In two steps, he could close the distance between them and have her in his arms again. It wouldn’t take much effort to coax her into returning his fervor, despite what she was saying. But it would be far wiser to wait until they were away from this house. Once in London, he could devote himself to enticing her.

He tamped down the blaze of desire. “Neither of us were unfair to Lady Ellen,” he stated. “I’m not betrothed to her. In fact, Godwin has agreed she should be free to enjoy her first season.”

Frowning, Natalie appeared to be keenly inquisitive about the situation. “But … you do intend to marry her, don’t you?”

“That remains to be seen,” he hedged.

She firmed her delectable mouth. “If you don’t, what will happen to Leo? I don’t want him to be raised in this house, Hadrian. Especially not after what happened with Lord Wymark.”

“Happened?”

Natalie glanced over her shoulder at the door, then lowered her voice. “That incident with the stallion, of course. I shudder to think of how close Leo came to being trampled. If truth be told, there’s something reckless about Lord Wymark that gives me a cold chill. I don’t trust him.”

Hadrian’s first impulse was to scoff. Richard was simply a careless young fool who had been spoiled by his mother.

But Natalie looked so genuinely concerned that he considered the matter from her perspective. All she’d seen of Richard was his sulky manner, his lack of control, his penchant for drinking and gambling. That, combined with the cold reception she’d received from Lord and Lady Godwin, had fostered a very real fear in Natalie for Leo’s welfare.

Blast his cousins for treating the two of them so badly.

Abandoning his resolve to keep his distance, he stepped closer and placed his hands on her shoulders. Her vital warmth coursed through him as he lightly kneaded the tension from her muscles. “You mustn’t let Wymark alarm you. Once we leave here, your paths aren’t likely to cross.”

“Nevertheless, I dislike spending even one more night in a household where Leo’s very presence is begrudged.”

With his hands on her shoulders, he felt the shiver that rippled through Natalie. It communicated a twinge of worry to him, as well. Despite his reassurances to her, there was always the chance that he could be wrong.

He ran his fingertips over her petal-soft cheek. “Then perhaps it would make you feel easier if we were to depart straightaway.”

Luminosity entered her green eyes. “Right now? Today?”

“There’s a few hours of daylight left. How quickly can you be ready?”

“At once.”

Watching the sway of her hips as she hastened to the door, Hadrian felt caught in the throes of fierce protectiveness. The sooner he had her and Leo safely under his care, the better. Grimly, he knew without an ounce of doubt that he would kill anyone who tried to harm either of them.

Chapter 17

Emerging from the post chaise two days later, Natalie thought there must be some mistake. Surely the grand structure towering before her could not be a house.