Josiah did the same, and as he set his glass down, his brow furrowed. “Forgive me for saying so, but is Ellis a bit odd?”
Roman tensed. He worried that someone else might deduce what he had—that Ellis was really a woman. But he’d convinced himself that nobody spent as much time with her as he did, so they would likely not come to the same conclusion. Perhaps he’d been wrong in thinking that.
“In what way?” Roman asked in the most nonchalant tone he could manage.
Josiah waved his hand. “Oh, I don’t know. I suppose I find his reading habits unusual.”
“That is definitely true,” Roman said cautiously. “He has four older sisters who have influenced him greatly. I would say Ellis has a keen understanding of the female mind. His future wife will be quite fortunate.”
Josiah laughed. “How fortuitous for him. I do have one piece of business I wish to discuss with you. What are your thoughts on the Oxford library?”
Roman oversaw all the libraries, while Josiah focused most of his attention on the publishing. “Aside from New Bond Street, it’s our best-performing branch. I credit Mr. Pritchard. He’s an excellent librarian.”
“Agreed.” Josiah sipped more port. “Honestly, Pritchard is the best we have. I’ve been thinking about bringing him to New Bond Street to replace Mr. Inman, but I should hate to push him out. It isn’t that Inman isn’t a good librarian. Pritchard is just…better. He has more energy and enthusiasm for growing the subscription base. He also entices ladies to visit, and they are often our best customers,” he added with a pointed smile.
That was true. Pritchard was a young, unmarried man who also happened to be quite handsome, with dark blonde waves crowning his sculptured, aristocratic features. He was the youngest son of a baron who’d planned to enter the clergy but found he preferred being in a library. “I’m not sure Pritchard would be interested in coming to London, even if we had a plan for Inman.” Roman did not want to see Inman displaced. He’d been at the New Bond Street branch since it opened and was truly a fixture after more than a decade.
“Find out,” Josiah said. “No sense retiring Inman if Pritchard isn’t interested in taking over New Bond Street.”
“I’ll write to him and ask,” Roman said.
“Excellent.” Josiah finished his port. “Shall we join the ladies?”
Roman tossed back the remainder of his wine and stood. The word ladies brought Ellis to mind, but of course she wasn’t here. He realized it was dangerous to think of her as a woman. Yesterday, he’d caught himself as he’d nearly referred to her as “she” in front of his butler.
He wished she were present—as a woman. He found himself more and more curious about her, especially since learning of her friendship with Pandora Barclay and what seemed to be several members of Society, including the Duchess of Wellesbourne.
What was Ellis hiding from? Or who?
Roman cautioned himself. The last time a woman had intrigued him, he’d come away deeply damaged. It was probably best if he kept his distance from his secretary and whatever secrets she was keeping.
Chapter 5
Ellis sat at her small desk transcribing a letter from the shorthand she’d taken earlier. Keele had dictated several letters, and she’d finally reached the last one.
This second week had been as busy as the first, but they’d settled into a now-familiar routine. Most mornings, Keele went to the Lacey and Company office on Paternoster Row or to one of the subscription libraries in London. New Bond Street was the main branch, but there were smaller ones in the Strand, Bloomsbury, and Marylebone. Apparently, he sometimes ventured to libraries in other cities and towns, but he did not have any current plans to do so.
He spent the afternoons here in the study. Ellis usually worked alongside him—each of them busy at their own desks, which were in close proximity.
His solicitor had come one day last week, and another peer from the House of Lords had visited for a meeting. He’d seemed rather put out because Keele rarely went to clubs where government business was often discussed. Ellis had learned that Keele only visited the Phoenix Club—perhaps once or twice a week—and that this noble was not a member there.
Keele was unlike any peer she’d met, not that she knew a great many. Still, she was acquainted with several because of her former position as the companion to Lady Minerva, daughter of the Duke of Henlow and sister of the Earl of Shefford. Furthermore, several of their friends were now wedded to peers. Pandora’s sister, Persephone—or Persey as they called her—was married to the Duke of Wellesbourne, whilst another was the Baroness Droxton. Min’s new sister-in-law had become the Viscountess Somerton earlier this year.
All those peers, save Droxton, who was terribly serious, had past reputations as rogues and scoundrels. They were the very reason Ellis and her friends had come up with the rogue rules—to stay clear of men like them. And yet, several of their number had broken their own rules and married precisely the blackguards they’d planned to avoid.
Ellis had never imagined the rules were for her, because she wasn’t in their position. No one was trying to arrange an advantageous marriage for her, nor was any rogue hoping to gain her hand for wealth or position. One might, however, attempt to lure her into his bed. And one had been successful—but that was years ago, long before the Rogue Rules had been devised.
Recently, Ellis had begun to wonder if she might ever consider another such liaison.
Keele sat at his desk to her left. She was always aware of his presence. He worked very hard, and she found industriousness attractive, apparently.
She also couldn’t deny that he was exceptionally handsome. He looked as though he’d been carved from rough stone and could weather anything. Yes, that was incredibly appealing to her.
Which was why she kept stealing glances at him. Thankfully, he had yet to catch her surreptitious perusals. Pausing in her writing, she darted her gaze to the left.
Bloody hell. He was staring right at her.
Her pulse picked up speed. She hoped he couldn’t see she was flustered.
