“I have been rather occupied.” Mr. Soltern allowed a small silence to stretch before he curled the corner of his lips in a sneering smile. “I do trust you received the gift I left for you last evening?”
Although Simone could detect no change upon Gideon’s aloof countenance, she sensed him bristle at the taunting words. She was also oddly certain that she did not wish to know what this “gift” might have been.
“As predictably tedious as ever, Tristan. I would have hoped the years would teach you a measure of finesse if nothing else,” he murmured in silky insult.
Mr. Soltern gave a low, nerve-rasping chuckle. “I am sorry you were disappointed. Still, you will perhaps prefer the trifling present I discovered for you earlier this evening. I assure you that I delighted in procuring it for you.”
The dark eyes flared with loathing before Gideon managed to regain control of his brief display of emotion.
“A waste of your time.”
Mr. Soltern’s expression was smug, as if delighted at having managed to stir the younger gentleman’s wrath.
“I think not. Besides, it was more a pleasure than duty.”
Gideon briefly glanced toward the warily suspicious Simone before returning his attention to the gentleman standing in the center of the room.
“This is not the place for our private conversation. Perhaps you will join me at my home?”
“A tempting offer, of course, but I fear I have an appointment.” Without warning Mr. Soltern turned toward Simone and swept a bow. “My dear Lady Gilbert, I do hope you will consider my offer.”
Unnerved to be once again pinned by that relentless gaze, Simone gave a vague shrug.
“I will think upon it.”
“Very well. I shall call later in the week.” Mr. Soltern offered a slight nod toward Gideon. “We shall no doubt meet again. Now I must be off.”
Moving with a supple grace the gentleman was across the room and disappearing from the room before Gideon could protest. He watched his retreat with a dark frown.
Deeply relieved to be free of the company of Mr. Soltern, Simone drew in a shaky breath. She did not like the sense she was poised on the edge of a rapier. Nor the ridiculous desire to wash herself after encountering the older gentleman.
It made her feel vulnerable in a manner she had thought to put behind her long ago.
And she certainly did not like the realization that she had been deeply grateful that Gideon had once again rudely intruded into her home without so much as an apology.
She was an independent woman who depended upon no one but herself. She was not about to become one of those weak, clinging ladies who could not manage to make do without a gentleman to lean upon.
She sucked in a deep breath as she turned her attention to the man still regarding the empty doorway.
“I suppose I owe you my gratitude for ridding me of Mr. Soltern... .” Her stiff words abruptly trailed away as Gideon slipped swiftly toward the door and left her standing alone in the room without so much as glancing in her direction.
Her mouth hung open in shock at his rude departure. Of all the nerve, she seethed in disbelief. It was not bad enough that he had thrust his way into her home, but to disappear without so much as a word went beyond all bearing.
Did he think her home was his to come and go as he pleased?
Did he possess no manners whatsoever?
Conveniently forgetting her earlier relief at his timely arrival she planted her hands upon her h*ps and dredged up the most condemning blasphemy she could conjure.
“Men.”
Chapter 5
No human eye could have detected the shadow that moved down the streets of London with enough stealth that the dust did not so much as stir beneath his black boots.
Gideon, however, was unconcerned with human eyes. He knew quite well that Tristan could easily detect his form no matter how he clung to the shadows. And that with his shape-shifting powers he could trap him without warning.
Still he continued to follow the faint scent that Tristan had left behind when he had fled Simone’s home. After nearly a fortnight in London he was no closer to finding the vampire’s hidden lair and he was becoming impatient with his failure.