"The debts were settled in a single payment." Mr. Gage leaned against his desk, arms crossed. "The full amount, plus interest."
"Yes, but by whom?" Estella asked. For what had to have been the tenth time.
"The payment came through a solicitor," he said.
Estella drew in a deep breath and prayed for patience. The man had a way of answering her questions without actually answering her questions at all.
"Does this solicitor have a name?" Thea smiled when Mr. Gage turned her way.
He’d been avoiding their questions quite elegantly for far too long.
So now Estella and Thea were making their questions more pointed, but even so, the man had a way of evading even the most direct of inquiries.
Like right now, for instance, when one corner of his mouth hitched up higher as he narrowed his eyes on Thea. "Do you know, I believe he must have had a name. Most solicitors seem to these days, I’ve found. Have you found the same?"
Thea fixed him with a look of such exasperation, Mr. Gage didn’t even try to hide his amusement.
"You are very humorous, Mr. Gage," Thea said evenly.
Estella huffed. "Who hired the solicitor?"
He unfolded his arms and reached for a glass on his desk. "That, Miss Hale, is information I'm not at liberty to share."
"Can't share, or won't?" Estella pressed.
"Won't." He took a drink. "The gentleman in question was very clear about his desire for anonymity. And I make it a policy not to betray the confidence of men who pay their debts promptly and in full. It's good for business."
Beside her, Thea leaned forward. "The house operates on a percentage system, I presume? The odds are weighted to ensure a consistent margin of profit regardless of individual outcomes?"
Estella turned to look at Thea. Mr. Gage did too.
It wasn’t the first time Thea had gotten distracted from their mission.
Mr. Gage’s lips twitched. Estella fought a groan.
Thea glanced over at Estella and caught her wide-eyed stare. She straightened, her expression sheepish before she turned back to Mr. Gage. "Perhaps you could just give us the name of the solicitor." She arched her brows expectantly in Mr. Gage’s direction. "That way you will not have broken your promise to the mysterious benefactor, and we will have a new lead to pursue so you can be rid of us."
Mr. Gage’s eyes danced with mirth. "Why would I want to be rid of you? Clever, beautiful young ladies are in dreadfully short supply in my humble little establishment."
Estella just barely held back another sigh. But Thea looked thoroughly perplexed by the man’s incorrigible flirting.
Thea’s head tilted to the side as she frowned at Mr. Gage. "How are we amusing, sir? We’re merely inquiring about a debt payment."
Mr. Gage studied her, lips still twitching with amusement, though not at Thea’s expense, which Estella appreciated. Many gentlemen might have laughed at her—at both of them, really—but he seemed to be truly enjoying this odd exchange.
To Thea, he said, "You know about house margins."
It wasn't a question, and Estella couldn’t tell if he was confused, delighted, or concerned.
"I know about mathematics," Thea said. "The application to gaming is merely practical." She pushed her spectacles up. "Your tables are arranged to maximize throughput while minimizing dealer error. And?—"
"Er, Thea," Estella interrupted.
Thea snapped her mouth shut. The silence that followed was a peculiar one. Gage was staring at Thea with an expression Estella couldn't quite decipher.
"Thea," Estella said gently. "Focus."
Thea blinked. "Right. Yes. The solicitor."
