Scandalous Deception (Russian Connection 1)

“Trust me,” Edmond murmured, gathering the blanket that Brianna had dropped during her mad rush. With exquisite care, he wrapped it about her shivering body, careful to keep his own coat wrapped about her.

She moaned in agony as Edmond lifted her off the floor and cradled her against his chest with one smooth motion.

“Hold on, ma souris,” he whispered.

Boris stepped forward. “What do you need from me?”

“I want you to return to your horse. When I pull open the door and begin to shout, I want you to charge down the road making as much noise as possible.”

Boris narrowed his gaze. “And you?”

“Once the outriders are in pursuit of you, I will carry Brianna to the carriage and command the driver to return us to St. Petersburg.” Edmond lifted his head to halt Boris’s words of protest with a fierce glare. “Among the confusion and the blizzard, the servants will easily mistake me for their master.”

Swift to hide his doubt behind a wry smile, Boris pocketed his pistol and turned toward the side door.

“I suppose that it is just absurd enough that it might succeed.”

“Or get us all killed,” Edmond spoke the words they were both thinking.

“Then the sooner we discover our fate, the better. Give me ten minutes to slip back to my horse before you start your shouting.”

“Boris,” Edmond called softly. “As soon as you are away from the church I wish you to rid yourself of your pursuers and return to St. Petersburg.”

A smile of anticipation touched the soldier’s face. “You fuss over Miss Quinn and allow me to take care of myself.”

“Boris…”

The door snapped shut, and Edmond carried Brianna through the nave to the front entrance.

Counting beneath his breath, he forced himself to wait until he was certain Boris had enough time to reach his horse. Then, pulling open the heavy wooden door, he swiftly stepped into the swirling snow, keeping his head bent downward.

“It is Summerville,” he bellowed at the milling servants as Boris thundered past, his horse sending a spray of ice and snow in his wake. “Do not allow him to escape. After him, you fools. All of you.”

A heartbeat passed during which Edmond barely dared to breathe. What if they suspected he was not Viktor Kazakov? What if…

The outriders scrambled as one for their horses and hurried after the fleeing Boris. Swift to take advantage of the chaos, Edmond waded through the drifting snow and, with an effort, managed to open the door to the carriage without dropping his precious burden.

“Return me to St. Petersburg,” he barked at the driver who sat huddled on top the vehicle.

“What of Summerville?”

“Do not question me.”

“I…Yes, sire.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

THEY ARRIVED BACK IN St. Petersburg without incident, and after a short, brutal battle with Viktor’s driver, he had arrived at Vanya’s town house to discover that the older woman was wisely prepared for his return.

With a minimum of fuss, Brianna was whisked to her bedchamber where the Czar’s personal surgeon awaited her. There were a few awkward moments when the doctor had foolishly attempted to demand that Edmond leave while he treated his patient, but once he understood that he was more likely to be tossed headfirst from the window than to rid himself of the anxious nobleman, he had efficiently pulled the bullet from Brianna’s shoulder and carefully cleaned the wound.

His deft fingers had lingered on the healing scar from Brianna’s previous shooting, but contenting himself to a chiding gaze toward the hovering Edmond, the doctor had at last gathered his belongings and gone in search of Vanya.

Over the next hours, Edmond kept a constant guard on the slumbering maiden.

It was not guilt that made him unable to stray more than a few steps from her unconscious form, although he knew he would have to live with his aching regrets for all eternity. Or even concern that she would not recover. Already, a healthy flush was returning to her cheeks, and her breathing stirred the air with a steady rhythm.

No, it was quite simply an unbearable need to have her within his reach. If she were out of his sight, he feared she might disappear into the icy fog that cloaked the city.