Very little conversation took place around the Gardiner breakfast table in general, and today was no exception. The only sound this particular April morning was the clatter of silverware on plates and the rustle of newspaper pages. A cough broke the tension, Andrew Gardiner locking eyes with his daughter across the table.
"What do you have planned for today, Leighton?"
The girl across from him pushed a strand of blonde hair out of electric blue eyes. Their intelligence and wit always gave her father pause, like there was something she wasn't telling him. "Nothing in particular, Father. Just staying at home with Joanna."
Joanna entered the room as if on cue, bobbing a quick curtsy to them both. "Begging your pardon, sir, but there's a package for you at the front door."
"Oh, that's mine, Father," Leighton spoke up quickly. "A new Beethoven sonata that Miss Elle recommended at my lesson last week."
"Ah, of course, of course," Andrew replied, getting up from the table and kissing the top of his daughter's head dotingly. "Will you play for me tonight?"
Leighton looked up at him, smiling. "Of course, Father."
Andrew smiled in return, humming happily as he headed for the front door. He got few pleasures out of life these days, but one of them was his daughter's exquisite piano playing. She was a prodigy in his layman's opinion and he couldn't be more proud of her.
Leighton dropped the façade the second her father was out of earshot, looking over at Joanna. "An opportune time for that new piece to come, I think." Her maid nodded in agreement. "How much time do I have?"
"Not long, miss."
Leighton sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. "I hate cutting it this close. I'll see what I can do." Joanna nodded before exiting the room again, returning with a tray of food, juice, and coffee just as Andrew Gardiner reentered the dining room.
He gave the package to his daughter, who opened it eagerly. Smiling at her enthusiasm, he took another drink of coffee, turning to the next page of his morning paper. Silence reigned again, broken only by Joanna, Leighton's maid, refilling glasses of orange juice. Leighton delicately placed a piece of sausage in her mouth, her eyes flicking between the clock on the wall and her father's face. If she didn't get things moving, she was going to be late.
"Father, don't you think you should be going soon? I don't want you to be late."
Andrew turned to look at the clock, Leighton making a desperate face at Joanna behind his back. Joanna shook her head helplessly before disappearing out the side door of the dining room with her tray full of empty dishes.
"Leighton, I still have an hour at least. Let an old man enjoy his coffee in peace, will you?"
"But now that the holidays are approaching, the streets will be more crowded today. And you're a judge, you can't afford to be late."
Andrew Gardiner took one last sip of his coffee, sighed, and stood, picking up his bag from beside his chair. "Alright, Leighton. You win. I'm sure you just want me out of the house so you can practice. I'll see you tonight, sweetheart." He kissed the top of her head once more before exiting the house, calling for the carriage.
Leighton exhaled, quickly standing and exiting the dining room as well. "Joanna!" she called loudly, her voice echoing across the empty foyer. Her maid poked her head out from the second floor.
"Miss, everything's ready, just come upstairs and change. You're running late."
"I know…" Leighton muttered, holding her skirt as she ran up the stairs and into her room. Laid out on her bed were a smart suit and a shorter blonde wig. She quickly changed, throwing her skirts at Joanna, who folded them hastily and stored them in the closet. She'd already changed into different clothes as well – pants and a shirt, her hair tucked up in a cap.
"We should be able to make it on foot if we hurry, miss. The courthouse isn't too far," Joanna encouraged as she carefully adjusted Leighton's hair under the wig, tying a ribbon on the small ponytail.
"No, no, Jo. I'm 'sir' now." Leighton put on the jacket, brushing the badge in her pocket. "Now let's go, it wouldn't due to keep the court waiting."
Joanna sighed. This whole changing genders business was new to her and her mistress was a little eccentric, but she couldn't lie – it was quite exciting. Leighton Gardiner was the daughter of a judge and as such, had always been fascinated with the law. She was bored sitting at home, entertaining callers and playing the piano. So she took matters into her own hands.
Stepping out onto the street a few minutes later from the Gardiner household was Leigh Greenwald, prosecutor, expected to be in court in forty-five minutes representing the city of London. And she, or rather he, couldn't be happier.