Wild Heart Read Online Free PDF

froze in her chest. His nostrils flared, and his lip curled into a menacing snarl. His eyes, dear Lord, had his eyes turned to fire? She wanted to flee, yet couldn’t seem to move.
    His bare feet hit the floor with a thud, his long muscled legs naked from the knees down. His dark hair hung loose to his jaw line. Beside the strange short trousers he wore, nothing else covered his golden body. He stalked toward her, muscles bunching, flexing, under tanned skin.
    Run! Run! Her mind screamed, yet she couldn’t seem to move. Stupid, stupid, stupid girl! Just treat him like any of my wards. Except none of her past wards had been tall and muscled. He stopped a foot from her, so close she swayed, overwhelmed by his presence.
    Lifting his arm, he pointed toward the door.
    “Get out!” he demanded.
    Without hesitation, Ella spun around and raced from the room. Slamming the door shut, she leaned against the wall and took in great gulps of air. Dear Lord, he’d kill her, he would. A loud crash shook the floor. Ella gasped, lifted her skirts, and scurried down the hall. She couldn’t do this…she couldn’t…she wouldn’t. She’d have to find another way to help Fran. She reached for her bedroom door when realization made her freeze.
    He’d spoken.
    Her arm fell to her side, and she turned, staring down the long hall where she could barely decipher the outline of his door.
    “ Can you speak? ” she’d asked him at the waterfall. What a ninny he must have thought her. But how well could he speak?
    “Ella?” Lord Roberts stood at the top of the stairs, watching her.
    Guilt washed through her, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. He thought she’d stay, that she’d be a miracle tonic for his grandson.
    With a sigh, he started toward her, not pausing until he reached the window beside her.
    “If you follow that path,” Lord Roberts started, nodding toward the horizon. “It will take you directly to the sea.”
    She couldn’t stop herself from looking in the direction he indicated. “Really?”
    “But you aren’t here to enjoy the scenery, are you?”
    Her face flushed, and she shook her head. “I—I don’t know how I can help him. I think he may be beyond help.” But even as she said the words, she knew it was the fear talking, fear of emotions so troubling and powerful she knew they could be her demise.
    Lord Roberts sighed. “When Leo’s father wanted to go to India, I didn’t say a word.”
    Ella’s heart skipped a beat. “India?”
    “He’d always been an adventurous boy, and I knew I couldn’t stifle his longing. For twelve years now, I’ve regretted that decision. Leo’s parents were murdered there.”
    Ella couldn’t contain her gasp.
    Lord Roberts continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “Leo was nowhere to be found. My second son traveled there, but could find no trace. A little over a year ago, Leo appeared at this house. I didn’t believe it was him, at first. But he had his father’s ring and his grandmother’s eyes.”
    “But where was he all that time? How did he survive?” Ella demanded. Suddenly, her visions were starting to make sense.
    “He had a friend with him, some sort of Indian native named Akshay who comes and goes like a thief. Speaks even less than Leo. Other than that, I do not know who helped him survive.”
    “You haven’t asked?”
    He gazed out over the gardens below, his face tired and worn down by the burdens of life. “I tried, but the boy is rather silent, if you haven’t noticed.”
    “But, you do know he can speak, don’t you?”
    “Of course, although he’s barely spoken more than a few words to me. He’s not an animal, if that’s what you think. Spent time with an Italian artist where he learned to paint. He was old enough when he lost his parents to retain a bit of the English culture. But he needs refinement. Needs to learn how to behave around women if he is to ever marry and carry on our family line.”
    They lapsed into silence. Ella’s mind