"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?"

"very well," she grudgingly conceded, her fingers fumbling to pull the lid off the box. her eyes widened in shock at the ornate gold bracelet that lay upon a pillow of satin. "oh."

"it is a bracelet that was owned by anne boleyn."

she lifted her gaze in disbelief. "i cannot accept this. it must be priceless."

he waved his hand in a dismissive motion, carefully studying her startled expression.

"i wish you to have it. collecting unusual jewelry is rather a hobby of mine."

"is it?" she retorted, setting the bracelet aside with a sense of repugnance. priceless or not, it carried with it a feeling of ill luck. a woman beguiled by wealth and power that led to her death.

a shiver raced down her spine.

she had not been beguiled by wealth or power.

merely freedom.

"yes," mr. soltern replied, his gaze shifting to the amulet that suddenly felt heavy about her neck. "and i must admit that i have been quite taken with that amulet you wear. did you purchase it in london?"

a frown tugged at her brows. what was it about her amulet that created such interest? first gideon, then the strange figure in her dream, and now this man.

"no, it was given to me," she said warily.

"ah, may i inquire by whom?"

the amulet grew warm against her skin, almost as if in a warning.

"a ... friend."

the cold gaze narrowed. "perhaps you would direct me to this friend? i would be very interested in viewing any other jewelry the person might possess."

for reasons she could not put her finger upon simone discovered herself unwilling to admit that she had been given the amulet by a mad old gypsy. in truth, she did not even wish to have the man staring at it in such an intense fashion. there was something decidedly hungry in that glittering gaze.

"it was a passing acquaintance. i do not know how she could be located," she retorted in all truth.

"a pity." his gaze lifted to stab deep into her eyes. "in that event, i would be willing to make an offer for that particular piece."

her hand instinctively lifted to cover the amulet. "you wish to buy my necklace?"

"as i said, it is most unusual. it would greatly enhance my collection."

"no, i thank you. i am fond of the amulet."

the gaunt countenance hardened at her refusal. "but you have not yet heard my offer. i am prepared to be quite generous."

simone shifted uneasily as the air seemed to shimmer with a sudden danger. she was no coward, but there was something about this gentleman that warned her that he could be ruthless when angered.

"i do not doubt your generosity. i simply have no desire to sell the necklace."

for a tense moment she wondered if he might actually take the necklace by force, then with an obvious effort, mr. soltern managed to replace that unnerving smile.

"understandable. you should, however, have it studied by an expert to determine if it is of historic value. it might very well be a roman or even egyptian artifact. i can have it delivered to the appropriate scholars."

simone's grasp upon the necklace tightened. he wanted the amulet. wanted it with a craving that was nearly tangible.

was it perhaps an artifact that was worth a fortune? or perhaps of historic value? or was it something darker?

"i will consider your offer," she said cautiously.

he stepped closer, his hands clenched at his side. "it is careless to wait... ."

"well, well, tristan, what a delightful surprise," a dark voice suddenly drawled from the doorway. "i did not expect to discover you here."

mr. soltern flowed with startling speed to confront the intruder. the dangerous prickles in the air became so thick that simone shivered.

it was a moment before she at last turned her gaze to encounter the familiar countenance of gideon.

for once she was not at all opposed to his ill mannered intrusion into her home. it occurred to her that he was perhaps the one gentleman in all of london who would not be easily intimidated by mr. soltern.

"gideon," the older gentleman greeted in metallic tones. "a pleasure, as always."

ignoring simone completely, gideon moved farther into the room, his lean form appearing reassuringly large in the silky black coat and pantaloons.

"is it?" with a lift of a midnight brow, gideon peered down his thin nose. "i thought perhaps you were avoiding me. you have been very elusive."

"i have been rather occupied." mr. soltern allowed a small silence to stretch before he curled the corner of his lips in a sneering smile. "i do trust you received the gift i left for you last evening?"

although simone could detect no change upon gideon's aloof countenance, she sensed him bristle at the taunting words. she was also oddly certain that she did not wish to know what this "gift" might have been.

"as predictably tedious as ever, tristan. i would have hoped the years would teach you a measure of finesse if nothing else," he murmured in silky insult.

mr. soltern gave a low, nerve-rasping chuckle. "i am sorry you were disappointed. still, you will perhaps prefer the trifling present i discovered for you earlier this evening. i assure you that i delighted in procuring it for you."

the dark eyes flared with loathing before gideon managed to regain control of his brief display of emotion.

"a waste of your time."

mr. soltern's expression was smug, as if delighted at having managed to stir the younger gentleman's wrath.

"i think not. besides, it was more a pleasure than duty."

gideon briefly glanced toward the warily suspicious simone before returning his attention to the gentleman standing in the center of the room.

"this is not the place for our private conversation. perhaps you will join me at my home?"

"a tempting offer, of course, but i fear i have an appointment." without warning mr. soltern turned toward simone and swept a bow. "my dear lady gilbert, i do hope you will consider my offer."

unnerved to be once again pinned by that relentless gaze, simone gave a vague shrug.

"i will think upon it."

"very well. i shall call later in the week." mr. soltern offered a slight nod toward gideon. "we shall no doubt meet again. now i must be off."

moving with a supple grace the gentleman was across the room and disappearing from the room before gideon could protest. he watched his retreat with a dark frown.

deeply relieved to be free of the company of mr. soltern, simone drew in a shaky breath. she did not like the sense she was poised on the edge of a rapier. nor the ridiculous desire to wash herself after encountering the older gentleman.

it made her feel vulnerable in a manner she had thought to put behind her long ago.

and she certainly did not like the realization that she had been deeply grateful that gideon had once again rudely intruded into her home without so much as an apology.

she was an independent woman who depended upon no one but herself. she was not about to become one of those weak, clinging ladies who could not manage to make do without a gentleman to lean upon.

she sucked in a deep breath as she turned her attention to the man still regarding the empty doorway.

"i suppose i owe you my gratitude for ridding me of mr. soltern... ." her stiff words abruptly trailed away as gideon slipped swiftly toward the door and left her standing alone in the room without so much as glancing in her direction.

her mouth hung open in shock at his rude departure. of all the nerve, she seethed in disbelief. it was not bad enough that he had thrust his way into her home, but to disappear without so much as a word went beyond all bearing.