The lovely woman turned to her. "And who is your new friend?" she asked, smiling warmly.

"Adelaide, this is Elizabeth Monroe, she is Gavriel's mate. She's adopted me as her little sister because evidently I'm 'too cute'. Elizabeth, this is Adelaide McKenzie, Aiden's mother." Meryn said introducing them.

Elizabeth was immediately enveloped in a warm hug. When Adelaide pulled back, Elizabeth could see genuine affection in her eyes. "Welcome Elizabeth. Since you have adopted Meryn and she's my daughter that must mean you're mine as well." Adelaide's warm hands squeezed hers before she pulled Meryn into a similar hug. Adelaide pulled back and cocked her head to one side looking down at Meryn with a puzzled expression. She shook her head and grinned.

"I had a feeling you wouldn't be here unless you had forgotten the day," Adelaide teased.

"Mom!" Meryn blushed.

"Might as well come inside. We're just starting a new project. I was on my way back to the drawing room from upstairs. We're switching to a quilting project so I had to change baskets. I'll have Marius make a pot of Honeycup just for you and we'll put out a few teaspoons of warmed honey for Felix." Adelaide looped her arms through theirs and led them to the front drawing room. Ryuu followed. He walked over and handed Rosalind her basket. She giggled and blinked her eyelashes at him. He bowed in a gentlemanly way and walked over to stand next to Marius.

"Ladies, I'm excited to say that my daughter Meryn and the newest member of our family, Elizabeth Monroe, have decided to join us today." Adelaide turned to the tall silver haired man standing against the wall. "Marius, can you prepare Meryn's favorite tea and a treat for our sprite friend as well?"

Marius nodded. "Of course, my lady."

Ryuu turned to Marius. "It would be an honor to help you serve these lovely ladies today."

The women in the room giggled. Elizabeth met Ryuu's eyes; the barest of nods to the woman in the corner was all she needed. She nodded back and sat down, effectively putting herself between Meryn and the garishly dressed woman Ryuu had indicated to. Both she and Meryn placed their coats on the backs of their chairs.

"Elizabeth Monroe, a bunny?" the garish woman asked, her tone condescendingly neutral. Elizabeth watched Meryn hunch a little, she could tell that her friend was fighting to keep a scowl off her face. Poor Meryn. She hadn't been raised around women like this one; luckily she had.

"Actually it's lepus curpaeums," Meryn corrected.

The woman smiled at Meryn patronizingly. "That's just another way to say bunny dear, why get so wrapped up in the technicalities? Of course as a human you wouldn't understand."

Meryn blinked, and then smiled. "So, if it's okay to call Elizabeth a bunny, then could I call you a bitch?" Meryn asked sweetly.

Adelaide started choking on her tea. Elizabeth turned to the flustered woman to divert her attention away from Meryn.

"I'm sorry, have we met?" she asked, assuming her most pleasant tone.

The woman looked embarrassed for a moment before she waved a purple handkerchief between them. "You must be new to Lycaonia. I'm so used to everyone here knowing who I am. My name is Daphane Bowers, pleasure to meet you. I have to ask, are you related to that brilliant, handsome scientist working on a blood substitute in Noctem Falls?"

"Pleasure," Elizabeth said, deliberately not answering the woman's question.

After a few moments of silence Daphane spoke up. "Are you, dear?"

"I'm sorry, there are many scientists working in Noctem Falls, which one were you referring to?" Elizabeth said, being as obtuse as possible. By drawing out this line of questioning she would make Daphane unintentionally highlight her true intentions. Elizabeth had played this game before.

"Broderick Monroe, of course. His assistant, Caspian Rioux, is the vampire elder's younger brother," Daphane clarified.

"Oh yes, you mean my father and his mate, Caspian. Yes, they are working on a blood substitute."

"Oh? Are they mated? I thought Caspian was his assistant. His good looks would simply be wasted being mated to another man," Daphane sighed.

Elizabeth smiled at the other ladies before turning to look at Daphane. "I didn't realize that the ruling houses in Lycaonia were so out of touch. That's just sad," she pouted then continued. "My fathers have been mated for over one hundred and fifty years, to think that you wouldn't know something that is common knowledge everywhere else is, well, forgive the term, but pathetic really." Elizabeth heard the tiniest of sounds and saw that Meryn's eyes were practically bugging out in the effort not to laugh.

Just about that time Ryuu and Marius walked in carrying two trays. Ryuu immediately went to Meryn and poured her tea and set out the warmed honey for Felix while Marius set a tea service down in front of her. She saw that he was barely concealing a grin. When he straightened he gave a small bow. "Your tea, Lady Elizabeth."

"Thank you Marius, I'm sure it will be perfect." She smirked up at him before he and Ryuu went to stand by the wall.

Visibly agitated, Daphane sipped from her teacup. "Such relationships are subject to opinion," she said, her sweet tone slipping.

Elizabeth turned to Daphane and widened her eyes taking on her most innocent of faces. "Whatever do you mean, Daphane?" she said, deliberately dropping the 'Lady' honorific. She saw Daphane flinch.

"Surely not everyone in Noctem Falls believe in matings between men?"