“My thoughts precisely. The bastard needs that ransom money. He’s deeply in debt from gambling. When we saw him, his accomplice must have just spirited Leo away through the garden gate, probably to a waiting carriage.”

Her heart pounding in dread, she imagined the little boy bound and gagged and frightened. She fought off a bone-deep shudder as they raced down two flights of stairs. Heading toward the ballroom, Hadrian stalked along an ornate corridor, and she hastened to keep up with his long strides. “What are we going to do?”

“I intend to find that weasel and choke the truth out of him.”

Eyes narrowed, he frowned as he strode straight ahead, his fingers gripped into fists. Wymark had returned to the party, she remembered, likely in an attempt to deflect any suspicion once Leo’s absence was discovered. No doubt the viscount would pretend that he’d been in the ballroom all night, so he couldn’t possibly be the perpetrator. Then tomorrow he would collect the ransom from the appointed spot in Hyde Park and no one would be the wiser.

Except that things wouldn’t go according to his diabolical plan, Natalie thought fiercely. She had been right to distrust him, and she had no intention of staying out of the fray. They would corner him and if Hadrian couldn’t make the villain talk, then she would.

The music grew louder as they approached the arched doorway. The large open area outside the ballroom teemed with elegant guests, drinking and chatting. Others strolled in and out of the drawing room that had been set up with tables for cardplaying. The scene had an otherworldly quality to Natalie. How strange that people could be laughing and dancing when Leo had just been snatched from his bed!

She stayed close to Hadrian as he skirted the edge of the throng. Like him, she kept her eyes sharp for a glimpse of Wymark’s wheat-gold hair and narrow features. Since he was nowhere in the reception area, they entered the ballroom. The long, spacious chamber wasn’t nearly as crowded as earlier, for many guests had repaired to the adjoining parlor to partake of the buffet supper. But there were still a fair amount of people milling around, and Hadrian paused near the wall to scan the horde.

As the masses shifted, she spotted their quarry and leaned closer to murmur in Hadrian’s ear, “There, by the balcony doors!”

No sooner had the sentence left her lips than the duke stalked in that direction. Wymark stood with a group of young gentlemen who looked as dissolute as himself. One of them swayed, stumbling into a fern and nearly knocking it over, which made all of them hoot with laughter.

It was then that Wymark looked up and his eyes widened on Hadrian. He stood frozen, apparently noting the grim fury on the duke’s face. Abruptly, he spun around and vanished out the open door.

Hadrian muttered a curse and sprang after him, weaving through the clusters of guests, ignoring those who attempted to speak to him. Natalie did likewise, until disaster struck just shy of the exit. Their path was suddenly blocked by none other than the Prince Regent himself, with his retinue of courtiers, several ladies and gentlemen.