Bound by Love (Russian Connection 2)

“Do not fear, I shall make certain that Edmond is compelled to pay you an exorbitant sum for your assistance.” He smiled as he thought of his brother’s rapid transformation from rake to domesticated husband. “There are few things I love more than reminding my brother that he is now a staid landowner with numerous responsibilities.”

“While you are now the one seeking adventure?”

Stefan blinked at the unexpected accusation. “Not by choice, I assure you. I have never possessed Edmond’s love for danger.”

Boris slid him a sly glance. “I think you are more alike than you realize, your Grace.”

“Of course we’re alike. We are twins, for God’s sake. Most people cannot tell the two of us apart.” He briefly recalled tormenting his nurses and tutors over the years. “A fact that was great fun when we were young.”

“I meant your refusal to allow anything to stand in your path once you have set your mind upon a particular lady.”

Stefan frowned. “I do not allow a thief to steal from me and escape my justice.”

“Hmm.” Boris appeared skeptical.

Not particularly surprising. The words rang empty even to Stefan. No man, and especially not a duke, chased a woman from England to St. Petersburg because she might have taken something from his estate.

“Do you have a point?”

Boris shrugged. “What will you do with Miss Karkoff if we manage to rescue her?”

“When we rescue her,” Stefan growled.

“As you say. Do you intend to return her to St. Petersburg?”

Stefan shifted in his saddle, annoyed by the question. What he did with Leonida was no one’s concern but his own. She belonged to him.

That was the end of the matter.

“One problem at a time, mon ami.”

Ignoring the warning in Stefan’s tone, Boris regarded him with a somber expression.

“I feel compelled to remind you that she is not a penniless serf. Her very powerful and very influential family would take grave insult if she were kept from them.”

“They sent Leonida to me. They have no one to blame but themselves if I decide not to return her.”

“Your Grace…”

“The future will hardly matter if we stumble into a trap,” Stefan growled. “Perhaps we should concentrate on the task at hand?”

Boris ground his teeth, but he was wise enough not to press Stefan. Instead he returned his attention to scanning the nearby trees, leaving Stefan to stew in his frustration.

He was not so lost to reason that he did not understand that Leonida was a respectable maiden with a family who were powerful enough to offer her protection.

That did not mean, however, he was prepared to play the noble gentleman and simply hand her back to their care.

They had unfinished business.

Until he was satisfied, she was staying with him.

They traveled in silence for several moments, then through the trees, Stefan caught sight of a low stable and just beyond a crumbling cottage set in a small clearing.

“There is a cottage ahead,” he whispered, vaulting from his saddle. “Tie the horses here. I want to circle around before we approach.”

Boris swiftly had the horses secured, pulling a loaded pistol from his coat pocket.