Min and Ellis looked at each other again and began to laugh. They quickly embraced, and Sheff joined in. Then they all flopped down in the seating area with Jo, who regarded them with warmth and encouragement.
Sheff stretched out his legs as he settled into his chair. “That was almost fun.”
“Almost,” Min said. “It was also rather harrowing.” She looked at Ellis. “Are you all right?”
“I am, surprisingly. I can’t thank you all enough for your generosity and your support. And your love,” Ellis added softly.
“We do love you,” Sheff said.
“And you are part of this family.” Min smiled widely. “I loved what you said to her.”
“Oh yes, that was brilliant,” Sheff agreed. “I only wish you all could have seen Keele and me when we confronted Harker.”
Ellis snapped her gaze to her brother. “What are you talking about?”
“Last night, Keele told him he knew Harker had been his wife’s lover.”
Ellis’s joy faded beneath a heavy weight of apprehension. “Did he call him out?”
“No, Keele decided he didn’t need to do that anymore,” Sheff replied. “If it helps to know, I think he’d already mostly decided that before I arrived to talk sense into him.”
“I’m so relieved,” Ellis said, slumping back against the settee next to Min. “How did Harker react?”
“He was surprisingly contrite and said he would make an effort not to continue his philandering. He knows that if he does, his life will be over as he knows it. He will be cut off from you and Jo and from our child.” He glanced at Jo, who nodded. “I also might have mentioned that your other half-siblings would be inclined to no longer speak with him if they learned the true depth of his debauchery. We also made it clear that he would be shunned by Society, and we made him promise never to teach painting again.”
Ellis stared at him in awe. “You didn’t hold back.”
“Nor should we have,” Sheff said.
Noting Sheff said “we,” she realized he meant himself and Roman. “How was Roman?” She was still worried about him.
“I will let him tell you.”
“He doesn’t even know where I am,” Ellis said. “Unless you told him?”
Sheff shrugged. “I didn’t tell him you were here, but Roman is a smart man.”
“I should see him.” Ellis needed to tell him how she felt. She should have done it the other night instead of hiding behind a rogue rule. It was time to let him see her heart. He wasn’t truly a rogue at all, and even if he were, she would love him anyway.
“I think you’ll find that if you stay around the house today, you might have a chance to speak with him.” Sheff stood. “And that’s all I’m going to say about that. Bye for now, sisters. And wife,” he added with a special smile toward Jo before leaving.
“That sounds as though he’s going to call today,” Min said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
“It does,” Ellis replied, suddenly feeling nervous.
“Are you ready for that?” Jo asked.
Ellis shook her head. “But I will be.”
Chapter 20
Naturally, it was the one day when Roman was eager to speak with Josiah that his former father-in-law was late coming into the office on Paternoster Row.
Roman acknowledged it was strange being around Josiah and Harriet knowing what he did now about Clarissa. It wasn’t that she’d been unfaithful—that wasn’t new, of course—but Roman now knew the identity of the man she’d loved and who had treated her so callously. He felt sorry for her wonderful parents, who had been nothing but kind and generous to him, and who had loved Clarissa so fiercely. Harriet especially carried grief, but there was nothing Roman could do to alleviate her pain except show her the appreciation and love that he had for some time.
At last, Josiah came upstairs near noon. Roman had been working at the table in Josiah’s office so he could capture his former father-in-law’s attention as soon as he arrived.
“You’re finally here,” Roman said, jumping to his feet.
