“It’s quite the handy system for summoning help, isn’t it?”

“But how does it work?”

As the servants melted away to return to their tasks, Hadrian explained, “There are wires inside the walls, and a spring mechanism that activates them when you give a tug on the rope. My grandfather, the sixth duke, had the bells installed quite a long time ago.”

“Flora and Tippy said that our bell might be broken. But I think Flora didn’t pull the cord hard enough.”

“That may be, but it wasn’t your place to check. They had no idea where you’d gone. You know very well that a young gentleman doesn’t wander off on his own and cause worry for everyone.”

At his stern tone, Leo hung his head, kicking the flagstone floor with the toe of his shoe. “Sorry.”

“It’s Miss Fanshawe who deserves your apology. She’s been hunting all over the house for you.”

The boy threw his arms around Natalie’s waist. “Don’t be angry. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

Trying not to melt, she smoothed his tousled sandy hair. “I won’t be angry so long as you keep your vow in the future.”

As Leo slipped his hand into the duke’s, Hadrian looked startled, though not displeased. They proceeded upstairs to the nursery, where Leo had a joyous reunion with the maids. They scolded and fussed over him, agreeing with Natalie that he must go straight to bed without his cocoa.

Leo bore his punishment stoically. “You may kiss me good night now, Miss Fanshawe, for I oughtn’t have a story read to me, either.”

She bent down to press her lips to his brow. “Sweet dreams, darling.”

He looked up at Hadrian. “I want to be a duke someday. Then I can have a house with bells, too.” With that, he went trotting off to bed.

Natalie caught Hadrian’s twinkling gaze and felt an answering bubble of mirth inside her. As they left the nursery, she said, “I expect he’ll learn soon enough that the aristocracy doesn’t work that way.”

“Never fear, by tomorrow, he’ll want to be a groom or a butler.”

Hadrian’s hand came to rest lightly against her back as they went down the stairs. His warmth penetrated the thin saffron silk of her gown, feeding the fizz of desire she always felt in his presence. In the shadowy darkness lit by her lamp, they might have been the only two people in the world.

To distract herself, she said, “None of this would have happened if it hadn’t been for that irksome ball. I was writing invitations in your mother’s suite all afternoon, when I ought to have been with Leo.”

“Lizzy didn’t help you?”

“She and the duchess decided that I have neater penmanship, so the task fell to me. But truly, I believe they both just preferred to plan all the many details. And seeing their enthusiasm as they wrote out long lists of things to purchase only made me think…”

They had reached her bedchamber door, and he pushed it open to allow her to enter. “Think what?”