“But . . . her mother?” Leah placed the question tentatively. “On that, I am sworn to absolute secrecy. My oaths silence my tongue on everything that pertains to Madeline’s life before Laverloch, particularly the details of her parentage. And I am a gentleman. When I swear an oath, I keep it.” He met Leah’s gaze then, intent, earnest. “Especially when Madeline is at stake.”
