Scandalous Deception (Russian Connection 1)

“But necessary.” A cold smile flickered through his dark eyes. “The only means to defeat an enemy is to study both his strengths and weaknesses. And you, ma belle, are most certainly one of his weaknesses.”

“Absurd. I am nothing to him.”

There was a long, unnerving silence as Viktor studied her pale features. Then, with a smooth motion, he settled back in his seat, slipping the pistol into the pocket of his greatcoat. It was a blatant motion intended to reveal that he was in utter command of the situation and there was not a damnable thing she could do about it.

“I am intrigued to know how Stefan has reacted to his brother’s treachery,” he drawled. “They have been notoriously devoted to one another, but I should think that having Edmond seduce his fiancée would strain even Stefan’s mild temper.”

Brianna grimaced. The devil take Edmond and his insistence that they pretend they were engaged while he posed as the Duke of Huntley. She had known it was a bad notion from the beginning.

She would endure whatever gossip might tarnish her name, but Stefan deserved better. Far, far better.

“What do you want with me?” she demanded.

“Nothing more than the pleasure of your company.” A smug, unpleasant smile twisted his thin lips. “Oh, and of course, the assurance of Edmond’s good behavior.”

It did not take a great deal of skill to realize that Viktor Kazakov’s pleasure in the thought of besting Edmond was far more than just the satisfaction of one opponent outwitting another. It was too fierce, too personal.

For the moment, however, Brianna was more interested in discovering precisely why she had been taken hostage.

“Good behavior?”

“As I am sure you know, Miss Quinn, your lover has made a tedious habit of interfering in matters of the Russian Court that are none of his concern.”

“Matters such as treason?”

His self-satisfied smile never faltered. “’Tis only treason if we fail. Once we succeed, we shall be named liberators.”

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. The man certainly possessed enough arrogance to place a crown on his own head. Always presuming he could discover one large enough to fit.

“And you believe that by holding me hostage you will succeed?”

“It will at least prevent Lord Edmond from interfering in our plans.”

She bit back a curse as the carriage skated around a sharp corner, tipping precariously before jarring back onto four wheels. It seemed quite possible that she would end up in the ditch with a broken neck before the night was done.

“Good lord, I thought you claimed that you had studied Edmond. If that is true, then you are a singularly inept observer,” she said, not having to pretend her derision. Surely he must know that whatever Edmond’s instinctive need to protect others, his loyalty would always belong to his Czar.

The dark eyes flashed with fury. “There is a difference between boldness and stupidity, Miss Quinn. You try my temper at your peril.”

She forced a stiff smile to her lips, knowing that she dare not provoke Viktor any further.

“I am merely pointing out that Edmond has made it his life’s purpose to protect Alexander Pavlovich from harm,” she said. “He would never allow any threat, including my kidnapping, to prevent him from carrying out his duty.”

“No,” he at last growled at the unshakable sincerity in her voice, refusing to believe he could have miscalculated. “Edmond has risked everything he holds dear, including his brother, to keep you at his side. Besides, I witnessed the two of you in the garden.”

She shivered beneath the blanket. “You were spying upon us?”

“Of course.” The smile returned to his mouth. “And I must say, I was quite amused by Edmond’s rather anxious expression as he fussed over you with such touching tenderness. It is obvious that he is still befuddled by his emotions for you.”

Brianna was swift to quash the warm tingle that fluttered through the pit of her stomach. What did it matter if Viktor Kazakov was foolish enough to confuse lust with tenderness? She most certainly was not.

“Befuddled or not, he will never allow himself

to be distracted from his responsibilities,” she said, more sharply than she intended. “He is incapable of allowing himself to fail.”

A dangerous anger tightened his countenance. “You had best hope for all our sakes that you are mistaken, ma belle.”

Brianna bit her lip, her stomach sick with dread. She knew better than to press the argument. Viktor Kazakov was convinced that he had halted Edmond from interfering in the looming revolution, and it would only anger him to suggest that his efforts of abducting her were worthless.