Bound by Love (Russian Connection 2)

Tugging her hand from his warm grasp, Leonida studied the handsome criminal with a wary puzzlement.

“Why have you brought me here?”

His gaze trailed a warm path down her body. “In part I desired to meet you.”

“Why?”

He chuckled at her blunt suspicion. “You are somewhat a saint among the serfs.”

“Saint?”

“Your kindness to those in need does not go unnoticed.”

She nervously glanced over her shoulder, discovering Josef standing patiently beside the door. Had she fallen asleep in the garden? Certainly this all seemed like more a nightmare than reality.

“And that is why you had me kidnapped?”

“An unnecessary evil, for which I hope you will forgive me. Unfortunately, there is a rather large bounty on my head. It did not seem wise to call upon you at your home.” The dark gaze took another sweep over her slender body. “Of course, had I known your beauty was even more stunning than rumored I might have considered it a worthy risk.”

“Sir…”

“Dimitri,” he smoothly interrupted. “I am no gentleman.”

“What do you want of me?”

“We shall discuss that in a moment, ma belle.” His slender hand lifted to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. Oddly, Leonida was not frightened by the intimate gesture. Or even offended. Instead, she could not deny a growing curiosity about this complex man. “First I have information that I believe will be of interest to you.”

The edge in his voice sent a sudden chill down her spine. “Does the information have anything to do with Sir Charles?”

“Intelligent as well as beautiful, a most charming combination.” Taking her hand, Dimitri Tipova placed it on his arm and turned to lead her toward a door on the far side of the room. “Come, I have tea waiting. We shall discuss the sad end of Sir Charles over freshly baked gingerbread.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

REGRETTABLY FAMILIAR with the perils of traveling by sea, Stefan remained settled in Vanya’s carriage, far away from the crowd of waiting passengers and the unpleasant stench that permeated every dock around the world.

There were few things worse than the smell of rotting fish and unwashed bodies.

Outside the tiny window of the carriage he could view the large ship that would soon carry him to England. Thank God. For the first time since his mad flight he realized just how much he missed his rambling old house and the well-tended fields. He had been a fool to ever leave.

Once he was back at Meadowland and surrounded by the familiar companionship of his family and tenants, Leonida would soon become nothing more than a stale memory.

He grimly held on to that thought, as if it could keep at bay the howling emptiness that swept through his soul.

Watching the crew scramble about the deck of the ship, Stefan breathed a sigh of relief as Boris tugged open the carriage door. He wanted to be away from this place.

Away from the temptation of Miss Leonida Karkoff.

“They are preparing to board.”

Climbing out of the carriage, Stefan grimaced as the pungent scents assaulted his nose.

“You have seen to the luggage?”

“It is safely stowed, along with your servants.”

Placing his beaver hat on his head, Stefan angrily tugged at the cuffs of his moss-green jacket.

“I was a fool to come to Russia.”