her. “How do you know her name?”
Jack fell in beside Sophie as she moved from the auditorium out into the corridor.
“I investigated you with the trustees. You visit your maid twice a week, teaching
her to cipher and read. What are you, a bluestocking at heart?”
His tone told her he was still roasting her, so she answered just as lightly. “If
you mean to disparage me, you won’t succeed, since I find many bluestockings admirable.
But I cannot claim to be one. I simply believe that Martha will likely find employment
athigher wages if she has a command of basic skills. A shop assistant earns far more
than a chambermaid, for instance.”
“So you are practical as well as tenderhearted,” he observed.
“I suppose so.” Sophie glanced toward the front entrance hall. “Actually, I was just
leaving, my lord.”
“Surely you can spare me a moment. Allow me to escort you to your carriage at least.”
Sophie hesitated, reluctant to have her aunt’s footmen see Lord Jack. “It is not my
carriage. My aunt lends me her barouche to come here.”
He looked curious. “She condones your visits with Martha?”
“I would not say that exactly. But she told me about the Arundel Home in the first
place.”
“I thought you said your parents expelled your maid from your household. Do they approve
of your altruism?”
Sophie winced at the reminder of her subterfuge. She’d had to conceal her efforts
at remaking Martha’s gown and smuggle the garment from the house in her satchel, along
with the primers and novels she used for tutoring. “They don’t know. They think I
am visiting the lending library. I like to read a great deal, so it is not unusual
for me to patronize the library and local bookshops.”
“Ah, a closeted rebel as well as a bluestocking.”
His ragging brought a smile to her lips, which she tried to suppress, not wanting
to encourage him. “If I recall, you are also keeping your visits here a secret,” she
pointed out.
The grin he fired at her was lazy and warm, spreadingheat through her. “So I am. Count me impressed, by the way. It’s uncommonly broad-minded
of you to visit here, particularly in defiance of your parents’ wishes. I think your
generosity commendable.”
“I could say the same of yours.” A small sigh escaped her. “I wish I could do more
for Martha. She will need a number of things for the baby when it comes—blankets,
clothing, a cradle—and my pin money likely will not be enough to cover the costs.”
“Why don’t you ask your aunt for more funds?”
“She has done enough for me already, paying all the expenses for my Season. And the
clothes allowance she provides me is not mine to give away. Besides, my aunt mainly
supports my efforts because she knows my father would not approve.”
“Do I detect a conflict there?”
Sophie bit her tongue, aware she had said too much about her family affairs. Lord
Jack was practically a stranger, after all, despite the inexplicable affinity she
felt for him.
“You needn’t worry about Martha any longer,” he assured her. “I will see to it that
she has ample funds for the babe.”
Sophie opened her mouth to decline, then promptly shut it again. She couldn’t turn
down his offer simply out of misplaced pride. Besides, he came from a world of privilege
and fortune and could well afford the expense.
“Thank you, my lord,” she murmured. “Now, if you will forgive me, I must go. My family
will become overly inquisitive if I am late returning home.”
“I truly do need to speak with you.”
She gave him a quizzical glance, waiting.
“Where do you stand with Dunmore?” Lord Jack asked. “I’ve heard your engagement may
be announced shortly. Is that true?”
Sophie raised an eyebrow, wondering why he was grilling her on so personal a matter.
“Some might consider that question impertinent, even rude. What concern is it of yours?”
“I’m making it
Jack fell in beside Sophie as she moved from the auditorium out into the corridor.
“I investigated you with the trustees. You visit your maid twice a week, teaching
her to cipher and read. What are you, a bluestocking at heart?”
His tone told her he was still roasting her, so she answered just as lightly. “If
you mean to disparage me, you won’t succeed, since I find many bluestockings admirable.
But I cannot claim to be one. I simply believe that Martha will likely find employment
athigher wages if she has a command of basic skills. A shop assistant earns far more
than a chambermaid, for instance.”
“So you are practical as well as tenderhearted,” he observed.
“I suppose so.” Sophie glanced toward the front entrance hall. “Actually, I was just
leaving, my lord.”
“Surely you can spare me a moment. Allow me to escort you to your carriage at least.”
Sophie hesitated, reluctant to have her aunt’s footmen see Lord Jack. “It is not my
carriage. My aunt lends me her barouche to come here.”
He looked curious. “She condones your visits with Martha?”
“I would not say that exactly. But she told me about the Arundel Home in the first
place.”
“I thought you said your parents expelled your maid from your household. Do they approve
of your altruism?”
Sophie winced at the reminder of her subterfuge. She’d had to conceal her efforts
at remaking Martha’s gown and smuggle the garment from the house in her satchel, along
with the primers and novels she used for tutoring. “They don’t know. They think I
am visiting the lending library. I like to read a great deal, so it is not unusual
for me to patronize the library and local bookshops.”
“Ah, a closeted rebel as well as a bluestocking.”
His ragging brought a smile to her lips, which she tried to suppress, not wanting
to encourage him. “If I recall, you are also keeping your visits here a secret,” she
pointed out.
The grin he fired at her was lazy and warm, spreadingheat through her. “So I am. Count me impressed, by the way. It’s uncommonly broad-minded
of you to visit here, particularly in defiance of your parents’ wishes. I think your
generosity commendable.”
“I could say the same of yours.” A small sigh escaped her. “I wish I could do more
for Martha. She will need a number of things for the baby when it comes—blankets,
clothing, a cradle—and my pin money likely will not be enough to cover the costs.”
“Why don’t you ask your aunt for more funds?”
“She has done enough for me already, paying all the expenses for my Season. And the
clothes allowance she provides me is not mine to give away. Besides, my aunt mainly
supports my efforts because she knows my father would not approve.”
“Do I detect a conflict there?”
Sophie bit her tongue, aware she had said too much about her family affairs. Lord
Jack was practically a stranger, after all, despite the inexplicable affinity she
felt for him.
“You needn’t worry about Martha any longer,” he assured her. “I will see to it that
she has ample funds for the babe.”
Sophie opened her mouth to decline, then promptly shut it again. She couldn’t turn
down his offer simply out of misplaced pride. Besides, he came from a world of privilege
and fortune and could well afford the expense.
“Thank you, my lord,” she murmured. “Now, if you will forgive me, I must go. My family
will become overly inquisitive if I am late returning home.”
“I truly do need to speak with you.”
She gave him a quizzical glance, waiting.
“Where do you stand with Dunmore?” Lord Jack asked. “I’ve heard your engagement may
be announced shortly. Is that true?”
Sophie raised an eyebrow, wondering why he was grilling her on so personal a matter.
“Some might consider that question impertinent, even rude. What concern is it of yours?”
“I’m making it
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