Hadrian appeared at her side, an irksome grin tilting one corner of his mouth. “It’s useless to fight them,” he murmured. “They always get their way. Shall we proceed to the nursery now?”

Chapter 18

On their way upstairs, Hadrian carried Leo’s new toy. The boy bounded up the steps in a state of jubilant talkativeness. “I like my mail coach very much. The little horses, too. Even if it’s not the same as having a real pony.”

Natalie caught the hopeful, sidelong glance he cast up at the duke. Still reeling from the extravagance of his mother and sister, she said firmly, “Leo! You are not to be expecting a pony anytime soon. One gift per week is all we agreed upon. And that’s only if you behave yourself.”

“I will, Miss Fanshawe. ’Specially if I have a real pony!”

Hadrian chuckled. “I haven’t forgotten my promise, brat. In the meantime, you may practice your riding skills on the hobby horse in the nursery.”

“What’s a hobby horse?”

“A large wooden steed designed for a fellow just your size. Go inside, you’ll see it over by the window.”

The boy dashed ahead of them through the doorway and into the sunlit schoolroom. A pair of maidservants stood waiting, one old and one young. The girl helped Leo onto the carved horse and showed him how to rock back and forth, which he did with great enthusiasm. Both servants curtsied to the duke, eyeing Natalie with friendly curiosity.

Hadrian set down the miniature mail coach on one of the small tables, then went to the middle-aged woman and planted a kiss on her wrinkled cheek. “Why, Tippy, I might have known you’d still be in charge of this nursery. Miss Fanshawe, this is Mrs. Tippet.”

Setting aside her own woes for the moment, Natalie greeted her warmly, liking the woman’s briskness and air of competence. She had a grandmotherly plumpness in a serviceable gray gown and white apron, and brown eyes that twinkled beneath her mobcap.

“I was nursemaid to His Grace for his first five years, and then whenever he came to visit. The girl here is Flora. She grew up with younger brothers and knows how to keep little boys occupied so’s they stay out of trouble.”

Flora smiled shyly before going to help Leo dismount from the hobby horse. She seemed energetic enough to keep up with an active boy, especially one who was eagerly darting around the large play area to view the many toys.

While the duke directed him to check out the contents of the cupboards, Natalie strolled around the schoolroom, examining the well-stocked educational supplies. Although the textbooks dated back to Hadrian’s youth, they would do well for her to use in teaching a six-year-old.

At least for the time being, she thought with a pang. Then a new governess would be hired, and Natalie would return to America. She would say good-bye to Leo—and Hadrian—forever.

Now, why was she feeling such a lump in her throat? That day wouldn’t arrive for many weeks. And anyway, she wanted to resume a normal life in Philadelphia, where she could proceed with her plans to open a school.