“May I ask you a question? About your time at Henrietta’s house?”
“Of course, my lady.” Maddie helped Lady Elizabeth remove the emerald necklace her mother had forced her to wear.
“I’m curious. Why did you take Lady Henrietta’s clothes and jewelry?”
Maddie’s stomach dropped. The words rushed from her lips in a breathless string. “If you’re concerned that I’ll ever do that to you, I promise I never—”
“No. No,” Lady Elizabeth hastened to add. “I’m not at all worried about that. Believe me, I wish I could dress you up in my gowns and send you about the events of the Season pretending to be me. I’m merely curious why you’d want to sneak into the ball.”
Maddie bit her lip. “If I tell you, do I have your word you won’t tell anyone. Including your brother?”
Lady Elizabeth nodded. “Absolutely.”
“Very well.” Maddie might as well tell her new mistress the truth. After all, Lady Elizabeth already knew the worst of it. “The truth is—in another life—I was meant to have a debut and dance with gentlemen at London balls. Perhaps share a kiss with a particularly handsome one.” She paused for a moment before adding. “Oh, you must think I’m the most forward person in the world.”
“Not at all,” Lady Elizabeth replied quite matter-of-factly. “I’ve often wished that I wanted the same things other young ladies seem to want, gowns and jewels and ribbons and bonnets. I can’t think of anything worse than dressing up and parading around in order to find a husband, however. And dancing is dreadfully boring.”
Maddie nodded, although she disagreed. Dancing was as lovely as she’d always dreamed—kissing even lovelier—but there would be no more of either for her. Papa would be so disappointed. He’d only asked her for one thing, and she’d come perilously close to ruining everything.
She’d promised her father on his deathbed that she would take care of Molly. And she would. There was no one else left to help them. Only when she was given the most difficult choice, she’d chosen her own selfish interests over what was best for her sister. And now her sister’s future was in danger. Maddie had to make it right.
“Madeline, did you hear me?” came Lady Elizabeth’s soft voice.
“No. I’m sorry. What did you say?” She took her mistress’s soft night rail from a hook in the wardrobe and helped her pull it over her head.
“Come sit,” Lady Elizabeth said as soon as the night rail was settled. She lowered herself to the edge of the bed and patted the space next to her. “You seem to have a great deal on your mind.”
Tentatively, Maddie moved over to the bed and took a seat next to her mistress. Henrietta had never invited her to sit and talk. Aside from Anna, Maddie had had no one to talk to these past four years.
“You said you were meant to have a debut,” Lady Elizabeth said frankly. “What did you mean by that?”
Maddie took a deep breath. “If I’m to tell you, I must ask you again not to share it with anyone.”
“You have my word,” Lady Elizabeth replied, nodding sagely.
Maddie closed her eyes briefly. Somehow she knew her secrets would be safe with the sensible young woman. She took another deep breath. “My father was a baron,” she admitted.
Lady Elizabeth’s eyes widened, but she remained silent.
“He died when I was eighteen. When I refused to marry my awful cousin who inherited Papa’s title, he put my younger sister and me out.”
Lady Elizabeth gasped. “No.” She reached over and covered Maddie’s cold hand with her own warm one and squeezed it encouragingly.
Maddie swallowed. “I came to London to find work. I send every farthing back to Molly.”
“Your sister?” Lady Elizabeth prodded.
“Yes.”
“Oh, dear. I’m so terribly sorry.” Lady Elizabeth squeezed her hand once more.
“Don’t be, my lady. I made my choice. I only regret that Molly has suffered because of it. I have been terribly selfish. I love my sister dearly, and I would do anything for her. But I refuse to marry for anything less than true love.”
“You seem like a very resourceful, caring young lady to me, Madeline,” Lady Elizabeth said, squeezing her hand one final time before pulling hers away. “I believe your sister is extremely fortunate to have you.”
Maddie stood and expelled her breath. That was kind of Lady Elizabeth to say but she knew in her heart how selfish she’d been. Meanwhile, it felt oddly freeing to have shared her secret with Lady Elizabeth. She felt better than she had in days. “If there’s nothing else, my lady. I’ll just be going.”
“May I ask you one more question?” Lady Elizabeth said. “And I promise to tell no one the answer.”
