“My friend, Mrs. Williams. She used to do most of the work, but she’s in her confinement, even though she still stops by as often as she can to handle our bookkeeping. Her husband handles a great deal of the finances as well, as we needed a man to open our bank account, and he places orders with those of our suppliers who prefer not to deal with a woman.”
Lyman frowned to himself. “Why don’t you hire someone for any of those things?”
“We haven’t been in business very long. This is our third yearof operation, but the profits were rather unsteady for the first two. I think Mrs. Williams is wary of bringing on more staff in case we run low on funds again.” Della bit her lip. Lyman’s eyes fixated on the sight, though he’d been listening attentively until then.
He’d never given much thought to the hazards of running a business, particularly a gaming hell. He would have assumed they were flush with cash. But then, perhaps their female clientele didn’t have the same access to funds that the men of White’s and Brooks’s did.
He would have liked to turn the subject away from gambling clubs, but he couldn’t think how to go about it without wounding Della. If she felt easy enough in his company to share her troubles, he didn’t want to rebuff the opening.
Miss Annabelle proved happy to fill the gap in their conversation. “The problem is that you and Mrs. Williams don’t trust anyone but yourselves,” she called over her shoulder. “I’d be willing to help you for a pinch of your profits.”
“You’re nineteen,” Della said flatly. “Get one glass of champagne into you and you’re liable to forget how to count.”
“You see?” Miss Annabelle cast a pointed look to Lyman. “She doesn’t trust her own sister.”
Perhaps it was time to jump back into this discussion. “Regardless of whom you might select, it sounds like youdoneed some assistance. You told me earlier you attend every night except Monday?”
“Sunday and Monday,” Della amended. “We’re closed both evenings, although we often use those nights to restock and make other adjustments that can’t be done with our members around.”
“So you attend nearly every night, and you’ve also set yourself the goal of touring the whole town for your book in the next few weeks.” Lyman recalled how only last night she’d reluctantly admitted that she had precious little time to keep up with the social calls that were expected of most ladies of her station. “You’ll wear yourself out if youcontinue on this way.”
“Oh no!” Della protested. “I’ve given you the wrong idea. I’m happy to do it, really. I don’t want you thinking that my friends have put too much on me.”
That was exactly what Lyman was thinking, but it was plain that Della wouldn’t want to hear it.
“Anyway, it’s for me to manage my own life, isn’t it?” Della asked. “I like to keep myself busy. I know it might look a bit like chaos from the outside, but I always manage to get everything done.”
Though Lyman had his doubts, this seemed to mark an end to the conversation. They’d arrived at her carriage.
Ten
Once she’d parted ways with Lord Ashton, Della requested the coachman drop her off at Jane’s town house on the way to take Annabelle home. This was no hardship, as they lived on the same street and popped in on each other unannounced most mornings. Or at least, they’d used to. As the carriage approached their destination, Della was startled by the realization that she hadn’t been here in weeks.
Nor had Jane called on her. Since Gloria was born, it sometimes felt like they only saw each other at the club.
Don’t be silly. She’s at Bishop’s nearly every day.It was normal to have less free time when one had a new baby. Besides, Della had been so busy with her book these past three weeks, she’d scarcely had time to call anyway.
Even now, her outing with Lord Ashton this morning had set her arrival back hours later than she’d planned. She hadn’t seen the time go by. He was sodifferentwith her now that she’d broken through his initial reserve. He talked to her without his former hesitation, offering glimpses of his true thoughts and feelings where there hadonce been only clipped reproofs. He treated her as an equal, despite the obvious advantage his peerage and experience bestowed. If they continued on this way, she might yet call him a friend.
And if Jane and Eli could do without her tonight at Bishop’s, she intended to show Lord Ashton just how friendly she could be.
The carriage lurched to a halt, and she bid goodbye to Annabelle. The maid of all work answered her rap on the front door and showed Della into the receiving room. When this house still belonged to Jane’s uncle, he’d kept a butler, but Jane had slashed her household expenses to devote all her resources to the club.
If my book brings in new members, maybe she’ll be able to afford to live a bit more comfortably again.
It was Eli’s sister, Hannah Williams, who finally came in to welcome her. The wailing from upstairs indicated Jane was occupied.
Della rose to return her greeting. Miss Williams was closer in age to Annabelle than to herself, but she was a sensible, good-natured sort of girl. She couldn’t be called pretty, exactly, though she shared her brother’s expressive face. Her nose was a touch too long, and she carried herself awkwardly, as if forever unsure where to put her body. Hopefully she would grow into some confidence soon.
“When did you get into town?” Della asked her.
“Only yesterday. And we’ve brought you some paintings for your club like Eli asked. Come and see!” Miss Williams led Della to the corner of the room, where two framed canvases had been tucked into the space between the sideboard and the wall. “I helped pick them,” she announced proudly. “Mama wanted to give you an old portrait of some dead ancestor none of us could remember, but I said you needed something more colorful.”
The pieces she’d chosen were a still life of some exotic fruits and a painting of the Durdle Door at sunset. Della rather liked the pinks in the sky.
“Thank you. These are perfect.”
“I could help you decide where to hang them,” Miss Williams continued eagerly. “I shouldloveto see what the club looks like. Eli told us how much you’ve done to fix it up since you moved in.”
