Earnest Ben cont.

When Ben announced that he knew part of Lucy's secret she was shaken. After a brief moment of uncertainty, he mind settled. There was no way he could actually know; more than likely it was a game he played with himself. As long as he had known most of the staff he had surely guessed things about them.

Still, it might provide valuable insight into his state of mind during those hours when no one observed him. How he thought when he was alone surely figured heavily into what allowed Ben to maintain his serenity. Lucy asked him what he had figured out.

Ben looked at her carefully, his face open and, yes, earnest, clearly weighing his words. Lucy felt her heart swell a little. Part of the secret, Ben told her, was that she did things to make herself look different.

Lucy was flummoxed. Her breath caught. Ben smiled a little. Hardly a secret, she managed to say, lots of women wear makeup and dye their hair, not to mention the rest of the things they do. Clearly she had been right, this was a game he played.

Ben spread his hands, a gesture of peace, and said he knew about makeup and hair dye. What Lucy did was both more subtle and more bold. That frightened her. She took a step back. Ben's features fell.

His expression made Lucy feel terrible. She smiled the best smile she could and told Ben that he was only partly right. If he could divine the full extent of her secret, Lucy would give him a surprise.