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To be kissed by him …

She swallowed hard. Before her mother had died, Casey had had female friends. As little girls, they’d laughed and played together and sometimes talked about that distant day when they’d marry. Sometimes they speculated about what they’d want in that future husband.

All such behavior had ended after her mother died and her father threw her out of the house. She’d renounced it in order to survive. Jamie had been her whole family, giving her love and protection. For years she’d worked with men every day and had casual friendships with most of them, but she’d had almost no contact with other women.

Yet, after her conversation with Cameron Tremayne, she suddenly felt her suppressed femininity churning inside of her. Despairingly, she recognized that she didn’t know what to do with it. She didn’t even know if she wanted it. Men had so many advantages in the world, particularly when it came to independence and employment.

She admitted that she was very aware of Cameron Tremayne as a man. He was strong, kind, and good company, and she would like him to see her as a woman.

But with the iron discipline she’d mastered to survive, she suppressed all thoughts of reclaiming her female identity. First she and Cameron must ensure the safety of Sir Samuel Bentham.

Then, perhaps, she could learn to be a woman.

CHAPTER 5

Cameron seldom had trouble falling asleep, especially not after a long day of travel, but on this night he was too restless to relax. He was fascinated by his unexpected hostess. Under the appearance of a quiet, unremarkable young man lay a strong, brave young woman. It was deeply unfair that she’d had to disguise her own nature in order to be safe. And while she might be content with her life as it was, he couldn’t help thinking she’d look lovely in a ball gown. Even more, he wondered how it would feel to hold her in his arms as they danced together.

He fell asleep on that thought, then rose early the next morning and put water on to heat over the kitchen fire. He’d already dressed and shaved and tea was steeping by the time Casey and Gentleman Jack emerged from her bedroom. Neatly dressed in her male office clerk clothing, she was convincing as a young man who was easy to overlook.

“Tea!” she said happily. “You have your uses, Mr. Tremayne.”

“All members of the Tribe of Tremayne are raised to be able to take care of ourselves,” Cam explained as he handed her a steaming cup of tea.

Casey accepted the cup and gave a pleased sigh after sipping it. Then she opened a small cabinet that held a pitcher of cream. She poured some for the cat, then removed a partial loaf of bread from the cabinet and began cutting pieces. “Breakfast is simple here. Besides tea, I just toast bread and spread honey or preserves on it. Will that suit you?”

“That will be fine.” He’d always been good at adapting.

After they’d eaten, Casey asked, “What are your plans for investigating possible threats to Sir Samuel?”

“Very straightforward,” Cam said. “I’ll go over to the yard to see if I can find him. I hope my Home Office credentials will persuade him to give me a hearing so I can discuss possible threats to his life.”

“If he’s in his office, he’ll likely see you just long enough to dismiss your warning,” Casey said with a sigh. “Assuming that he’s even in his office. He often roams around the yard.”

“Are all the offices in one building?”

“Yes. There are several large rooms for clerks and individual offices for the senior officials, like Sir Samuel and Mr. Seppings, who is the new master shipwright. Mr. Seppings will be working with iron along with Sir Samuel, who has commissioned a new and much larger smithy. They both think that iron is the future of shipbuilding.”

“I agree with them. Iron will make larger ships possible,” Cameron said. “If Sir Samuel isn’t in his office when I go over this morning, I’ll run him down eventually.”

“It’s a large shipyard,” she said doubtfully.

“I’m good at finding things.” Cameron considered. “I’m thinking of introducing myself as another cousin of yours. Would your superior allow you to give me a tour of the yard if I’m hunting for Sir Samuel?”

“I think so. Mr. Norman approves of me because I do my work well and don’t cause trouble.” She glanced at the simple clock on the mantel and frowned. “Except for today, it seems. I’m going to be late.”

Cameron stood. “If you don’t mind riding pillion, we can take my horse, which will be quicker than walking. He’s at the livery stable just around the corner.”

“Thank you. I’d rather not be late.” She reached for her coat, which hung on a peg by the door.

As he opened the door, he asked, “Do you ever tire of always doing the right thing?”

She made a face. “I used to, but I’ve forgotten how to misbehave!”

“That can be cured,” he said with a smile.

After a startled moment, she smiled. “I suspect you’re good at persuading your sisters to mischief.”

“That’s entirely possible,” he admitted as he stepped outside. It was a gray morning with a sharp wind blowing off the river.