Edmond paused just a moment to savour the delicate lines of Brianna’s face.
A sleeping Aphrodite.
His hand reached out of its own accord to stroke the sleep-flushed cheek, only to pull back as if he were burned. He was here to rid himself of the pestilent woman, not entangle himself even deeper into her fascinating web.
With a sharp motion, he reached to grasp the quilt and jerked it aside to reveal her tiny form covered only by a thin chemise.
Brianna’s eyes flew open as her wide gaze caught sight of Edmond hovering over her.
“Edmond. For God’s sake, are you trying to give me heart failure?”
“I did warn you what would happen if you stayed beneath my roof,” he drawled, as he slid into the silken sheets behind her reclined form and gathered her trembling body to spoon intimately against his.
She stiffened in shock as his hands touched her, exploring the slender curves with the confident assurance of a well seasoned seducer.
“What are you doing?” she gasped.
“Claiming my reward,” he murmured, nipping the curve of her neck before soothing it with his lips…
Praise for
Rosemary Rogers
“The queen of historical romance.”
—New York Times Book Review
“The grand, sweeping romance filled with passion
and adventure rides again as one of love’s leading
ladies, Rosemary Rogers, whisks us into a
tale of daring passion.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews on A Daring Passion
“Returning to her roots with a story filled with
family secrets, politics, adventure and simmering
passion, Rosemary Rogers delivers what fans
have been waiting for.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews on An Honourable Man
“Her novels are filled with adventure, excitement and
…wildly tempestuous romance.”
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“This is exactly what her many fans crave, and
Rogers serves it up with a polished flair.”
—Booklist on A Reckless Encounter
“Ms Rogers writes exciting, romantic stories…
with strong-willed characters, explosive sexual
situations, tenderness and love.”
—Dayton News
“Her name brings smiles to all who love love.”
—Ocala Star-Banner
Scandalous Deception
Rosemary Rogers
New York Times bestselling author Rosemary Rogers has written over twenty historical and contemporary romances. Dubbed “the queen of historical romance,” she is best known for her passionate and sensual characters, and her Steve-and-Ginny series is a classic with fans. born in Ceylon, Rosemary now lives in Connecticut.
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To a new generation of readers and
to my new great-grandson
CHAPTER ONE
Russia, 1820
Tzarskoye Selo
THE JOURNEY FROM St. Petersburg to Tzarskoye Selo was hardly an arduous one during the short summer months when the roads were fair and the brisk breeze held a pleasant scent of wildflowers and rich earth.
Which was precisely why the Emperor had left the Summer Palace two days earlier, claiming that such fine weather was too fleeting not to enjoy a few days away from the pressures of Court.
Lately Alexander Pavlovich would use any excuse to flee his heavy duties, but so far as Lord Edmond Summerville was concerned, it was an Imperial pain in the ass.
Coming over the slight swell in the road, he turned his black charger on the path to Ekaterinsky, the larger of the two palaces that sprawled with a majestic beauty across the Russian countryside.
Catherine the Great’s masterpiece was a stunning sight. Over a thousand yards long with narrow wings, it was three stories high and painted a bright blue that contrasted pleasantly with the five golden domes that marked the chapel. Along the front was a line of draped female figures that glowed with a gleaming bronze in the sunlight.
Edmond did not allow his hard pace to slow as he entered the courtyard through the gilded gateway to halt directly before the entrance.
His arrival brought a dozen footmen rushing forward, taking command of his mount and that of his outriders. As the younger son of a duke, Edmond was accustomed to the pomp and ceremony that surrounded royalty and barely noted the scurrying servants as he made his way up the marble stairs and stepped into the vast vestibule.
There he was met by one of Alexander’s more trusted companions attired in a dark gold coat and striped waistcoat that would have been perfectly suitable in any London drawing room. European fashions were always preferred among Russian aristocracy.
Herrick Gerhardt was of Prussian descent and had arrived in St. Petersburg when he was barely seventeen. He possessed a gaunt countenance, a thick crop of silver hair, and piercing brown eyes that held a cold, ruthless intelligence.
This was a man who did not suffer fools gladly and had made countless enemies among the Russian court for his brutal ability to see through their treacherous deceits.
His love of his Emperor was unquestionable, but his talent at diplomacy was sadly lacking.
“Edmond, this is a most unexpected surprise,” he said in the perfect French spoken by all the Russian nobles, his gaze searching Edmond’s starkly chiseled features, the vivid blue eyes that were such a stunning contrast to his thick raven hair and arched brows, and the wide mouth that was missing his usual charming smile.
Despite being the son of an English duke, Edmond possessed the high Slavic cheekbones of his Russian mother, as well as her cleft chin, which had been driving women to distraction since he left the nursery. He also possessed a love for his mother’s land that his elder twin brother would never comprehend.
Edmond