Bound by Love (Russian Connection 2)

“Tell me what happened between you and Leonida.”

“I asked her to accompany me back to England and she declined.”

She flinched at his raw tone. “Did you tell her of your feelings?”

His humorless laugh echoed sharply through the foyer. “I asked her to be my bloody wife.”

Absurdly, the older woman shook her head in resignation. “But did you speak to her of love?”

A jolt of alarm shot through his heart. He was not about to discuss his confused jumble of emotions toward Leonida. He had ignored them for weeks. He intended to keep ignoring them.

“I appreciate your hospitality, Vanya, but I must see to my packing. With any luck I shall soon be on a ship to England.” His lips twisted. “And sanity.”

“Stefan…”

Vanya’s plea fell on deaf ears as Stefan grimly climbed the stairs and made his way to his chambers. He would not waste another moment on Leonida Karkoff.

She was a mistake he intended to scrub from his memories.

Shoving open the door, Stefan entered his private parlor. Boris was seated on a settee near the window, sipping from a silver flask as he stepped over the threshold, but with a grimace the servant rose to his feet and tossed the flask in Stefan’s direction.

“You look in need of refreshment, Huntley.”

Without hesitation, Stefan took a deep drink from the flask. The vodka seared down his throat, landing in his stomach with a fiery explosion.

“Good God,” he rasped, tossing the flask back to his companion. A few more sips and Boris would have to carry him onto the ship. “Do you have the schedule?”

Boris nodded. “There is a ship that leaves in two hours.”

“Can we get passage?”

The servant grimaced. “For the proper price.”

It was what Stefan had expected. What sea captain didn’t feather his own nest by accepting bribes? As a rule, Stefan deplored such behavior. It was always the poorest passengers that suffered. Today, however, he would have bought the whole damned ship and tossed everyone aside if it meant being rid of this demented country.

“The cost does not matter.”

Boris pocketed the flask and folded his arms over his barrel chest.

“So I suppose the only question is how many tickets will I need to purchase?”

Stefan clenched his jaw at the deliberately provocative question.

“I will make a bargain with you, Boris.”

“I am listening.”

“I will buy you as many barrels of vodka as you desire for the journey so long as I never have to hear the name Leonida Karkoff again.”

Boris slowly smiled. “Never heard of the woman.”

WAITING FOR STEFAN’S CARRIAGE to charge out of the mews at a breakneck speed, Leonida returned to the garden.

She would be damned if she would allow any of the servants to see her crying over the Duke of Huntley.

Besides, she could not bear the thought of being closed in. Not in this moment. She needed to feel the summer breeze and the sun on her skin. Ho

w else would she melt the frozen pain that held her captive?