Scandalous Deception (Russian Connection 1)
It seemed reasonable to suppose that he did.
“Yes, well, I am certain that you know best.”
The narrow, handsome face tightened.
“I do know what you are attempting to accomplish.”
“Really?” She shrugged. “And what is that?”
His sharp, humorless laugh echoed through the frigid air. “You could not convince me that you were a passing fancy that Edmond would happily toss to the wolves, so now you think to worry me into returning to St. Petersburg with fears of betrayal from those who I call brothers-in-arms.”
Brianna did not bother to try and deny his charge. Regardless of whether or not he suspected she was deliberately stirring his instinctive distrust, she knew that her words were striking deep into his festering fear.
It was in the knotted muscles of his jaw, the restless tap of his fingers against his knee, the rasp of his swift, unsteady breath.
“Even you must admit that it is rather ironic to trust others who have come together in the name of disloyalty,” she pressed, relentless. “Such a cause would hardly attract those of the highest moral fiber. Indeed, I would presume that such a disreputable purpose would be destined to lure only those utterly without conscience or scruples.”
“I have been insulted on any number of occasions and in any number of languages, but never with such artful innocence.” The dark eyes narrowed with a cold fury that warned Brianna that she had pushed too far. “Poor Edmond. You are a very clever, and dangerous, young lady.”
Brianna turned to gaze out the window, barely noting the falling snow. Anything was preferable to meeting the fevered, nearly mad glitter in Viktor’s dark eyes as she attempted to divert his anger.
“Hardly clever, considering that I have allowed myself to be taken hostage and that I am currently freezing to near death in a carriage that is no doubt destined to become stuck in a snowdrift long before we ever reach Novgorod.”
She sensed him shift restlessly on his seat. The tension in the carriage was thickening with every mile they traveled away from St. Petersburg.
“You may take comfort in the knowledge that, if we do become stuck in a drift, then your lover will easily discover us and put a bullet through my heart,” he mocked, attempting to disguise his growing agitation. “You will then be free to return to St. Petersburg and all the comfort you desire.”
“Even presuming that Edmond would be willing to risk all to try to rescue me, how do you expect him to be able to follow us?” Brianna demanded. “Did you leave directions for him?”
Viktor made a sound of disgust. “Perhaps you do not know Lord Edmond Summerville as well I presumed. The bastard possesses an uncanny ability to haunt my every footstep. I cannot so much as sneeze without him knowing. There are moments when I wonder if he does not have some witchcraft at his disposal.”
She was wise enough to hide her smile at his disgruntled tone. “If that is true, then why are you not concerned that he will overtake us on the road?”
“It will take him time to discover you have been abducted and yet more time to uncover our trail. Besides, I have ensured that my men are k
eeping a careful guard on the road. They have orders to shoot anyone who appears to be following us. With any luck, one of them will manage to…”
“No,” she interrupted the taunting words, her head jerking toward her companion so she could send him a fierce glare.
Viktor’s lips twisted as he held up a slender hand. “Forgive me. It seems that Edmond is not the only one afflicted with the pangs of love.”
It would have been a great deal easier to deny his words, if her heart did not feel as if it were being brutally crushed at the mere thought of Edmond in danger.
Oh…God. She was such a fool. Such a damnable fool.
“What is to happen once we reach Novgorod?” she abruptly demanded, desperate to divert her painful thoughts.
Viktor glanced toward the window of the carriage, his expression hardening with determination.
“Actually I am growing convinced that there is no need to travel such a distance.”
Brianna stilled, hope flaring through her frigid body. “Then we are turning around?”
He turned back to regard her with a mocking smile. “Not we.”
“What do you mean?”
“It is enough that I have lured Edmond from the city.” He shrugged. “There is a church not far from here. I will leave you there, bound and gagged, while I return to St. Petersburg.”