Becky, serving tray tucked under her arm, led Ellis to the right side of the common room up the same number of stairs Ellis had walked down from the vestibule. They walked through the split in a pair of heavy purple drapes, and Becky pointed toward a staircase. “Go upstairs and knock. That’s the private residence. Jo—I mean, Lady Shefford is there.”
“How did you know who I was?” Ellis asked.
“Jo—Lady Shefford—” Becky made a quick face. “I can never remember to call ‘er that. She’s always been Jo to me. She told me ye were a woman dressed as a man.”
Ellis exhaled in defeat. “Is it that obvious I’m not of the masculine gender?”
Becky shrugged. “Ye don’t look like any o’ the gentlemen who come in here. Ye lack swagger.”
“Perhaps I should practice.” She would ask Keele for his assistance. “Thank you, Becky.” Ellis summoned a smile before turning to ascend the stairs. On the landing, she knocked as instructed and a moment later, Jo answered the door. With dark hair and sharp hazel eyes, Jo possessed an arresting beauty. She had a rich laugh and a dry wit.
Jo’s dark, naturally arched brows drew together. “Ellis? I think that’s you, but it’s difficult to tell for certain with that beard.”
Ellis wasn’t prepared for the rush of emotion upon seeing her friend—nor the size of Jo’s belly. “I didn’t think you’d be so big!”
Jo laughed as Ellis clapped her hand to her mouth in horror. “My mother keeps saying I’m having twins, but I hope not. I fear she may be right, for I’ve still a couple of months to grow even larger yet.”
“I’m sorry.” Ellis threw her arms around Jo and embraced her tightly. Seeing her was somehow more affecting than seeing Pandora. Perhaps it was because she’d never greeted Jo knowing they were related until now.
They clung to each other for several moments before Jo finally pulled away. She wiped at her eyes. “I’m a blithering water pot since I’ve been carrying.” She closed the door behind Ellis. Turning, she swept her gaze over Ellis. “I forgot you were dressing as a man. Your disguise is rather convincing.”
“Is it?” Ellis was glad to hear that someone she knew well was persuaded. “Becky said I lack swagger.”
Jo laughed. “How typically Becky.” She turned and moved to the seating area. Again, Ellis was struck by how much she’d missed her friends.
“I’m sorry,” Ellis blurted.
“What about?” Jo dropped rather heavily into a chair.
Ellis sat on a settee as close to Jo as she could get. “For calling you big… And for pushing you and everyone else away. Especially Min. I’m sorry I missed her wedding. I was certain Her Grace would be there, and I don’t ever want to see her again.”
Jo wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think any of us do.”
“She hasn’t been very kind to you,” Ellis said.
“No, but she’s been far worse to you, especially considering she is your blood. You are completely justified in your anger and hurt. I think I would have wanted to disappear too.” She gave Ellis such a warm, sympathetic regard that Ellis feared she would become a watering pot too. “I can only imagine what you’re feeling.”
“Angry and hurt, as you said.” Ellis’s shoulders relaxed. “But also grateful that I have not one, but two sisters.”
Jo smiled broadly. “That made me very happy. I have always wanted a sibling.”
Ellis sniffed and blinked away the tears that threatened. “I’m especially happy that Min is my sister in blood and not just in my heart.”
“You should tell her,” Jo said softly.
“I will. I suppose I’ve been waiting for something inside me to change, to give me a signal that I’m ready to accept everything I’ve learned and find my new place. But that hasn’t happened yet. Probably because I’ve no idea what or where my new place should be.” Ellis’s plan to earn money so she could establish herself independently in some quiet village seemed farther away than ever. Her brilliant plan to mask as a male secretary wasn’t turning out the way she’d hoped. Whilst she still had a job, she wasn’t sure how long it would last, particularly since the relationship between her and her employer appeared to be growing more complicated.
“I imagine you feel as though you don’t belong. I feel that way nearly every day now that I’m a countess. I worry I’ll do something wrong or embarrass Sheff.”
“You could never,” Ellis said firmly. She knew Sheff, and his love for Jo was deep and unparalleled. “But I understand feeling like an imposter. I have always felt that I don’t belong, and now I know I really don’t—I’m not even legitimate.”
Jo’s features creased. “I honestly hadn’t considered that. I suppose because it doesn’t matter to me. Truly,” she added with a deep gravity.
Ellis voiced her greatest fear. “I don’t want anyone to find out I’m the illegitimate daughter of the Duchess of Henlow.” She let out a short, humorless laugh. “It’s funny because there used to be rumors that I was Henlow’s daughter, and that never bothered me. That was because I knew it wasn’t true. But the truth is that I am illegitimate—just not in the way anyone thought.”
“I can hear how much that pains you,” Jo said with great sympathy. “I’m sorry. I wish things were different. How were you certain Henlow wasn’t your father?”
“Because he told me so,” Ellis said simply.
