Page 3 (1/2)

There would be dinner on the table tonight

But as the cost?

And was she prepared to pay it?

The kitchen was surprisingly clean and filled with the delicious aro herbs

Seated at the scrubbed table, Lucien leaned back with a deep sigh

His surroundings could hardly coant hotel he had chosen upon his arrival in London The house noring the neighborhood was a breath from utter decay and that the air was rancid with the stench of rotting trash and sewer

Still, he was not overly disappointed that his trail had led hiht be cramped and his delicate senses offended by the derelict surroundings, but it all becaless the moment he had stepped into the small study

Even now he could feel the shock of utter bewitchly

She had quite simply stolen his breath

Her face was a perfect oval with large eyes the impossible blue of tropical waters Her hair, which had been ruthlessly wrenched into a knot at the base of her neck, possessed the rich luster of sable that contrasted sharply with the flawless cream of her skin She possessed the timeless beauty of a Madonna, with lush curves that could erous directions

As a collector of beautiful objects, he had been stirred by her loveliness

As a vampire with his passions unleashed for the first time in two centuries, other parts of his anatomy had been stirred

Just for a moment he had briefly considered hoiftly he could woo her into his bed How nificent she would be stretched upon snohite sheets, her hair a river of ebony, he had thought with a decided yearning In the candlelight her skin would gloith the pale luster of fine porcelain Her lush curves would fit his hands to perfection Ah, to possess such a wo untold pleasure

But even as his blood had tingled with anticipation, he had gazed into those well -guarded eyes and sensed the bleak loneliness deep within

His calculated passion had died with a regretful sigh

This woman was not in need of a lover

She was in need of a savior

The knowledge had been as unwelcohterhouse, and just as inescapable

He was here to protect this maiden

He could only hope his rusty sense of chivalry could be persuaded to overco back his plate, he cast a roguish seneral of the household The servant was a large woranite He could only hope her heart was not si," he complimented her "As savory as any I have ever tasted A true masterpiece"

The charm he had once presumed irresistible appeared woefully ineffective As woefully ineffective upon the servant as it had been upon her mistress

"’Tis shepherd’s pie, hardly a masterpiece"

"Ah, but in the hands of an artist even shepherd’s pie can be a , the woarded him with even sharper suspicion "Miss Jocelyn warned ue of the devil I now understand why"

Lucien was not remotely surprised

He had known fro maiden had felt uneasy in his presence

Unfortunately the Medallion she wore about her neck made any attempt to use a Compulsion spell ih to protect her from even the most devious skills a vampire possessed He would have to win her trust bymeans

Not one of his uing and unique young woman"

"And far too wise for the likes of you," the wo, you wound me"

"Not yet I haven’t, but I certainly will if you take it in h, discovering he quite enjoyed bantering with this gruff old tartar

For all her crusty manners, it was evident that she was utterly devoted to Jocelyn

"I beg your pardon?"

The servant planted her hands upon her aly is a fine, decent maiden who has endured far more heartache and disappoint pan upon the head of anyone foolish enough to bring her pain again"

Lucien was instantly intrigued Heartache and disappointe was always power, and he very much desired to know as much of Jocelyn as possible

"How very distressful She is far too young to have endured the pains of this world Tell me, as the source of this heartache?"

"It is her story to tell if she so chooses Just re a close eye upon you"