Sebastian frowned at her troubled tones. Surely any other maiden who had received such a fright would wisely lock herself in her home and not return to the very spot where the demon had lurked? Reckless, indeed.
"And so you came in search of this killer?"
"Of course not." She regarded him with a hint of surprise. "I merely desired proof that it was a human monster and not a figment of my nightmares."
"Ah. Have you satisfied your fears?"
She grimaced again. "Not really. There is nothing to verify what I witnessed last evening."
There was a pause as she studied his deliberately unreadable expression. "Unless you possess an explanation?"
He did, of course. He possessed all the answers she clearly desired. But he feared that she was not yet prepared for the truth. Should he tell her of Drake and the Medallion, she might very well think him mad, or worse.
Besides which, the knowledge that a desperate vampire was stalking her was hardly a reassuring revelation, he acknowledged ruefully. For now it seemed preferable to worry over nightmares.
He gave a lift of his shoulder. "As I said last evening, it is a creature of the night."
Her lips thinned at his cautious words. "That is no answer."
Sebastian stepped closer. Close enough to smell the heady scent of her warm skin.
"And will giving it a name make it any less dangerous?" he asked in low tones. "Will your fear be abandoned and your heart lightened? Man or beast, it is a thing to be avoided."
Not surprisingly, she appeared far from satisfied by his vague response. "I think you know more than you are willing to admit."
"Perhaps."
She studied him in exasperation before at last heaving a sigh. It was obvious that she sensed his adamant refusal to reveal anything more.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
His lips twitched at her unmistakable annoyance. She was not a maiden often thwarted. It did not suit her to be anything but in command of every situation.
"Such a fascination with names," he murmured.
Her nose tilted upward at his teasing, but he did not miss the sudden glint of humor in the dark eyes.
"It is only proper manners to offer an introduction. We have now spoken on two separate occasions."
"Ah well, naturally I must bow to the pressures of proper manners." Before she could guess his intention, he had reached out to grasp her hand and lifted her bare fingers to his lips. Her skin was soft as satin beneath his touch, and Sebastian found his mouth lingering as he breathed deeply of her feminine fragrance. Strange that he had forgotten the sheer pleasure of touching a young woman, he thought inanely. Or perhaps it was simply this young woman who awoke his long-buried passions. His blood stirred even as he forced himself to loosen his grip and take a step back. There was danger in such sensations. "I am Mr. Sebastian St. Ives. And you are?"
"Miss Hadwell," she retorted absently, her gaze straying to her fingers before lifting her gaze with a faint blush.
He refused to consider her flustered reaction to his touch. He was a scholar, he staunchly reminded himself. And for the moment, a reluctant guardian of this maiden.
"A pleasure, Miss Hadwell."
"You ..." She paused to suck in a deep breath. "You are not from London?"
"No. Indeed, I have only recently arrived." He paused to glance about the rubbish that was happily rotting beneath the morning sunlight. "I am still attempting to settle among the noise and fragrant aromas of the city."
She wrinkled her nose in ready empathy. "You have not had a very pleasant welcome. I can assure you that the days are not as a rule so wretchedly hot, nor the nights so filled with such violence."
"And the noise and aromas?"
"Those, I fear, are our constant companions," she confessed, those dimples once again making an appearance.
"A pity." Arrested by the sparkle in the glorious eyes, Sebastian slowly smiled. "Still, I suppose London does have its share of beauty. Beauty that is all the more rare and astonishing because it is unexpected."
She blinked, almost as surprised as Sebastian himself at the soft words.
"Yes ... well, I suppose there is nothing to be found here. I should return to William."
Sebastian was swift to hold out his arm. He did not want this woman to be wandering through London on her own. Not with Drake and his minions only a few houses away.
"Allow me to escort you."
She lifted her brows, as if caught off guard by his offer. "That is not necessary. I live but a short distance away."
"Not necessary, but perhaps wise." He deliberately glanced toward the ground where the traces of blood still remained. Not even this maiden could so easily have forgotten a woman had been murdered in this spot only a few hours ago. "A young maiden upon her own in such an isolated area can be prey to all sorts of undesirable attention."
With a tiny shiver she readily placed her fingers upon his arm. It appeared that her stubbornness was at least tempered with a measure of common sense.
"Very well."
Relieved that he was not to be forced into a ridiculous argument, Sebastian steered her away from the stables and down the narrow lane. He even managed to pull her close enough to feel her sweet warmth seep into his being.
For a time they walked in a companionable silence, and then Sebastian glanced down to study the delicate lines of her profile.
"Do you care for your brother on your own?"
She abruptly lifted her head to meet his searching gaze. "Oh, no. I have Mrs. Benson, my housekeeper. She is very dedicated to William."
"What of your parents?" he demanded, not at all pleased with the thought of this maiden being so heavily burdened at such a young age. It was surely unnatural, even among humans.
"They . . ." Her gaze dropped abruptly. "They struggle with their sense of regret over William.
It has been very difficult for them to accept the fact that he would never be as other young gentlemen."
Sebastian held no sympathy for the unknown Had-wells. Vampires respected and admired one another precisely for their differences. It was well known that it was the variety of thoughts and opinions that made for the highest form of society, and that all possessed their share of strengths and weaknesses. All except for the three traitors who had proved unworthy of respect.
"He seems a loving and gentle soul," he said.
She gave a restless lift of one shoulder. "Yes, but there can be no denying that he is slow of wit and incapable of controlling his inheritance."
"He would not be the first son who is a disappointment to his parents," Sebastian pointed out in dry tones. He had been in London long enough to witness the wretched display of debauchery by those who claimed to be of the highest blood. "The gaming hells of London are littered with worthless noblemen squandering their inheritances."
A revealing grimace crossed her pale features. "I believe that my father would prefer such a scoundrel. As it is, he feels that William is ..."
Her words trailed away and Sebastian instinctively covered the fingers upon his arm with a comforting hand.
"An embarrassment?"
"Yes," she whispered softly.
"But not you?"
Her head rose abruptly, the dark eyes glittering. "Of course not. William may not be like other gentlemen, but that should be rejoiced in, not feared. He does not harm others, nor lie or cheat.
And certainly such a sweet man should not be locked away as if he were a dangerous animal."
Sebastian narrowed his gaze at her fierce words. He might admire her determined love for her brother, but that did not make him indifferent to the danger that he posed. William was a weakness that Drake would be swift to use to his advantage.
"No, but neither should he be allowed to lead you into reckless folly. Last night was a near thing, my dear. Too near."
He could feel her stiffen at his side. "William does not make a habit of slipping off in the night.
Besides which, I have spoken very sharply with him."
Sebastian arched a knowing brow. "And you believe that he will heed your warning?"
Her eyes revealed the truth of her unease. She clearly was no more confident than himself that William would halt his excursions through the dark streets of London.
"It is all I can do," she admitted reluctantly. "I will not have him locked in his rooms nor tied to his bed."
"So instead you will allow yourself to be put at risk?"
"If I must."
That stubborn expression had returned to her countenance and Sebastian heaved an inward sigh. He was once again in danger of pushing her away.
"Then I hope you will call upon me if you are ever in any need," he said gently. "I should be happy to lend my assistance."
Without warning, she came to a halt and turned to face him. "Why?"
He gave a blink of surprise at her sudden question. "I beg your pardon?"
"You offer your assistance to a mere stranger. I wonder why you would do such a thing."
"You are a young maiden on her own."
