He met the distrustful gaze squarely, his features as hard as granite. "I will not allow her to be harmed."
"Then you are not like most gentlemen of society," Meg said with a sniff.
Lucien barely swallowed a sudden laugh. He wondered what the older woman would think if he assured her just how different he truly was. Obviously her opinion of London dandies was not entirely pleasant, but he could not imagine that the notion of a vampire beneath her roof would be any easier to bear.
"I can safely assure you that I am utterly unlike any other gentleman of society."
With a small grunt Meg heaved herself out of her chair, the frying pan still clutched in her hand.
"I shall wait and see."
"As you wish." He sent her a kindly smile. "Go to bed, Meg. I will keep watch upon Jocelyn."
She waved the pan in a warning gesture. "Not too close a watch, mind you."
"Believe in me."
He watched as the servant wearily made her way out of the kitchen and toward her own small bed behind the pantry. For a moment he considered whether to return to the warehouse and attempt to track Amadeus to his lair. He was certainly no further along in convincing the traitor into returning to the Veil than he had been when he first arrived in London. Worse, he still did
not know exactly when Amadeus might next strike.
Then he gave a slow shake of his head.
He could not leave Jocelyn in the darkness of night. It was the time of vampires. It was when those who had indulged in blood lust were at their strongest. And, of course, there was always the danger of Amadeus's henchmen.
He would do precisely as he had promised.
He would stand guard over the woman who was rapidly becoming a very necessary part of his life.
A woman who was stirring more than just his passions to life.
♥ Scanned by Coral ♥
Six
Hidden in the cellars of a local brothel, Amadeus sat beside the man chained to the heavy table. For nearly a week he had patiently tortured the foolish dandy, careful to keep him upon the edge of death without allowing him to tumble into oblivion.
It was tedious, delicate work. Only a master such as himself could possibly maintain such a fine line between life and death.
But even a master could begin to lose patience, Amadeus conceded, reaching up to remove the gag from the pathetic wretch's mouth.
The pudgy face of the dandy was set in rigid fear as Amadeus bent over him.
"No," he choked out in terrified tones.
Smothering his angry impatience, Amadeus forced a comforting smile to his lips.
"Be at ease, my child," he soothed, "I am here to help. Would you like some water?"
"Yes."
Careful to dribble only the smallest amount of water between the gaping lips, Amadeus bent over the nearly delirious gentleman. The fool appeared a sorry sight with his hair matted with sweat and his finery stained with his own blood. Far different from the arrogant pup who had swaggered into the brothel searching for the more exotic sins of the flesh.
"Now, look at me," he commanded in relentless tones. "Look deep into my eyes. Tell me, what do you see?"
Unable to resist the compelling force of Amadeus's voice, the man gazed helplessly into the pale eyes.
"Darkness," he babbled in fear. "Evil. Evil."