Page 63 of Stranded with His Runaway Bride

‘Matteo, he’ll wear this midnight-blue Armani, with the shawl lapel. Perfect for the evening’s festivities, wouldn’t you agree?’

‘My thoughts exactly,’ Matteo said, holding up the jacket for Leo to slip into. ‘Come along now, sir, chop-chop. You heard Prince Sebastien. We wouldn’t want you to be late for your own party.’

Leo snatched the jacket from his valet’s hands and shrugged into it. ‘Since when did you two become so managing?’

‘Since you decided to invite the whole of San Nicolo and its grand duchess to the ball,’ Seb said. ‘And you’ve barely been able to string two sentences together.’

‘That’s not true. I’ve been... I’ve had... There’s been lots of...’

Sebastien laughed, knocked back his brandy, dumped the empty tumbler and headed towards the door. ‘Matteo, I’ll leave him in your care. I’m off to collect Violetta from her hotel. Let’s hope she isn’t having the same trouble deciding what to wear or this party might go ahead without any of us in attendance.’

Leo looked up.

‘Violetta?’

‘Didn’t I mention it? She asked me to be her escort for the evening. You don’t mind, do you?’

The thought of it slammed into his gut like a clenched fist. Was Violetta developing feelings for his cousin? Because the man was no more available to her than Leo himself. Seb’s heart was already spoken for. Not that he’d admit to it—like Leo, he had his demons—but there would only ever be one woman for Seb and Violetta wasn’t her.

Was she about to get hurt all over again? Seb wouldn’t pursue her, Leo knew that. But had she given up waiting and set her hopes on his cousin?

He wouldn’t let that happen. Because... Because...

It was just that he didn’t want her to hurt any more, not if he could help it. That was all. He didn’t...he couldn’t...loveher.

As the lamplight caught in the emeralds, Violetta’s precious brooch sparkled in her fingers. She was nearly ready. All that was needed was for Luisa to fix it into her hair.

Her gown was a simple, ivory silk sheath, with shoestring straps and diaphanous chiffon layers. She adored the way it floated round her as she moved. It felt so romantic.

Perfect for the evening.

If her plans worked. The ones she’d cooked up with Seb at that gala dinner.

Her stomach lurched. What if Leo still couldn’t choose happiness?

Wearing his brooch had never held such significance as tonight. Her fingers trembled as she gazed down on it.

The gift she’d treasured from the moment Leo had placed it in her hands. No one knew it came from the von Frohburg royal collection. When asked she’d simply said that it was a gift and she’d fallen in love with it.

Not with the gift giver, of course.

Violetta stroked the opal body of her beloved little spider. She knew the precise moment Leo had stolen her heart. When he’d made up that story about Antonio the spider to ease her fears.

And the moment he’d broken it? When he’d placed this brooch in her hand then turned and walked away as if he’d forgotten her already.

Seb had said he hadn’t, that he was miserable without her.

Of all the challenges she’d faced in the last ten months this was the hardest. Seeing Leo again, speaking to him, taking his hand...and then all those other things she hoped for.

The knock on the door heralded Seb’s arrival. Still clutching the brooch in her fingers, she entered the sitting room where he waited.

His gaze swept her from head to toe. ‘Why, Grand Duchessa, you are a vision.’

She blushed a little beneath his scrutiny. ‘Thank you. You look very handsome yourself.’

‘Oh, I’m just the poor cousin. I leave the real glamour to Leo. He does stern and majestic aloofness so well.’ He bent to kiss her cheek.

‘How is he?’ she asked.

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