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“Only because you’re so adorable—”
She pushed him gently, her chin notching up. “You kissed me and then you left me. Not only was it a terrible tease, but it also really hurt my—” She stopped and he winced.
It was true. “That was because you scared me.”
She gasped and he used her moment of shock to pull her closer. “You were so perfect that night. I…” But he didn’t finish. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw his uncle marching toward them. “Damn.”
She followed his gaze, her hand tightening on his arm. “Is that him?”
“Yes.” Even the sight of his uncle had bile rising in his throat.
“Don’t worry,” she said, her fingers skating along his skin. “We’ll…”
It didn’t even matter what she said next. The fact that she counted herself as another person helping him to ward off his uncle’s vitriol made his shoulders a bit straighter. “Thank you for helping me.”
She gave a quick nod as Ethan’s uncle descended upon them.
Ethan found himself tucking Natalie a bit behind him. He appreciated her assertion that she’d help to protect him against his uncle. But truly, it was his job to protect her, not the other way around. He’d unwrap what it meant later.
Right now, he prepared for battle.
His uncle stopped short in front of them, a smile parting his lips. “Ethan, you came.”
Ethan blinked at the change in his uncle. There weren’t many times in his life that he was rendered near speechless, but this was one of them. “I told you I would.”
For a moment, his uncle’s lips pursed, but then he was smiling again. “Introduce me to this enchanting creature.”
Ethan held out his hand, but not to pull Natalie forward. He was decidedly blocking her. “Miss Natalie Blake, this is my uncle, Lord Preston.”
“A pleasure,” Natalie said as she moved around his hand, dipping into a curtsey.
“I know your uncle,” his said. “Quality man, he is.”
“Thank you, my lord,” she answered. “He’s been more than generous with my sister and myself since my father’s death.”
“Good.” His uncle gave Natalie another glowing smile. “Now, tell me, how did you meet my nephew?”
Natalie recounted their meeting, leaving out the tawdry parts, blushing prettily when she came to the part where they’d attempted to rescue a lost kitten.
A kitten he’d completely made up.
His uncle’s gaze had flicked to his as he murmured, “My nephew, rescuing strays?”
Natalie nodded. “Someone has to give them the attention they need so that they might grow up strong.” And then she looked back at him, her gaze holding his.
She’d never been more wonderful than she was in this moment, lying so prettily to his uncle as she looked for all the world like the most innocent young lady.
And she was. Except for the part where she was lying through her teeth. And his uncle believed every sweet little deceitful word falling from her lips. “Unbelievable,” he muttered, causing them to look at him.
“What?” his uncle rumbled.
“It’s rather unbelievable how much he loves the kitten.” Natalie gave him a glowing smile. “Isn’t it, my lord?”
“It is,” he rumbled back. He’d created a monster. A beautiful, wicked monster. He’d never been prouder or more appalled. Had he thought his influence good? He’d been a terrible influence on her. He’d run before because she’d frightened him, but this time, he wondered if he ought to leave her again for her own sake.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Natalie watched Ethan’s uncle walk away, triumph coursing through her. She’d done it. She’d seized opportunity, she’d made Ethan’s chance happen. His uncle was thoroughly convinced their courtship was real and he’d give Ethan the time he needed.
