Wild Heart (4 page)

Because he needed no further complications.

“However do you control him?” she asked, completely unaware of the less than gentlemanly feelings ebbing within him.

“I don’t. One cannot control something circumstances have forced to be feral.”

“I see.” Her gaze fell to her lap. “Leo.” She smoothed her finger and thumb over a leaf. “Your grandfather wants you to learn the ways of English society. You are obviously intelligent enough to do so, which leads me to believe you have no desire to learn.”

He tensed, resisting the sudden urge to flee, to rip the wretched, confining clothes from his body and return to the Continent where it was warm and no one judged him.

“Leo,” she said softly, her voice pulling him under. “Do you want to learn?”

“No,” he snapped and stood.

“But what about your grandfather? What about the castle?” She scampered to her feet. Her lips were parted, her eyes shining with a hurt he was surprised to witness. Even more shocking was the way his body reacted. Why did he have the mad desire to reassure her? He didn’t know this woman, and she didn’t know him. She sure as hell did not have the right to tell him what to do. He stepped around her and started toward Charlie.

“Well, well. Look who we have here.” The male voice rippled across the garden and scattered whatever patience Leo had left. Just the sound of his cousin’s voice made him want to hit someone.

Not bothering to respond, Leo picked up Charlie’s rope. He steeled his resolve and turned to face the man who had come to represent all he hated about England. Brown hair that even the breeze refused to touch combed into place. Pale face. Suit impeccably tailored. Amber eyes that sparkled with amusement at Leo’s expense. To make it worse, his cousin had come with two simpering females and another pompous male. The more the merrier.

Ella shifted her attention from Leo to the small group. She looked unsure and wary of his cousin.
Good girl, be very wary of him.

“And who do we have here?” Henry asked, stopping in front of Ella and studying her body in a way that made Leo want to let Charlie loose.

“I’m a friend of Leo’s,” she said softly.

Leo almost rolled his eyes. Friends? They barely knew each other.

“Friend?” His cousin’s grin turned into a smirk. “I wasn’t aware Leo had any friends. Well, bravo for you, making a chum and a female at that. Of course any friend of Leo’s is a friend of mine.” He raised his brows, and the two nondescript women clinging to his side giggled.

“Such a pretty little companion too.” He took Ella’s hand and pressed his lips to her fingers. “Call me Henry, my de—”

Charlie released a low growl, and Henry snapped upright, eyes wide and unblinking. “That thing should be locked away.”

Charlie lunged at Henry, swiping his massive paw through the air. Henry jumped back, and Leo had to look away to hide his amusement.

“By God, control that thing. Better yet, let me retrieve my hunting rifle and take care of the situation before he kills someone.”

Leo knew better than to react, although Ella couldn’t seem to contain her shock and gasped.

Apparently, Charlie felt he’d done his duty, for the animal collapsed onto the grass and began to lick his front paw.

“It just wanders about?” one of the women asked.

Henry’s frown deepened. “Yes, preposterous, but the old man has a soft heart for my dear cousin. Truth be told, Grandfather is just as worried about Leo going insane as I am about that cat attacking.”

His cousin’s male friend gave a nervous laugh. “Henry, dear boy, can’t he hear you?”

“Leo? I doubt he understands.”

“That’s not true!” Ella cried out, stepping forward and making Leo want to sigh in exasperation. She’d been here a day and already she was causing trouble. “He’s not ignorant and your grandfather does not want to lock him up. He never would have hired me…” She trailed off, blushing.

Henry quirked a brow, his eyes twinkling. “Ah, so you were hired? And for what, pray tell?”

“Hired her?” the other man laughed and stepped closer to Ella. Her eyes widened like a frightened hare, and Leo’s ire grew, his hands fisting at his sides as he denied the desire to put an end to the torment once and for all.

“Not what you are thinking, Kevin, dear chap. Hired as a governess, is my bet,” Henry said and bounced his index finger on the end of Ella’s nose. She batted it away.

“So, my sweetling, what is your name?”

“Ella,” she whispered.

“And what does my grandfather want you to teach dear Leo?”

Ella shot him a glance. He looked away, resisting the urge to come to her rescue, resisting the urge to slam his fist into the man’s face, resisting the urge to leave them all here where they could rot together.

“He doesn’t need much, just some refinement here and there,” she mumbled weakly, apparently losing her nerve.

Henry threw his head back and laughed. “Oh really, Ella, you are too kind. Doesn’t need much. The man can barely string two words together.”

Leo locked eyes on Ella and gave a slight shake of his head. Her brows furrowed, but she kept her lips pressed together.

