, but Patrick could sense the man's unease.

"What is it Henry? And do not say nothing. I don't like liars."

Patrick followed Henry' glance as it darted to the left where several men stood speaking about the current political climate. Having fought in more wars than he could count, Patrick found the little political maneuvers of men who made too much of themselves boring. For nearly 500 years he had been watching humans conquer and lose lands with endless obsession. It had made Patrick realise that if one was going to fight, it should be for something lasting and of real substance...a country without family or love was just sectioned off soil.  

"There is no real problem, per say. It is just that Daniel... I thought you might like to know that he speaks ill of you."

"Daniel?" Patrick scanned the room for the weasel and found him bowing over Lady Summer's hand. Ever since the he had admitted his defeat in the waters of the North Sea, the younger Vampier had hated Patrick.  

"It is thoughtful of you to tell me of this Henry, but you need not worry. Daniel is a nuisance, but he is also a coward. I doubt if any harm will come from him."

"You are right, Leader. We are all wise to his jealous ranting in either case, so no one listens to him. I just wanted you to know...because you don't enjoy reading minds so you might not have found out..."

Clasping the man's shoulder, Patrick smiled, "Don't worry, Viscount. Now why don't you get yourself back to that lady's side, she has been looking forlorn since you left her."

Henry grinned then with a curt bow, made his way to the red head he had left waiting by the refreshments table. 

"Shameless liar, she wasn't looking forlorn, she looked like she would like to jump on you."

Patrick raised one sardonic brow as Angelica walked into his line of vision.

"And here I thought you would have outgrown that habit of eavesdropping, especially after the last time you were caught at it..." he said. 

Angelica raised her brow in imitation of his look and had him laughing. It was almost a year ago now that the Princess had been discovered while watching a Vampire ceremony through a keyhole. She had not known of their existence until that moment, and had become a virtual prisoner after that.

"And what kind of lesson would I take away from last time when it led me to marry the love of my life?" Angelica asked sweetly. Before Patrick could think of a response, her face fell and she looked around. "Another boring affair, don't you think? I really should be with Alexander."

 Patrick understood her agitation, he too wanted to be anywhere but here, making pretty with human aristocrats. Nevertheless, agreeing with Angelica would not make her feel better. Distraction was more useful. "Our hostess claims there will be a great surprise this evening."

Her unladylike snort made Patrick smile.

"Speaking of our hostess, did you see Daniel drooling over her hand?" Angelica frowned looking for the culprit. "I feel like I should warn Lady Summers."

"Warn her?" Patrick asked, surprised. "Why would you do that when Daniel will likely give every woman in the room the same attention before the night is through?"

Her hand rubbing her rounded stomach, Angelica nodded, "That is true. You know, he only behaves like a womaniser when you are around. The rest of the time he's well, almost likeable."

Patrick didn't comment on Angelica's observation, there was no need to. As long as Daniel obeyed all their laws and treated Angelica respectfully he would not concern himself with the vampire. "I feel like you've insulted me in a roundabout way."

Angelica looked momentarily taken aback, then understanding lit her yes, "You are a womaniser, yes, but there is difference Patrick. You don't hound women, they hound you!"

"Yes, I am a true innocent," Patrick grinned.

"That's taking it a bit far."

An amicable silence followed her sarcastic remark. Patrick took the moment to watch the ladies in the room. They were all dressed in the latest fashions, their hair up, ringlets curling about their faces. Lace, flounces and perfumes, they were all attractive and yet, Patrick was not attracted. His mind kept wondering to a woman with flowing hair and a violin.

Around them, glasses of champagne were passed out and canapés made the rounds on silver platters. Movement at the entrance of the large dinning room caught his attention. Lady Summers was dragging someone behind her, her eyes alight with excitement.

"Ladies, gentlemen, please a moment of quiet." Lady Summers called out in her high pitched voice.

The assembly quieted and moved aside as Lady Summers continued.

"Today we have a very special guest. Please, let us welcome the Lady Violin!"

"Oh!" Angelica gasped as Violet moved into sight. Patrick's stomach clenched upon seeing her dressed in a beautiful green ball gown, her hair set high on top of her head in the latest fashion.  That was as far as she had gone in trying to fit in, he noticed. She wore no rouge, no jewellery and no eager to please expression.

Whispers and gasps filled the room as Lady Summers took Violet around, making introductions. The members of the ton latched onto this delicious piece of luck, their voices admiring as the words 'Lady Violin' were whispered from one ear to another. No one questioned a circus performer's presence among them, Patrick noticed with gratification. But then, the lure of Lady Violin was likely too strong to leave room for questions. She was, after all, practically a celebrity as of today. 

Heralded by the Times as the 'woman who faced death and called it pathetic', every Londoner was talking about the brave and mysterious Lady Violin.

Patrick thought back to the events of the previous night and grimaced. The drunkard with the gun would have shot Violet had he not interfered. As pathetic as the man truly was, it had been easy to control his mind and make him drop the gun, but if Patrick had not been there... his fingers curled at the thought.

"Oh she looks lovely," Angelica smiled as she watched Violet make the rounds with the society matron.

Patrick thought 'lovely' too tame a word. "She looks uncomfortable. Maybe you should lend your support, Princess."

Angelica frowned as she looked more closely at the woman who was attracting so much attention, "She is smiling, Patrick. You are not reading her mind are you?"

The faint accusation had Patrick stiffening.

"I'm sorry," Angelica turned quickly with an apology in her eyes, "I know you would not do such a thing. You know I admire your stance against using mind reading unless it is absolutely necessary. Others do not hesitate to use the ability to their advantage. At least most Vampires can only read minds in close range. I can't imagine how badly mind reading would be abused if they could all mind read long-distance!"

