Page 4 of Rogue Lyon

“Are you nervous?”

“I haven’t spent much time in the gaming room, and certainly not on a busy evening.”

“You’ll be fine. Just handle the cards, smile, and be polite.”

“And if I see any cheating?”

“Nod to one of the wolf pack; they’ll make swift work of removing the guilty party.”

“Okay.” Meredith had met the wolf pack in the garden a few times over the summer. They were the muscle in the gaming den, five in total, and all gave an air of being someone not to be messed with. “I’ll do that.”

The gaming den was vast with a ceiling decorated in cornices and chandeliers. Each table was set up ready for the evening and the other table hosts were preparing their decks.

They each looked up at her and nodded a greeting.

Meredith smiled. That was a good sign. They weren’t angry that a woman was temporarily joining their ranks in Peter’s absence.

Nancy squeezed her shoulder. “Good luck. Not that you need it, but your punters will.”

“Thank you.”

Nancy disappeared to prepare Sydney for his evening pursuit.

“Hey you look nice.” Bethany, one of the servers, appeared before Meredith.

“I’m working on the floor tonight.”

Bethany grinned, her pink cheeks balling and her blonde hair bouncing. “Good. That means I’ll get to see you. Hold up your hand if you want a drink and I’ll get straight over to you.”

“That’s kind, thank you.” Meredith smiled. She didn’t know Bethany as well as she knew Nancy, but she was always friendly and gave off a happy energy. She was fun to be around.

“Right. Here goes.” Meredith took a spare table. The covering was green and she didn’t have a seat. She’d stand in the curve of the C and deal to her four clients.

When they arrived.

“Good day to you,” Lysander, one of the wolves, said. He was tall and dark haired with small, all-seeing eyes.

“And to you too.” She reached for a deck of cards.

“Most unusual to have a woman dealing.” A line formed between his eyebrows.

“I know what I am doing.”

“I trust Mrs. Dove-Lyon. Therefore, I trust you.” He turned to the door as three clients came in. “But if anyone tries to bamboozle you or another player, you nod to us. If that doesn’t work, you raise your hand and ask a waiter for a sweet lemonade. He will know what to do.”

“Okay, thank you. I’ll be sure to do that.” It was good to know they had a secret sign.

“The same goes for anyone who becomes ape-drunk; let us know.” He turned to the clients again. They were all helping themselves to a brandy offered forward by a waiter. “And don’t take any nonsense from anyone. You’re here to do a job, not be leered at.”

Meredith touched her necklace. “Of course. I understand.”

“It’s them who don’t always understand. That’s why Mrs. Dove-Lyon employs men to deal, usually, but you’re here now, so we’ll have to look out for you.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it. Really, I do.”

Would she need the wolves’ protection? Were the clients really that bad?

Surely not.