“Cannot even make conversation and you believe he doesn’t need much?”

“With those looks, he doesn’t need to speak,” one of the women murmured.

Henry glared her into silence.

“What then, Ella?” Henry stepped closer, and Charlie let out another low growl. His cousin shuffled back. “What do you plan to teach my brilliant cousin?”

The crunching of feet on gravel alerted them to another’s presence. “Ah, Henry, my boy, what brings you here?”

His grandfather came down the path with a smile upon his weathered face, obviously happy to have his family close at hand.
Cazzarola
, if that didn’t send a rush of guilt through him.

“Passing through and thought to visit my grandfather, of course.” Henry turned toward the man.

“Wonderful. And is your lovely wife here?”

Henry had the good sense to shift uncomfortably. “Unfortunately, she was detained.”

His grandfather nodded. “And you and your…friends will be staying for dinner?”

“Why not? I’ve heard that Leo here has a new governess and would love to see the improvements she’s made.”

Ella paled, much like his grandfather. Leo had the sudden urge to laugh at their unease.

“Well, umm, you see, Ella was hired only the other day.”

“Of course.” Leo didn’t miss the mockery in his cousin’s voice.

“Shall we convene inside? I’m sure after your travels you must be famished.” His grandfather stood aside and allowed the small group to pass.

“Leo? Ella?” His grandfather looked at them, his smile wavering.

“We’re coming, my lord,” Ella called out.

His grandfather nodded and started toward the house, leaving Ella and Leo alone.

Without a word, Leo made his way toward the trail that led to Charlie’s enclosure.

“Leo,” Ella called out.

He could hear her rushing after him and cursed under his breath.

“Why, Leo? Why do you let them talk to you that way? Why do you let them think you’re daft?”

They reached Charlie’s sprawling cage, and Leo opened the door. The cat hobbled into his refuge.

“Oh my, what a lovely home for Charlie,” she said, fortunately changing the conversation of her own accord.

Leo closed the door and locked it. “Yes, but he’d much rather live in the wild.”

Her gaze flashed to his, curiosity shining bright. “India? What’s it like?” she whispered, as if they were sharing a secret. Before he could stop her, she slipped her hand between the bars. He reached out to jerk her back when Charlie licked her fingers. Shock held him immobile.

Her brows drew together. “Leo? Is something amiss?”

How the bloody hell had she managed to get on Charlie’s good side? He shook his head and started toward the house. “What is what like?”

He heard her following after him. “Nothing, I shouldn’t have said anything.”

He sighed, realizing exactly what she wanted to know. But would she faint, cry out in despair, never speak to him again if she knew the truth? “What’s it truly like? It’s like a jungle. It’s kill or be killed. It’s animals fighting over food, over territory, over lovers.”

She flushed, showing her innocence. At the same time, she reached out, her hand resting on his arm. Heat shot through his limbs. As shocking as a bite from a fire ant, but much, much more pleasant. Surprised, he stilled, his breath catching.

“It can’t be all terrible,” she said.

He released a wry laugh and stepped away from her, away from the emotions she produced. “You have no idea.” He started up the steps.

She raced after him. “Then tell me.”

They moved into the foyer. He didn’t stop but continued toward the back of the house, intending to be free of them all. He didn’t want to discuss India. Didn’t want to discuss his feelings.

“Leo,” she called out softly. “Explain it to me.”

His anger flared. He spun around to face her, and she ran straight into him. Her palms flattened to his chest, her breath a warm gasp of surprise against his neck.

“Why do you want to know?” he demanded.

Tilting her head, she gazed into his eyes, and he felt like he was falling, falling into a pool of rich, blue ocean. God help him, she didn’t step back, didn’t remove her hands.

“Ah, look here,” Henry called out. “I told you, Grandfather, you had nothing to worry about. They’d arrive soon enough.”

Ella jumped back from Leo, a blush creeping up her neck. His grandfather’s narrowed gaze slid from Leo to Ella and back to him. Any heat, any desire vanished at their sudden appearance.

Henry paced around them like a man looking over stock. “My, aren’t you two friendly for only having met. What was it you hired Ella to teach him, Grandfather?”

None of them were stupid enough to miss the sneer in his voice or the blatant sexual undertone. His grandfather flushed. Ella averted her gaze.

“I explained to you before, Leo needs someone to teach him about English society and Ella, here, will help.”

Henry laughed. “Why? You can’t seriously think to take him to London and introduce him to the
ton?
I thought you’d have given up by now.”

