“How very accommodating of you, Max. What did you do to Sebastian?”
“Oh, you needn’t fear for the man’s safety. He’s merely on the tail of a woman who, from a distance, bears an astonishing resemblance to you. ”
“And what is this woman doing?”
“I’m not quite certain, but I do believe she’s having an assignation in Vauxhall Gardens. ” His smile gleamed again. “I don’t think Vioget was pleased. ”
Victoria hid her own smile. It would serve Sebastian right to be following a false trail—especially after his blithe announcement in the parlor today, chosen, of course, for timing and audience. “Perhaps now might be a good time to reveal exactly why you’ve made it a point to invade my chamber. But, truly, Max,” she said, her voice softening from the haughty edge she’d adopted. “I am glad to see that you are safe and well. And . . . of course you must know about Briyani. ”
He nodded, and she saw his shoulders relax. “I spoke with Kritanu last night as well. ”
“Kritanu too?” Victoria felt a swell of annoyance again.
“Don’t be angry with him,” Max said. “I told him I’d speak with you . . . and as you’re aware, he’s been otherwise distracted. ”
“I notice you don’t defend Sebastian’s lack of communication about your presence in London. ”
“In fact, I’m shocked that he didn’t rush to inform you of it, knowing that it would annoy me. He threatened to do so. ”
“Your fiancée is here as well. Did he tell you that?” Even though Max’s engagement to Sara had been a false one—at least, Victoria thought it had been a false one— she’d never been able to resist the urge to needle him about it.
“Vioget didn’t see fit to tell me that—unless he wasn’t aware. ”
Victoria shook her head. “He is fully aware, for she and George Starcasset were there when he fairly announced our engagement to my mother this afternoon. And I’m terribly sorry, Max, but it appears you’ve been replaced in her affections by Gwendolyn’s brother George. ”
“I’m devastated. ”
“I used to feel sorry for the woman, for you made her believe you loved her,” Victoria chided.
“Did I?” Max sounded amused.
“You certainly appeared to be promoting such a conviction when I met you at the home of the Conte Regalado. ”She’d come upon a rumpled Max leaving an obvious tête-à-tête with Sara.
“That must certainly have made an impression on you, Victoria, for you bring that incident up nearly every time we talk. ”
“You looked ridiculous, with your hair mussed and your neck cloth crooked. It was more than obvious what you’d been doing. And will you please do sit down,” Victoria said in exasperation. “Your hovering is quite annoying, and if you don’t, I shall be forced to stand myself—and I daresay you don’t want to be treated to the full sight of my ghastly nightgown. ”
He made a sound that could have been a strangled laugh or a cough; but in either case, he took her advice and sat—in the chair farthest from the bed, placing himself back in the shadows. “I daresay I don’t. ”
“Now, tell me, why are you in London when you should be running as far from Lilith as possible. ”
She actually felt the tension settle back in the room, chilling whatever lightness their banter had brought to bear. “Ah yes . . . my unfortunate circumstances. We needn’t discuss the banalities of why I came back to this drafty, wet country—but more to the purpose, how I might be of assistance in your current dilemma. The daylight vampire attack. ”
Victoria nodded, focusing her attention on that instead of flinging one-sentence barbs back and forth. It did become wearying after awhile, and, truth to tell, she was relieved to see Max. If only he didn’t have to be so prickly. And arrogant. And rude. “There was another one today. ”
She told him, and ended with her suspicions about Sara and George. “But it seems rather heavy-handed for them to taunt me so blatantly, if indeed one of them is the daylight vampire. ”
“I tend to agree. Although Sara is not known for her subtlety. ”
“It is not pure chance that I was the one to discover both victims, within the space of two days. ”
“Indeed. And we must presume that they’ve obtained the elixir that was described in the writings we found behind the Magic Door in Roma. ” He moved; she heard rather than saw it. “The formula Vioget stole from the Consilium. ”
Victoria pushed a long curl back over the crown of her head. “I’ve not forgotten that, Max. But he did take me to a secret abbey under London, where he retrieved one of the Rings of Jubai. ”
“But he didn’t give you the ring, did he?”
“No. But he made no attempt to hide it. ”