Bound by Love (Russian Connection 2)

“I have told you I did not find the letters. What more do you want from me?”

The dark eyes flared with a cold fury. “Do you truly believe me incapable of slitting your throat?”

She did not bother to hide her fear. “I not only believe you capable, but I am convinced that you intend to do so regardless of whether I have the letters or not.”

“Such a clever little puss,” he mocked. “Still, I assure you that your inevitable death can be one of swift ease or it can be messy, and I fear, extraordinarily painful. Your choice, Miss Karkoff, but I do suggest you give me the letters.”

Nothing had ever been so difficult as meeting his soulless gaze without flinching.

“I cannot give you what I do not possess.”

“We shall soon discover.”

His hand tightened on the handle of the dagger, a blaze of anticipation in his eyes. Then, like a gift from heaven, there was a sudden rap on the door. Leonida stiffened, terrified for a dreadful moment that the madman would simply ignore the disturbance. There was a hunger in his expression that revealed the true depths of his sickness. He wanted to kill her. As if it was a rare treat he intended to savor.

There was another knock, and with a muttered curse, Sir Charles mastered his composure. Removing the dagger from her throat, he turned toward the door, although he remained close enough to warn her she would be dead before she could take more than a step.

“Enter.” At his call the door opened to allow a slender man, with a sinister scar running down his cheek from his eyebrow to the edge of his mouth, to enter. “Ah, Josef. Have you completed your task?”

The rat-faced man gave a dip of his head. “I searched the rooms.”

Leonida held herself perfectly still, aware of Sir Charles’s unwavering scrutiny. The least display of concern and he would know that the letters were indeed hidden in her chamber.

“Thoroughly?” Sir Charles demanded.

“I tossed the bed, broke apart the furnishing, and took up the floorboards.”

“The cases?”

Leonida held her breath until the stranger shrugged. “Not a scrap of paper to be found.”

“You checked through her clothing?”

“Of course.” The man flicked a covert glance in her direction and Leonida frowned.

Dear God, did the man suspect the letters had been hidden in the lining of her bag? And if he did, why had he not revealed them to his master?

She had no opportunity to ponder the strange thought as Sir Charles turned to regard her with a lethal frustration.

“You begin to try my patience, Miss Karkoff.” He lifted the dagger even as the sound of raised voices echoed through the room. Muttering a curse, Sir Charles glanced toward the doorway. “Now what?”

“I will discover.” Josef slipped from the room, returning within a few moments with a dark frown. “Someone has alerted the officials. They are headed toward the inn.”

Leonida trembled, not entirely relieved at the notion of the approaching officials. She did not believe for a moment that Sir Charles would leave her alive to reveal his identity.

“Where are Miss Karkoff’s servants?” Sir Charles unexpectedly inquired.

“I left them bound and gagged in the stables,” Josef admitted, only to ruin Leonida’s sharp relief with a careless shrug. “Shall I dispose of them?”

“No,” Leonida pleaded, unable to check her dismay. “Please.”

“Ah.” Sir Charles smiled with a smug satisfaction. “So you are devoted to your serfs, are you? Good.” He waved a hand toward Josef. “Have the servants loaded into the carriage.”

The man blinked. “Sir?”

“It occurs to me, Josef, that I have in my possession something far more valuable than ancient scandals. What do you suppose the Emperor would pay for the return of his most charming daughter?”

“A king’s ransom.”