“Henry, my boy, someday Leo will run the estates—”

“By God,” Henry shouted, his hands fisting at his sides. “You cannot be serious!”

His grandfather stiffened. “I am very serious, and I do not appreciate your tone.”

His cousin’s face turned an unhealthy shade of red. “Tell me it’s only because of these blasted English laws.”

His grandfather didn’t answer.

Henry grabbed the old man by his upper arms and jerked him forward. “Have you gone mad? Leo is insane, no more than an animal—”

Anger flared through Leo’s body, pulsing heat through his veins. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. He could kill his pale, slim cousin so easily, a quick snap of his neck. “Unhand him.”

“Or what?” Henry sneered.

Even if he wanted to, even if he’d been trained by the best to conform to society’s expectations, he wouldn’t have been able to stop himself. A darkness swirled in the pit of his gut. He reached out and wrapped his fingers around his cousin’s collar, tightening his hold until the man’s eyes widened and Henry released their grandfather. How he wanted to slam his fist into his cousin’s face.

“Leo,” Ella whispered. “I don’t believe he can breathe very well.”

He wanted to ignore her remark, to tighten his hold until the man stopped struggling. Instead, he released his cousin. At least he had the pleasure of watching Henry stumble back, his eyes wide with fear.

“See,” Henry gasped. “I told you he was a madman.”

His grandfather shook his head and closed his eyes, leaning heavily on his cane.

“Well, it doesn’t really much matter, does it? Either way, the estate is mine.” Leo couldn’t help but taunt the man before he turned and left the gaping audience.

Ella settled onto a stone bench that overlooked the rose garden and tore open the note.

Ella bit her lower lip and swiped at the tears trembling on her lashes. She slipped the letter into her pocket. With their dream half accomplished, she felt a lightness, as if she’d lost the weight of her petticoats. She started down the drive and pulled the necklace out from under her bodice, needing the comfort of the cool metal. The pendant was as familiar to her as her own face. She knew every speck of the necklace, having studied it for hours as a child.

Yesterday when she’d clambered up the rocks to Leo’s side, she could have sworn the metal had grown warm. The feeling left her confused and nervous, but it hadn’t happened since. Perhaps she had imagined the heat. With a sigh, she tucked the pendant underneath her bodice and followed the gravel trail around the house.

The sun’s rays broke through the clouds, lighting the garden in a rainbow of colors. From the yew trees, birds chirped merrily and the sweet scent of roses mixed with the fresh scent of dew. It was beautiful and serene, so why did she still have an unsettling feeling? She plucked a fallen foxglove from the ground.

A fat bee landed on the flower and pulled her from her reverie. The insect crawled up her thumb, tasting her skin. At Lady Buckley’s insistence, she tried not to use her powers, but it came so easily with insects…she almost couldn’t control the sensations. Not once had she been stung by a bee, and she supposed that was one positive to her ability. His curiosity satisfied, the bee flew away to his next bloom.

She dropped the flower and continued down the path. The stables came into view and her heart did a strange little jump that she couldn’t quite explain. She hadn’t seen Leo since yesterday afternoon when he’d attacked his cousin. Well deserved, without question. But still…the power that radiated from the man’s body, the intensity, the darkness were frightful indeed.

After seeing the look on Henry’s face, she knew without a doubt Leo had a much better chance of harming himself than anyone else. Surely Henry and his friends had already spread word of the unfortunate incident. Could no one else see what would happen? Perhaps she should speak with Lord Roberts, perhaps even speak with Leo. He must realize his cousin was trying to make him look the madman.

Ella took her lower lip between her teeth and pushed open the stable door. She stepped hesitantly inside, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dim light. Through the haze of sunbeams and dust, Leo stood in the middle of the wide aisle brushing a black horse. The cuffs of his sleeves were rolled to his elbows, exposing the sinewy muscle of his forearms. Beautiful, strong arms.

The sweet scent of hay and horses met her nostrils. She sneezed. Leo didn’t bother to look her way, as if deaf to her presence. His disregard hurt more than she wanted.

She sniffled and closed the door behind her. “Did you forget we had lessons this morn?” She offered him an excuse.

“No.”

Apparently, he didn’t feel he needed one.

“Your cousin and his friends left last night. You needn’t worry about seeing them.”

“That is unfortunate. I would have dearly loved to smash my fist into his face.”

She held onto her gasp of shock, refusing to indulge him. He took the reins of his horse and started past her.

“Where are you going?”

“Riding.”

“Leo, wait!” Her fingers curled in annoyance. If Fran wasn’t settled in the cottage, she’d leave the man here and now!

