“I happen to have a very full life with a number of friends and several charities that depend on me,” she informed him stiffly. “And of course, with Alexander Pavlovich’s return to the Summer Palace there will be a number of society events to attend.”
“I thought you disliked parties,” he accused.
“They are not my favorite means of devoting an evening, but we all do what we must.” She met his gaze squarely. “A duke is not the only one with duties.”
“And if your mother or the Emperor decides that it is time for you to wed?”
She blinked, startled by the unexpected question. “They decided it was time for me to wed several years ago. Thankfully, that is a decision no one will make for me.”
His beautiful face was hard, unreadable. “And you have decided that you have no need for a husband?”
Leonida paused, uncertain what he wanted from her. He appeared annoyed by the thought her parents would press her into marriage and even more annoyed by the fact she would never be wed against her will.
Impossible man.
“No, I am just certain that I have yet to encounter a gentleman who has convinced me that a life with him would be preferable to sacrificing my independence,” she said tartly.
His brooding gaze swept down her slender form covered by the blanket.
“You would consider marriage a sacrifice?”
“Would you not?”
It was his turn to pause, seeming to give the offhand question serious thought.
“It would, of course, depend entirely upon my potential bride.”
Leonida flinched at the painful thought of Stefan with his eventual bride. She would be English, of course. One of those sweet-tempered debutantes that had been trained from the cradle to pander to a gentleman’s vanity. And beautiful.
A lovely English rose.
“This is a ridiculous conversation,” she muttered.
His jaw tightened, but he readily allowed himself to be diverted. “Then let us return our attention to more important matters.”
“The only important matter is finding those letters.”
“You are not going to distract me, Leonida.” He settled on the edge of the bed, a dangerous shimmer in his eyes. “I did not travel across the continent to return to England alone.”
Her mouth went dry, starkly aware of the tantalizing awareness prickling over her skin. The urge to curl against the warm strength of his chest and feel the comfort of his arms wrapping around her was near unbearable.
Instead she grimly reminded herself that she was no clinging female who needed a gentleman to tell her what she was or was not going to do.
“Then I fear you are going to be disappointed.”
“No.” He leaned forward, his hands braced on each side of her waist as he loomed above her. “I am not a man who accepts disappointment.”
“The choice is not yours to make. I am returning to St. Petersburg and there is nothing you can do to halt me.”
“You should know better than to challenge me,” he drawled, a dangerous edge to his voice. “I would prefer you come with me willingly, but I am not opposed to convincing you of the pleasures to be found in our journey to England.”
Leonida was absurdly relieved by the spark of anger at his smug assurance that he could bend her to his will. It was much easier to ignore the craving to close the small distance and lose herself in his kisses when her pride was injured.
“Are you threatening to hold me against my will?”
“It would not be against your will for long.” He bent to brush his lips along the curve of her ear. “We both know the only reason you are resisting your desire to be with me is fear of scandal.”
Leonida hid her shiver of pleasure, her hands lifting to press against his chest.