Intrigued, Natalie glanced at Hadrian to see him regarding his mother with a hint of exasperation. “I’m not in the habit of regaling everyone I meet with an accounting of my parentage,” he said. “Now, about Sir Basil.”

“Ah yes,” the duchess said. “Have you kept in touch with him, Miss Fanshawe? Is he still among the living?”

“We exchange letters from time to time. I’ve an address for him here in London, in an area called Covent Garden.” Natalie looked at the duke. “If it isn’t asking too much, Hadrian, perhaps you wouldn’t mind lending me your carriage one day so that I might visit him?”

Even as he inclined his head in a nod, Lizzy sat up straight in her chair, glancing from her brother to Natalie. “Hadrian, is it? I’m surprised he allows you to call him by his given name.”

“Indeed,” her mother concurred, her speculative gaze on Natalie. “My son seldom permits anyone to address him with such familiarity. He is Clayton or Duke or Your Grace to all but a handful of intimates. Like his father, he’s always been stuffy and proper that way.”

Was that true? As the women stared at her, warmth crept into Natalie’s cheeks. Hadrian seemed to find amusement in her discomfort, judging by the smirk tilting up one corner of his lips. Afraid the ladies might guess about that passionate kiss, she tossed out a distraction. “We’ve been working closely in an effort to do what’s best for Leo, that’s all. We agreed it wasn’t wise to leave him with Lord Godwin at the moment.”

The duchess took the bait. “A sensible decision, I must say. Oak Knoll is a horrid place for a young child, so cold and grim, like a fortress.”

“That’s precisely what I thought, too,” Natalie said.

“I have never even been there,” Lizzy commented. “But I’ve met Lord Godwin here in London, and he seems a severe sort of fellow. I confess, I’m eager to learn what happened during your visit.”

“We’ll discuss it later,” Hadrian said, flicking a meaningful glance at Leo, who was playing with his toy coach on the floor. “Getting back to Sir Basil, Natalie will be calling on him, in addition to taking Leo to the park and various amusements around town. It would be obliging of you, Mama, to assist her in acquiring the proper London wardrobe.”

Natalie felt as if she’d been poked with a pin. “What? I’ve ample clothing in my valise.” That was a brazen lie, she acknowledged to herself, comparing her paltry few dresses to the fashionable creations worn by the other two women. “Though perhaps you’d be so kind as to direct me to a shop where I might purchase materials to sew another gown or two.”

“Sew? Yourself?” The duchess appeared scandalized by the notion. “Certainly not! I would be a poor hostess indeed if I expected my guests to labor all day stitching their own clothing. We shall visit my mantua-maker in the morning. Madame Barbeau is the finest in London. She will not require an appointment, for she often says I’m her best customer.”