Wild Heart by Lori Brighton

betters were in attendance. Could he bring out the real Ella? “Where did you say I place the napkin?” Leo asked.
    His grandfather’s bushy brows rose, and his gaze slid to Ella.
    “Your lap,” she said through clenched teeth, as if the word were sinful.
    He leaned back, knowing he was about to push her over the edge, and frankly, he was enjoying the festivities. “Show me, please. I do so want to get it right.”
    She hesitated for a brief moment. Leo raised a brow, taunting her.
    “Yes, well, I’ll leave you two,” Grandfather murmured from the door, a slight frown on his face. With a quick glance back, he left.
    Ella snatched the napkin from the table and dropped it on Leo’s lap.
    “Can you move it up a little?” Leo asked, batting his lashes as he’d seen women do in London.
    Her nostrils flared slightly. Oh, it was all worth it. Completely worth it. She reached out and slowly drew the napkin up, her fingers brushing lightly against his thighs. Heat pooled into his groin. Bordering on arousal, he practically jumped from the seat. His amusement faded.
    “I am not here to act on your every demand,” she snapped.
    “Of course,” he replied innocently. “Ready to learn.”
    Her brows drew together, but after a moment’s pause she gave him a slow nod. “Good. First of all, you must remember to skim your spoon away from you body.”
    He laughed and the sound echoed through the room, loud and improper.
    She sighed. “What now?”
    “What will happen if I don’t skim away?”
    “It’s just not done,” she said, shaking her head. “Now—”
    “How do you know all this?”
    “What?”
    He waved his hand through the air. “All of these rules. I thought you grew up in an orphanage. I hardly see the reason for using so many utensils in an orphanage.”
    She shook her head. “Please, lower your voice. The orphanage is not something I speak of. Lady Buckley forbade me to tell anyone that is where she found me.”
    “She sounds lovely.”
    Ella’s lips twitched for the first time since he’d entered the room, and he found he wanted to see her smile. He wanted to be the reason for her pleasurable mood. “Lady Buckley made sure I knew about manners, and it was my duty to teach her younger girls. We would have guests who would come to dinner, and we had to be on our best behavior.”
    “I see.” What a bizarre childhood she must have had. “How did she find you?”
    She sighed. “We are here for you to learn about proper dining, not for you to learn about my past.”
    She rang a bell and a footman appeared, sweeping away their soup.
    “I barely had time to eat,” Leo protested.
    “We do not have all day, my lord . We must move on to the next course.”
    “Very well.” He leaned back, resting his arm along the back of her chair. She glanced over her shoulder and frowned. “What? Not proper?”
    “Not in the least.”
    “You are very concerned with propriety.”
    She stiffened. “Well, of course. As should you be.”
    “I find it tedious. Do you not?”
    Pink flushed her cheeks. Dear Lord, it amused him to bait the woman, yet at the same time he was truly curious to hear her answer. He knew there was more to her than this prim and proper act she portrayed. He needed a comrade in this mad society of rules; he needed the real Ella. How far did he need to push before she would break free? It hadn’t taken much the other day at the waterfall. It had taken even less effort this morn in the ballroom. His gaze slid to her lips. She’d tasted so sweet…like fresh air and innocence. He wanted nothing more than to taste her again.
    He looked away. “ Merda. ”
    “What does that mean?”
    “It’s best if you don’t know.”
    She tilted her chin again. “Now that is not proper at the table or anywhere else.”
    Leo laughed, and Ella smiled.
    His heart warmed. Disconcerted, he focused on his plate, picking apart his roll with a fork, merely to keep his hands busy so he wouldn’t touch