Page 12 of Inconvenient Honor
Good friend? Vienna, Saint Petersburg, of course! Damn it! Why can’t I reason properly where this woman is concerned?He chose not to examine his relief that whatever he interrupted was not a lover’s assignation.
“You borrowed a horse, fed your aunt some nonsense, and rode like a mad woman cross country to ask for advice?” he demanded.
Lilias raised her chin. “And why did you do the same?” she retorted.
He sent her a glare that should have shriveled her.
“You thought I came to meet Volkov!” she exclaimed.
Heat rose up his neck. “I warned you…” He glanced at Sahin Pasha, who smirked back at him.
“As you see, I did not,” she said primly.
“The Russian wolf frightens your Lily,” Sahin said. “She is shockingly reluctant to tell me why.”
She’s not my Lily!
“You too?” Richard asked ruefully. “What do you know, Miss Thornton?”
She looked over at Sahin and at Richard and appeared to consider something.
“Damn it, enough secrecy.”
“Did you call my father home?” she asked softly.
Richard ran a hand over the back of his neck and sighed. “Yes.”
She brightened. Sahin leaned forward.
“At least I ordered it. The dispatch will take time to reach Saint Petersburg.”
She hesitated.
She looks like a rabbit faced with a fox—or perhaps I should say wolf. Volkov certainly is one.
“He threatens your father, little one? I told you the man should be shot,” Sahin said.
“Our couriers are faster than Volkov’s,” Richard said, praying he was right. “Even if he guesses you’ve told me, we’ll get there first. I ordered a bodyguard to accompany him.”
Still silence.
“Miss Thornton—Lily—is that what friends call you? Lily? I doubt if he will know. We have time to protect your father. Tell us what has you frightened.” He glanced up at Sahin.
“Let us help you, little one,” Sahin urged.
Lily let out a shuddering sigh. She looked at Sahin, avoiding Richard’s eyes.
“You know Volkov pursued me in Russia.”
The old man nodded.
“I allowed myself to be taken to his apartments,” she mumbled, coloring deeply. Sahin shook his head sadly.
Richard’s worst images flooded his mind.I will kill the man myself. No wonder she didn’t want to discuss it.
“We were interrupted,” she added in a rush.
Before or after the bastard got what he wanted?
