Before her chaotic mind could even feel relief, he spun the groom around and slapped his cheek several times until his eyes opened.

Bert blinked in befuddlement. “Duke—”

“Good, you’re awake. It goes against my principles to strike an unconscious man.”

Hadrian hauled back his arm and smashed his fist into Bert’s face. The groom staggered sideways into the worktable, knocking it askew as he thumped to the floor like a sack of grain. Blood ran copiously from his nose and from the corner of his mouth. Head lolling, he grappled for his shirttail and used it in an attempt to stanch the flow. “Ow! Ow! Ye broke m’ nose!”

“Be thankful you’re alive. You are never to touch Miss Fanshawe again. Is that clear?”

“Wasn’t gonna hurt her—”

Hadrian reached down and gave the man’s ear a hard wrench. “Is that clear?”

“Ow! Aye, Yer Grace. Never!”

The duke stepped back, coldly regarding the groom. “Now, take your miserable carcass out of here. You’re to collect your belongings and leave Oak Knoll at once.”

Bert lurched to his feet and stood swaying, his face raw with burns beneath the milk and blood. He also had a darker red mark on the side of his cheek where she’d struck him with the pot. In a nasally tone, he whined, “I work for Lord Wymark. Can’t nobody send me away but him.”

“Wymark is underage. You work for his father. And in case you’ve forgotten, Lord Godwin is the magistrate. If transport to Botany Bay is your wish, then by all means, stay here to plead your case.”

The groom fell silent at that, though he continued to snuffle loudly. He flashed Natalie a resentful glare before turning away, lumbering to the antechamber that led outside. Hadrian followed the man and they disappeared from sight. A moment later, she heard the duke’s clipped tone, then the door opened and shut. The key rattled in the lock.

Natalie trembled as tension continued to vibrate along her nerves. She could scarcely comprehend the danger was over. Her insides felt tied in knots as she surveyed the mess in the kitchen, the spilled milk, the broken crockery, the table pushed awry. If Hadrian hadn’t come in when he did …

Feeling on the verge of being sucked back into that dark horror, she quickly busied herself with action. She mustn’t allow herself to reflect. Better to just forget about it. She’d done so once and she could do it again. Her movements jerky, she bent down to pick up the copper saucepan.

Eyes widening, she stared at the damage. “Oh no!”

Hadrian materialized beside her, his broad palm lightly resting between her shoulder blades. “Natalie? Are you injured? Did he hurt you?”

She raised her stricken gaze to his face. “I broke the handle! Cook will be furious.”

His expression relaxed, though his pose remained vigilant. He gently removed the pan from her death grip and examined it. “The rivets must have come loose, that’s all. Consider it your badge of honor for a deed well done. If Cook dares to fuss, I’ll buy her an entire new set of pots.”