The Second Fiddle

Stella Waring spends her days in the cramped office of Mr. Leslie Travers, a man who never imagined a woman could match his efficiency. Quiet, clever, and fiercely independent, she has turned the role of secretary into a subtle rebellion against the expectations of early‑twentieth‑century London. When a coveted performance of Chaliapine arrives, her sister Eurydice’s feverish obsession pushes Stella to risk a bold request for an early release from work.

The novel follows Stella’s delicate negotiation—balancing duty, loyalty to a sister who will go to extremes for a melody, and her own yearning for a taste of art beyond the drudgery of ham‑sandwich lunches. As she navigates the subtle power plays of her office, the story paints a vivid portrait of a woman who, while refusing to be defined by gender, must still contend with the limits imposed by a world that values her only as a capable “worker.