Justin wandered over to the instrument and braced an arm atop it. “Tell me something. How did you learn to play so well?”
Her fingers shifted on the keys and an awful noise emitted forth. She laughed and started again. “I…my mother taught me.” Her voice was unnaturally high and there was a bit of a squeak to it.
“I see. And your speech? It’s quite refined for a lady’s maid. Not to mention your French.”
Madeline kept her eyes on the keys. “Also my mother. I…I was raised in a…proper household, my lord.”
He narrowed his eyes on her. “Exactly how proper was your household?”
She swallowed. “I…I nearly married once.”
His brows shot up. “Did you?” It was not an answer, of course, but apparently it was all she was willing to give.
“Yes. I had the chance, but I…didn’t take it.” She finished her tune and turned around on the bench.
“I want to apologize.”
“You don’t owe me any more apologies, my lord.”
“Yes, I do. This time I must apologize for taking a liberty with you last night.”
The hint of a smile curled her lips. “As you said, my lord, we’re even.”
“Please, call me Justin. At least when we’re alone. It feels wrong for you to call me by my title after we’ve kissed…twice.”
She laughed at that. “I did hear that you’re a rake.”
He nearly choked. “Is that so? Who told you that?”
“Your sister,” Madeline offered.
Justin’s brows shot up. “Eliza? I should hope she doesn’t know what that word means.”
“She doesn’t,” Madeline assured him.
“Good!” He grinned at her. “So, tell me. If you had a chance to marry, why didn’t you take it?”
She was a silent a few moments before saying, “Because it wasn’t for love.”
Justin narrowed his eyes at her. “You want to marry for love?”
She nodded firmly. “Love and only love. Not that it matters now. That time is long-since past. I’ve no plans to marry. I’m only concerned about my sister’s prospects. I would do anything for Molly.”
“Your sister?” He frowned. What could her sister’s prospects be? “Is she a maid too?”
Madeline shook her head. “No, she’s not.”
“Where is she then?”
“She’s in the country. Back in Devon. She’s staying with a family friend for the time being. I used to live there too. After Papa died and we—” She cleared her throat. “Our fortunes changed.”
Justin nodded. Perhaps her father had been a gambler or a spendthrift. If he’d died and left them penniless, they would be forced to rely on the kindness of friends. An unfortunate position to be in, but one he’d seen all too often among the gentry.
“I came to London to work. To send money back to Molly,” Madeline continued.
He nodded again. Just as he’d suspected. “That’s awfully good of you.”
“After refusing my one and only proposal, I had no choice,” she replied. “I’ve only done what I had to do, and it’s not good of me at all because I put my position at risk by being so selfish.”
