Chapter Six
The Gypsy stood in the darkness, her lined face wreathed in concern. "You must not falter.
The danger is close, far closer than you know."
Amelia struggled to reach the woman, a sense of panic fluttering in her stomach. "What danger? Where is it?"
"It follows you. Close. So close."
"But.. . what can I do? "
The woman was fading into mist as she held out a gnarled hand. "Trust in the Guardian."
"Guardian? There is no guardian."
The Gypsy smiled. "He is watching you."
"Please, tell me of the danger."
"Protect the amulet." The voice was barely able to reach Amelia's straining ears. "You must keep it safe."
"No, do not leave. I need to know..."
Amelia awakened with a jerk.
Blast. Struggling to untangle from the covers that threatened to smother her, Amelia groaned in annoyance. The dream haunted her without mercy. No matter how tired she might be, at some point during the night she was destined to be visited by the relentless Gypsy.
At last able to sit upright, Amelia instinctively reached up to touch the amulet about her neck.
She should simply toss away the necklace and be done with it, she thought with a weary yawn.
Perhaps then she would be allowed a night without the disturbing presence of the old Gypsy.
Oddly, however, she knew that she would do no such thing. There was something comforting about the heavy weight of the amulet as it nestled against her skin. Almost as if it belonged there in some indefinable manner.
With a shake of her head at her fuzzy thoughts, Amelia prepared to return beneath the covers when a familiar tingle of excitement drifted down her spine.
On this occasion she did not dismiss the vague warning. She knew precisely what it meant.
Not giving herself time for second thoughts, she slipped from the bed and grabbed her nightrail from a nearby chair. Pulling it over her gown, she quietly left her room and made her way through the sleeping house.
Using the experience that she had gained during her past forays in the dark, she managed to avoid the occasional steps that creaked and the tables that littered the hall. She even kept the number of times she banged her toes to less than a dozen.
All the time the tingles grew more pronounced and warmth began to flood through her blood.
She was growing nearer, she acknowledged with a twitch of her heart. Much nearer.
At last slipping through the kitchen door, Amelia paused only a moment before moving through the small garden toward a large oak tree.
"Sebastian," she called softly.
"I am here." There was only a moment of hesitation before a darker shadow detached from the low wall about the garden and stepped into the bright, silver moonlight. "I thought you would be sleeping."
Amelia discovered her gaze clinging to the chiseled lines of his features and the broad width of his shoulders, as if she had not seen him only yesterday. She knew she could stand there and simply drink in his male beauty for hours if it would not make her appear noddy.
"I was," she finally forced out in husky tones.
He moved toward her with a slow, fluid grace, almost as if afraid a sudden movement might send her into flight.