Chapter 9 #2
Because that was what men did, even former rogues.
However, what if he wasn’t a former rogue, but one that had simply been hibernating?
Ellis’s pulse thrummed. She might prefer that he were a rogue.
It wasn’t as though she was considering him for a husband.
Her interest was entirely to do with bedding him.
Did she really want that?
A combustive lust swept through her and provided the definitive answer: yes.
Hannah’s gaze fell on Ellis. “Who’s that with you?”
“My friend, Mr. Ellis.”
“You’re a pretty thing,” Hannah said as she surveyed Ellis’s face. “I mean that as a compliment. You’ve delicate features, which some find very appealing.”
“Thank you.” Ellis glanced toward Keele. “I’m going inside.” She didn’t have time to stand around and watch him flirt with Hannah, who was about to accurately guess that Ellis wasn’t a man at all.
“Good to see you, Hannah,” Keele said before looking to Ellis and gesturing faintly with his head that she should go on into the common room.
Ellis walked down a few steps into the large, well-appointed space.
There were more than a dozen tables and a few seating areas, all decorated in rich mahogany, deep purple similar to Hannah’s gown and accented with gilt.
Many gentlemen were in attendance around the room, and several ladies were serving them, all dressed in a rather provocative manner.
Ellis knew that was to attract the men to come to the Siren’s Call over any other gaming club.
It wasn’t to offer anything else—this was not a brothel.
In fact, Jo had told her that employees who dallied with patrons were dismissed.
She didn’t see anyone with red hair. Hopefully, Becky would turn up so Ellis wouldn’t have to ask for her.
“Where are the games?” Ellis whispered.
Keele gestured briefly toward an arched doorway at the back of the room. “Through there. This area is for dining and drinking. The food is quite good, actually. If I had known how long you planned to be, I might have chosen to dine here.”
“I can’t say, but if you’d like to have a meal, you should do so. I can always wait in the coach after I’m finished.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want you to do that. Besides, the coachman has moved away from the door, and he’ll be watching for me to leave to come back ‘round and fetch us. You’d have to go out and search for him. I’ll just wait for you here and have a glass of port.”
A tall server with bright red hair entered from another doorway at the back, carrying a tray with glasses, which she delivered to a table. That had to be Becky.
Ellis sent Keele a brief look. “Please excuse me.” She didn’t wait for his response before hurrying to the redhead. Becky stood at the table and flirted with the occupants in much the same way that Hannah had done with Keele.
At length, Becky finally turned to Ellis. “I ken I know who ye are. Come with me.” She had the thick Scottish brogue Pandora had told her to expect.
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.
“And you just believed him?” Jo sounded surprised and perhaps a bit stunned.
Ellis shrugged. “Despite his many indiscretions and mistakes, he’s always been kind and generous to me.
When he welcomed me into the household, he promised he would always take care of me and ensure I had a home.
I didn’t realize at the time that he was making it clear to everyone, particularly Her Grace, that I was safe and protected.
I know now that he’s the only reason she didn’t toss me out.
” She voiced another of her fears. “Since learning the truth, I’ve wondered if I would have been better off if she had. ”
Jo stared at her. “How can you say that? Where would you have gone? What would you have done?”
“I could have gone to live with my adoptive mother’s cousins in Wales.
They offered to take me in.” Ellis’s mother had corresponded with them regularly, and Ellis had continued to do so after her death, even now.
The duke was kind enough to forward their letters since he knew where Ellis was living.
She hadn’t told them anything about the duchess or Rowland Harker.
“It would have been a very different life.”
“But would you have wanted that?” Jo asked.
Ellis lifted a shoulder. “How can I know?”
She did wonder if that life would have allowed her to marry and have a family of her own, something she never expected as Min’s companion and certainly couldn’t hope for now as the illegitimate daughter of a duchess. Unless she was able to keep it secret.