mother. “I sometimes voice my thoughts aloud,” she murmured, compromising with a variation of the truth.
He seemed to accept her explanation, or at least he didn’t press her further. After leaving his lamp on the same table as her candle, Haviland came to stand before her.
Madeline suddenly felt breathless as she looked up at him.
“You disappoint me, Miss Ellis. I specifically tasked you with rescuing me from a horde of grasping debutantes, but you abandoned me to their tender mercies.”
His tone was light, even teasing, yet she couldn’t respond in kind. Her wits had gone begging with his close proximity.
“You did not appear to be in need of rescue,” she finally managed.
“But I was.” He inclined his head toward the school desks. “The nursery? You chose a curious place to hide.”
His casual remark pricked her, possibly because he had hit so close to the mark. “I am not
hiding.”
“No? Then why are you here? Because you are not attired in the latest fashion?” His measuring gaze raked slowly down her lavender gown. “You look perfectly acceptable to me.”
Madeline’s breath faltered altogether at his perusal, but she forced herself to reply. “I told you, I do not care much for balls.”
“Nor do I. I dislike the trappings and pretensions of society in general. So much idle pleasure seems frivolous after decades of conflict across the Continent. It has always amazed me that the good denizens of the haute ton seemed insensible to the bloody carnage occurring just across the Channel.”
Madeline felt a surge of sympathy at the reminder of how much war and death Haviland must have seen. “True. And I am accustomed to being occupied.”
“So am I. But you are not a servant in this household, Miss Ellis. You are a guest, and as such you are entitled to enjoy yourself tonight.”
“I know.”
He offered no reply but continued regarding her in that searching way, as if he were seeking something in her expression.
As time stretched between them, Madeline began to grow uncomfortable. She wondered how Haviland hadmanaged to find her. But then she remembered; he was a master spy, after all.
“Why are
you
here, my lord? You should be courting your future bride.”
He hesitated, then gave a mock wince. “Must you remind me?”
“You are the one who said you planned to use the evening to further your search.”
“I thought I deserved a respite. But you disappeared before I could solicit your hand for a waltz.”
That took her aback. “You wished to waltz with me?”
“Why does that surprise you? You would make a far more interesting partner than any of the young ladies I danced with tonight.”
Madeline stared at him warily. “I do not waltz, my lord.”
His expression turned curious. “Why not?”
“I never learned.”
“Your education is sorely lacking then.”
His observation struck a nerve. “No doubt, but just when would I have had the opportunity to learn to waltz?” she asked. “I have been employed as a companion since it was imported from the Continent two years ago, and in no position to engage a dancing master.”
Realizing how peevish she sounded, Madeline softened her tone and managed a wry smile. “Besides, Lady Talwin considered the waltz a vulgar display of hedonism.”
Haviland cocked his head, considering her. “You could always play whist. There are two card rooms set up for those who don’t care to dance.”
She shook her head. “That would not be advisable. I am a sharp at whist.”
His mouth curved in amusement, but his response seemed to question her claim. “Indeed?”
“I am not boasting. Lady Talwin and I played many a hand for imaginary pennies, and she loathed it when I failed to give my all. If I were to play here, I would surely win, and I don’t wish to fleece Lady Danvers’s guests. That is no way to repay her kindness to me.”
“I expect not,” he agreed, his lips twitching. “Very well, then. Since you cannot play
He seemed to accept her explanation, or at least he didn’t press her further. After leaving his lamp on the same table as her candle, Haviland came to stand before her.
Madeline suddenly felt breathless as she looked up at him.
“You disappoint me, Miss Ellis. I specifically tasked you with rescuing me from a horde of grasping debutantes, but you abandoned me to their tender mercies.”
His tone was light, even teasing, yet she couldn’t respond in kind. Her wits had gone begging with his close proximity.
“You did not appear to be in need of rescue,” she finally managed.
“But I was.” He inclined his head toward the school desks. “The nursery? You chose a curious place to hide.”
His casual remark pricked her, possibly because he had hit so close to the mark. “I am not
hiding.”
“No? Then why are you here? Because you are not attired in the latest fashion?” His measuring gaze raked slowly down her lavender gown. “You look perfectly acceptable to me.”
Madeline’s breath faltered altogether at his perusal, but she forced herself to reply. “I told you, I do not care much for balls.”
“Nor do I. I dislike the trappings and pretensions of society in general. So much idle pleasure seems frivolous after decades of conflict across the Continent. It has always amazed me that the good denizens of the haute ton seemed insensible to the bloody carnage occurring just across the Channel.”
Madeline felt a surge of sympathy at the reminder of how much war and death Haviland must have seen. “True. And I am accustomed to being occupied.”
“So am I. But you are not a servant in this household, Miss Ellis. You are a guest, and as such you are entitled to enjoy yourself tonight.”
“I know.”
He offered no reply but continued regarding her in that searching way, as if he were seeking something in her expression.
As time stretched between them, Madeline began to grow uncomfortable. She wondered how Haviland hadmanaged to find her. But then she remembered; he was a master spy, after all.
“Why are
you
here, my lord? You should be courting your future bride.”
He hesitated, then gave a mock wince. “Must you remind me?”
“You are the one who said you planned to use the evening to further your search.”
“I thought I deserved a respite. But you disappeared before I could solicit your hand for a waltz.”
That took her aback. “You wished to waltz with me?”
“Why does that surprise you? You would make a far more interesting partner than any of the young ladies I danced with tonight.”
Madeline stared at him warily. “I do not waltz, my lord.”
His expression turned curious. “Why not?”
“I never learned.”
“Your education is sorely lacking then.”
His observation struck a nerve. “No doubt, but just when would I have had the opportunity to learn to waltz?” she asked. “I have been employed as a companion since it was imported from the Continent two years ago, and in no position to engage a dancing master.”
Realizing how peevish she sounded, Madeline softened her tone and managed a wry smile. “Besides, Lady Talwin considered the waltz a vulgar display of hedonism.”
Haviland cocked his head, considering her. “You could always play whist. There are two card rooms set up for those who don’t care to dance.”
She shook her head. “That would not be advisable. I am a sharp at whist.”
His mouth curved in amusement, but his response seemed to question her claim. “Indeed?”
“I am not boasting. Lady Talwin and I played many a hand for imaginary pennies, and she loathed it when I failed to give my all. If I were to play here, I would surely win, and I don’t wish to fleece Lady Danvers’s guests. That is no way to repay her kindness to me.”
“I expect not,” he agreed, his lips twitching. “Very well, then. Since you cannot play
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