Scandalous Deception (Russian Connection 1)

“Yes, you have made your needs quite clear, Edmond.” Turning back to him, she regarded him with a disapproving expression. “In this moment, however, I am more concerned with Brianna’s needs.”

“She is upset. She does not know what she truly wishes.”

“Actually, she seems inordinately certain of what she wishes, or more precisely what she does not wish. And that is to be in your company.” Vanya narrowed her eyes with unconcealed suspicion. “What did you do to her?”

Feeling oddly defensive, Edmond shoved his fingers through his tousled hair. “I did nothing.” He gave a vague lift of his shoulder. “She simply overheard me speaking with Herrick.”

“Were you discussing another woman?”

“Mon dieu, of course not.”

“I do not know why you appear so surprised,” Vanya sternly chastised. “Brianna is convinced you are on the point of replacing her with another.”

“Never.”

“There must be some reason she is displeased with you,” Vanya insisted. “What did you say?”

Edmond hesitated, strangely embarrassed to confess the truth.

“I was attempting to halt Herrick from arranging my imminent wedding.”

“To Brianna?” Vanya demanded, her voice pitched low so that it would not carry to the adjoining bedchamber.

“Yes.”

“And she overheard you refuse to have her as your bride?”

With a surge of restless annoyance, Edmond paced toward the window, not surprised that the panes were thick with frost. It was well past midnight and the night air was brutally cold.

“I have made no secret of my determination never to wed, as you well know, Vanya,” he said, his voice harsh. “It has nothing to do with Brianna.”

“No, of course not,” Vanya said dryly.

Edmond turned back to glare at his companion. “Besides which, Brianna has informed me on half a dozen occasions that she has no desire to take on a husband or family, so why she should be so angry defies all logic.”

Vanya waved aside his perfectly reasonable words. “A female has no need to be logical, and in any event, there is no woman who would not be offended to have her lover proclaim to the world that he will not have her as his wife. It makes her wonder if she is somehow lacking.”

“Which is precisely why I wish to speak with her.”

“And what would you say to her, Edmond?” Vanya stepped forward, her expression troubled. “That she is convenient to trifle with when the mood might strike you, but not worthy enough to claim a permanent role in your life?”

“Would you prefer that I lie to her, Vanya? That I make promises that I cannot keep?”

“Why can you not?” She gave a wave of her heavily bejeweled hand. “Brianna is charming, beautiful, and obviously she brings you happiness. Any gentleman with the least amount of sense would be proud to call her his wife.”

“I will not—” Edmond bit off his words, refusing to admit his reluctance to take Brianna as a wife was out of fear that some dreadful fate would await her. Vanya would think him a lunatic.

“You will not what?”

“I will never wed.”

“Why, my dear?” With a frown, Vanya stepped close enough to place a hand on his arm. “It is obvious that you care very much for Brianna. Why are you so opposed to the notion of marrying her?”

“I will not discuss this, Vanya.” He stepped stiffly away from her touch, his features hard with warning. “Not with you or anyone else.”

“Fine.” Shaking her head in disgust, Vanya moved toward the door leading to the corridor. “Then you will lose her.”

“What did you say?”