He simply nodded and took in the gathering that filled the room. What surprised him was how large the drawing room was until he realized that there were support beams in the center of the room.
“Did you have a wall removed?” he asked.
“Yes. We need a larger area to gather so that discussions can flow. Such is not possible when guests are in separate rooms,” she answered. “I promise that the structure was not compromised by its removal.”
That had been another concern, but no doubt her husband had made certain his wife’s salon was safe.
Seth took a small sip and studied the room. There were several groupings of furniture arranged for discussion and all were filled. The conversations were lively with laughter and debate and he observed chairs had been moved from one area to another for people wishing to leave one conversation and join another.
Most of the men were drinking brandy or ale, which was not unexpected. It was the ladies, his sister included, who were drinking ale, brandy, wine and what he suspected to be whisky. There was a freedom within these walls that he had not experienced in Society ever before and was quickly beginning to realize why so many people were drawn to Athena’s Salon.
“You may join any conversation you wish,” Tessa said. “All are welcomed and opinions are respected, even when a debate ensues.”
“I will think on it,” he murmured, not certain if he wished to discuss anything. That was not why he was here.
“Or do you wish to gamble?”
She asked the question with a knowing smile. Tessa had to know that the only reason he was here was because of Frances as it was no secret that he had been openly courting her.
“I do,” he finally answered.
“This way.”
Tessa led him to the far end of the room and out a door, across the corridor and into what he suspected was a dining room. As with the drawing room, it was longer and filled the space where two rooms may have been.
He stepped back out into the corridor and looked at the back of the house where there were two more doors, one on either side.
“The office is behind the drawing room and the kitchen is across from it,” Tessa answered.
He nodded at her explanation then returned to the room where gambling was taking place.
There were six green baize tables, all seats filled with mostly men and some women who were playing Faro, Baccarat or Vingt-et-un. He also no longer had to question why attendance had been low at The Emerald Garter because each of the gentlemen sitting at a table in this room used to congregate around his tables. While he understood that gentlemen enjoyed gambling at various establishments, he had not expected his cousin to be the one offering the most competition for business.
Seth looked for Frances at one of the tables, but she was not there. Instead, the dealers were men, dressed in the same uniform as the footman.
“If you had hoped to play at Miss Hawthorn’s table this evening, you will have to wait.”
“Why?”
“She supervises the gaming room and will step in if a dealer needs to excuse himself.”
Seth did a full turn and then noted her by the far wall, next to another area where beverages were served by a footman. Her eyes met his as she smiled ever so slightly, then returned her attention to the various tables.
He had hoped to play against her, or at a table where she was dealing. If she were supervising, he likely couldn’t engage her in conversation either.
“The night is still young,” Tessa said. “Our gamblers arrive with a set amount of what they are willing to lose and never go beyond that. When it is gone, they get up and leave without debt.”
He knew few men who did not owe a gambling debt to someone.
“Our guests know that if they bet more than they can pay that night, their subscription will be revoked.”
It was a good rule to have in a place and he’d also had to remove members from The Emerald Garter because they could not make good on a debt. He should stop accepting promises to pay. He already had a stack on this desk, which he needed to address the next time those gentlemen stepped into his club.
A gentleman who had been sitting at one of the Baccarat tables stood, laughing as he patted his suitcoat. “I shall adjourn to the salon now that my purse is quite empty.”
He seemed rather happy to have lost, but perhaps it wasn’t so much and easily missed.
“His seat has opened if you would like to play,” Tessa suggested.
