One Christmas Night In.... Кэрол Мортимер

pit of her stomach. ‘And I assure you that at twenty-six years of age I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.’

      Dmitri gave a scornful laugh. ‘I did not see any evidence of that earlier at the airport, when you allowed yourself to be put in the back of a car by a complete stranger without even knowing where he was taking you.’

      Considering Lily had realised exactly the same thing on her arrival here, she had to agree with that assessment. Inwardly. Outwardly it was a different matter entirely. ‘Marco behaved like a perfect gentleman on the drive here. In fact, since my arrival in Italy, the only person from whom I seem to need protection is you!’

      Dmitri frowned. ‘You are insulting.’

      ‘I haven’t even started!’ she snapped back. ‘You had me brought here under false pretences, then proceeded to hurl accusations about my brother—and insulted me in the process. And now you expect me to be grateful for your offer of protection and hospitality?’ She gave a disbelieving shake of her head. ‘I may have been a little naïve earlier, but don’t ever think that I’m stupid!’

      No, Dmitri would never make that mistake where this fiery young woman was concerned. He was far too aware of the intelligence in her deep blue eyes and the authority in her tone ever to underestimate her determination of will. ‘It was not merely my suggestion that you stay here, Lily,’ he murmured softly. ‘It was an order.’

      She looked aghast. ‘Sorry?’

      Dmitri moved impatiently. ‘Along with her letter Claudia left her mobile phone—no doubt so that I could not telephone her and order her back home,’ he acknowledged grimly. ‘And unfortunately, after her car was found at the airport and searched, this was found down the side of the passenger seat.’ He produced a second mobile phone from the pocket of his tailored jacket.

      Lily stared at the small black-and-silver phone. ‘It’s Felix’s …’

      The Count’s gaze sharpened. ‘You are absolutely sure?’

      She nodded numbly. ‘I bought it for him three months ago. As a going-away present.’ It had been more a way of ensuring that Felix kept in touch with her while he was in Italy. ‘If you would return it to me—’

      ‘I think not.’ He slipped the mobile phone back into his pocket.

      Lily felt a return of those butterflies in her stomach, those wings beating harder this time. ‘What are you doing?’ Her cheeks had paled a ghostly white.

      ‘It is quite simple, Lily,’ he said harshly. ‘At the present time the only means of communication that Claudia or Felix have with either of us is by landline or your own mobile.’

      ‘Only Felix will try calling me in England. And when he keeps receiving the answer phone message he’ll put two and two together and realise I must have come to Rome, after all.’

      ‘Felix is certainly intelligent enough to eventually work out that his first message must have arrived too late,’ Dmitri agreed. ‘And as I have Claudia’s letter, and no reason to believe she will telephone me until she is ready, we are left only with the possibility of Felix contacting you on your mobile.’ He shrugged. ‘I do not suppose you are prepared to leave your mobile phone with me if you leave here?’

      ‘Certainly not!’ Lily bristled indignantly.

      ‘As I thought,’ he said blandly. ‘Then it would seem that, as my sister is at this moment completely at the mercy of your brother’s “honourable intentions”, I should return the favour in regard to his sister!’

      Lily stared up at him, not sure if she was understanding him correctly. Not sure she wanted to understand him if he was saying what she thought he was! ‘Would you just spit out exactly what you mean?’ she said nervously.

      ‘Of course.’ He bared even white teeth in a hard and humourless smile. ‘Until your brother returns my sister to me, you will stay here, at Palazzo Scarletti, as my personal guest.’

      Exactly what Lily had thought he meant!

      CHAPTER FOUR

      ‘YOU’RE mad!’

      Quite possibly, Dmitri accepted heavily. It had been a day of shocks and frustrations. And receiving the letter from Claudia, informing him of her elopement had only been the start of the nightmare.

      What had followed had been a desperate search of the palazzo, and then the even more futile questioning of those of Claudia’s friends he was aware of. After that her car had been located at the airport, along with that damn mobile found down the side of the passenger seat—a mobile Lily Barton had just confirmed was indeed her brother’s. Dmitri’s telephone calls to several business acquaintances had revealed that the pair had not booked with any of the airlines flying out of Rome that day, nor did the car hire companies have any record of providing them with a replacement vehicle.

      To all intents and purposes Claudia and Felix had simply disappeared.

      Lily and her mobile were the only glimmers of hope he had. Felix might at least contact his sister again in the next couple of days.

      Which was why Dmitri felt he had no choice but to keep her—and her mobile phone—exactly where he could see and hear them.

      He wasn’t in the least proud of his decision to keep her as an unwilling guest, but he was determined to find his sister and bring her home before she did something even more reckless than she already had. Before—as Lily had suggested so succinctly only minutes ago—the two of them found themselves related through Claudia’s marriage to Felix!

      If Dmitri found her quickly enough then he might be able to avert a complete scandal by hushing up the elopement. But a totally unsuitable marriage would be another matter entirely …

      ‘I assure you I am not mad, Lily,’ he said. ‘Merely desperate.’

      Lily eyed him in disbelief, still shocked by his announcement that he intended her to stay here at the Palazzo Scarletti with him—and even more surprised to hear him admit that the situation was beyond his control. The man was arrogance personified. Which meant Dmitri was either as concerned for his sister’s welfare as he claimed to be or that he was as concerned for his business merger with the Giordanos as Lily had accused him of being. Only time would reveal which of those things was the true reason for his present feelings of frustration.

      ‘I realise that in Italy you’re probably considered a powerful man, but I don’t believe that exonerates you from abiding by the law,’ she announced.

      He quirked one dark brow. ‘Only probably considered?’

      Lily’s fingers tightened on the strap of her shoulder bag. ‘Okay, I know you’re a powerful man. In Italy and elsewhere. But even a man as powerful as you can’t get away with kidnapping an English tourist.’

      He appeared completely unmoved by her accusation. In fact, if anything, he looked amused by it. Lily was certain she could see laughter lurking in those pale green eyes as he answered her.

      ‘You are not a child, Lily. Besides which, I prefer to think of you as a reluctant guest.’

      ‘You can prefer all you like,’ she shot back heatedly. ‘But the truth of the matter is that if I’m forced to stay here it will be completely against my will. Something that I definitely intend to scream at the top of my lungs to the nearest policeman as soon as I get out of here,’ she assured him.

      The amusement faded from the pale green eyes as Dmitri looked down the length of his aristocratic nose at her. ‘That would be ill-advised, Lily.’

      Her eyes narrowed. ‘Are you threatening me?’

      ‘Not in the least,’ he answered smoothly. ‘I am merely advising against your drawing unnecessary attention to this delicate situation. Especially as I would have to countermand your own accusation towards me by levelling a similar one against your brother in regard to Claudia. Tell me, Lily,