Since all the guests and servers were busy in the main hall, no one noticed the neers at first.


    It wasn''t untiln led Vanessa and Henry into the brightly lit ballroom that heads began to turn.


    Vanessa had clearly put extra effort into her appearance tonight. She wore a champagne-colored mermaid gown, and as she stood deliberately close ton under the lights, the two of them looked every bit the morous couple- impossible to ignore.


    Xavier strode over from the lounge, his steps quickening as he caught sight of the trio. Though momentarily surprised, he greeted them with a warm smile. "Ian, Henry, Vanessa-so d you could make it!"


    "Sorry to drop in unannounced," Ian replied in his low, reserved voice.


    The politeness in his tone made the distance between them obvious.


    Henry''s smile faltered for a moment. He turned, ppedn on the shoulder, and said, "Come on,n-don''t be a stranger. We''re family here, especially with Xavier. How could you possibly be intruding?"


    Xavier''s smile never wavered. "I should have invited you myself. I''ve just been a little swampedtely."


    Vanessa chimed in, trying to lighten the mood. "As long as you don''t mind us showing up, Xavier."


    "Not at all," Xavier replied, chuckling.


    At that moment, Mrs. Vaughn approached with her trademark warmth. "Ian, Henry," she greeted, then paused as her gazended on Vanessa. "And this is...?"


    "Hello, ma''am. I''m Vanessa-Xavier''s friend," Vanessa introduced herself with a friendly smile.


    "Wee, wee! Xavier," Mrs. Vaughn called out, "why don''t you have someone set a table out in the garden? Let the younger folks enjoy dinner outside together." Most of tonight''s guests were her own friends, after all the generations wouldn''t have much to talk about.


    Just then, a lively woman tapped Henry on the shoulder. "There you are, you rascal! I was beginning to think you''d vanished off the face of the earth."


    Henry jumped, then turned and broke into a grin. "Aunt Sybil! Didn''t realize you''d be here."


    "What have you been up totely? Found a girlfriend yet?" Sybil gave her nephew a pointed once-over. Suddenly, her eyes caught Vanessa standing beside him, and she lit up. Well, well-he''s got a stunning beauty at his side tonight.


    Vanessa noticed Sybil appraising her and offered a polite smile. Sybil returned it with a wink of approval.


    Xavier, meanwhile, turned to a server and suggested moving a long table out to the garden, making sure his younger guests would be well amodated.


    -Special privileges like that weren''t something just any guest could enjoy. Vanessa, too, was surreptitiously scanning the room for Eleanor. She quickly realized Eleanor was nowhere to be seen in the main hall; clearly, Eleanor''s status in the Vaughn family had changed. She could probably wander into the master bedroom as she pleased now.


    At that moment, a voice rang out from the second floor. "Daddy!"


    Evelyn''s little head peeked over the upstairs railing.


    Vivian appeared beside her, then Eleanor stepped into view as well.


    Just then, Vanessa gave a little sway and looped her arm throughn''s.


    From Eleanor''s vantage point above, Vanessa andn looked for all the world like a loving couple.<pn smoothly slipped his arm free, then looked up at his daughter and called out with a gentle smile, "Come on down, sweetheart. Daddy''s here."