“I never thought you would actually travel all the way to Australia, Maggie! The plain truth is, I could never be a good husband to you, and I don’t have the authority to give you any kind of part!”

There was a sharp sound, like a slap, and Reeve froze behind his desk, grinning. Listening.

“I don’t blame you for being angry,” Philip went on, more calmly now that he’d gotten his comeuppance. “But you’ve got to go home, Maggie—back to England, back to the States, anywhere. The theaters are only—only toys for Mr. McKenna’s mistress. Unless you’re prepared to assume that role, you have no hope of any others.”

Reeve’s grin faded. Why, that scrawny little pissant! By God, he’d feed Briggs ten of his own toes, with knees and ankles for good measure.

Cheeks hot, shoulders rigid, Maggie glared at Reeve as he stood in the doorway, pushed her way around him, and snatched up her reticule. He turned to face her. “Maggie—”

She drew back her arm and slammed the reticule into his middle as hard as she could. While Reeve was still doubled over, gasping for breath, Maggie Chamberlin squeezed past him and made what was probably the grandest exit of her career.

Chapter 4

HALF-BLINDED BY TEARS, TEARS SHE WAS STRUGGLING TO suppress, Maggie walked determinedly in the wrong direction for some distance and then had to retrace her steps. Finally, she stood before Number 20 George Street, which was a block away from Mr. McKenna’s offices and on the opposite side of the road. She stood outside for several minutes, drawing deep breaths and dashing at her wet eyes.

Mr. Kirk’s offices were on the first floor, and there were desks everywhere, telephones ringing, telegraph keys clicking, typewriters clattering. Maggie was, for a moment, intimidated by all that hectic activity, and she hesitated just inside the revolving door, wringing her hands.

She was not permitted to hesitate long, for a clerk immediately approached her, a fellow with a tight celluloid collar and spectacles. He didn’t smile, and there seemed to be a permanent flush in his cheeks. “Miss Chamberlin?”

Maggie, beginning now to regain her equanimity after that unfortunate scene at Mr. McKenna’s place of business, managed a slight smile and a nod.

The clerk took her arm with dispatch and half dragged her toward an inner office. “Mr. Kirk will see you now,” he said as Maggie hurried to keep up. She hardly had a chance to smooth her skirts and pray that her eyes weren’t swollen and red-rimmed before she was thrust into a plush chamber that looked more like a gentleman’s study than a place of business.