Meeting with His Grace was a façade. It was a red herring to draw his daughter out and bring her back to Russia.
But somehow, someway, Katarina did not join Lord Smith. Why?
“Did Miss Ivanov seem upset?”
The other man looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. He’s one of at least fifty servants who work the property. “I wouldn’t know. I’m not given access to her.”
It’s too late for me to pay him to ask the female staff. Katarina needs to be in London tonight.
For my part, I have to get her there. That’s the deal.
My reward? Ten million dollars. Enough money for me and my partner to retire to some remote and sunny island where I can stop waiting on simpering entitled English fucktwits.
Do I like Ivan? No. He’s a filthy animal.
But I like Lord Winston Smith even less. He thinks the world owes him service. That I should be glad to put hundreds of hours of labor into him for the privilege of being in his presence. My hand clenches as I turn to leave.
Walking back through the village to my car, I blow out a breath and run a hand through my hair.
I have no idea how I’m going to convince Katarina to venture to London, because I have no idea what she knows or doesn’t know about her father being in England.
Does she have any idea her father is waiting for her?
Does she want to see him?
The only thing I know for certain is that she’s fucking the duke.
I put together giant events, factoring in drama-queen brides and controlling mothers. I should be able to puzzle this out.
I open the car door and start to climb in, but stop mid action, the answer hitting me like a bolt of lightning.
I don’t need to know what she knows. I only need to know who she cares about.
And that…that is information I already have.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Katarina
When Win leaves,it’s like all the air goes with him.
Whatever tide of emotion was propping me up ebbs, and I’m just left empty.
I stare out the windows and attempt to decide what to do with myself.
My plan, the thrust of my entire existence, was completed by Win with a snap of his fingers.
And now, he’s off to find his perfect bride, and I am just here.
I understand why I’m still in his house. I’m safe here, for starters. Not that I’ve ever been a play-it-safe kind of girl.
And he claims we’re going to continue our physical relationship.
But also, Win has been clear from the first that he’s in the market for a perfect English bride, and I am not that. In fact, despite my training, I couldn’t be further from what he’s searching for.
A scarred-up, hot-headed daughter of a gangster. Even the money I possess is dirty.
I push up from my chair and start to pace the room. I need something to do, something to occupy my mind and fill my time.
