Romancing Lady Stone (A School of Gallantry Novella) Read Online Free PDF

be better off standing in the street yelling out his name.”
    Her mouth went dry. She was lost. In Russia.
    He eyed her. “Are you married?”
    She pulled in her chin. “What does that have to do with anything?”
    He adjusted his dagger at his waist. “Because I wish to know what I can and cannot do with you.”
    Cecilia leaned away from him and that dagger. “Begging your pardon, but you are not doing anything with me.”
    “You misunderstand. You have a son and appear to be respectable, therefore you must have a husband. Is your husband in Saint Petersburg with your son? Because I have no wish for misunderstandings. I have had my share of it and husbands can be needlessly aggressive.”
    She blinked. Oh. “No. You needn’t worry about— My husband passed away. Seven years ago.” It was so odd to say it aloud. She rarely thought about Frederick anymore and felt incredibly guilty knowing it.
    He dropped his hand to his side. “So you have no man?”
    The way he said it made her think he was about to volunteer to be that man. “No.”
    He hesitated and searched her face. “How old are you?”
    She blinked. Was he flirting with her? Now ? Knowing she was in a state of panic and lost in the bowels of Russia? “Surely, you jest. I am old enough to be your mother.”
    His features stilled. “My mother is no longer alive. So do not speak of her.”
    Her heart squeezed. “Oh. Forgive me. I didn’t mean to…”
    Turning to the small, mud spattered window beside him, he propped his head against the glass. “She was very ill. She suffered.”
    Now she felt like a complete dolt. She softened her voice. “In answer to your question, sir, I am forty.”
    “Are you?” He veered his gaze back to her. “I am a full thirty.” He said it as if to impress her. Lifting his head from off the window, he leaned toward her and draped an arm against his own knee. His eyes boldly raked over her. “You are incredibly beautiful.”
    She almost sank deeper into the seat. Were all Russians like this? His casualness toward her was unnerving. She was a titled widow with four children.
    “The name is Konstantin Alexie Levin.” He inclined his head, holding her gaze.
    Why did she suddenly feel like fanning herself? “’Tis a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Levin.”
    He still held her gaze. “Is it?”
    Now she really felt like fanning herself. “I can assure you it is.”
    “Might I ask for a name? Since we are officially travelling together?”
    “I am Lady Stone.”
    “Lady?” He raised himself off his knee. “You mean to say you are of British aristocracy?”
    “Yes.”
    He draped a long, muscled arm across the back of the upholstered seat, straining his coat against the movement. “Did you think travelling with another woman was a good idea?” It was obvious by his gruff tone he wasn’t looking for an answer, but was actually issuing a reprimand. “A lady of your standing ought to be travelling with a man. And guards. Because another woman can do nothing to protect you. Nothing .”
    She blinked rapidly and edged away, feeling her skin prick beneath that penetrating gaze. He clearly did not understand the underpinnings of British society. Or that she would rather be robbed all over again than to have had her own cousin, Lord Gunther, travel alongside her. “Hiring a female companion is what respectable women of my circle do when they travel, Mr. Levin. I have no male relatives I would willingly travel with and a male companion outside of one’s family insinuates indecency. Which is why I hired Mrs. Bogdanovich.”
    He slowly shook his head from side to side. “Here in Russia, where land is vast and the people are desperate, such respectable thinking ends badly. Most robberies in Russia result in death. Why? Because the majority of swindlers have no understanding as to how much laudanum goes into a cup. Given how deeply and how long you slept, I have no doubt if you had been given a touch more laudanum, you would have