Scandalous Deception (Russian Connection 1)

LEAVING STEFAN AND BRIANNA, Edmond stalked through the study to the terrace beyond the French doors. Once away from prying eyes, he shoved his fingers through his hair and sucked in a deep breath.

Mon dieu, when he had walked into the foyer to see Brianna in his brother’s arms, his fury had been so swift and so violent he had very nearly lost control. He trembled with the need to charge across the floor and beat his brother for daring to lay a hand on Brianna. She was his. And he would prove it in the most basic and savage means possible.

Only the shock of his reaction kept him frozen in place.

Christ, why had he not left at dawn as he had intended? With Brianna and his Aunt Letty safely in his brother’s care, there was nothing to keep him from returning to London and his duties.

Nothing but that damnable reluctance to allow Brianna out of his sight.

Once again, that throbbing fury raced through him and Edmond paced the terrace as he struggled to contain the primitive emotions.

As if to prove her ability to torment him, Brianna walked out a side door to enter the sunken gardens directly below the terrace. Edmond stiffened, hungrily drinking in the sight of her slender body as she moved past the marble statues that lined the path, her hips swaying with provocation and her hair shimmering with autumn fire in the morning sunlight.

He was moving down the steps of the terrace before he realized his intent, his chest squeezing in the oddest manner.

“Brianna.”

She froze at the sound of his voice, her shoulders tense. Coming to a halt directly behind her, Edmond sensed her desire to flee from his presence and wisely resisted the urge to reach out and touch her. It might very well send her bolting back to the house.

After a long moment, she at last grudgingly turned.

“I thought you had pressing business to attend to?”

“Why were you in my brother’s arms?”

She jerked, as if caught off guard by his question. “We have always been close friends, you know that. And it is hardly the first time Stefan has given me a hug.”

“You were a child then.”

Her lips twisted in a humorless smile. “And you have made very certain I am no longer that child, haven’t you, Edmond?

”

“Do you hope Stefan will wed you?”

“How dare you!”

“Just answer the question, Brianna.”

“Why should I?” She wrapped her arms about her waist, her expression defiant. “It is none of your concern.”

“It is very much my concern. Do you truly believe I would allow my lover to marry my own brother?”

“I am not your lover,” she stated. “And I am most certainly not the sort of woman who is constantly angling to land a husband. There are a rare few of us who comprehend the benefits of a life that is not confined by the dictates of some man.”

Edmond dismissed her words with a wave of his hand. “Even presuming I believe you would not leap at the opportunity to become the next Duchess of Huntley, my brother is not a monk,” he muttered.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Stefan lives a life of near isolation here. To bring a young and exquisitely beautiful woman beneath his roof is bound to stir temptation.”

“Ah, I see.” Her anger shifted to outrage. “Because he is desperate and lonely, he might mistakenly believe he is attracted to me?”

“He would have to be dead not to be attracted to you, but my point is that he is vulnerable. And he already possesses feelings for you.”

“Unlike you, Stefan is a gentleman of honor. He would never attempt to seduce his own ward.”

“No, he would not seduce you. He would insist upon marriage.”