The gargoyle touched his fingers to his lips in a gesture of appreciation.
“But of course. The females are très désireuses and possess a remarkable ability to please a gargoyle.”
With a sharp movement Juliet was on her feet, an odd ache clenching her heart.
“For heaven’s sake, are all males so predictable?”
Levet gave a helpless lift of his hands. “Oui.”
“Pathetic.”
“Ma belle, please tell me what has upset you. I know it cannot be the lack of amusing scandal.” Levet waddled forward, his gray eyes troubled. “Juliet?”
She sucked in a deep breath, knowing the tiny creature would not leave her in peace until she had confessed the truth.
“The Marquis DeRosa has returned to London.”
“By my father’s stone balls.” Levet’s wings snapped in agitation, the sudden breeze sending dust flying through the air. “Well, there is no need to ask why he is here. The cold-hearted sod will not be satisfied until he has made you one of his sycophants.”
That was precisely what Juliet feared.
And why she fought so hard against her acute awareness of his sensuality.
“Hell will freeze over first,” she muttered.
Levet reached up to grasp her hand, the blatant concern in his expression sending a chill down her spine.
“Be careful, ma belle. He is more dangerous than you could ever imagine.”
“What would you have me do? I requested that Justin travel away from England, but he is too occupied with his negotiations with Yiant to leave London. I suppose I could go on my own, but…”
“Non, Juliet.” Levet’s tone was horrified. “For all of Hawthorne’s failings, and they are varied and numerous, he does provide some protection from those creatures who would do whatever necessary to claim you and your powers.”
She paced the cramped space that had been cleared by the gargoyle, not for the first time resenting her dependency on the mage.
If only—
Juliet abruptly crushed the worthless yearning.
Her parents were dead. Nothing could alter the grim fact.
“I am not entirely helpless,” she gritted.
“Not helpless, but you will never be ruthless enough to survive alone in the demon world, remerciez un dieu.”
She ignored the painful truth of his words. “Perhaps Yiant will accept the Damanica as a proper token and offer Justin the herbs he needs. He will have no reason to linger in London once he has his potion.”
“I would not be so certain.”
Juliet halted her pacing to regard the gargoyle with a puzzled frown.
“What do you mean?”
“It is rumored that Hawthorne has at last convinced Madame Andreas to become his mistress.”
Juliet snorted. “If you mean to shock me, Levet, you are wide of the mark. Justin always has one mistress or another. He will easily find another in the West Indies or Egypt or the Americas.”
“Madame Andreas is not just another mistress, Juliet, she is considered the most beautiful woman in London,” Levet corrected. “Even DeRosa has been seen attempting to court her favors.”