Madeline continued to watch them carefully. She narrowed her eyes. “Winning me back as a servant?”
“An excellent question,” Lady Veronica replied. “And one I would want to know the answer to as well. You’re quite astute.”
“No, not as a servant,” Lady Elizabeth said. “In fact, his precise words were…oh, what did he say exactly, Veronica?”
The duchess cleared her throat. “His precise words were, ‘I fear I’ve made a horrible mistake and she’ll never speak to me again. Do you think she’ll attend the Shillinghams’ ball with me if I ask?”
“Pardon?” Madeline’s mouth fell open.
Lady Jessica nodded. “We’re here to take you back and get you ready for the ball, if you’ll come with us.”
“Pardon?” Madeline repeated. She was entirely aware that she sounded like a fool, but she couldn’t quite comprehend what they were saying.
“I’m terrible with coiffures, but Jessa’s maid has agreed to help and she’s quite good,” Lady Elizabeth added.
“Yes, and I’ve got the loveliest lavender gown for you to wear,” Lady Veronica said. “And diamond earbobs,” she added with a wink.
Madeline stared at the lot of them as if they’d lost their minds. Were the Whitmoreland sisters truly sitting in her new employer’s drawing room asking her to come with them and be prepared to attend a ball with Justin? “I don’t underst—”
“It’s simple,” Lady Veronica interrupted. “Justin loves you. He knows he made a grave mistake. He’s quite prepared to grovel. And he’d like to escort you to the Shillinghams’ ball tonight.”
“Ever so romantic,” Lady Jessica chimed in, batting her long eyelashes.
“The question is…do you love him?” Lady Elizabeth finished.
Maddie cocked her head to the side and stared. She still couldn’t quite believe that Justin’s sister was sitting in her new employer’s drawing room, asking her to come with her and be prepared for a ball. But one thing Lady Veronica had said was almost irresistible. “He’s prepared to grovel?”
“Yes, and I’ve made it clear to him it had better be quite a lot of groveling,” Lady Veronica finished with a sharp nod.
Maddie crossed her arms over her chest and contemplated that for a moment. A groveling Justin? How could she possibly resist? “And you say the gown is…lavender?”
“It’s gorgeous!” Lady Veronica assured her.
Wait. It wasn’t that simple. “But I cannot go to a ball. I’m Lady Emily Hollingsworth’s maid,” Maddie pointed out inanely.
“You didn’t answer the question,” Lady Elizabeth said, crossing her arms over her chest and arching a brow. “Do you love him?”
“I… I…” Maddie cast about for the right words.
Lady Elizabeth stood, took Maddie by the arm, and walked to the window with her to speak privately. “I know what you’re thinking, Madeline. The night you first arrived at our house you told me the story of how you refused your awful cousin, remember? You told me that night how selfish you felt you’d been. You aren’t selfish. You’re human. Being selfish is different from refusing something awful. You had every right to refuse your cousin. And you indulged in a dance with Justin at the Hazeltons’ because you’re a young woman with adventure and romance in your heart. There’s absolutely nothing selfish about that either.”
A lump formed in Maddie’s throat. She had told Lady Elizabeth about refusing Cousin Leopold and feeling selfish.
“I’ve no idea what love feels like, mind you,” Lady Elizabeth continued, “so I cannot help you answer the question. But I do know my brother, and I’ve never seen him as distraught as he’s been in the last few days. And don’t think we haven’t let him squirm. We haven’t told him we’ve agreed to help. All I can tell you is that while he’s acted a complete fool, underneath, he is a very good man, and we believe he loves you with his entire heart.”
Maddie’s breath caught in her throat. It was suddenly difficult to breathe. Could it really be true? Could Justin love her?
“There’s one more thing I want to say to you, Madeline,” Lady Elizabeth continued. She turned and squeezed both of Maddie’s hands. “The night you came to our house, you also told me how much you loved your sister and would do anything for her. And you said you would only marry for love. At the risk of stating the obvious, I believe you have the chance to do both now. Wanting to marry for love is not selfish. It’s perfectly right. You deserve happiness, Madeline. Everyone does.” Lady Elizabeth moved toward the door and gestured to her sisters to follow. “Now. We’ll step outside and give you a few moments to contemplate the matter.”
Maddie’s tear-filled eyes met Lady Elizabeth’s kind gaze. “Wait. I don’t need a few moments. I already know.” She turned to face all of them. “I’m madly in love with your brother. But if any of you tell him that before he’s had a chance to grovel properly, I shall never forgive you,” Maddie finished with a laugh.
A huge smile spread across all three sisters’ faces at once.
“Believe me,” Lady Veronica said. “We wouldn’t dream of it. Now, let’s go.”
Maddie glanced about. “But I can’t just leave. What about Lady Emily and the duke?”
“Oh, right. You were Lady Emily’s maid,” Lady Elizabeth said, threading her arm through Maddie’s again and pulling her toward the door. “But now you’re the Honorable Miss Madeline Atwood, Baron Atwood’s eldest daughter. Don’t worry. We explained everything to the duke, and he understands completely.”