Angelica herself was the most powerful mind reader in all four clans and until recently she had been unable to control her talents. Knowing this, it was easy to understand her distaste for the abuse of the power. And she was right about long distance mind reading, Patrick knew. Most Vampires could only read the minds of those they had within their sights. 

The only exceptions to this rule, other than Angelica herself, were vampires who had found their other halves. When vampires found their True Mates, they forged a connection that allowed them to communicate with each other, no matter what the distance. 

Patrick nodded towards the object of his attention, "She is smiling, but look at the way she is walking. A few, slow, little steps at a time... Violet doesn't walk like that."

"Oh and how does Violet walk?"

Unaware of the keen interest in Angelica's eyes, Patrick continued watching the Lady Violin. "Faster, without hesitation. Her walk is certain, almost arrogant."

Her face showing bemusement, Angelica looked as though she were about to say something when her attention was diverted and her eyes lit up with a smile. "Lady Summers, how wonderful of you to bring our Violet to this affair."

Patrick watched as Angelica took Violet's hands in her own.

"Angelica," Violet spoke with pleasure, before correcting herself, "It is a pleasure to see you here Princess Kourakin."

Patrick and Angelica both heard the stress Violet put on the word 'see'.  Obviously Lady Summers and her guests were unaware that she was blind.

"It took some convincing, I assure you Princess!" Lady Summers explained, "Though Lady Violin didn't disappoint me in the end."

It was obvious by Lady Summers' expression as she regarded the violinist, that Violet had won yet another member of the ton over.

"Oh, Lord Bruce, have you met our Lady Violin?" Lady Summers spotted Patrick behind Angelica and pulled Violet forward.

Patrick saw the sudden surprise on Violet's face and surmised that it was due to his title. He put no stock in it himself, but it seemed to mean something to others. Did it mean something to Violet? The thought that it might make her more amiable to him annoyed Patrick for some reason.

"Yes, we have met," Violet acknowledged. Her pale green eyes were looking straight into his and he felt like she was looking into his soul.

"It is always a pleasure," Patrick bowed.

"The pleasure is all mine, my lord."

"Oh this is wonderful!" Lady Summers laughed as she turned to address all of her guests, "Please Ladies and gentlemen, let us be seated!"

While the guests moved to take their places at the dining table, Lady Summers rushed to make some last minute changes in her seating arrangement.

Patrick was pleased when he was seated between Violet and Angelica. He was not quite as pleased when Daniel was seated across from them.    

"So Lady Violin, I hear you have a magic touch with lions..." Daniel's chatter did not pause, even for the army of servants who brought forth the first course. Patrick watched as Violet listened to Daniel's stories, a soft smile on her full lips. Did she have to smile at the fool? With barely concealed impatience he made polite talk with other members of the ton until a question from the far end of the table distracted Daniel.  

"The idiot can talk faster than most of us can breathe." Patrick's dry comment had Violet choking on the water she was trying to drink. Putting down her glass, she covered her laughter with a gloved hand.  She had such small hands, he noticed, delicate and talented.

"That's not a very nice thing to say," she managed to whisper at last. 

Riveted her  mirth, Patrick watched her. "You are not hungry?"

Blushing, Violet bit her lower lip, "It is not that I'm not hungry..." 

Patrick followed her fingers as they touched the multiple forks and knives by her plate and felt like an idiot for not having noticed her difficulty earlier. He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You work your way inwards. Start with the spoon to your left."

Violet nodded and reached for the outermost spoon from her plate.

"Thank you," she said as her fingers closed around the object, "I know I shouldn't have accepted Lady Summers' invitation to begin with, but she made an irresistible offer."

An odd feeling settled in his chest as he watched Violet dip her spoon gingerly into the bowl of soup. He wanted to take her away from curious eyes, set her at ease, protect her.  And where were these ridiculous thoughts coming from? Maybe saving her had become a habit as he had claimed before. Yes, it had to have something to do with that.

"Pray tell, what did Lady Summers offer in order to lure you to this dull event?"

"A dress."

"A what?" Patrick asked thinking he had misheard.

"I'm allowed to keep the dress I'm wearing," Violet explained nonchalantly.

The dress? Patrick looked at it. It had an off shoulder cut, fitted waist and a layer of intricately decorated lace running from beneath the breast to the ground. It was beautiful, nevertheless he couldn't quite believe Violet would do anything for a dress. She had seemed to him, a woman who wouldn't be tempted so easily. But then, what did he really know of her? Could she really be bought by a dress?

It should please him. He should be offering her dresses right now, before someone else snatched her up as a mistress by doing just that. Why the hell was he not doing it then? And why did he feel so disappointed.

"I see," Patrick said, measuring his words, "It is a pretty dress."

Violet's hand stilled over her plate and she laughed, "Well, I don't...see that is. But I'm sure Sarah will love it."

"Sarah? The tightrope walker, that Sarah?" He was starting to feel like a dimwit. 

"Yes, you've met her twice, I believe." Violet smiled. "She is an exceptionality talented dress maker herself, so she will surely appreciate this dress. Lady Summer's assured me the style is the height of fashion."

"It certainly is," Patrick assured her as he smiled in relief. He had known his Violet wouldn't be bought over by a dress, not for herself anyway. It would take more than a few yards of material to keep her happy, which pleased him greatly.   

"What are you two talking about?" Angelica complained from beside him, "I am so bored!"

Feeling unusually relaxed, Patrick leaned back while the two women spoke over him.