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"He’s such a dear man," Isadora said

Natalie blinked, surprised by the obvious affection in the woman’s voice "How do you know Baojia?"

She heard Ben rifling through the refrigerator, but Caspar came and sat next to Isadora

"We’ve known hiraded the security in the house a few years ago e first o to Italy for some time," Isadora broke in "Baojia stayed with us until they returned Then he had to return to San Diego But he still calls occasionally to say hello and asks after us"

"Very fine individual," Caspar said, his English accent giving the words a crisp, dignified tone "I’ here when he needed help"

Isadora gave her a et along better now that you’re here, Natalie"

She frowned "Uh… ould they--"

"Roast beef or turkey?" Ben called "You want a sandwich?"

"Turkey would be great" She sipped ht well of her vampire, even if she still had her doubts "By the way, is there a phone I can use?"

Caspar and Isadora exchanged guarded looks

"I really need to call my editor and let her know I’m alive I don’t need to tell her where I aue--but if I don’t call her by today, she’ll be calling the police to reportWe kind of have a three-day rule"

Caspar visibly relaxed and nodded toward the counter "There’s one right there"

"And I don’t even knohere I am, so it’s not like I can call the cavalry to coh "My dear, I believe you’ll discover the cavalry is already here"

Natalie poked her head into the library The ere shuttered are

A low voice came from the far corner of the room "Natalie Ellis, why do you trespass on my inner sanctu the roohter burst froosh, your face, Nat!"

"Get the hell over here and giveI heard you like that now" Beatrice rose fro and crossed the roohtly faster than should have been possible