“Though I haven’t yet finished the novel, I already support it. That said, I haven’t completed it, so I can’t speak to the conclusion.” He met Harriet’s gaze. “I’ll finish reading it tonight.”
“Thank you. Do try to consider how the ladies of Society will react,” she added.
“I will.” Roman was now keen to see what gave Harriet pause.
“Perhaps Mr. Ellis should also read the novel,” Margot said. “He seems well-versed in this genre, which is remarkable for a man.” She laughed good-naturedly. “You will make someone a splendid husband, I think.”
“Well, I’m afraid I have the only copy right now,” Roman said. “But perhaps he should attend the meeting to take notes.” He looked to Ellis. “I know you’re busy putting things in order since you took on this position, but you can manage to come, I’m sure.”
“I don’t suppose the meeting is here?” Ellis asked. “I shouldn’t want to lose much time going somewhere.”
“We are meeting at Lacey and Company on Paternoster Row,” Roman replied. “You’ve worked very hard this week. I’m sure you can spare the time. In fact, I insist. I would like you to see the offices, as you may work there on occasion.”
Ellis’s brows drew together sharply, but he quickly smoothed his expression. Even so, it was hard to miss that his initial reaction had been disdain—or even alarm. “Then of course I shall attend.”
“Splendid!” Margot exclaimed. She grinned at Ellis. “It’s so refreshing to meet a gentleman who appreciates romantic novels.”
Whilst Ellis inclined his head in response, there was a sheepish cast to his gaze as he glanced away from the seating area.
“We should be on our way,” Josiah announced.
The ladies stood; Ellis bolted to his feet. In his haste, he dropped his notebook to the floor. Pivoting away from Roman, the secretary quickly bent. The tails of his coat split with his movements, and Roman had a very distinct view of Ellis’s backside. The truth, which Roman had begun to suspect, was unmistakable to his eyes now.
The Laceys took their leave a few moments later. Ellis started to turn. “I should return to work.”
“Just one moment,” Roman said. “I’d like to speak with you about something.” He moved past the secretary and closed the door to the library with alacrity. Turning, he rejoined Ellis, whose expression had turned wary.
“Should I sit?” Ellis asked with the barest edge of apprehension.
“I don’t think so, though it depends on the length of your explanation.” Roman crossed his arms over his chest.
Now Ellis’s blue eyes took on a sheen of fear. “My explanation about what?” The secretary’s tone was higher than normal, and Roman assumed it was closer to Ellis’s real voice.
“It’s clear to me you are not who you purport to be. I’ve felt something was off since I hired you, but now I’m certain. You’re a woman masquerading as a man.” He pierced the secretary, who looked more and more to him like a bearded lady, making him wonder how he’d ever been fooled in the first place, with an expectant stare. “Why?”
Chapter 3
Ellis worked to maintain her composure as she stood in front of Keele. It was difficult. She wanted to flee.
He didn’t seem angry exactly, but he also didn’t appear pleased. And why would he be? She’d completely misrepresented herself.
Compounding her humiliation was the fact that she’d actually thought she’d been successful in her endeavors. With each day that passed since she’d taken the position, she believed she could maintain her disguise and conceal her true identity, that she’d fooled her employer and everyone else.
But she had not. She would have to come up with another way to earn money. She didn’t think she could attempt this sort of arrangement again, nor did she want to. It had been a huge risk, and she’d failed.
“How did you know?” she asked softly, abandoning the effort to lower her voice.
“Something about you just wasn’t quite right,” Keele replied, uncrossing his arms. His features were enigmatic. She still couldn’t tell precisely how he felt. “You have feminine mannerisms, and there’s your feminine handwriting. And you like books with a feminine bent. In addition to having read The Captain’s Daughter, I noted you took novels from the library this week that are of the same romantic nature.” He gestured toward the cases where such books were kept. “I believed you when you said these things were due to having four sisters, but—and this isn’t something a gentleman should say—when you bent to retrieve your notebook a short while ago, it became blatantly obvious that you are, in fact, a female.”
Heat flamed Ellis’s cheeks. Could he see her embarrassment behind her beard? She hoped not.
“I didn’t think of that,” she said, wondering how she could have disguised her backside, if that was indeed to what he was referring. She narrowed her eyes at him as she sought to confirm what he meant. “Are you saying my posterior is too feminine?”
“I don’t know that it can be too feminine,” he replied. “But it is not the backside of a young man. That much I know for certain.” His gaze found hers for a brief but rather heated moment, then he quickly looked away. “We should not continue discussing that. I didn’t mean to cause offense, but I had to call you out. You understand?”
Ellis exhaled. Her shoulders drooped slightly, but she worked to straighten her spine. “I knew this was a terrible risk, and I probably shouldn’t have taken it. However, I am in need of employment, and I knew I could do this job.”
“In fact, you can,” he said. “You do it incredibly well.”
