Читать книгу One Christmas Night In...: A Night in the Palace / A Christmas Night to Remember / Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée - Кэрол Мортимер, HELEN BROOKS - Страница 9

‘YOU’RE mad!’

Quite possibly, Dmitri accepted heavily. It had been a day of shocks and frustrations. And receiving the letter from Claudia, informing him of her elopement had only been the start of the nightmare.

What had followed had been a desperate search of the palazzo, and then the even more futile questioning of those of Claudia’s friends he was aware of. After that her car had been located at the airport, along with that damn mobile found down the side of the passenger seat—a mobile Lily Barton had just confirmed was indeed her brother’s. Dmitri’s telephone calls to several business acquaintances had revealed that the pair had not booked with any of the airlines flying out of Rome that day, nor did the car hire companies have any record of providing them with a replacement vehicle.

To all intents and purposes Claudia and Felix had simply disappeared.

Lily and her mobile were the only glimmers of hope he had. Felix might at least contact his sister again in the next couple of days.

Which was why Dmitri felt he had no choice but to keep her—and her mobile phone—exactly where he could see and hear them.

He wasn’t in the least proud of his decision to keep her as an unwilling guest, but he was determined to find his sister and bring her home before she did something even more reckless than she already had. Before—as Lily had suggested so succinctly only minutes ago—the two of them found themselves related through Claudia’s marriage to Felix!

If Dmitri found her quickly enough then he might be able to avert a complete scandal by hushing up the elopement. But a totally unsuitable marriage would be another matter entirely …

‘I assure you I am not mad, Lily,’ he said. ‘Merely desperate.’

Lily eyed him in disbelief, still shocked by his announcement that he intended her to stay here at the Palazzo Scarletti with him—and even more surprised to hear him admit that the situation was beyond his control. The man was arrogance personified. Which meant Dmitri was either as concerned for his sister’s welfare as he claimed to be or that he was as concerned for his business merger with the Giordanos as Lily had accused him of being. Only time would reveal which of those things was the true reason for his present feelings of frustration.

‘I realise that in Italy you’re probably considered a powerful man, but I don’t believe that exonerates you from abiding by the law,’ she announced.

He quirked one dark brow. ‘Only probably considered?’

Lily’s fingers tightened on the strap of her shoulder bag. ‘Okay, I know you’re a powerful man. In Italy and elsewhere. But even a man as powerful as you can’t get away with kidnapping an English tourist.’

He appeared completely unmoved by her accusation. In fact, if anything, he looked amused by it. Lily was certain she could see laughter lurking in those pale green eyes as he answered her.

‘You are not a child, Lily. Besides which, I prefer to think of you as a reluctant guest.’

‘You can prefer all you like,’ she shot back heatedly. ‘But the truth of the matter is that if I’m forced to stay here it will be completely against my will. Something that I definitely intend to scream at the top of my lungs to the nearest policeman as soon as I get out of here,’ she assured him.

The amusement faded from the pale green eyes as Dmitri looked down the length of his aristocratic nose at her. ‘That would be ill-advised, Lily.’

Her eyes narrowed. ‘Are you threatening me?’

‘Not in the least,’ he answered smoothly. ‘I am merely advising against your drawing unnecessary attention to this delicate situation. Especially as I would have to countermand your own accusation towards me by levelling a similar one against your brother in regard to Claudia. Tell me, Lily, who do you think the authorities would believe if that were to happen?’

She became very still. ‘Claudia would deny your accusation,’ she whispered.

‘Perhaps,’ he said, unable to completely hide his impatience with his rebellious sister. ‘But you cannot be sure of that, can you?’

Knowing absolutely nothing about Claudia other than what Felix had chosen to tell her—and today’s events had shown that contained huge omissions—Lily couldn’t be sure of anything. Least of all whether, if it came down to a choice, Claudia’s loyalties would ultimately lie with her brother or with Felix, the man she’d claimed to have fallen in love with.

Dmitri easily read the dismay and uncertainty on her expressive face. Emotions he deeply regretted causing. But until Claudia was returned to him—hopefully unmarried—he could not afford to allow those feelings to shake his resolve. ‘Cheer up, Lily,’ he said gently. ‘I mean you no personal harm, and I am sure that you will find the Palazzo Scarletti a far more comfortable accommodation than your brother’s apartment.’

Her eyes flashed deeply blue. ‘A gilded cage is still a cage!’

Dmitri sighed his frustration with her continued stubbornness. ‘Why do you persist in fighting me like this?’

She shrugged slender shoulders. ‘Probably because I resent your unbelievable arrogance.’

He winced at her continued honesty. Nor did he have any defence against the accusation; he was arrogant.

He had been only twenty-one years of age when he’d inherited the title of Count Scarletti, with all the responsibilities that accompanied it—the Scarletti business empire, the numerous properties and the servants necessary for the upkeep of them—as well as guardianship of his much younger sister.

