“Thank you.” Pride helped to lift her shoulders and her spirits.
He surveyed her as if she were a puzzle he needed to work out. “I’m confounded as to why you would take such a risk. Why disguise yourself as a man to be secretary to a marquess?”
“Because I possess the skills to do the job, and being a woman with those skills would not allow me to obtain such a position and, more importantly, the salary that comes with it.”
“You’ve a valid point.” He went quiet for a moment, and Ellis’s insides churned. Whilst he didn’t seem angry, she wasn’t sure what to expect. “Was the letter from the Duke of Henlow real? The seal on the envelope appeared to be his.”
“Yes,” she replied evenly, though her heart was pounding. “My family is acquainted with his.”
“Did you actually work for him?” Keele asked with more than a hint of skepticism.
“His Grace offered to write me a letter of recommendation. It is not my place to quarrel with what he wrote.” Ellis was skirting the truth and might earn the marquess’s ire, but she wasn’t going to admit that she hadn’t worked for Henlow. Keele could deduce what he liked.
He regarded her somewhat dubiously, and Ellis became certain that was the end of things. As it should be. How could he trust her to work for him now?
She took a deep breath to try to calm her racing pulse. “I’m sorry I lied to you. I will pack my things and be on my way.” She took a step toward the door, but he held his hand up in front of her.
“I didn’t ask you to go. Just because you’re a woman doesn’t mean you can’t work for me.”
Ellis stared at him. “That would be highly irregular and unacceptable. Furthermore, I lied to you. I wouldn’t blame you for not being able to trust me in your employ.”
Keele cocked his head and lifted a shoulder. “It would be irregular, and whilst many would not find it acceptable, it is acceptable to me. What is your real name?”
Ellis’ breath snagged in her lungs. It was one thing for him to know she was a woman, but if he learned she was also the former companion to Lady Minerva Halifax—rather, Lady Minerva Pierce now—she would be completely exposed. He would certainly tell his friend, Sheff, and Sheff would tell Min. Ellis was trying to forge a new path away from her past. She didn’t want to see any of them yet. She also didn’t want to chance the duchess discovering where she was or what she was doing. There was every reason to believe she would do her best to ruin things for Ellis, as she’d done since she’d been forced to accept Ellis into her household.
“Would you mind if I didn’t say?” she asked. “I’m no one important.”
“I should at least like to know what to call you,” he said.
“Ellis is fine. It’s an old family name.” That much was true. Well, it was an adopted family name, anyway.
She studied him a moment, surprised at how easily he accepted her gender and that he wanted her to remain in the position. “You really want me to stay on? I’d prefer to continue my disguise.”
He nodded. “I won’t tell anyone. Though, I imagine it’s difficult keeping yourself in disguise all the time.” He grimaced. “I’m surprised you agreed to live here. You can’t ever be who you really are.”
Ellis smiled and saw the flicker of surprise in his gaze. “It’s actually wonderful. Just now, it’s quite nice to be someone else.”
His brows drew together as he contemplated her with sympathy. “You’re in hiding, then.”
That was precisely what she was doing. “I suppose I am.”
“Perhaps that’s why you don’t want me to know your real name.” Keele exhaled. “Very well. You may hide here for as long as you need, provided you continue to excel at your job. My retainers would keep your secret, but I agree it’s probably best if you just maintain your disguise. And I won’t tell the Laceys, of course. Is that why you looked distressed when you were invited to the meeting tomorrow? You didn’t want to leave the house and risk being seen for who you really are?”
“You noticed that bothered me?” Ellis shook her head. “You are far too astute, my lord. I believe it is best for my disguise if I encounter as few people as possible. I actually welcomed your offer to live here. Not only does it save me money, it’s simpler not to have to go back and forth between dressing as a man and a woman.”
“I’m glad to have helped inadvertently,” he said with one of his rare smiles. Ellis found herself staring at him, thinking he was remarkably handsome in a dark and predatory way. It was his nose and the rough planes of his face. His features were strong and commanding, and his eyes were an impenetrable steel.
“So you’ll continue as my secretary?” he asked.
She noted that he hadn’t addressed her lying to him. “You don’t care that I misrepresented myself?”
“Without knowing the details that are motivating you to hide, I still accept that you were trying to find the best possible position for yourself and that you were induced to present yourself as a man to achieve that end. I actually admire your courage. Have you lied about anything else?”
She shook her head. “Nor will I.”
“Good. I am more than satisfied with your work, and I would like you to continue,” he replied firmly. “I will do what I can to help keep your secret, because I have a vested interest.”
“Thank you.” At last, her pulse began to move at a normal pace. “I won’t disappoint you.”
