“You are welcome. I figured you needed sustenance before commencing with your interrogation.” Mrs. Worth’s expression remained serene, the teasing light more pronounced.
Was she even aware she was flirting with me? Perhaps I was reading too much into it. I had a horrible track record with relationships, and she was my secretary. Apparently, I needed a frequent reminder of her status and mine. The practical side of me said to let the matter drop, yet I had never been good at denying my curiosity.
“I have no intentions of interrogating you.” I bit into the apple, the juice ambrosia on my tongue. “You made a very cryptic comment, and I wish to know the meaning behind it.”
With a heavy sigh, she lowered her lashes before lifting them once more. Resignation reflected in her earnest stare. “You said you saw to every client and did the work yourself, and while I understand on a personal level how fulfilling that must be, as a business, it seems a bit inefficient.”
The apple beckoned, and I took another bite, using it as an excuse to formulate my response. Before my father died, we worked together. We had similar tastes and often collaborated. Nobody could replace him, nor had I seriously tried to find someone. I swallowed the bite and settled my weight on my left foot. “If you wish to have something done right, you do it yourself.”
“I beg to differ.” Mrs. Worth tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing frayed spots on the cuffs of her shirtwaist. Other than being highly recommended, I had no idea about her current state of affairs. Women were often left destitute after the death of their spouses. She was definitely educated, which gave her an advantage over others. “If you want something doneyourway, you do it yourself. There is no right or wrong way, only personal preferences.”
“Smart as well as...” I trailed off, stopping myself in the nick of time from calling her pretty.
“As well as?” she repeated, her voice a bit breathy.
“Bossy.” I changed course, trying not to allow my imagination to play tricks on my mind. Every comment from her seemed to be laced with innuendo, yet I sensed that wasn’t truly the case.
“Or I am simply looking out for your best interests.” Light laughter floated from her lips as she pushed the napkin with the cheese to the edge of the desk. She was doing it again, reading my mind.
“Or you are fond of ordering people about.” I munched on another bite of apple as I reached for a wedge of yellow cheese. Taking a bite, the savory and sweet created a perfect combination, rather like Mrs. Worth’s dry wit and luscious body.
“I believe the pot is calling the kettle black?” Lifting a fine eyebrow, she leaned back in her seat. She gave tit for tat, and I enjoyed matching wits with her.
“Touché.” I finished the apple and tossed it into the rubbish bin. “If I was an ambitious man, I would hire an entire team of editors, and my press would rival John Murray Publishers. However, that would require me to be a manager, not an editor. As you have discovered, I am not keen on people in general. I have had difficulty keeping a secretary. How would I ever retain an entire staff?”
“I—”
I put my hand up and shook my head. “No, don’t answer that. It was simply a rhetorical question that doesn’t require a response.”
“Yousaid you never asked questions you didn’t wish answered,” she returned with a smirk.
The outer door opened, and I snapped my head around. A thin boy entered, carrying a package. He tipped his hat. “Mr. Moran. I be bringing ya a package.”
“Mrs. Worth, allow me to introduce you to Master Timmy. You will see this lad often.” I scooped up the remaining cheese and folded it into the napkin. “Mrs. Worth is my secretary.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, young man.”
Reaching into my pocket, I extracted a coin and approached the boy. Freckles marked every inch of his face, and he blushed as he nodded to Mrs. Worth. I tucked the bundle under my arm before handing him the cheese. Like many children, he was forced to work for a living to help provide for his family. I hired him as a courier, and he was loyal to me. “For your mother.” I then handed him the coin. “And for you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Moran, me mum will be happy for it. Good day to ya, Mrs. Worth.” Timmy tucked the food into his pocket before slipping the coin into the inner pocket of his coat. With a shy glance at Mrs. Worth, he turned on his heel and left, closing the door behind him.
I stepped back and shifted the bundle into my other arm. The note tucked between the strings sent my heart racing with eagerness. It was another manuscript for the Ambrosia line.
“If you would like to place it with the other manuscripts, I will catalog it with the others.” Mrs. Worth stood and reached for the package. The clock on the wall chimed the hour.
I glanced outside at the encroaching gloom. “I suggest that you find your way home before dark. The streets aren’t safe for a lady alone.”
“If you are certain.” She fixated on the manuscript in my hands, and I could practically see the cogs in her mind turning.
“I am certain.” I went into my office and put the bundle on my desk. Snatching up my key ring from the top drawer, I returned to the reception area, unhooking a brass key from the set. She’d donned her hat and coat and glanced over at me. I held out the key. “This is for you. It will fit the outer door and this one. It doesn’t fit the basement, which is too dangerous for you to visit, thus I bid you not even to try.”
My typesetting machine and small press were set up in the basement. I hired two men to typeset and print the serials and paid very well for their silence. Neither spoke English, but I didn’t need them to spell. I simply needed them to apply the correct letter in the typed manuscripts.
“I am not fond of basements and will have no issue avoiding it.” She palmed the key and nodded.
“I will not be in the office when you arrive tomorrow. I have several meetings this week with authors outside of the office. I will leave you my schedule and a list of items that need completing.” I looked forward to the one-on-ones with authors, yet I was reluctant to leave Mrs. Worth alone.
“Good night, Mrs. Worth.” I waited until she left before turning the bolted lock. The gentleman in me said to go after her and walk her home. Yet I was her employer and didn’t wish to overstep my bounds. We had settled on a set of rules and I was bound by them.