Obviously his father had tried to prepare Dmitri for that eventuality, but neither of them had expected that day to come as soon as it had—and a twenty-one-year-old as head of the Scarletti family and its business empire had been an obvious target for business rivals, as well as for criticism from the older members of his own family. At the time, Dmitri’s only means of defence had been to adopt the arrogant hauteur with which his father had previously dealt with such threats. It was a lesson that he had learnt well. Perhaps too well. But that arrogance of purpose was the only way he had known in which to ensure that the Scarletti business empire and its properties would remain firmly in his possession.

As a consequence he was unused to explaining himself or his actions to anyone—and he certainly never apologised for any of them. Business rivals and family alike would only see that as a sign of weakness on his part. Which left him with no choice now but to allow Lily to go on resenting him.

He straightened. ‘Perhaps you would care to see your suite of rooms?’

Lily wanted to tell him exactly what he could do with his suite of rooms! Except it would ultimately make no difference what she said to this man: Dmitri Scarletti had decided she was to remain here at the palazzo as his ‘guest’, and she already knew him well enough to know that was exactly what was going to happen.

Nevertheless she raised her chin in challenge. ‘I could just open one of the windows in my bedroom once I’m alone and scream bloody murder.’

‘You could,’ he drawled. ‘Except all the windows in the palazzo are locked at this time of year, in order to conserve the central heating, and the glass is of a special thickness designed to eliminate the sounds from inside as well as out.’

Which explained some of that eerie feeling of being completely removed from the rush and bustle that was Rome. ‘And I suppose the door inset into those huge wooden doors at the front of the palazzo is the only way in or out of here, and you need to put in a security number to open it?’ Lily scorned. Her scorn turned to uncertainty as Dmitri made no reply but just continued to look at her with those pale green eyes. ‘It is … ?’

He shrugged. ‘The palazzo was built in the sixteenth century. At the time those fortifications were designed to keep invaders out, but I am sure they will work equally as well in reverse,’ he added unapologetically.

Unbelievable! Absolutely unbelievable!

Lily shook head. ‘What about the servants here? Aren’t you going to find it a little difficult explaining my presence to them once I make it perfectly obvious that I’m not staying here by choice?’

He quirked one dark brow. ‘I am sure I have already mentioned to you that Claudia and I were expected to leave for our home near Venice today.’

‘Yes. So?’

He gave another shrug of those impossibly wide shoulders. ‘It is our custom to leave Rome at this time of year, which frees the staff at Palazzo Scarletti to depart and spend Christmas with their own families. Which they have already done …’

Which would further account for the silence she had experienced earlier when she’d first stepped inside the palazzo! ‘What about Marco?’

‘Marco has also left to be with his family, now that you have been safely delivered to the palazzo.’

‘Are you saying we’re completely alone here?’

He eyed her quizzically. ‘You have a problem with that?’

Yes, of course she had a problem with it! Being an unwilling guest here was bad enough, but now it transpired that she was completely alone here with the dark and dangerous Dmitri!

Those earlier butterflies in her stomach began to do a tap dance. ‘It’s not exactly an acceptable arrangement, is it?’ she quavered.

‘In what way is it not acceptable?’

Apart from her own feelings in the matter?

Had he been quite this close to her a minute ago? Lily wondered nervously as she suddenly found herself gazing up into eyes that were now only inches above her own, allowing her to see the darker green shards of colour that fanned out from the black of the iris, and the incredibly long length of his dark lashes. Being this close to him, she also couldn’t help noticing the sexy five o’clock shadow that darkened the squared strength of his jaw, and smell the light freshness of the cologne that he wore. He possessed an earthy maleness that even now was curling insidiously into Lily’s bloodstream, warming her, and at the same time making her totally aware of just how devastatingly attractive he was.

Lily was unable to look away from his compelling gaze as she moistened suddenly dry lips. ‘Some people might … misinterpret the two of us being here alone together,’ she murmured.

‘Like who?’ Dmitri slowly raised one of his hands to lightly cup one of her cheeks.

‘Stop being deliberately obtuse, Count Scarletti,’ she snapped, unable to move while at the same time unnerved by his touch.

‘I have already invited you to call me Dmitri,’ he said. ‘It would please me if you did so.’

‘Strange as it might seem, I’m not particularly interested in pleasing you,’ she said sarcastically. ‘I’m sure there must be some woman in your life who might take exception to you being alone here with me.’

‘Some woman?’

Lily’s mouth tightened at the mockery in his tone. ‘You’re perfectly well aware of what I mean!’

‘Yes, I am.’ He gave a slow smile. ‘And there are no women in my life at present, Lily.’ He lifted a silky strand of her hair before slowly allowing it to glide across his fingers. ‘But perhaps there is a man in England who would not approve of you being alone here with me?’

