Bound by Love (Russian Connection 2) - Page 164
His stomach growled as he moved to fill his plate with freshly baked ham and coddled eggs before joining his hostess at the table.
Sipping her tea, Vanya studied him over the rim of her cup. “You look pale. Did you not sleep well?”
Stefan grimaced. “It was a…difficult evening.”
“I trust you were not foolish enough to quarrel with Alexander Pavlovich?”
“I have thus far avoided that particular fate, although I cannot say the same for some others.”
Her lips quirked as she watched him polish off his ham. “I presume you speak of Leonida?”
“I shall never understand women.”
“You are not intended to.” Vanya batted her lashes. “It would remove our irresistible cloak of mystery.”
Stefan poured a cup of the coffee, not at all amused. “Then how is a man to know what the devil a female wants?”
“It is not a matter of a man knowing what a woman wants, but whether he is prepared to offer what she needs.”
He frowned, attempting to ignore the tiny whisper of disquiet that pricked his heart. What Leonida needed was him. Nothing else.
“You speak in riddles.”
“Or you simply choose not to understand.”
He pushed aside his plate, his hunger suddenly vanished. Why did women always have to complicate matters? Leonida enjoyed his home, she desired him, and when she forgot to treat him as the enemy, she took pleasure in his company. It was only because of her mother that she was so reluctant to become his mistress.
“It is too early for me to follow your confusing logic, Vanya.”
“You are truly as difficult as your brother.” Vanya shook her head. “Just consider what Edmond’s life would have been like had he been foolish enough to allow Brianna to slip away.”
His gaze lowered to study his fingers, which tightly gripped the coffee cup. Losing Brianna would quite likely have destroyed his brother. But Edmond had been in a position to tumble madly into love. Stefan would never have such a luxury.
“I am not Edmond. Besides, you are hardly in a position to throw stones.” He lifted his head to glower at his companion. He did not spend a great deal of time in Russia, but he was well aware that Vanya had enjoyed a long-term affair with Mr. Richard Monroe. “How long have you refused to make an honest gentleman of Monroe?”
“Too long,” Vanya promptly admitted, a soft smile curving her lips. “Which is why we are to be married next summer.”
“You are to be wed?”
She chuckled at Stefan’s blatant shock. “I had planned the wedding for Christmas, but I wish for Brianna to attend so I postponed the ceremony until she and the babe can travel.”
Stefan abruptly rose to his feet. The strange ache in his heart was not envy. It was…disbelief.
Why would Vanya wed after years of enjoying the perfect affair?
“This entire city has gone mad.”
Vanya shrugged, unperturbed by his sharp tone. “Perhaps.”
Stefan paced toward the window, absently noting the earlier rain had eased to a mere drizzle. Leonida would be pleased. She disliked the rain. For him, however, the gray clouds seemed to suit his mood.
He did not like the feeling that he was chasing after Leonida, constantly remaining one step behind.
What if she slipped away?
No. He would never allow it to happen. He would have her no matter what the cost.
The sound of the door opening at last had him spinning about to regard the young footman who entered the room with a small silver tray in his hand.
Source: readsnovelonline.net