"It was entirely my own foolishness that allowed these sentiments to grow! Please, ask her to show us mercy! Do not let her dismiss us or ruin Mr. Thomas's standing with Duke Marcus!" Mary begged, her voice rising in a frantic, high-pitched sob as she clutched her hands together in a gesture of absolute supplication.
Thomas, completely abandoning the rigid protocol that dictated a head butler must never address a high noble lady without being spoken to first, took three rapid, heavy steps toward Selene.
He dropped heavily onto one knee right on the hard floorboards, his head bowing so low his charcoal-gray hair almost touched the stones.
"Lady MoonCrest, I implore your grace to intervene! The fault lies completely within my own hubris! I am the head butler of this estate, and I should have maintained the strict boundaries of my station, but my regard for Miss Mary blinded me to the consequences.
