Free Bound by Love by Rosemary Rogers Page A

will.” She deliberately paused. “I would not desire to cross him.”
    Leonida could not halt her shiver. “No.”
    “On the other hand, he is intensely loyal and would do anything in his power to protect those he loves.”
    Leonida returned her attention to the roses, unable to dismiss her insatiable fascination with the Duke of Huntley.
    “It is odd that he has not yet wed.”
    “You must recall that Stefan and Edmond were raised by parents who were utterly devoted to one another. Neither could be satisfied with anything less in their marriage.”
    Leonida’s heart sank at Brianna’s words. Stupid. Of course, a gentleman such as Stefan would choose a woman he could love without reservation. A woman of beauty and grace and charm. A woman of unshakable morals whom he could always trust.
    She hastily quashed the dangerous thoughts. The next Duchess of Huntley was none of her concern.
    None.
    “Edmond certainly found such devotion,” she murmured.
    “Yes, well, it might not be so simple for Stefan.” Brianna laughed wryly. “Not that Edmond’s and my courtship was without its difficulties, but Stefan is consumed with his duties as Duke. I think he always fears that he will somehow fail his father. A ludicrous notion, but…”
    “But he feels the weight of his responsibilities?” Leonida finished for her companion.
    “Too much. He never gives himself the opportunity to meet a woman who can win his heart. I worry for him.”
    Leonida shrugged. “He is still young.”
    “And extraordinarily attractive,” Brianna pointed out, as if Leonida was not already painfully aware of Stefan’s lethal allure. “It is grossly unfair that two men should possess such beauty. I always feel remarkably dowdy in their presence.”
    Leonida snorted. “I know precisely how you feel.”
    “Yes, perhaps you do.”
    Leonida stiffened at Brianna’s soft words, sensing that the woman was far too aware of her potent awareness of Stefan.
    Squaring her shoulders, she sternly reminded herself that she had a purpose in coming to Meadowland, and it was not to fantasize about the Duke of Huntley.
    “Were you close to the Duchess?” she asked with artful innocence.
    “She was always very kind to me.”
    “As she was to my mother. They were great friends. In fact, she told me that she was so lonely that she wrote endless letters to the Duchess after she left Russia to travel to England.” She covertly glanced toward Brianna, watching her expression. “Did you ever happen across any of them?”
    “Not that I can recall.” Brianna frowned. “Wait, it does seem…Oh, of course.”
    “Yes?”
    “I remember asking Edmond why he and Stefan held their cousin Howard Summerville in such contempt.” She grimaced. “He lived not far from here and I occasionally crossed his path, so I knew he was a petulant little snitch who delighted in spoiling the fun of others, but their violent hatred seemed a bit extreme.”
    Leonida managed a smile, although she couldn’t imagine what Howard Summerville had to do with her mother’s letters.
    “What did he say?”
    “He said that Howard was always dunning them for money, and worse, they caught him more than once stealing objects from Meadowland that he could sell in London.”
    Leonida blinked in shock. “Mon Dieu.”
    “Edmond said they were usually small things, snuff boxes or statuettes, but once Stefan caught Howard in the Duchess’s rooms trying to stuff packets of old letters into his pockets.”
    “Letters?” Leonida’s fingers tightened on the rose, sending a shower of crimson petals across the path. Had Howard Summerville managed to read the letters? Was he the one behind her mother’s blackmail? “You are certain?”
    “I believe that is what Edmond said. Why?”
    “It seems an odd thing to steal.”
    “A dangerous thing to try and steal as it turns out.” Brianna laughed. “Stefan had bloodied Howard’s nose and cracked three of his ribs before Edmond could pull him