“Neither do you.” He spoke as though he’d been born to the aristocracy. She’d heard that the family of bastards, in spite of their humble upbringing and scandalous backgrounds, had educated themselves in all things important and proper so they could move about within the upper echelons of Society and not be found lacking. And it seemed of late, most of them were moving easily about in that world. Except him. She couldn’t recall seeing him anywhere other than at a church for a wedding.

“I suspect we had a very different education. Did I have the right of it last night? You hail from Mayfair?”

“Why is it important that you know?”

“Why is it important that I not?”

She glanced around, made sure no one was signaling for her, wishing like the devil someone was, before bringing her attention back to him. If he was going to keep at it like water eroding stone, she might as well eliminate the mystery of it, so he’d leave her be. “I once lived in Mayfair, yes.”

His eyes narrowed slightly as though he was striving to make sense of what that meant. “Then you’re an aristocratic lady.”

“No.” Once, but no more. “You would be incorrect.” Three months ago you wouldn’t have been, but today you are. But then three months ago I wouldn’t have brought you scotch, we’d have never carried on a conversation, and I’d have been glad of it. Although she’d have only been glad of it because she wouldn’t have known how he had the power to look at her as though no one else existed in the world.

“It’s not often that I am.”

Was that his polite way of calling her a liar? “That’s an arrogant statement, and yet you didn’t sound particularly arrogant while saying it. As a matter of fact, you sounded rather humble.”

Was she flirting? She didn’t think so. She no longer flirted with men. It only led to heartache.

“The truth comes with confidence; it doesn’t require arrogance.”

“You’re a philosopher, then.”

He shrugged. “I’d wager you were trained to have a place in that aristocratic world, and not as a servant, but as one who is served.”

“I won’t take that wager. I’ve had some education, yes.” The questions were becoming too pointed, too close to revealing the truth of her. “If you’ll excuse me, I have other customers.”

“I have a proposition for you.”

Oh, she did wish he hadn’t said that just as she was beginning to like him. “You and half the gentlemen here. I’m not interested.”

As she threw back those slender shoulders and marched away, he almost called out, “Who propositioned you?”

It seemed more words needed to be had with a few chaps.