"Victoria, I kept the Silver Chalice as a vehicle to allow the undead to congregate so that any important information might be gleaned from them whilst in their social moods. As I said to you before, I prefer to have them where I can see them, and spy on them, rather than have no idea what they plan. I am not, and never was, a member of the Tutela. Regardless of any of my other actions, I hope that you believe at least that of me."
She couldn't see his face, blast it! How could she know what to think? "Move into the light, where I can see you."
"My pleasure." He stepped away from the balcony, but did not stop at one or two, or even three paces. He stopped when he had her upper arms in his hands, his boots touching her slippers. "Victoria." The French of his voice hung on the syllables, and her breath stilled.
He bent toward her and she closed her eyes, waited. It had been over a year since a man's hands had been on her. A year since she'd been touched with any affection or sensuality. She'd given no thought to how much of a dearth it made in her life. But now she knew.
A tiny huff of breath escaped her lips before he brushed his mouth over hers, back, and then again. Fitted to her lips just perfectly, just enough that her fingers wanted to close over his arms.
And then he pulled away, released her, and opened his eyes. For the first time that night she read the message there, and it made her want to step away… or drag him back for more.
He was back to his cool, charming self. "Don't believe for one moment that I didn't want more, Victoria," he said lightly, as though to deny the fact. "But there are more pressing matters to discuss."
"Pressing matters?"
As if shaking off a slumber, he turned and paced back along the balcony, rolling up a sleeve that had fallen back to his wrist. "Since you found the amulet at the Chalice, that means someone involved with the Tutela was there… likely the demon or vampire you killed, or perhaps both. There are no other vampires in London, are there?"
"When I left this morning, it was after two weeks of patrolling every night. I found the demon and vampire at the ruins of the Chalice, and I saw one other vampire, who got away… and no others. Lilith has not returned." She looked up at him in question. "I don't know where you've been for the last year, Sebastian, but you may not be aware that Lilith took her followers and returned to her hideaway in the mountains after she did not succeed in getting the Book of Antwartha."
"I am aware of that, although I have not been in England. I made my way to the Continent quite rapidly after my visit from the vampires at the pub." He looked out over the gardens below, then turned back to Victoria. "They're looking for Polidori. And someone is here. Someone from the Tutela. Someone must have dropped that amulet. But there aren't any vampires here."
"No, there aren't. Nor demons either, I don't believe."
"You can sense demons as well, then. Good. Polidori will be relieved to hear that."
"Are you going to tell me why they are after him? Or shall I guess?"
His charming smile was back. "I'm certain it won't be difficult for you to figure out."
"It must be his book. The Vampyre. It reveals too much about the truth of vampires. And you are traveling with him for what reason? Surely not to protect him."
"Now, Victoria… do not besmirch my capabilities; particularly since you aren't acquainted with the vast array of my talents." What little seriousness was left on his face shifted away, and his eyes locked on hers. "Though it is not for lack of desire on my part that you remain uneducated. At any rate, yes, I met him in Italy. Byron dismissed him from his service, not because he didn't need a physician any longer, but because he was afraid for his life." He sighed. "I will let John tell you the story; he has all of the details. Suffice to say, I do not expect this to be a quiet and safe house party. Someone is here from the Tutela. Whoever it is, they will be after Polidori, and I should not be far from him until we determine who it is."
"Why doesn't the doctor just leave?"
"That is what he has been doing for the last year—trying to stay ahead of them. Somehow, they must have found out I was involved; hence, they were looking for me at the Silver Chalice." He pushed away from the railing. "At least no one knows that there is a Venator in our midst," he said, his lips twitching crookedly. "Polidori will be relieved to hear that; and with you in attendance, he won't be in any hurry to leave. He's safer here with you than anywhere else."
"That is true. Can you arrange for me to speak with him tomorrow?"
"Of course. If you join us on our hunt in the morning, we should be able to take a few moments to speak alone where no one can hear."
"Very well, then."
He started to go, moving toward her, and she suddenly felt exceedingly aware of… him, herself, the quiet and intimacy of the night. Victoria could have shifted out of his path, or opened the doors and slipped into the room before him… but she didn't. His approach sent her gaze up into his face as he neared, and her belly pitched unsteadily.
"If you continue to look at me like that, Victoria, I'll be most happy to give you what you want." The edge in his voice was unfamiliar and brusque. "After all, you are no longer an innocent."
She stood her ground and reached up to touch his cheek with light fingertips. She'd never voluntarily touched a man before… except Phillip. She wanted Sebastian's arms around her, not just a brush of mouth over mouth. She wanted to feel and to forget. She wanted to be more than a Venator, more than a widow, more than a sedate marchioness sipping tea whilst discussing the weather and who was fornicating with whom.
Sebastian allowed her fingers on his face for a moment; then, with studied casualness, he reached for her wrist and brought her palm gently to his mouth. A kiss on the inside cup of her hand, and one on her wrist, brought back the memory of the night he'd removed her glove and done the same. She'd never gotten that glove back.
"If I didn't have to go to Polidori, you would be in quite a bit of trouble, my dear." He released her hand and, without looking back at her, brushed past and through the French doors.
Chapter 6
In Which a Rather Disruptive Evening Ensues
As it turned out, Victoria did not meet up with Sebastian and Polidori as planned the next morning; nor did she find the comfort of her bed for very long.
Lying there, reviewing the conversation with Sebastian, and considering whether he had been completely forthcoming with her, Victoria became aware that the hair on the back of her neck had lifted. It was as if the gentle breeze from the balcony, where she had left the doors open after Sebastian eased out of the room, brushed over it.
However, since she was lying on her back, the pillow tucked into the curve of her nape, Victoria knew that was not the case.
If Sebastian was to be believed, the vampires had found Polidori.
Even if he wasn't to be believed, the fact remained: Claythorne House had attracted some unwelcome guests.
Flinging the blankets away, along with her confused feelings about Sebastian, she rolled from the mattress, planting her feet silently on the floor. Victoria tucked her long braid down into the back of her gown (all the better to keep it from flying into her face during any ensuing fight) and shoved her arms back into her pelisse. The sleeves caused her nightgown arms to bunch up again, but she was in too much of a hurry this time to fix them. In the bottom of her trunk she scrabbled for her stakes, grabbed one, and also a small vial of holy water, which she tucked into a bulked-up sleeve. Slinging a palm-sized silver crucifix around her neck, she rushed out of the bedroom, not pausing to check whether the door closed behind her.