He would have to somehow convince her that she must accept his protection without revealing the true reason for her danger.
And at the same time keep a close guard on the renegades who would do whatever necessary to lay their hands upon that Medallion.
His lips twisted in a cold smile. He could only hope that Lucien and Sebastian were having better luck than he was.
Turning back toward the hedge Gideon continued his gliding path toward the back of the gardens.
Upon arriving in London he had first set about acquiring a home in Mayfair and suitable staff to ensure that he was readily accepted as a foreign noble with the sort of fortune that would buy him entrance to the Ton. After that had been the tedious task of meeting with a tailor and boot maker, as well as buying a proper carriage and horses.
Once he was certain that his image was well established he had swiftly made his way to the stews to discover a small army of street urchins who would act as his eyes and ears throughout town.
Foregoing the more brutal Inscrolling spells that would make humans faithful, but mindless, slaves to a vampire and even the lesser Compulsion spells, Gideon had chosen the simplest means of assuring their loyalty.
Bribery.
Now he silently slid behind the ragged youth that was crouched behind a rosebush. With uncanny swiftness the villain turned to confront him with a knife in his hand. Gideon was suitably impressed by the boy’s ability to sense his presence. Such skill would serve him well.
“Hold, it is I,” he said in low tones.
With a saucy grin the youth gave the knife a twirl before it disappeared into the grimy sleeve of his jacket.
“Guv.”
“Have you noted anything unusual?”
The grin spread across the bony face. “A right fair number of those fancy guests have a queer interest in that tiny building.” He jerked his head toward the shadowed gazebo that was obviously a perfect spot for seduction. “Been tramping in and out all evening.”
A brief image of Simone floating down the path toward the gazebo where he would readily join her in rose-scented passion was fiercely thrust away. Sweet Nefri, did the woman have magic of her own? Had she managed to bewitch him?
Cloaking himself in icy control, Gideon regarded his young servant with a glittering gaze.
“A straight answer if you please.”
The lad dropped his false air of bravado and gave a somber nod. “Yes, sir. Seen a bloke slip through the garden and onto the terrace near an hour ago.”
Gideon was on instant alert. “What did he look like?”
A shudder abruptly raced through the boy. “Difficult to say in the dark, but I do know he was tall and thin with a cape like yer own. Hair seemed a funny silver like, but it could be the moonlight.”
“Tristan,” he muttered, easily able to identify one of the renegades. A vampire with considerable power, he was more crafty than intelligent, and always brutal. He was also notoriously impatient. Gideon would have to consider how best to use that weakness to his own advantage. “He now knows that I am here.”
“Beg pardon, sir, but he gave me a right queer feeling.”
Gideon snapped his attention back to the youth standing before him. “You did not approach him, did you?”
“No.” He gave a violent shake of his head. “I stayed right in the bushes as you said. Still ... I shouldn’t like to come up against him in a dark alley.”
“It would be even worse than you could ever imagine,” Gideon assured him in bleak tones. Were Tristan to discover that this boy was in his employ the vampire would take great delight in torturing him beyond all bearing. “You are to have nothing to do with him. Is that understood?”
The boy turned to spit upon the ground. “Couldn’t pay me enough to tangle with that bugger. Makes me feel like the night me da locked me in a crypt for spilling his gin. Nasty business.”
Gideon arched a brow at the youth’s perception. “You possess a rare insight for a mere mort ... boy,” he smoothly corrected.
That crooked grin returned. “I live on the streets, guv. I would have been dead long ago if I couldn’t smell trouble.”
“I suppose so.” Gideon straightened, knowing he still had a long night ahead of him searching for Tristan’s lair. “You know what is to be done?”
The boy heaved a breath at his question. He had been forced to repeat the command over and over until Gideon was certain that he had it memorized.
“Two of us on duty at all times. If the lady leaves we are to follow at a safe distance. If we notice anything a bit off we are to fetch you at yer home.”
“Anything,” Gideon stressed in tones that rippled through the air. “Even if it appears harmless.”
The lad gave a mocking salute. “Righto, guv.”
Gideon briefly considered the boy then; realizing he had done all that was possible to keep Simone safe, he gave a smooth nod of his head.
“I shall meet with you again tomorrow.”
Turning on his heel Gideon faded into the shadows. No one could see him halt one more time to glance toward the figure still outlined in front of the window before he was slipping through the mews and on the hunt for a silver-haired vampire.
Chapter 2
It had been a long, frustrating night for Gideon.
Upon more than one level, he reluctantly conceded as he moved up the steps to Simone��s town house.
Not only had he failed to find any trace of Tristan as he had searched through the streets of London, he had been unable to banish the thought of a golden-haired beauty with eyes of emeralds.
Even when he had at last accepted the limitations of his physical form and briefly lay upon his bed, he had been haunted by the vision of her graceful features and enticing curves. Curves that he did not doubt would fit perfectly beneath him.
The very fact he could not dismiss her from his thoughts had Gideon leaving his bed and attiring himself in black coat and breeches.
He disliked the sense of being controlled by the sudden passions that plagued him, he acknowledged sourly. The sooner he could track down Tristan and convince him of the futility of his cause, the sooner he could return behind the Veil.
But first he had to call upon Simone and somehow establish a means of forcing her to obey him.
His lips thinned. He would rather face the bloodthirsty Tristan.
Reaching the top step, Gideon patiently waited as the door was pulled open by the pug-faced butler who regarded him with a challenging stare. There was little doubt that the poor servant had been severely chastised for allowing him to pass last night, and that he fully intended to halt him today.