Blackness surrounded her. A thick, smothering darkness that stole her breath and made it impossible to move. Suddenly a faint, silvery image of a man could be detected in the distance. He seemed somehow familiar as he lifted a hand to beckon her closer. A cold chill struck her heart at the sight of the stranger, but she could not prevent herself from struggling to move toward him. A seductive voice whispered in her ear, promising delights beyond imagining if she would only surrender to him. If only she would offer the amulet that glowed in the darkness.
Her hand lifted toward the amulet, clutching the warm gold in tight fingers. But even as she considered lifting the necklace from her neck the image of the old gypsy woman was standing before her, the wrinkled countenance harsh with warning.
“No, child. You must protect the Medallion,” she said in tones that defied argument. “All depend upon you. You must be strong. Do not be deceived by those who would destroy you. Do not be deceived... .”
With a cry Simone abruptly sat up in bed, her fingers tender from where the amulet had cut into her skin.
A dream.
She shuddered with relief as she sank back upon her pillows.
It was not the first occasion she had been plagued by nightmares. Heaven above knew that her past was enough to give anyone lurid dreams.
But never before had she dreamed of the shadowy form that had seemed so real. She could still feel those odd prickles that had raced over her when those seductive words had been whispered in her ear, and the desire to do whatever was commanded of her. If not for the appearance of the old gypsy who knew ...
With a shake of her head at her foolishness Simone forced herself from her bed and rang for a bath.
It had been a dream, nothing more.
She was not yet so ridiculous that she would be frightened by figments of her imagination. No matter how vivid they had been.
With that brave thought firmly in mind, Simone prepared for the day, but once she had left her chambers she discovered herself lingering over the smallest tasks. It was not that she had been rattled by those disturbing dreams, she swiftly reassured herself. It was just that she was weary from her restless night and not at all in the mood to gad about town.
Devoting the day to overseeing a complete cleaning of the house, as well as a detailed inventory of the linens and silver, Simone ate her dinner alone and then retired to the large library to enjoy a travel book that she had longed to read since she had discovered it on a high shelf several weeks before. When she had been younger she had fantasized about escaping England and her sister to travel the world. Although she no longer felt the burning need to flee, she had never lost the faint desire to simply pack her bags and discover all the wondrous places that beckoned.
Night fell as she continued to read of the daring adventures of a young priest traveling through the Americas when she was interrupted by a wide-eyed maid who dipped a hasty curtsy.
“Pardon me, my lady, but Mr. Soltern has called.”
Mr. Soltern?
Simone surged to her feet, unthinkingly allowing the book to tumble to the rose-patterned carpet. The mere thought of the cold, distasteful gentleman in her home was enough to send a rash of unease over her skin.
“Please, tell him ...”
“Good evening, Lady Gilbert,” Mr. Soltern drawled as he stepped into the library with an icy smile.
Simone snapped her lips closed as she encountered the cold, lifeless gaze. She would have her butler’s head upon a platter, she thought as she battled the heavy sense of dread that suddenly filled the room. It was bad enough that Gideon was allowed to walk in whenever he felt the urge. She would not have every buffoon who called himself a gentleman traipsing through her home.
Especially not a gentleman who made her skin crawl with dislike.
“Mr. Soltern. I did not expect you this evening,” she said stiffly.
He glanced toward the silent maid who abruptly turned and hurried from the room, leaving the two of them alone. Only then did he return that flat gaze to regard her in a measuring fashion.
“Forgive me for intruding, but I did wish to see you as soon as possible.”
Simone swallowed heavily, battling the urge to flee behind the frightened maid. She would not be intimidated in her own home, she sternly chided herself. Not even by this man.
“Is there a problem?”
“Not at all.” Without warning he glided forward and placed a small velvet box in her unwilling hands. “I have procured a small gift I hoped would please you.”
Instinctively she took a step back from the frigid air that seemed to shroud about him, regarding the box with suspicion.
“That is very kind, but not at all necessary.”
“I fear it is necessary, my dear,” he retorted with that smile that could have sliced through a diamond. “For some reason you have taken me in dislike and I should very much wish to alter your harsh opinion.”
All too aware of how alone she was with this man, Simone forced herself to give a shake of her head.
“That is absurd.”
“Then I have mistaken your cold disregard?” he demanded.
“We are barely acquainted.”
“An oversight I intend to correct,” he threatened. “Will you not at least open my gift?”