He didn’t respond. A stable boy pushed open the doors and Leo disappeared outside, his huge black horse following like a docile pup.

Ella waved at the boy. “Excuse me, you there. Can you saddle a horse?”

He swiped his nose with the back of his hand and nodded. “Yes, miss.”

“And make sure it’s a very nice, gentle horse.”

He went to a brown mare that looked more dead than alive with her drooping head and sagging brown eyes. She was perfect. Ella prayed Leo had been delayed. Clasping her hands in front of her, she paced back and forth, mentally urging the boy to hurry. Leo, blast him, was proving to be much more difficult than she’d expected, and the more she pushed herself on him, the better. She’d wear him down yet. If she could tame Lady Buckley’s spawn, she could tame Leo. Finally, the lad was finished with her mount. She followed him outside. Leo was gone.

“Where’d he go?” she asked frantically.

An old man leaned against the handle of his shovel and tilted his cap back. “The young lord?”

Ella nodded and jumped onto the box the boy provided. Before her, the horse loomed large and intimidating. She’d always feared horses, for they were the most difficult of the animals for her to control. That combined with the fact that she’d had little experience with the beasts as she tried to avoid them at any cost.

But surely she could ride. It looked easy enough. Closing her eyes, she tested the animal’s emotions. The mare was worried, but thrilled to be out of her small box.

Praying for safety, Ella pushed herself onto the beast. She resisted the urge to shift as the saddle dug into her bottom.

“It’s a sidesaddle,” the boy said. “You got to ’ave both legs on this side.”

Ella blushed. “Oh, of course.” It seemed preposterous to her, but she did what he said.

“The young lord went thataway,” the old man said, pointing down a trail.

“Oh, wonderful, thank you.” Ella had just wrapped her leg around the pommel, setting both legs on the side of the horse when the boy slapped the rump of her mount. She squeaked as she felt the beast’s fear mingle with the innate desire to run.

The horse burst down the trail. Clinging to the pommel, Ella tried to calm her racing heart, but with the landscape a brilliant blur, that remained impossible. The trees broke away, and a field splashed with yellow flowers stretched below. Through those flowers, Leo raced bareback toward a grouping of trees.

“Leo!” she called out.

He didn’t slow…didn’t look back.

She leaned forward, slapping the reins lightly against the horse’s neck. “Come on, girl.” The mare bolted down the hill. Terrified, Ella clung to the saddle, unable to do anything other than pray she would not die. She felt the horse’s thrill at being free and knew her mount would not easily stop.

Blimey, she was doomed!

Fran would have to move back to the orphanage; Leo would never learn to be a gent. She slipped. With a gasp, she tightened her hold and closed her eyes.

“Please don’t fall, please don’t fall,” she whispered. The wind whipped loose strands of hair painfully across her face, but she didn’t dare move her hands to sweep them aside.

“Please, Leo,” she stuttered, with each painful thud of the horse’s hooves. She groped for the horse’s mind and sent a soothing sensation of rest into the animal’s brain.

Her horse stopped, and she lost her hold. Suddenly, there was nothing but air. Ella had a split second to realize the seriousness of her situation before she rolled over the horse’s head and her bottom hit hard earth. Pain radiated up her spine. She collapsed onto her back, blinking up at the brilliant blue sky.

“Ouch.”

The mare’s face hovered over her. As if inquiring over her condition, the beast’s soft nose nudged her shoulder.

“I’m well.” She grimaced as she pushed herself up. “But you are walking back.”

With a deep breath, Ella stood. Her mount took a nervous side step.

“No, no, come here, love.” The sudden thunder of hooves sent fear racing into the horse. Her mount fled back up the hill so quickly, Ella didn’t have time to stop her. “No!”

A shadow fell from the sky. She spun and waved the dust away from her face.

“Are you injured?” Leo asked, looking thoroughly unconcerned. She felt arrogance and impatience, but wasn’t sure if the emotions were coming from Leo or his mount.

“You frightened my horse away.” She swiped the dirt from her pale lavender gown, her only good dress.

His face remained passive, but she knew he heard her, the blasted man!

Ella put her hands on her hips. “Well, I wouldn’t have raced after you if you’d stayed for your lesson.
But
I had the situation under control, until you thundered up here.”

There was a slight tightening of his jaw, and annoyance skittered over her skin. This time she knew the emotion was not coming from the horse.

“However, you are forgiven,” she quickly added.

He turned his mount.

“Wait, where are you going? You can’t just leave me here!”

He nudged his mount forward and took off.

“Ohh, you pompous ass!”

