“I knew you would be a sensible wife.”
“How very charming.”
The unexpected sound of a voice in the center of the garden had both Gideon and Simone jerking apart in surprise. With lethal swiftness he was on his feet and facing the intruder.
Only when he noted the old gypsy woman smiling in an oddly contented fashion did he relax his guard.
“Nefri,” he murmured, offering the powerful vampire a bow as he felt Simone rise to her feet to stand beside him.
“Good morning, Gideon, Lady Gilbert.” She moved slowly forward, her numerous bracelets and necklaces jangling with every step. “I see all went well last evening.”
Gideon grimaced, knowing it would take some time to heal the wound of Tristan’s death. For now he still battled the wretched sense of waste.
“No, not well,” he corrected in harsh tones. “Tristan has been destroyed.”
Nefri gave a slow nod of her head, her expression one of regret, but with no surprise at his revelation.
“Unfortunate, but I feared it would come to such a fate.”
“He was obsessed beyond reason,” Gideon agreed.
“Yes.” Nefri paused, a thoughtful air settling about her. “And oddly certain he would succeed.”
Gideon swiftly followed her unspoken implication.
It echoed precisely the unease he had felt last evening.
“Such a thought struck me as well.” His gaze narrowed. “How do Sebastian and Lucien go on?”
Nefri’s smile abruptly returned, more mysterious than ever.
“Well enough.”
“Will they need my assistance?” he demanded, feeling Simone stiffen at his side but knowing he could not allow his friends to suffer even if it meant endangering himself.
Nefri gave a sudden chuckle. “I do not believe they would appreciate interference.”
Considering the two vampires who were every inch as arrogant as he, Gideon gave a wry smile. He would have been offended had either attempted to press their assistance upon him.
“No, I do not suppose they would.”
The vampire tilted her head to one side, eying him in an intent manner.
“I might, however, call upon you later.”
Gideon stilled at her words. Nefri would not seek his help if it were not out of dire need.
“You expect further troubles?”
She paused before giving an irritated shake of her head. “There is more to this than I fully understand at the moment. It is quite vexing.”
“I will, of course, come whenever you have need,” he promised.
“Thank you.” Abruptly turning her head Nefri regarded the silent Simone with a searching gaze. “My dear, you have my gratitude. You have been forced to face great danger to help us.”
Surprisingly Simone flushed with embarrassment at the vampire’s sincere appreciation.
“I am only relieved that it is all over,” she murmured, clearly uncertain how to behave toward the older woman.
“Not truly over, I fear,” Nefri softly warned. “You remain the guardian of the Medallion.”
Simone’s hand rose to touch the amulet at her neck. “Yes.”
Nefri’s smile once again reappeared. “I believe, however, that the gifts you will receive from the artifact will be worth any sacrifice you might be required to make.”
Concerned that the vampire’s words might once again frighten Simone with the thought of wearing the Medallion, Gideon turned his head to discover her watching him with love shining in her eyes.
“It has already given me more than I ever dared hope for.”
“So I can see,” Nefri murmured with obvious amusement. Then, when it became evident that Simone and Gideon were lost in one another, she discreetly waved her hand toward them in a practiced manner. “Be well and happy,” she murmured as she blessed their union and silently disappeared.
It was the loud squeak from the hedges that forced Gideon to turn his fascinated attention from the woman at his side, and abruptly shifting he discovered a young scamp running toward him full speed.
“Cor, did you see her?” the urchin demanded as he skidded to a halt directly before Gideon. “She disappeared. Right before me very eyes.”
“What the devil are you doing here?” Gideon demanded, his hands planted on his hips.
Unrepentant the lad scrubbed the end of his nose as he conjured his most engaging grin.
“Well, you did say as to watch the lady.”
He heard Simone’s sniff of disapproval but his gaze never wavered from the thin, grimy face.
“Not when I am here.”
“Not ever,” Simone intruded, her eyes flashing in a dangerous manner.
“Now, my sweet, they did help me to find you when you had been kidnapped,” he argued in reasonable tones.
“That’s right. And frightened off more than one persistent nob what wanted to try to slip in without alerting the servants,” the lad added in proud tones.
Simone’s eyes widened. “What?”
The urchin shrugged with an air of worldly wisdom. “There are always gents that hope to catch a lady unawares like. Disgusting buggers, if you ask me.”
“Good heavens,” she breathed in shock.
Gideon placed an arm about her shoulders, knowing he would soon be paying a call upon the mysterious nobs. They would soon learn the dangers of even glancing in Simone’s direction.
“So you see, me services are invaluable,” the lad prompted with a cheeky grin.
Gideon could not help but chuckle at the boy’s audacity. “He does make sense, my sweet.”
Simone regarded him with raised brows. “I will not allow young boys to spy upon me. For one thing they could be hurt.”
“Fah. ’Tis a great deal safer here than on the streets,” the boy hurriedly pointed out.
“No,” Simone retorted in firm tones. Then, as the boy’s face crumpled with disappointment she heaved a sigh. “I suppose I could use a page boy,” she reluctantly conceded.
The urchin wrinkled his nose. “A page boy? I would have to stay inside and wear a uniform?”
“Yes,” Gideon told him, his own expression firm. “And no stealing.”
“Cor, you drive a hard bargain, guv,” the lad complained.
“Take it or not,” Gideon retorted in tones that defied argument.
“Can I bring the others?”
Simone stepped forward. “Others? How many others?”
The urchin gave a piercing whistle and without warning half a dozen boys, just as grubby as the first, tumbled from the hedges.
Gideon tilted back his head to laugh with rich amusement. He only halted when Simone sharply thrust her elbow into his side.
“Well, you did ask,” he told her in unsteady tones.
She glared at him in exasperation. “This is all your fault. What are we to do with six boys from the street?”
“We could always send them back to the stews,” he suggested.
She tossed up her hands in defeat. “Oh, go inside and find my housekeeper. Tell her that I said she is to give each of you a bath and feed you.”
There was a loud cheer that utterly disturbed the peace of the garden.
“And mind your manners,” Gideon warned with a look that promised dire retributions if he were not obeyed.
“Right, guv.” The leader of the band of urchins offered a pert salute, then moving forward he eyed Gideon in a knowing manner. “The woman did disappear. I seen it.”
“Unless you wish to be tossed out on your ear, I would suggest you forget what you think you might have seen,” Gideon retorted in smooth tones.
There was a small pause before the lad gave a nod of his head. He was still young enough to accept that there were things in the world that could not be readily explained.
“Me memory has always given me trouble. A terrible thing it is,” the boy retorted, offering Simone an awkward bow before hurrying after the other children into the house.
Turning, he met Simone’s speaking glance.
“I do hope you realize my staff will be in mutiny by the end of the day,” she informed him.
He gathered her in his arms. “What does it matter? We shall soon be wed and we shall have a new staff if we desire.”
“Complete with six page boys?” she said wryly, although she willingly allowed herself to snuggle close to him.
“Six page boys, a vampire and the Guardian of the Medallion. It should be quite an interesting household,” he teased, his hands stroking the satin of her hair.
She gave a small chuckle, her arms rising to wrap about his neck.
“As long as we are together.”
He leaned downward to press his lips to her own.
“For eternity, my sweet.”
