“I don’t suppose it would do any good to tell you to wait here.”

Natalie huffed at that. “Come, we must hurry.”

She laced her fingers with his and tugged him across the street. They moved in unison, with stealth and haste, aiming toward the one downstairs window where a light shone through a slit in the curtains. As it turned out, there was more than one slit, the dark fabric being tattered in several places and allowing them both to peek inside at the same time.

Her hand tightened on his. “Leo is tied to a chair,” she said in an anguished whisper. “And there’s that groom, the one who attacked me in the kitchen at Oak Knoll.”

Inside the parlor, Bert and the viscount appeared to be exchanging heated words. “Indeed,” Hadrian said tersely.

Shivering, Natalie rubbed her bare upper arms. “They won’t hurt Leo, will they?”

“No. Wymark needs that ransom money too badly.”

At least he hoped so, Hadrian thought grimly. He shrugged out of his coat and placed it around her shoulders to ward off the chill of the night air. He took up a stance behind her and folded her into his arms, bringing her back firmly against his chest. She settled naturally into his embrace, her gaze still riveted inside the shabby parlor. His attention was, too, though he couldn’t deny a peripheral awareness of her shapely form.

They watched as the two men continued to quarrel, Wymark pacing back and forth in an agitated manner before sitting down to play cards with them.

She sucked in a breath. “He has a pistol.”

“He’s merely placed it on the table,” Hadrian said to calm her. “He isn’t going to shoot anyone.”

“But we have to rescue Leo!”

He soothed her by stroking his fingertips over her silken cheek. “Patience, my dear. The scamp doesn’t look frightened, so it would be better to wait for the right opportunity. Let those two buffoons get a little foxed first. It will hamper their ability to fight back.” With effort, he forced himself to release her. “While they’re busy playing cards, I’ll take a quick look around back to find the best way inside. Stay right here, promise me?”

Natalie nodded, her gaze flashing briefly at him in the gloom, reminding him of that riveting moment in the darkness of the nursery and the sound of her soft voice. I love you, Hadrian. I love you with all my heart and soul.

The memory made his chest ache. He’d never had the chance to respond to her because a moment later, they’d discovered Leo’s abduction. His gut still felt twisted in knots over her stunning declaration. But now was not the time to sort out the tangle of emotions inside him.

Taking an unsteady breath, he left to reconnoiter the perimeter of the house. It proved a somewhat treacherous business not to make any noise since the yard was a glorified rubbish heap. He made his way around back to quietly test the rear door, then returned to do the same to the front.