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She started to wrap her arms around him, but Nathan stepped away, resisting the urge to push her back.
“I didn’t say you could put your hands on me, Lorraine.”
“Why can’t I touch you? You saved me.” Lorraine’s bottom lip trembled. “I mean, you and I…”
“Was never going to happen.” Nathan narrowed his eyes as a horrible thought came to him. No, surely not? “And you start trying to paw me moments after my future bride is kidnapped? Are you mad?”
“I... I was trying to get some comfort.” Lorraine wrapped her arms around her middle, but her whimpering facade was starting to slip. “What’s wrong with that?”
“It’s coming from you.” Nathan folded his arms and scowled at her. “You had to know what was happening.”
He could feel Simon tense behind him. Lorraine looked bewildered.
“What are you talking about?”
“You want me, and Leyton wants Eleanor. I wouldn’t be surprised if you two conspired, so you could have what you both wanted.”
“No, of course not!” Lorraine’s eyes widened. “I wouldn’t do such a thing.”
But there was a flicker in her expression, a flash of defiance in her eyes. Her hysterical, frightened demeanour was disappearing rapidly. Nathan had known how to read Lorraine when they were younger. He knew when she was scheming something. From her reaction, he had hit right on target. She had been involved.
He had never felt so cold.
“Where would Eleanor be taken, Lorraine?”
“I don’t know,” Lorraine cried. “I am telling the truth.”
“I believe you on that. But not on everything else.”
Lorraine gasped. “You don’t believe that I was forced into this? How could you think otherwise?”
“Because I know you.”
Nathan stepped towards her. Lorraine reached for him, trying to cup his face, but Nathan grabbed her wrists before she could touch him. Lorraine gasped.
“Get it into your head, Lady Chapman,” Nathan growled. “You and I are never becoming husband and wife. I don’t know how much more I can take with you pestering me so much.”
For a moment, he thought Lorraine was going to protest further and declare her innocence. But then her lip curled, and her eyes narrowed.
“As if you’re in love with your convenient bride,” she sneered. “She won’t be able to make you happy. Not like I can.”
Nathan set her away, dropping her wrists and stepping back.
“Lady Eleanor can make me happy simply by walking into the room. You can only make me happy when you leave the room. I think that’s telling.” He signalled at Simon, and his friend opened the door. “Fallowfields and Mrs. Waverly will look after you. Right now, I’ve got more pressing things to do. As soon as you’ve recovered enough, go home, and don’t contact me again.”
“Nathan, please!” Lorraine darted forward, grabbing his arm. “Please, don’t do this. I love you. I just wanted you as mine. Is that too much to ask?”
“If you loved me, you wouldn’t have conspired with a madman to kidnap my bride.” Nathan pulled his arm away. “It’s Captain Reynolds. You don’t get the privilege of calling me Nathan, Lady Chapman.”
He turned and left the room, Simon following close behind. Moments after Simon shut the door, there was an almighty scream and something hard hit the door. Simon grinned.
“I’m so glad I got to witness that.”
Nathan grunted. He headed towards the stairs.
“Let’s get back to my home. I need to get things in order.”
* * *
