AS USUAL, STEFAN CHOSE TO WALK the short distance to Hillside rather than calling for his carriage. Not that he was foolish enough to wander around on his own. His position as Duke offered some protection, but a desperate thief could put a hole through his heart as easily as if he were any other man.
Besides, his servants would be horrified if he walked through the dark alone. They expected him to behave in a manner befitting a duke, even when he felt as if he were being slowly strangled by the rigid custom.
Reaching the gardens of Hillside, Stefan commanded the two grooms to go to the kitchen to enjoy dinner and stepped through the gate. Once alone, he followed the torchlit path until a faint sound had him reaching into his pocket to grasp the pistol that was loaded and primed to fire.
A shadow loomed from behind a fountain, then Stefan’s tension relaxed as the flickering firelight revealed his brother’s familiar features.
Pulling his hand from his pocket, Stefan gave a lift of his brows. “Edmond. Were you laying in wait?”
Edmond shrugged, his gaze narrowing as it skimmed over Stefan’s tailored jacket in a dove gray that he had matched with a black waistcoat stitched with a gold thread. Stefan shifted, uncomfortable. He had no desire to explain why he had felt a sudden need to call for the local tailor.
“I did wish to speak with you before you entered,” Edmond admitted, a mysterious smile playing about his lips.
“Has something occurred?” Stefan’s brows snapped together. “Is it Brianna?”
Edmond held up a reassuring hand. “Everything is well, Stefan.”
“Then why did you wish to speak with me?”
“The King sent a messenger earlier to demand my appearance at Court.”
“Damn.” Stefan grimaced. George had been more demanding than ever of his loyal subjects since the death of his father. “What does he want on this occasion?”
His brother shrugged. “He claims that he desires to discuss the details of his approaching coronation.”
“And what is his true purpose?”
“I suspect he desires me to ensure that Queen Caroline comprehends that her presence at the ceremony is distinctly unwelcome.”
Predictable. After the farcical trial where the King failed to dissolve his marriage to the Queen, he had done everything in his power to humiliate her.
“Does he not have a dozen fawning sycophants to negotiate the royal domestic squabbles?”
Edmond shoved his fingers through his dark curls. A sure indication he was not as calm as he appeared.
“None with the least amount of diplomatic skills.”
“As if diplomacy has ever swayed the Queen from her outrageous behavior.”
“Yes, it is rather a pity she did not remain abroad,” Edmond muttered. “Still, I am not without pity for her. The marriage might have been less a tragedy if she had not been treated with such open contempt by her husband and those who surrounded him.”
That was true enough. The King had not only flaunted his mistress with utter disregard, but he had made no effort to disguise his disgust for his new bride.
“I agree, but there is no healing the wounds after all these years. She will go to any lengths to have her revenge. And what could be more tempting than embarrassing the King during such a public spectacle?”
Edmond heaved a sigh. “I must at least make the attempt.”
“When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
Stefan blinked in surprise. “I have always known Brianna to be efficient, but surely not even she can prepare to undertake a journey so swiftly?”
Edmond’s features hardened. “Brianna will be remaining in Surrey.”
“Good lord. Have you told her?”
Edmond’s short laugh echoed through the shadowed garden. “She was not pleased to say the least, but she eventually had to concede that traveling any distance in a carriage is beyond her at the moment.”
Stefan’s concern was not eased. “I am happy to know she is being sensible, but do you truly think that she should be left alone here with Miss Karkoff?”
“Mon Dieu, Stefan, you do not believe the woman is here to harm my bride?” Edmond demanded in exasperated tones.
Stefan recalled his violent confusion of emotion when he had stepped into his library to discover Leonida. Suspicion, anger and a raw, relentless desire at the sight of her simple beauty that seemed to glow in the slanting sunlight.
“I have no notion why she is here, and that is what troubles me,” he muttered.
There was a pause before Edmond folded his arms across his chest.
“Then you will be pleased to discover that Leonida is as concerned for Brianna’s welfare as you are.”
“What do you mean?”
“She seems to believe you would make a suitable chaperone.”
“Me?”
“The implication was that Brianna, and Miss Karkoff of course, would stay at Meadowland until my return.”
Stefan stilled. “Miss Karkoff suggested that they stay at Meadowland?”
“Yes.”
“Now that is intriguing.”
“And not entirely unpalatable, eh, Stefan?”
Unpalatable? Stefan’s lips twisted. A wicked heat speared through his body at the mere thought of having Leonida so close at hand.
“It will be much easier to keep an eye upon her if she is under my roof.”
“And is your eye the only thing you desire to keep upon her?” Edmond drawled.
Stefan regarded his brother with a bland smile. “I cannot imagine what you are implying.”
“I have seen the manner in which you stare at Leonida.”
“And how is that?”
“Like I stare at Brianna.”
Stefan shook his head. No. Edmond was captivated with his bride beyond all reason. What Stefan felt for Leonida was an explosive combination of suspicion and smoldering lust.
“I will not deny she is a beautiful woman.”
“And you want her in your bed?”
He sucked in a sharp breath, easily imagining Leonida spread across his sheets, her alabaster skin drenched in moonlight and jasmine.
