the gentleman turning her world upside down. There was no use in upsetting them. “Put him in the front salon and tell him I shall be along in a moment.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Simone briefly glanced down at the deep jade walking gown she had chosen after her bath. It was a lovely gown with an enticing bodice that had stirred more than one admirer to heated glances and indecent proposals.
She wryly wondered if she had chosen the gown knowing that Gideon was bound to put in an appearance.
With a shake of her head at her foolishness, Simone squared her shoulders and forced herself to calmly make her way to the front salon. She might as well try and touch the stars as to comprehend her reactions to Mr. Gideon Ravel.
Entering the large room drenched in morning sunlight, Simone was surprised to find Gideon pacing the carpet as he awaited her arrival.
For a moment she regarded him in silence, drinking in the elegant beauty of his pale features and the chiseled perfection of his male form. With supple grace he moved across the carpet then, no doubt sensing her presence, he turned to regard her with a glittering gaze.
“Good morning, Simone.”
Stepping farther into the room she forced herself to assume a casual manner. She would not gape at him as if she were some moonstruck schoolgirl. Even if she did feel like one.
“This is a surprise,” she said smoothly. “I did not expect you this morning.”
Accustomed to his arrogant self-assurance she was rather startled by the unmistakable nerve that pulsed at the corner of his jaw.
“I must speak with you.”
“Very well. Will you have a seat?”
“Not here,” he said abruptly. “My carriage is outside. Will you join me for a drive?”
Realizing that something urgent was troubling Gideon, Simone did not even hesitate.
“Of course.”
Holding out his arm, Gideon led Simone to the foyer in silence. She swiftly collected a parasol and her gloves before allowing him to steer her out of the house and down the stairs.
Once at the tilbury, Gideon lifted her onto the leather seat and took his place beside her, taking the reins from the coachman.
“I will drive myself,” he informed the waiting servants. “You may return home.”
With a practiced crack of the whip, Gideon had the grays in motion, and Simone waited with rising impatience as they crawled through the heavy London traffic. She did not know what had occurred, but she did not miss the tension that gripped her companion.
Reluctantly waiting until they had managed to make their way toward the edge of town, she at last gave in to the anxiety that was beginning to form in the pit of her stomach.
“Has something occurred?” she demanded as they turned onto the side path that led to the meadow where they had so recently shared their picnic.
He paused before giving a small nod of his head. “I had a visit from a mutual friend this morning.”
Her heart gave an uncomfortable leap. “Mr. Soltern?”
“No. An old gypsy woman.”
“Oh.” Simone considered his revelation. She had already discovered that the gypsy was acquainted with Gideon, but she had never sensed anything to fear in the old woman. In fact, she had always been oddly at peace when she was in her company. “What did she desire?”
“She has commanded that I tell you the truth of myself,” he said in abrupt tones.
Simone stilled, not at all certain she was prepared to hear the truth. Once he spoke the words she realized that there would be no going back to the way her life had been before.
“She commanded you?” she asked, desperate to keep the conversation from coming to its inevitable conclusion.
“When Nefri speaks a wise ... gentleman listens.”
“Nefri? That is her name?”
“Yes.”
“And she has some authority over you?”
Gideon gave a strained chuckle. “Over all of us. She is not only powerful, she is a scholar of the ancient arts.”
“You ... you are a gypsy?” she demanded, even as she knew that she was being a fool.
“No.” Bringing the horses to a halt, Gideon vaulted to the ground and tied off the reins. Then, rounding the tilbury he helped her to alight. “Shall we take a stroll?”
Hesitating for a moment, Simone at last gave a reluctant nod of her head. Clearly Gideon was determined that she would hear his confession whether she wished to or not.
“Very well.”
