Emma was unnerved by the realization of how deeply he affected her. Almost as if…no. She would not even think it. Dimitri Tipova had proven he could seduce her body, she damned well would not allow him to seduce her heart.
With an effort, she tilted her chin and met his gaze squarely.
“You said Huntley. Do you mean the duke?”
“Yes.” He lifted his brows. “Are you acquainted?”
She grimaced. Did he truly believe a spinster from a tiny Russian village could be acquainted with a duke? Even with her English mother such a thought was absurd.
“Of course not, but Vanya said she had sent a message to the Duchess of Huntley and that she would provide me assistance.” A pang of regret twisted her heart. “I suppose that was yet another deception.”
“Quite likely she wrote to the duchess. And no doubt Leonida is prepared to offer you whatever assistance you desire without informing her husband of her promise.” His lips curved in a mysterious smile. “She is as headstrong and unmanageable as you.”
“How do you know an English duke?”
“I performed a small service for the duchess a few weeks ago.”
Emma stiffened, an odd tightness squeezing her chest. There was husky amusement in his voice when he spoke of the duchess. As if he were intimately acquainted with her.
“What sort of service?”
He shrugged. “I fear it was a private matter that I am unable to discuss.”
Without thought she yanked her hands from his grip, glaring into his handsome face. “I see.”
He appeared momentarily startled by her reaction, then his smile slowly widened.
“Ah. Are you jealous, Emma Linley-Kirov?”
She sniffed. He would, of course, be arrogant enough to presume she was jealous rather than…what? Furious? Outraged? Worried. Yes, of course.
“I merely
am concerned that she will be too distracted to be of service,” she bit out.
With a chuckle, he leaned down to brush his mouth over her lips. “Pack your belongings. I dare not wait until sunset to begin our search.”
More in an effort to hide her flushed cheeks than to obey his husky command, Emma darted past him into the main cabin.
“How will you begin?” she asked, pulling her satchel from beneath the bed and filling it with her handful of possessions.
He leaned his shoulder against the paneled wall, watching her jerky movements with a rueful expression. Almost as if he regretted the end of their voyage.
She hastily shook off the dangerous thought.
“I will have my servants visit the local pubs.”
She straightened in surprise. “You think my sister might be so near?”
“No, but the crew of the Katherine Marie will be eager to ease their thirst, as well as their various hungers, after such a voyage,” he explained. “I hope they will be willing to reveal where the cargo was taken with proper incentive.”
She nodded, wryly acknowledging it was a clever notion.
“And what of you?”
“Me?”
“If I have learned nothing else of you, Dimitri, it is that you are never without a plan to take advantage of whatever situation comes your way.”