Read Daring Masquerade for Free Online

you at the pub. I'll buy you a counter lunch."
    "You don't have to do that, we'd have to go to the ladies lounge," Gil said, and Harry's heart nearly catapulted out of her chest.
    "I'm too young for the public bar," she piped up trying to keep the panic out of her voice. If he ever found out her true identify retribution would be swift and deadly.
    "Meet you there in half an hour." Ross loped away.
    "Oh, Gil." She swiped the back of her hand across her forehead. "We nearly put our foot in it."
    "It's hard remembering all the time. Did you see how much he ordered and what it cost?" Gil whistled through his teeth. "He's wealthy."
    "I thought all along he was," she said. "An officer in the army, so Jack tells me. A huge cattle station that's been in the family for a couple of generations. Owns property in the city too, apparently. Probably went to Melbourne Grammar or somewhere posh. His younger brother was killed at Gallipoli, unmarried, so he inherits everything."
    "Yeah, bet he'd give up a good chunk of it to get rid of that ugly scar."
    Harry stared into the shop windows as they sauntered along the street. Poor Gil had pushed his stump into his pocket so no one could see his missing hand. Her heart bled for him. She went to slip her arm through his. Remembering at the last moment that she was supposed to be a boy, she hastily drew back.
    The verandah covered shops were made of the same yellow sandstone as the pretty little church they had passed coming into town. A small rotunda set amidst lawns and colorful flowerbeds, stood at the end of the main street.
    "We need to support our soldiers after their valiant battle in the Dardanelles. They're crying out for reinforcements," a portly gentleman said. "What type of man would loaf around here while his fellow Australians are dying in the trenches?"
    "Here, here," a well-dressed young woman cried out. "Conscript all the shirkers who won't enlist."
    "What are you doing here, young man? Aren't you ashamed to be so cowardly as to let other men fight for you?" A middle-aged matron shoved a white feather into Gil's hand.
    "You old bitch," Harry yelled, knocking her hand away, while Gil stood pale and shaking. "How dare you accuse my brother of cowardice?"
    "Why doesn't the coward enlist?" someone else called out.
    "You despicable creatures!" She screamed back. "You should be arrested."
    Back and forth, Harry and several of the women hurled insults as more people milled around listening to the argument. Harry became so inflamed she didn't care what came out of her mouth. "You parasites, living comfortably here while forcing someone else to die."
    "Your brother is a coward, young man," the portly gentleman said. "He should enlist and do his bit for the Empire."
    "Here, here, Mayor," someone endorsed his views.
    "He's done his bit," she shouted. "You pompous, overstuffed pig. Show them, Gil, show them your arm."
    From the corner of one eye she saw Ross striding toward them, but didn't care. She dragged Gil's arm from his pocket and raised it high. "He's given one hand to the war, isn't that enough?"
    Silence reigned. Amidst the embarrassed muttering, Ross' voice rang out loud, clear and deadly.
    "What the hell are you up to, Harry?" He strode forward and grabbed her arm. "Are you mad?"
    "They gave Gil a white feather for cowardice." She fought him as he dragged her kicking and screaming from the dais. "They gave Gil a white feather."
    "Shut up," he snarled, "before you get arrested. What happened, Gilbert?"
    Gil tried to speak, but the words would not come out. He opened up his hand and a white feather fluttered to the ground.
    "You know this crazy boy, Calvert?" The Mayor pushed his way towards them. "I'll have him arrested for assault," he blustered.
    "Who gave this boy a white feather?" The ice in Ross' voice silenced the crowd.
    "He should enlist," the Mayor spluttered.
    "He's already lost his hand at Gallipoli, what more do you want from him?" Harry screamed again.
    "Get me out of