Free Vampire, Interrupted by Lynsay Sands

bringing up your husband, if you resist asking me about Christian’s mother.”
    Marguerite was saved from having to respond by the arrival of a waiter. She found her gaze sliding over the plate of food with unaccustomed interest as he set it on the table. The small sandwiches looked and smelled delicious…and she didn’t even eat. Though, she probably should, Marguerite thought suddenly. It would help her to build up her own blood until she was able to contact Bastien and ask him to forward the cooler of supplies on to her at Claridge’s.
    “Would you like one?” Julius asked, lifting the plate and holding it out to her as the waiter set his coffee on the table.
    Marguerite raised a hand, about to reach for one of the sandwiches, but froze when she noticed the way he was watching her. Something about the expectant gleam in his eyes made her lower her hand and sit back in her seat.
    “I do not eat,” she repeated her earlier words. Thesausage really didn’t count. Normally, she didn’t eat. In fact, she couldn’t recall the last time she had before the stolen sausage that morning. But then she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been without blood for this long either and suspected her hunger was getting confused.
    Marguerite watched silently as he picked up one of the sandwiches and took a bite. Her mouth immediately began to water, and she thought perhaps she’d call down to room service when she got to her room and order something small…a sandwich maybe, to tide her over until the blood arrived.
    “They’re really quite good,” Julius said. “You should try one.”
    “I—No, I really do not eat,” Marguerite said stubbornly.
    “We have lovely teacakes, if you’d rather something sweet,” the waiter said as he set a small teapot and cup before her.
    “No, thank you,” Marguerite murmured.
    Nodding, the waiter turned to leave, but paused as he found himself facing a newly arrived Dante and Tommaso. Marguerite had to bite her lip as the waiter’s eyes widened on the pair. Truly, the twins were an awesome sight. Side by side they were a wall of black leather and threat, without even trying.
    “Er…” the waiter said, his eyes shifting frantically from the pair to the table.
    “They are with us,” Marguerite assured him, taking pity on the man.
    Nodding, he moved swiftly to the side to make way for them, and then nervously backed away.
    Marguerite shook her head as she watched him go,and then turned an affectionate smile on the twins. She’d got to know them well in California when they were all staying at her nephew’s home and had been glad to see them when they’d met with Christian at the Dorchester and found they’d accompanied him. The pair looked frightful, but really they were sweethearts. They were still quite young, barely over a hundred years old, and still ate…a lot. The only person she knew who came close to being able to put away as much as these two were Tiny and her own son Lucern.
    “Where are the others?” Julius asked.
    “There’s a pub on the other side and they’re waiting for us there,” Tommaso answered, eyeing Julius’s sandwiches.
    “Tiny warned us that The Foyer was fancy dress,” Dante added as Julius noted the hungry looks both men were giving his food and lifted the plate to offer it to them. Both twins took a small sandwich each as Dante added, “We just came to report in.”
    Julius nodded. As he set the plate back on the table, he asked, “You managed to lose your tail?”
    Tommaso nodded as Dante stuck his sandwich in his mouth to free his hands. He pulled a small notepad from his pocket and tore off a page. He then held it out and took the sandwich out of his mouth with his other hand, saying, “This is their license plate number. I think it was a rental, but you might be able to find out who rented it.”
    Nodding, Julius accepted the slip of paper and slid it into his suit pocket, making Marguerite frown. She and Tiny were the private