Melody was on the floor, Lady Natalie looming over her with her maid fluttering uncertainly a step away. Panic shot through him, but as he moved towards them, he saw Lady Natalie bend down so that she was eye-level with his daughter.
“Are you hurt?” Lady Natalie asked. “I am told I have rather bony shins.”
Melody shook her head. Adrian itched to go to her, to comfort her, but something held him in place. He could see that LadyNatalie was holding herself back from reaching towards Melody, that she was genuinely concerned for her.
“That is good.” Lady Natalie said, her voice gentle as she smiled at Melody.
Melody canted her head towards Lady Natalie. “You are not cross with me?”
Lady Natalie asked, “Why would I be cross with you?”
“Because I should have been paying attention.” Melody looked away and Adrian clenched his fist.
Lady Natalie shrugged and gestured to herself. “The same might be said of me. And it is far more important that someone as big as me pay attention to what is going on around her.”
“You are very tall.” Melody looked up at Lady Natalie, a thoughtful expression on her face.
Adrian tensed, ready to intervene if Lady Natalie thought to reprimand his daughter, but to his surprise she laughed.
“It is a family trait. I am lucky that most ceilings are so high or I would be constantly hitting my head.” Lady Natalie rubbed her head. “One of my sisters has a rather small cottage by the sea, and whenever we visit for the summer, I leave with the most horrendous headache.”
“Does your sister hit her head too?” Melody asked, and Adrian saw her brow furrow.
“Less than me. She is a little shorter, and she is used to the cottage.” Lady Natalie explained, glancing over her shoulder at a servant who was approaching her and Melody, looking worried.
“Do you need any help, my lady?” the servant asked, reaching towards Natalie and Melody.
Adrian saw his daughter shrink back from the man’s outstretched hand. Anger flared in him—they knew not to touch her without asking—but before he could say anything Lady Natalie had intercepted the servant’s hand and said, “we do not need any assistance, thank you.”
“Are you sure?” the servant asked.
“Quite sure. We were just talking about the beauty of the floorboards, and well, I could not resist such a close inspection.” Lady Natalie winked at Melody who smiled back at her. “Though I see that perhaps the time for such appreciation has passed. I would not want to keep my fine companion from her important work.”
Lady Natalie slid so that she was between the servant and Melody, and drew herself up with dignity. “Perhaps I do require your assistance after all. I need to find the drawing room.”
“Of course.” The servant looked from her to Melody. “It is this way.”
“Thank you.” Lady Natalie let herself be helped to her feet whilst continuing to shield Melody, and then she turned to face the child. “It was a pleasure meeting you…”
“Melody.” His daughter smiled.
“A beautiful name. I am Natalie Rokesby.” Lady Natalie curtseyed. “And I thank you for taking such good care of me.”
Melody curtseyed and smiled at her. She waited a moment, and then darted down the hall and away. The servant led Lady Natalie into the drawing room, and Adrian decided to make his entrance.
He walked into the drawing room and saw Lady Natalie standing in a corner, looking out of the window.
The sunlight caught the sharp lines of her face, and made her amber eyes seem full of warmth.
“I am glad to see that you know how doors work.” Adrian swept into a bow. “I expected to see you sooner.”
He let the implication hang between them, not wanting to give the woman’s maid information that she might not already have.
Lady Natalie scoffed, her eyes narrowing as she inclined her head to him, a challenge in her eyes at her refusal to curtesy. “By my count, this is the fourth time I have attempted to meet with you. I had no idea that you could actually accept someone’s request to be seen.
“Well, it would be a very poor show if I refused to see my fiancée would it not?” Adrian replied smoothly, waiting for the predictable flash of rage.
“I am not your fiancée!” Lady Natalie growled, striding towards him. “Nor will I ever be if you do not explain yourself.”
