Something about her own words triggered a sense of déjà vu. But that was ridiculous. She had never been excluded from her own club before. Then she realized what it was.
She sounded just like Mrs. Muller, pleading for another chance at cards despite the fact that it would only make things worse. Desperate and unlucky.
Is that what I look like to everyone?
“I’m not cutting you out,” Jane assured her. “I know you didn’t mean for any of this to happen. But you’re tired and overwhelmed. I’ve probably been asking too much of you since Gloria—”
“You haven’t.” Della scrubbed the tears off her cheeks with the back of her hand and tried to force herself to stop crying. She wasn’t entirely successful, as her breath kept coming in uneven gasps no matter what she did. It felt as though she were about to lose her dearest friend. “You can count on me. Y-yesterday evening was an exception, not—”
A knock on the door interrupted them.
“It’s probably Eli,” Jane explained. “He went out to find Mr. Corbyn before you arrived.” Her tone grew flinty on the dealer’s name. Della suspected Eli would be in nearly as much trouble as she was over his decision to recommend his friend for the post, but it was different for him. He was family and would always be forgiven.
Except it wasn’t Jane’s husband who joined them a moment later, but her cousin. Cecily’s keen gaze took in Della’s tearstained face before she hurried across the room and swept her into an embrace.“So it’s true, then? Hannah compromised herself at your club last night with one of your dealers? How dreadful! I can’timaginewhat you’ve suffered.”
Della tried to slip free of this tangle of arms without appearing rude. “Who told you that?”
“Miss Berry,” Cecily replied without missing a beat.
“Cecily,pleasedon’t repeat the tale,” Jane said. “This has been hard enough on Hannah and her mother. We don’t need the whole ton talking about it.”
“Of course. You know I’m the soul of discretion. But I’d say the story is already out, at this point. Miss Berry made it sound like the most exciting thing to happen all season.”
All because of me.
Della was in real danger of crying again, but she couldn’t lose her head if she wanted to persuade Jane she was steady enough to return to the club.
Unfortunately, Cecily hadn’t even finished yet. “She also told me Mrs. Muller made a scene about her gambling debts, and that Hannah accused you of carrying on with a married man! Whom did she mean?”
Oh no.Della buried her face in her hands. She’d hoped that part of the evening would have been forgotten in the face of the greater crisis that had followed.
“What?” Jane whirled on Della with horror in her eyes.
She couldn’t explain herself. Despite Cecily’s promise not to spread gossip, she was sure to repeat every word of this conversation to a half dozen intimate friends who would likewise be sworn to secrecy except for a half dozen oftheirintimate friends.
“I’m sorry about Mrs. Muller,” Della began. “She wasn’t supposed to be gambling but she got away from me in the crowd, and Mr. Corbyn didn’t know he was supposed to turn her awaybecause he was new.” She drew a large breath. “As to the other matter, Hannah misunderstood me. She didn’t know what she was saying.”
She didn’t like to shift the blame for her mistake, but there was no help for it. If anyone learned of her connection to Lord Ashton, Della would face the same fate as Hannah—a swift marriage being impossible, her only option would be exile.
Hannah hadn’t actually mentioned Ashton by name when she lost her temper. As long as no one gave anything else away, the rumor was too vague to pose a serious threat.
Jane was back to pacing. This latest blow seemed too much for her.
“Let me come tonight and help you put things right again,” Della pleaded. “You’re going to be shorthanded without Mr. Corbyn to deal.”
“No.” Jane shook her head. “It’s best you stay away for now and let things cool off. This is my responsibility. I shouldn’t have taken so much time away.”
I shouldn’t have trusted you.The unspoken recrimination pierced Della’s heart. If she couldn’t attend the club, she would never have a chance to put things right. All of this was her mess, but Jane would be the one to clean it up.
“Go home and rest,” Jane said gently. “You probably didn’t get much sleep last night, and I’ll have my hands full here sorting out what to do with Hannah. We can talk again later.”
Della rose to her feet at this dismissal, weighed down by the knowledge that there would be no coming back from this, either for Hannah or herself.
***
Lyman was about to set out for the house of the young gentleman he tutored on Wednesday mornings when a cryptic note arrived.
Come soon, please. There’s been some trouble and my sister needs you.
