Page 5 of Inconvenient Honor
“No.” Her voice broke. “It is nothing. If you’ll excuse me …”
“You’re afraid.”
The defiant chin shot up. “What exactly do you want from me?”The chit has backbone. I’ll give her that.
“What does Volkov want?”
“Nothing. I keep telling you that.”
“What I just saw didn’t appear to be ‘nothing.’” He moved closer. He saw her tremble and reached out a hand to steady her.Fear without a doubt. Volkov will pay for this.
“What aren’t you telling me?” he asked softly. Russian machinations and Richard’s overwhelming responsibilities faded behind concern for this frightened woman, faded but didn’t disappear.
“Nothing you need to know. It is—” she hesitated. “Personal.”
Nothing that man does is entirely personal.
“I doubt that. What Volkov does impacts England. What did he mean about loyalty? Where does that loyalty lie?”
She swayed a bit at that, and he reached out his other hand, gently holding her shoulders and pulling her closer until they were inches apart. A fine rose scent wrapped around his senses.
“With my family,” she rasped, her eyes on his. “And with my country.”
“Then talk to me about Volkov.”
“I can’t.”
“You’re afraid to.”
She turned her head away, unable to look at him.
“He threatened you.” He didn’t need to ask.
She bit her lip. He thought she wouldn’t reply.
“Not me,” she whispered at last. “At least not primarily.”
He waited. There has to be more.Talk to me Miss Thornton.The rose scent drew him in; he shook it off.
“Tell me what you know,” he demanded. “Whatever it is, I can fix it. There is nothing I can't manage if I have all the facts.”
Suddenly, she snapped her head up. “You want to know everything about Konstantin Volkov? Call my father home.”
“What?”
“He’ll come if the Foreign Office orders it.”
“Thornton is in the middle of delicate trade negotiations,” he began, thinking out loud.If Volkov is involved, Thornton needs to come home. Another thought struck him.
“You asked him to come, and he refused.”
She didn’t respond; she watched him steadily.
Richard stared back, eyes fixated on her mouth.
Dear God, her lip is quivering. Richard’s entire consciousness narrowed to a need to soothe her quivering mouth. He leaned closer until his own touched hers. She startled.
“You don’t need to fear me,” he murmured against her lips. He felt her mouth soften. He explored her mouth with care, absorbed in the sensation.