Lily thought briefly of Danny, and just as instantly dismissed him; despite his belated good wishes for the holidays she knew that relationship was well and truly over. ‘I’m the one who doesn’t approve of being alone with you!’ she said.

‘Is this colour natural?’ Dmitri’s gaze followed the path of his fingers as they combed lightly through the hair at her temple.

It was the very lightest of caresses, and yet it was enough to cause her breath to catch in her throat. ‘What do you mean?’

He gave a slight shake of his head. ‘I have never seen hair quite this colour before. Like sunlight caught in moonbeams.’

‘Very poetic,’ Lily muttered dryly, unnerved in spite of herself. ‘And, yes, of course it’s natural.’

‘It is beautiful,’ he breathed softly.

Lily’s blood pounded hotly through her veins just at the touch of his gentle fingers. She was fully aware of both the heat and power of his body as he stood so close to her, and the aching of her nipples as they hardened against the soft material of her bra.

‘Stop this right now.’ Lily backed away from his disturbing touch, the air rushing back into her lungs evidence that she had actually stopped breathing for those few brief minutes of physical closeness to him. ‘I have no intention of becoming some sort of—of plaything to help you while away the hours until your sister and Felix return,’ she said shakily, her fingers now gripping the strap of her bag so tightly that her knuckles showed white under her skin.

To make matters worse, Dmitri appeared completely unaffected by their recent closeness as he allowed the hand that had caressed her temple only seconds ago to drop casually back to his side. ‘Pity,’ he murmured.

Lily felt colour warm her cheeks. ‘Could you show me to my room now?’

Dmitri looked down at her admiringly. Possibly only five feet two inches tall, and likely weighing only half as much as he did, she nevertheless had absolutely no qualms whatsoever in challenging him at every opportunity. Telling him more clearly than anything else could have done that, no matter what she might say to the contrary, Lily did not feel in the least physically threatened in his presence. Not in a violent way, at least …

Dmitri had been involved with far too many women not to recognise her physical response to him; her breath had hitched in her throat, her skin had become flushed and her nipples had become a hard temptation beneath the soft material of her sweater. Oh, yes, on a physical level Lily was certainly aware of him.

Just as Dmitri was completely aware of her—much to his own surprise.

His taste had always tended towards tall and dark-haired women, with curvaceous bodies. Lily was none of those things, being petite with silver-blond hair, and possessed of a slenderness that would have tended towards boyishness if not for the firm swell of her breasts.

And yet her skin had felt like warm velvet beneath his fingertips, and her hair smelled of lemons and cinnamon—no doubt from the shampoo that she used. Her eyes were so deep a blue they were like huge lakes that a man might drown in. As for her mouth … Dmitri had never before seen a mouth quite as sensually full and perfect for kissing, the top lip slightly fuller than the bottom, and both so perfectly curved he’d briefly become lost in thoughts of having the fullness of those lips wrapped hotly about his—

Basta!

Even having such thoughts proved he was behaving just like a man in need of a ‘plaything’—as she had accused him of being only minutes ago!

Except Dmitri knew that under different circumstances he would have enjoyed kissing Lily as intimately as he could easily imagine her kissing him, seeking her heated centre and drinking his fill as he tasted her with his lips and tongue and brought her to the pinnacle of pleasure.

Definitely enough!

Lily appeared to be completely ignorant of her brother’s plans with regard to Claudia. In fact, her only crime seemed to be that she was Felix’s sister. As such, it would be totally wrong of Dmitri to even think about taking advantage of the fact that they were completely alone together now.

He ran a hand through his short hair and sucked in a frustrated breath. ‘If you will come with me …’

Lily followed slowly along behind the Count as he walked from the room, pulling her now-obedient suitcase—the traitor!—behind him. Whatever he had been thinking these past few minutes, the hard glitter of his eyes and grimly set jaw showed her that it hadn’t been pleasant.

But then neither had her own recent thoughts been, concerning her recent reaction to the merest touch of his fingers.

What had all that been about, anyway? Oh, admittedly the man was sinfully, wickedly handsome—temptation on legs, in fact—but the reasons for her being here with him were hardly conducive to her becoming aroused by him!

All other thoughts flew out of her head, however, as he stopped in the hallway to hold a door open so that Lily could enter ahead of him. She came to an abrupt halt in the centre of the room as she found herself in a sitting room almost as big and certainly as elegant as the one she had just left. Was this room to be her own private sitting room?

Apparently so, as Dmitri was taking her suitcase into the adjoining bedroom and placing it on the stand at the bottom of a four-poster bed that looked big enough for six people to sleep in comfortably. A slightly dazed Lily was given no time to admire the very feminine room as he opened another connecting door, turned on the light and revealed the most decadently appointed bathroom she had ever set eyes on.

