“Bond Street?” the duke said. “Let me guess. Tuttle’s Toy Emporium.”

The butler’s impassive features betrayed a trace of humor in the minuscule elevation of one eyebrow. “There were a number of packages with that distinctive wrapping.”

“Well,” Hadrian said, a weighty exasperation conveyed in the single word. “Will you mind coming along, Natalie? You can meet my mother and sister while your rooms are being prepared.”

A footman whisked away her cloak and bonnet; then she collected Leo and they headed up one of the twin staircases. Hadrian took the opportunity to point out highlights of the house, including a portrait of an uncle who had been an admiral, and a nick in the woodwork where Hadrian had struck it as a boy while attempting to ride his sled down the stairs. It was clear that he was proud of his domain and very much wanted to make them feel at home.

Natalie found that touching, though she was still too wonderstruck to imagine living in such grand surroundings. The place was in stark contrast to the modest frame house in which she’d grown up, and the cozy log cabin she’d shared with Audrey and her family in the wilderness.

Reaching the upper balcony, she glimpsed several magnificent reception rooms before they continued up another wide flight of steps, headed along a carpeted corridor, and arrived at a door that stood partway open. The duke rapped loudly on the panel. When Leo would have darted inside, Hadrian held him back, a twinkle in his eye. “Ladies first, brat.”

Natalie hesitated. Despite having forded raging rivers and ridden through wild lands, she found herself leery to cross this threshold into the private quarters of a duchess. Her reluctance made no sense. What could there possibly be to fear in meeting Hadrian’s mother and sister? They were, after all, potential allies in securing a happy future for Leo.

Holding on to that thought, she marched inside and found herself in a sitting room that abounded with gilded splendor: chairs with embroidered pillows, shelves and tables crowded with dainty objets d’art, flower paintings on the rose-papered walls. Even the air smelled rich with a perfumed scent.

Just then, a yapping spaniel sped around the corner and stopped in the arched doorway as if to guard entry to the bedchamber. The dog was followed by a chestnut-haired beauty in a mint-green gown.

This must be Hadrian’s sister. A softer, feminine version of her brother, she showed the unmistakable roundness of pregnancy as she swooped forward with a glad cry. “Hadrian! I told Mama I heard a knock!”

He gave her a peck on the cheek before reaching down to scratch the floppy ears of the spaniel. “Well, Lizzy. I understand that you’re up to your old tricks, encouraging the duchess to beggar me at the shops.”

“That old tattler Winkelman! Now, don’t be a fussbudget and spoil our fun. We had a delightful morning preparing for your guests.” Her china-blue eyes roved with interest over Leo and Natalie. “And here they are!”