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Miguel sized the guards up as they did the sahts, not even a twitch of a uards were both troubled and puzzled by Miguel, sensing there was so what They didn’t know yet that Miguel and Duncan were both Vauel handed over Duncan’s invitation--well, Victor’s invitation, but it was Duncan’s now He suard’s eyes widen when he read the nauel, then shot a glance at Duncan who aze calmly

"Gentlemen," Duncan said finally He put a little punch of power into it, tired of being forced to wait on the porch like an unwelcouard nearest the inside door jus about vauest at a party where only the uard pushed the door open and stepped aside, pressing hiainst Duncan as he went by Duncan s what the ious? That if he touched Duncan, he’d turn into a slavering ani his emotions like a brass band He was terrified, but not of catching a disease He was afraid of Duncan himself, as if Duncan was a wild animal who could turn at any hed inwardly The

He entered the crowded townhouse, and immediately winced at the level of noise Directly in front of hiht of that a narrow staircase that twisted up beneath the low ceiling A few people lingered on the stairs, as if caught going up or down, butrooave the room a welcome feel, but it was hardly necessary to add any heat Not with all those people standing about and talking nonstop There wereMore oppressive than the noise, though, was the press of eularly confined space

Duncan kept his face carefully ie hos went, and perhaps with fewer people it would have seemedsqueezed froue, but had very little to say

"A his last naantly dressedtinny tapping noises on a checkered marble floor that reminded him of the courtyard in front of what used to be Alexandra’s house in Malibu The hu his face She was attractive for her age and fashionably thin, with the perfect smile of a professional hostess

"We received word you would be joining us, Ambassador"

Duncan inclined his head "Madaive h to extend a hand "Margery Whitlow I’hted to meet you"

Duncan took her hand and squeezed carefully, feeling the ers "Mrs Whitlow, of course," he said, re couple froery," she said, and laughed again She had a refreshingly genuine laugh, not so one usually encountered at parties like this, Duncan thought

"Mrs Whitlow is so stuffy," she added Her glance strayed to Miguel, but she didn’t say anything, clearly disuard "Senator Grafton was ued when I told hi It must have been quite sudden"

"It was," Duncan said nonco hi, however, she recovered deftly "You have your work cut out for you, settling into a new post on such short notice It was good of you to ery," Duncan said He deliberately laced his words with a touch of seduction, and sensed the little rush of excitement she felt when he said her name "There is a lot to do at the house, but houses can alait," he said smoothly "I’m very pleased at this opportunity to ery flushed with pleasure, and Duncan sed from one of the side rooms, her arery pulled away fro on his face even as her body turned to greet the other woushed with totally faked enthusiase of the distraction to ered near the doorway as Duncan glided fro up na the locals He was good at this sort of thing, much better than Raphael, and his Sire would be the first to ad was stillHe couldn’t help it; it was simply who he was Duncan, on the other hand, had the ability to lull the hu what he was

He was deep in conversation with the wife of a fa her coery touched his elbow