Page 15 of Stranded with His Runaway Bride

She couldn’t look at him. Those blue eyes would find her out at once.

‘Well, then.’ He was on his feet behind her.

Was she mistaken or did she just hear a thread of sorrow running through that simple statement? She wondered belatedly if he’d loved Francesca, if her sister’s elopement had genuinely wounded him and if she’d hurt him now too.

He came to stand beside her but instead of looking at her he stared up at the skies. Dark roiling clouds chased one another over the valley towards the lake, blocking out the sun and shrouding the gardens and this room in shadows. The man beside her became darker, bigger. Despite the grand dress and priceless tiara, she felt smaller and more insignificant than ever. Because he seemed to have forgotten she was even there. He was studying the lines of trees that ran around the edge of the lawns. They writhed helplessly in the rising wind.

She’d been mistaken. There wasn’t a hint of heartbreak in those stern features. He was concerned with something entirely different, and she understood at last.

‘It wasn’t wolves or basking deer out there before,’ she said, gazing up at him. ‘It was one of your men, wasn’t it?’

Leo exhaled heavily. ‘Yes.’

An angry splatter of rain landed on the windows. ‘Will they be safe?’

‘I ordered them to the gatehouse. They should be there by now.’

Her heart plummeted. How would a car or boat get past Leo’s security, now he had them in place? They could only get as far as the gatehouse, but if she could find a way to call Luisa without this man knowing, she could have her send a car to collect her from the gatehouse. They couldn’t stop her then.

‘Should we think about joining them? If I take off my petticoats I’ll fit into the Ferrari.’

‘It wouldn’t matter if you were in nothing but your underwear,’ he said. ‘The Ferrari hit a pothole and is out of action.’

‘What about the florist’s van?’ She peered out to the driveway where it sat, lurching back and forth in the wind.

Leo looked at it and back at her. ‘No.’

He leant against the counter, his arms folded, head bowed, deep in thought. He wasn’t about to demand she tell him the truth, was he? She didn’t have another grand lie left in her. She fidgeted, waiting for what he might say next.

‘I’m getting hungry,’ he announced, and pushed away from the counter.

What?

‘I wonder what there is in this kitchen.’ He began opening doors, peering in cupboards.

She watched him in disbelief. ‘You’re worrying about your stomach at a time like this?’

‘A man can’t think when he’s starving.’

‘You can’t actually be starving. Surely you had breakfast.’

‘That was all of...’ he glanced at his watch ‘...six hours ago. If things had gone to plan this morning I should have been fed by now. I burn off a lot of energy, even more so when I’m hungry.’

There was nothing at all in that mundane remark to make her blush. So why were her cheeks turning pink? It was the heat, she decided, and this blasted dress. Maybe she’d calm down if she removed his disquieting presence for a while. Plus, it would give her the chance to try calling Luisa again.

‘Why don’t you go and look for that change of clothes you promised me, and I’ll see if there is anything to eat? Then we can think about how to get to the gatehouse,’ she said.

The kitchen door burst open on a violent gust of wind. A flurry of rain, twigs and leaves flew in. Leo leapt to the door and slammed it shut.

‘I don’t think either of us are going anywhere any time soon,’ he said as a crash outside heralded the toppling of plant pots next from the kitchen window.

That declaration that she didn’t find him attractive was so obviously a lie. He’d seen the way she looked at him. But he’d respect it. It would just make persuading her to marry him that bit harder.

Right now they had other priorities. The wind had picked up significantly and the florist’s van looked in serious danger of turning over. Despite the kitchen being sheltered, at the angle the van was parked, should it start rolling they’d be directly in its path. If they were truly going to be marooned here, they needed this room intact, where there was running water, heat, and hopefully food.

There was no choice. He’d have to move it to safety.

‘You can’t, it’s too dangerous out there.’ Violetta placed an anxious hand on his forearm, her small fingers warm against his skin.

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