“Then why did you ask that I bring it to you?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve had any, and I thought to see if it’s as appalling as I remember. It’s more so.” Why was he explaining himself? One didn’t justify one’s actions to servants. And did he have to sound so blasted chagrined?
“Oh, I see.” She took a single step back, and he decided she really did see. It wasn’t the tea he’d wanted but her presence.
“I’ll also admit to finding you intriguing. Your diction is more suited to upstairs than down. You strike me as being too independent to take orders. You’re accustomed to giving them.”
“What makes you think that?”
“I’m not sure. You bring to mind a mine that is played out, but the owner is trying to sell it by insisting it is still of value.” He shook his head. “No, that’s not quite right. You’re more like something of value striving to appear that it isn’t. Which makes no sense. Yet still, I’d invest in you in a heartbeat.”
“I can’t decide if I’ve been complimented or insulted.”
“There.” He winked at her. “A servant wouldn’t be so bold as to respond to what I said. Would have simply asked if I required anything else. Last night... you know your liquors. Most maids don’t.”
“How many maids have you had pour you a drink?”
He released a quick burst of laughter. “None.”
“Therefore, you may be judging me by what you think a servant does rather than what one actually does.”
“I grew up with servants.”
“As did I.”
“That does not surprise me. Why seek employment as one?”
She glanced around the room.
“I’ll know if you’re lying.”
Her gaze came back to him and nearly skewered him. “Will you?”
He gave one brisk nod. “You don’t have a face for playing cards. Your expressions are far too easy to read.”
Her sigh of surrender would have lifted a kite and sent it soaring among the clouds. “My aunt gave me an ultimatum—marry or move out. I chose to move out. I needed a position quickly, and, well, some household is always in need of a servant.”
“You could work as a governess. I would think that occupation would better suit you.”
“With all due respect, sir, I don’t believe you know me well enough to know what suits me.”
I’d like to.But even as he had the thought, he squashed it. She was employed in his household, and he wasn’t going to be like the man who’d raised him and cross those boundaries. He also had his scandalous reputation to contend with, which, until that moment, he’d never considered a burden, but it wasn’t going to appeal to a woman such as she and would only serve to do what the gossip rags promised: bringher to ruination. While she might have the right of it and he didn’t know what suited her, he did understand fully and completely that she was undeserving of a downfall, especially one at his hands. “You may take the tea.”
“The inquisition is over?”
He grinned broadly. Damned, if he didn’t like her. “A servant would never speak in such a condescending tone of voice to the master of the household.”
“Seems I have a lot to learn.” She took the saucer with its cup and gave a quick bob of a curtsy. “Good day, sir.”
She deposited the china on the tray, picked it up, and began strolling from the room.
“Good day, Marguerite,” he called out.
She stopped, held still for a heartbeat, two, before carrying on. He wondered what retort had been on the tip of her tongue. Probablygo to the devil.
Never do anything to make him smile.
Good God, but his grin had been devastating, had made him look unburdened, carefree, and fun. Had made her want to reach out and touch his mouth, his cheek, his jaw.
