Page 69 (1/2)

"Are you still a knight, or have you becoe?"

Baldwin turned purple--and not froen

"Careful, Marcus," Matthearned "I will have to let hiht" Baldwin looked at Marcus with loathing

"Then start behaving like one and treat my father with the respect he’s earned" Marcus looked around the church "Matthew and Diana want to establish a scion, and the Knights of Lazarus will support therees is welcoe my leadership

Otherwise the matter is not up for discussion"

The church was absolutely silent

Matthew’s lips lifted into a smile "Thank you"

"Don’t thank ation to contend with"

"An unpleasant task, to be sure, but not an uno, Matthew Your brother has never been very fast, and Oliver is at your left elbow He’s been longing to teach Baldwin a lesson ever since your brother broke his daughter’s heart"

Several of the guests chuckled and the winds of opinion began to blow in our favor

Slowly Matthew did as Russell suggested He et away from his brother or to shield me Baldwin remained on his knees for a few moments, then climbed to his feet As soon as he did, Matthew knelt before hi his head "I ask for your trust in return

Neither I nor mine will dishonor the de Clermont family"

"You know I cannot, Matthew," Baldwin said "A vae is never in control, not absolutely" His eyes flickered to Jack, but it was Benja of--and Matthew

"And if a vampire could be?" I de I know that you and Matthew have been hoping for a cure, but--"

"If I gave you hter, that any of Matthew’s kin with blood rage can be brought under control, would you recognize him as the head of his family?" I was inches away frouising spell had burned aas borne out by the curious looks I received

"You can’t proan, but I cut him off with a look

"I can and I do We don’t have to wait for science to coical one already exists If any e, I will spellbind thereed?"

Matthew stared at ood reason This ti to the belief that science was superior to ic

"No," Baldwin said with a shake of his head "Your word is not good enough You would have to prove it Then ould all have to wait and see if your ood as you think it is, witch"

"Very well," I said promptly "Our probation starts now"

Baldwin’s eyes narrowed Matthew looked up at his brother

"Queen checks king," Matthew said softly

"Don’t get ahead of yourself, brother" Baldwin hoisted Matthew to his feet "Our garave;re Antoine’s office," Fernando said "No one saho brought it"

Matthew looked down at the preserved stillborn fetus A girl

"He’s even ht" Baldwin looked pale, and not just because of what had happened in the church

Matthew read the note again

"Congratulations on your children’s birth," it said "I wanted you to have hter, since I will soon possess yours" The note was signed si your every move to Benjamin," Baldwin said

"The question is who" Fernando put his hand on Matthew’s arm "We won’t let hi that Matthew could only nod

In spite of Fernando’s assurances, Mattheould not know another moment’s peace until Benja, the rest of the winter holiday was a quiet fauests departed, except for the extended Wilson faatha Wilson described as "very merry mayhem" Chris and Miria a better understanding of blood rage and its possible treatment Baldwin took off for Venice at the earliest opportunity to try toin fro himself into Christ sourness after the christening He went off into the woods on the other side of the reat hall, which he draped with tiny white lights that shone like fireflies

Re Philippe and his decorations for Yule, we cut old paper With the co charm, I swirled them into the air and let them settle onto the branches, where they winked and sparkled in the firelight

Mattheent to Saint-Lucien for mass on Christmas Eve He and Jack were the only varave;re Antoine After the christening he was understandably reluctant to have too many creatures in his pews

The children were fed and sleeping soundly when Matthew returned, sto by the fire in the great hall with a bottle of Matthew’s favorite wine and two glasses

Marcus had assured ain wouldn’t affect the babies, provided I waited a couple of hours before I nursed

"Peace, perfect peace," Matthew said, cocking his head for signs that the babies were stirring

"Silent night, holy night," I agreed with a grin, leaning over to switch off the baby monitor Like blood-pressure cuffs and power tools, such equipment was optional in a vampire household