She spun around, hiked up her skirt, and stomped back up the hill. A sudden thumping of hooves made her stop in her tracks. She turned. Leo was coming straight at her, his body bent low over the beast, his intense gaze locked on her. Frozen in fear, Ella could merely stand there. Without losing stride, he reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and lifted. He slammed her down sidesaddle in front of him with a thud that jarred her teeth.

Across the fields they raced. The wind tugged at her hair and clothing, bringing sweet relief from the humid day. Fear gave way to excitement. Her heart thundered in her chest, matching the rhythm of the horse’s hooves as they beat on the ground. She closed her eyes and allowed the breeze to caress her skin, allowed her body to become one with the beast. This was not the jerky, uneasy movement of her mount, but a smooth, gliding sensation of flying…of freedom.

Slowly, she became aware of a deep aching need that spread from her core, down. She became aware of Leo’s body pressed against hers, the muscles in his chest as hard as granite, yet warm. His heart beat steady and strong against the side of her breast. Swallowing, she glanced through her lashes and studied his face. His features were the same as always, stoic and unreadable. But this close, she could see the gold flecks in his eyes and the pale and auburn streaks barely visible in his dark hair.

“Stop staring at me,” he snapped.

Her face heated, and she dropped her gaze. She didn’t dare delve further into his emotions, for fear of what she would find.

“Sorry,” she muttered. “Where are we going?” She asked as much to change the subject as to know the answer.

“If you want to come with me, you’ll cease your prattle.”

She managed not to argue. Really, his conduct was beyond rude. It was…reprehensible. She tilted her chin, determined to remain quiet for the rest of the journey. He slowed the mount as they neared a cluster of trees. The horse meandered down a dirt trail, and the soft roar of flowing water interrupted the serene chirp of birds.

“How is it you do not know how to ride?” His breath was a warm caress against the side of her neck.

She tilted her chin, ignoring the shivers that raced down her spine. “Am I allowed to speak now?”

He sighed, long and loud.

As much fun at it was, she decided not to further test his patience. “At the orphanage we had no money for horses.”

“Orphanage? Is that where my grandfather found you?”

She blushed and averted her gaze.
No good orphan leech!
Lady Buckley’s eldest daughter’s voice whispered through her head. It was her favorite phrase to throw at Ella, over and over again. “No, Lady Buckley took me in when I was a young girl.”

He didn’t question her further, and she was able to relax some. The trees gave way and a small clearing came into view.

The waterfall!

The place was a miracle of God. A clear creek wove its way through beech trees, cresting a small hill and splashing into the pool—a pool surrounded by ferns and moss-covered boulders. Truly a peaceful setting.

Leo slipped from his mount. He whispered something into the horse’s ears and then tied the reins to a branch. Without helping her down, he started toward the small pond of water. Ella resisted the urge to curse…to break a branch from a tree and hurl the limb at his head. Instead, trying to be as ladylike as possible, she managed to slide down the horse and land on her feet.

“So sorry.” She patted the animal who watched her warily out of its huge, brown eyes. “I’m usually not so clumsy, you see. I don’t really ride. But you,” she smoothed her hand down the horse’s neck. “Yes, you are lovely.” Appeased, the horse neighed and shook his mane.

Laughing, Ella turned to find Leo standing on a boulder, watching her with a frown. Her laughter died. What had she done now to annoy him? Really, was the man constantly in a bad temper? Without a word, he turned away from her.

“Leo, what are we doing here?” She climbed onto the boulders that surrounded the waterfall.

“Can you not just be silent? Enjoy the lull of nature?”

She frowned. “Well, of course I can. It’s just that silence was unusual at Lady Buckley’s. I wasn’t ever really alone, and there was always some child asking questions…” She trailed off when he turned and looked at her with his brow raised in obvious exasperation.

A sudden wash of melancholy made her sink to a rock. Sitting with her knees drawn to her chest, she stared into the water. What were the children doing now? Did they miss her? Would anyone else search through book after book until she found the answer to some outlandish question? Would anyone else show the patience she had with their many questions? Lady Buckley’s eldest daughter was an obnoxious twit, but the younger girls were quite kind.

Leo sat beside her and removed one of his boots. Her gaze darted from his foot to his face, back to his foot again. A bug buzzed near her ear, and she brushed aside the annoying pest as Leo removed the other boot. Without hesitation, he pulled off his stockings. Large, sinewy feet were bared before her. Her face heated, and she jerked her gaze away. What in the world was he doing? She couldn’t look…It’d be improper. Yet, she couldn’t stop herself from watching him out of the corner of her eye.