“I think you must be mad,” she whispered with an unconscious frown.

Without warning the beautiful male features hardened and a glitter entered the black eyes.

“You have yet to know true madness,” he informed her in low tones. “But you will. And very soon I fear.”

She took an abrupt step backward, barely preventing herself from glancing about and ensuring that she was still surrounded by glittering guests.

She would not be frightened nor intimidated, she sternly reminded herself. Not again.

“Why are you here?”

Rather surprisingly he allowed his gaze to drift downward, lingering for a long moment upon the golden Medallion that she wore upon a slender chain. Oddly the metal seemed almost to warm as it lay between the curves of her breasts.

“To fulfill destiny, my dear Lady Gilbert. Soon enough you will be grateful for my presence.”

She blinked at his mysterious words, her fingers unconsciously reaching up to grasp the Medallion in a tight grip.

“Highly doubtful,” she forced herself to mutter. “I wish you to leave my home, sir.”

There was a ripple of muscles as he straightened from the column and towered over her.

“Is that a command?”

“I ... yes.”

Their gazes locked and clashed before a chilled smile curved the sensuous lips.

“A word of warning, my dear. Unlike these gentlemen whom you regard as mere flunkies, you cannot command me, or seduce me to your will. We will play this game by my rules.”

Simone did not need the warning. Everything about this remote, elegant stranger spoke of danger. She was not a fool.

“There is to be no game between us at all,” she informed him in cold tones. “Indeed, I never intend to set eyes upon you again.”

“A rather difficult task considering that I will be calling upon you tomorrow.”