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