My Lord Vampire (Immortal Rogues #1)(26)

It was not until they were on the narrow path that led back to London that she deigned to break the silence.

“Tell me of China.”

“As I said, I was there long ago,” he replied, wishing he could share his delight of the exotic country. She would no doubt be dazzled by the beauty. “I fear that it has changed a great deal since I last visited.”

“It could not have been so terribly long ago,” she argued. “You cannot be more than thirty.”

He battled the urge to laugh. As an Immortal, age and time had no meaning to him.

“You would be surprised.”

She heaved an exasperated sigh. “More mystery?”

“But of course, it is part of my charm.”

“Charm?” With a sniff she turned to regard the passing scenery. “Is that what you choose to call it?”

He chuckled softly. “Sheathe your claws, my beauty. No gentleman is willing to admit his advanced years.”

“Your years are not advanced, sir. Besides which, it is not only your age you will not discuss. I have no knowledge of your past, or home or family. I have yet to even encounter your cousins.”

Gideon briefly considered the two vampires who had journeyed with him to London. They had agreed to meet only in dire emergency since they would all be fully occupied with guarding their particular piece of the Medallion. He wondered if they were having any better luck than he.

“They are rather occupied with their own troubles,” he said in dry tones. “Still, I am certain I could arrange a meeting if you wish.”

“Are they anything like you?” she demanded with a pointed glance.

“Not at all,” he assured her. “Lucien is an incurable rake who is no doubt fully indulging in all the pleasures London has to offer, while Sebastian is a scholar who has always preferred a book to people.”

“Do they possess your arrogance?”

He pretended to consider her question before allowing a smile to curve his lips.

“Now that you mention it, I believe that they do. It is rather a family trait.”

“Now that I believe,” she retorted in tart tones.

“Is all your family so stubborn and sharp tongued?” he demanded in return.

Without warning her features lost their vivid expression as her eyes dulled with remembered pain.

“I no longer have a family.”

Gideon frowned at the simple words. It seemed impossible. As a vampire, all those behind the Veil were his family, some closer than others, but all willing to stand together. He could not begin to imagine being completely abandoned.

“I am sorry,” he said with quiet sincerity. “It is no wonder you seem so lonely.”

She gave a shrug, as if discomforted at discussing her loss. “I miss my mother and father, but the others were not worth mourning. And I am hardly alone.”

“It is quite possible to be alone even when surrounded by others. You are very effective in keeping people at a firm distance.”

He felt her stiffen at his perceptive accusation. “That is absurd.”

“I do not think so, my dear. You harbor too many secrets to allow anyone close, so you play the perfect hostess while keeping anyone from thrusting their way into your life.”

That stubborn expression he was beginning to recognize all too well settled on her countenance.

“Except for you.”

“Because I refuse to be pushed away.”

Her eyes narrowed. “So I had noticed.”

With a smile he raised his hand to lightly tap the end of her nose. “And perhaps someday if you are very fortunate I will even allow you to seduce me.”

Her eyes blazed, but thankfully she merely clenched her hands in her lap. Gideon’s smile widened, inwardly quite thankful that she hadn’t actually toppled him from the carriage.

It was only with a great deal of reluctance that Simone forced herself to enter the grand, but older town house located close to St. James.

It was a beautiful home that had been refurbished by Robert Adam in a Palladian style, but while Simone fully appreciated the split marble staircase with its intricate wrought-iron banister and even the paneled ceiling that graced the upper gallery, she was not at all enamored of the shrill aria that was piercing the air with painful determination.

As a rule she avoided such musicale evenings like the plague. Why would anyone with a particle of sense desire to put themself through such torture?

But the note she had received from Mary had been quite urgent, and putting aside her dislike for mangled arias and disapproving dragons she had attired herself in a rather modest gown in dark emerald and made her way to the house of Lady Falstone.

“At last.” Hurrying from a shadowed corner Mary attached herself to Simone before she could reach the open doors to the salon. “I thought you would never arrive.”

Simone grimaced as another shriek echoed through the corridor.

“I very nearly did not. There are few things I detest more than listening to the screeching of endless debutantes without a hairsbreath of talent between the lot of them.”

Mary waved a dismissive hand toward the salon. “I did not request you meet me here for the dubious entertainments. I have something I wish you to see.”

Simone blinked in surprise. “Here?”

“Well, not precisely here. It is upstairs.”