QUOTE : He crossed his arms. “You know, it is exceedingly rude to stare.”<br /><br />I flinched and began an intent examination of the carpet at my feet. Apparently I could scratch the charming bit as well.<br /><br />“Be pleasant, Tristan,” the Duchesse said.<br /><br />He sniffed. “She’s the rude one, Aunty. First she stares and now she refuses to look at me. I’m quite convinced I have greens or something worse stuck between my teeth.”<br /><br />I glanced up, hoping to catch a glimpse of said teeth. He caught me and grinned. “Were you expecting them to be pointed?”<br /><br />My face burned and I fixed my eyes back on the carpet, determined never to look up again. I immediately caught myself glancing through my eyelashes at him once more.<br /><br />“Pointed teeth would give one an appearance of ferocity,” he said, tapping a straight white tooth. “Although that might require one to follow through with biting someone from time to time, and the thought is enough to make one feel ill. I don’t even like my meat cooked rare.”<br /><br />“You bit Vincent once,” Marc said from behind me. “So you can’t be entirely opposed to the idea.”<br /><br />Tristan shot a vitriolic glare in his direction. “Curse you for bringing up such vile memories, Marc, and in the presence of a girl. In my defense, lady, I was only three and Vincent was sitting on my head. I rather thought I was about to meet my end suffocated between his bum cheeks. Anyone would have done the same. Wouldn’t you agree, mademoiselle… what did you say her name was again?