The enfant terrible stood gazing down at him with unholy interest. “Miss Fanshawe, what does gelded mean?”

The memory of that singular horror sent Richard into a full swoon, and he sank into oblivion without even hearing her reply.

Chapter 28

She was dreaming of Hadrian.

His tantalizing caress stirred tingles over the bare skin of her arm and up to her neck, traced the shape of her ear and then lightly stroked her face. Purring, she snuggled her cheek into his palm, her hips moving restlessly as heat began to pulse in her depths. A tender fingertip outlined her lips, then the brush of his mouth against hers took on a curious note of reality.

Enticed from the mists of slumber, Natalie lifted her lashes to see the duke gazing down at her with the crooked half-smile that always melted her heart. She watched him in happy bemusement, too absorbed by his beloved features to question his presence in her bedchamber. Then she blinked up at the blue-and-gold bed hangings and the events of the night came rushing back.

This was not her chamber, but his.

After putting Leo to bed, she had come here to wait for Hadrian. He had been closeted in his study with Lord Godwin and Wymark, and she had been anxious to hear the outcome of that meeting.

She sat up, attempting to straighten the wrinkled bronze silk of her ballgown. Her diamond jewelry lay in a heap on the bedside table beside a guttering candle. “Heavens, I just put my head on the pillow for a moment. I didn’t intend to fall asleep. I hope I didn’t startle you.”

“Not in the least. Chumley warned me there was a hoyden in my bedchamber who’d had the cheek to banish him from the room.”

The twinkle in his eyes made Natalie blush. “Well, it was three in the morning and he was snoozing on a stool in the dressing room, awaiting your return. So I sent him off to bed.”

“Hm. I found him snoozing on a bench outside my study. Amazingly, he didn’t even grumble once he saw how pleased I was to learn you were here. I do believe the crusty old fellow is beginning to like you.”

But it was only Hadrian’s feelings that mattered to her at the moment. In particular, his reaction to her confession of love the previous evening. My darling, I can’t begin to tell you what that means to me …

His husky response had been cut short by their discovery of the kidnapping. What had he intended to say? Would he now try to coax her into marriage without opening his own heart and soul? Would she allow him?

As if sensing her emotional muddle, he stepped back to allow her space. She scooted off the bed and stood up, feeling unsettled by the heat of his gaze. He had discarded his cravat and coat, and his hair was attractively tousled. She ached with the need for him to sweep her into his arms. But though he radiated a banked desire, he seemed disinclined to act on it.