The floor and walls were tiled in cream and terracotta coloured marble, with a shower unit in smoky glass in one corner of the room that also looked as if it would accommodate half a dozen people. But most exquisite of all was the huge sunken bath surrounded by potted plants, the jets along its sides making it look as if it was also a hot tub.

A gilded cage, indeed …

But still a cage, Lily reminded herself heavily, and she turned away from that decadent luxury, brushed past Dmitri and walked back into the bedroom. She sat down on the side of the bed, uncaring that everything spilled out of her handbag beside her as she dropped it on the bed.

She had been so looking forward to seeing Felix again—to spending Christmas with him, exploring the beauties of Rome with him and Dee. And instead there was no Felix, no Dee—only this man and the opulent splendour of the Palazzo Scarletti.

Oh, Lily didn’t blame Felix in the least for this mess. No, in her eyes Dmitri was the one responsible for everything that had happened today. Lily hadn’t known him for very long—only a hour or so—but if his overbearing behaviour towards her was an indication of the way he treated his sister, then she didn’t believe Claudia had dared tell him she didn’t want to become engaged to Francesco Giordano tomorrow, let alone that she was in love with someone else. He had left Claudia and Felix with no choice but to run away together today.

The whole concept of an arranged marriage in order to unite two powerful families was barbaric, as far as Lily was concerned, and now she had met Dmitri Scarletti, in all his arrogant implacability, the fleeing couple had her complete sympathy.

Yet Lily could have broken down and cried with disappointment. She’d so wanted to explore the Rome she had only glimpsed on the drive here …

‘Lily?’

Her eyes glittered brightly with unshed tears as she looked across the room at Dmitri. ‘Would you just go away and leave me alone now?’ she asked huskily. ‘I’d like to take a bath and then maybe a nap.’ Possibly for the whole week of her intended stay in Rome! Or at least for however long it was going to be until this present nightmare was over!

‘You—’

‘Will you please just go?’ Lily stood up and glared at him.

Dmitri chose to ignore the aggression in her tone as he returned her gaze. Lily was very pale now, her eyes appearing over-bright in contrast to her pallor. With anger? Or something else? Unshed tears, perhaps?

No doubt it had been something of a shock to find that her brother was not in Rome to meet her, let alone to find herself an unwilling guest of her brother’s employer. Well, ex-employer. Felix’s employment with Dmitri had come to an end the moment he had learnt the other man had secretly been seeing Claudia these past two months!

Yes, Dmitri mused, the past few hours had definitely been a nasty shock for her …

‘Of course.’ He nodded, preparing to leave. ‘We will eat dinner at eight o’clock, if that suits you?’

She roused herself enough to eye him scathingly. ‘I hope, in view of the fact that all your household staff have now departed for the Christmas holiday, that you aren’t expecting me to cook it?’

Whatever her emotions might or might not have been a few minutes ago, she was obviously now back in true fighting form! ‘No, I am not expecting you to cook dinner,’ Dmitri assured her dryly.

‘Nor breakfast and lunch, either.’

He gave a rueful smile. ‘Do not worry, Lily, I assure you I am perfectly capable of preparing food for both of us for the length of your stay here.’

‘Really?’ she asked sceptically.

‘Yes, really,’ Dmitri drawled. ‘I cooked for myself for the three years I attended Oxford University.’

Her eyes widened. ‘You went to university in England?’

He quirked one dark and mocking brow. ‘You sound surprised?’

Lily was surprised. She had assumed—obviously wrongly—that his archaic attitude was partly due to his having spent all his life growing up in Italy. But if Dmitri had spent three years in England then he had no excuse for not realising that things were generally done differently there. That there weren’t usually arranged marriages for business purposes, for one thing. That kidnapping unsuspecting females and incarcerating them in palaces was equally frowned on, for another!

But learning that he had spent three years at university in England certainly explained why he spoke such good English. Even if Lily didn’t like anything he had to say!

She looked at him coldly. ‘I’m still waiting for you to leave, Count Scarletti.’

So that she could take a bath and a nap, Dmitri recalled—and was instantly assailed with imaginings of how Lily would look as she lazed in the depths of a perfumed bubble bath, the heavy curtain of that silver-blond hair no doubt secured on top of her head, and revealing the long, slender column of her bared throat and silky shoulders, the firmness of her breasts swelling tantalisingly above the bubbles—

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake!’ Lily lost all patience with Dmitri’s delay in leaving, knowing that if he didn’t leave soon—very soon!—she was going to humiliate herself completely by bursting into tears in front of him. And she didn’t intend giving him that satisfaction. ‘Just close the door behind you on your way out!’ She hurriedly crossed the room to step into that decadently opulent bathroom, before slamming and then locking the door securely behind her.

Only to lean weakly back against it as the tears began to fall hotly down her cheeks …