“I ...” Simone gave a blank, disbelieving shake of her head. “Where did you come from?”
The old woman gave a lift of her hands. “From here and there.”
“I cannot believe this.” Too startled to be frightened by the strange appearance, Simone did not even think of calling out for help. “Did you follow me here?”
The woman shook her head as she reached out a gnarled hand to lightly touch the charm about Simone’s neck.
“I was called.”
“Called?”
“You are troubled.” The gypsy shrugged as if it were the most natural thing in the world to be summoned by a bit of gold. “I am here to ease your fears.”
Much to her surprise Simone felt a delicate warmth flow through her at the soft voice, easing the knots and soothing the frayed nerves. She even found the burning questions of how this woman had managed to arrive in her garden being dulled to mere curiosity.
“Very well,” she found herself agreeing. “What is this amulet?”
The older woman took a moment to consider her words. “It is an ancient symbol of power.”
“Ancient?” Simone recalled Mr. Soltern’s implication that the necklace was of historical value. “You mean it is Roman?”
There was a crackle of laughter. “Rather older than that.”
Older than Roman?
Simone realized that she was not certain she wished to discover just how much older it might be. Instead she turned her thoughts to her more pressing troubles.
“Why do others want it?”
“The power,” she said simply, her heavy ivory bracelets rattling as she settled her hands into her lap. “You have felt it. It is changing you. Making you ... more.”
“More what?”
“Of who you are.”
Simone frowned. More riddles were not what she desired.
“You are as impossible as Mr. Ravel,” she muttered.
Unexpectedly the narrow features were abruptly wreathed in a fond smile.
“Dear Gideon. You are leading him a sad chase, although I must say that I am rather enjoying his frustration. He can be insufferably arrogant when he is not being challenged.”
Simone regarded the woman in confusion. “You know Gideon?”
“But of course. He is here to protect you.”
Simone briefly closed her eyes, wondering if she had fallen asleep and was caught in some bizarre dream. When she opened her eyes, however, the disturbing gypsy remained, regarding her with those dark eyes.
“To protect me?” she at last muttered. “From Mr. Soltern?”
“Among others.” The old woman suddenly frowned. “Some that I know of and others who remain in the shadows.”
Simone shivered, her fingers gripping the folds of her skirt. It was bad enough to realize Mr. Soltern wished to harm her; she did not want to think of shadowy forms who might also pose a danger.
“Please, just tell me what is going on.”
“In good time.” The woman reached out to gently pat her clenched hand. “You will have your answers, I promise. But in the meantime, you must protect the Medallion. Do not remove it for any reason.”
Simone heaved an impatient sigh. “I thought you came to ease my troubles?”
“I came with the assurance that your danger will pass if you remain strong. And that great happiness will be yours if you find the courage to face the pain that haunts you.”
The words were far too vague to hold any true reassurances and Simone gave a shake of her head.
“There are a lot of ‘ifs’ in your words.”
The gypsy merely laughed at her sour tone. “The future is always difficult to read. This I can tell you, Gideon must earn your trust or you will fail.”
Gideon.
It all seemed to come back to the disturbing, tantalizing, mysterious man.
A man who harbored dark secrets.
“I do not know if that is possible,” she murmured.
“All things are possible, my dear,” the gypsy assured her as she rose to her feet and lightly stroked her hair. “Believe.”
With a last smile the woman turned and moved swiftly back through the roses until she abruptly vanished behind the high hedge.
“Wait.” Simone rose to her feet, but she knew she was too late. The woman moved with far more speed than seemed possible. Far too fast to be caught now. Giving a click of her tongue, Simone glared at the hedge. Just when she thought nothing could be worse than fearing that Gideon was something other than human, and having frightening men like Mr. Soltern stalking her, now strange gypsies began appearing out of thin air. Believe, she had said. Believe what? That she was going utterly mad? “Heaven help me.”
“Simone?”
Too late noting the odd prickle of awareness that had been washing over her skin, Simone turned to discover Gideon standing directly behind her, his expression one of stark concern.
“Gideon.” She pressed a hand to her suddenly racing heart. “What is it?”
He glanced carefully around the garden, as if expecting to discover someone lurking about. She wondered if he had overheard any of her conversation with the gypsy.
“Has Mr. Soltern been here?”
She blinked in surprise at his abrupt question. “No, I have not encountered him in several days.”
Gideon did not relax his tense survey, his entire body coiled for attack.
“Are you certain?”
Unnerved at the sense of simmering danger that cloaked about the elegant gentleman, Simone took an instinctive step toward him.
“Gideon, whatever is the matter?”
For a moment he refused to answer, then with an obvious effort he forced himself to ease the tension that was gripping him.
“Nothing,” he murmured, allowing his gaze to at last rest upon her puzzled countenance. “You received my gift?”
Caught off guard by his sudden question, Simone could not prevent the small blush that flooded her cheeks.
“Yes.”
“And it pleases you?”
Her usual sophistication deserted her as she thought of the lovely bolts of material that she could hardly wait to begin transforming into beautiful gowns.
“Very much.”
He smiled gently. “Good.”
“I ... I was just about to have tea. Would you care to join me?” she asked impulsively.
As if sensing she was not nearly as comfortable in his presence as she would have him believe, Gideon regarded her with a searching gaze.
“Am I welcome?”
She grimaced at his blunt words. Common sense might warn her she was treading into dangerous waters, but the desire to be with this gentleman was proving to be far more powerful. Whatever his secrets, she could not shake the sensation that he would never hurt her.