Bound By Love. Rosemary Rogers
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remember asking Edmond why he and Stefan held their cousin Howard Summerville in such contempt.” She grimaced. “He lived not far from here and I occasionally crossed his path, so I knew he was a petulant little snitch who delighted in spoiling the fun of others, but their violent hatred seemed a bit extreme.”
Leonida managed a smile, although she couldn’t imagine what Howard Summerville had to do with her mother’s letters.
“What did he say?”
“He said that Howard was always dunning them for money, and worse, they caught him more than once stealing objects from Meadowland that he could sell in London.”
Leonida blinked in shock. “Mon Dieu.”
“Edmond said they were usually small things, snuff boxes or statuettes, but once Stefan caught Howard in the Duchess’s rooms trying to stuff packets of old letters into his pockets.”
“Letters?” Leonida’s fingers tightened on the rose, sending a shower of crimson petals across the path. Had Howard Summerville managed to read the letters? Was he the one behind her mother’s blackmail? “You are certain?”
“I believe that is what Edmond said. Why?”
“It seems an odd thing to steal.”
“A dangerous thing to try and steal as it turns out.” Brianna laughed. “Stefan had bloodied Howard’s nose and cracked three of his ribs before Edmond could pull him off.”
Leonida froze. “I…see.”
“I do not mean to imply that Stefan is a violent man, but he is intensely protective of his parents’ memories.”
The dread that had been growing with every passing day coiled through the pit of her stomach.
She did not believe Stefan would physically harm her if he learned the truth of her quest. He had been raised a gentleman. But he might very well hate her.
And she could not blame him for a moment.
“Quite understandable,” she muttered.
“Stefan never forgave his cousin,” Brianna continued, unaware of Leonida’s shiver of regret.
Struggling to concentrate on the realization that there had been letters in the Duchess’s rooms, even if she could not know for certain they were the ones she sought, Leonida blinked in astonishment as a large dog bounded through the nearby hedge, dancing around her with his tongue hanging out and his ears flopping.
“Oh.”
Brianna laughed. “Do not fear, Puck would not harm you, would you, old boy?”
“Puck?”
“Puck the second, actually,” a dark voice drawled, making Leonida jerk her head up to watch Stefan step from behind the fountain.
“Stefan, you are home early.” With a smile of welcome, Brianna rose to her feet. “We did not expect you until dinner.”
Stefan’s gaze never wavered from Leonida’s guarded expression. “I discovered I could not concentrate on drainage ditches when I had two such lovely guests staying beneath my roof.”
Brianna chuckled. “It must be your loveliness that has lured him from his beloved fields, Leonida, since he has on more than one occasion forgotten that he was to join me for tea at Hillside.”
Stefan’s lips twitched. “Only because I knew your annoying husband would be hovering about to ruin my appetite for sponge cake.”
“You are a terrible liar and it is time I lay down for a rest,” Brianna said, glancing from Stefan to Leonida with a hint of satisfaction. “It is excessively inconvenient to always feel so weary.”
Recalling his manners, Stefan moved to take Brianna’s hand and lift it to his lips.
“Inconvenient, but wondrous.”
“Yes.”
“If you have need do not hesitate to call for me.”
“All I need is rest. I shall see you both at dinner.”
Leonida watched Brianna follow the path back toward the house, only belatedly realizing she was being left alone with Stefan. Her heart fluttered in alarm. She had gone to great efforts to avoid this precise situation.
“Perhaps…”
Without warning, Stefan had moved to grasp her arms. “No.”
STEFAN GAZED DOWN AT THE FACE that had haunted his nights. The clear, innocent blue eyes. The delicate features. The stubborn line of her jaw.
The lush lips that begged for his kiss.
Christ. He was tired of waiting for her to reveal her nefarious reasons for being at Meadowland, and even more tired of playing the role of proper host.
He wanted her in his bed. To hell with anything else.
As if sensing his smoldering tension, Leonida licked her lips, her eyes darkening with a need she could not entirely disguise.
“No?”
“You were about to suggest that you follow Brianna to ensure she is well or perhaps you have discovered a sudden need to change your gown or any of the other excuses you have used over the past two days to avoid being alone with me.”
Her lips thinned at his mocking tone. “If you are so confident I am attempting to avoid you then it would seem odd you would insist that I remain.”
Skimming his hands down her bare arms, he took her hand and firmly tugged her down the path.
“Since I have done everything in my power to make you feel welcome at Meadowland, I think it only fair to have an explanation as to why you would take such a dislike to my companionship.”
She ducked her head, hiding her expressive features. “I do not dislike your companionship.”
“Then why do you avoid me?” he demanded. “Is it because I kissed you?”
“You should not have.”
Stefan’s short laugh was without humor. Did she believe that he had a choice in the matter?
“Perhaps not, but that will not halt me from doing so again.”
He felt her shiver and, quickening his pace, he led her around the small pool to climb the steps of the private grotto. Bloody hell, he had to kiss this woman before he went stark raving mad.
She gasped as he yanked her into the shadows of the grotto that was painted with lovely Grecian frescoes, his arms wrapping around her to haul her firmly against his chest.
“Is this why you returned early?” she demanded, her glare at odds with the rapid pulse beating at the base of her throat.
Miss Karkoff might pretend indifference, but she desired him. Her words could lie, but not her body.
“I returned because I could not stay away.” Dipping his head, Stefan buried his face in the curve of her neck. “Jasmine.”
“What?”
“You smell of jasmine.”
She shuddered, her hands lifting to clutch at his shoulders.
“Stefan, what do you want of me?”
“I should think that obvious.” He pulled back to regard her with a grim determination, his fingers easily dealing with the ribbons that held her chip bonnet tied beneath her chin. “But if you wish, I shall reveal precisely what I want of you.”
She made a sound of annoyance as he casually tossed the hat onto the flagstone floor.
“That is my favorite bonnet.”
Heat spread through his lower body, stirring his muscles in sharp anticipation.
“A