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What he never understood was how a man could gamble away his fortune, and in some cases, everything he owned that wasn’t entailed. As a general rule, they would usually escort a man out of the building if it looked like he was getting in way over his head. But in the end, they were running a business and that business was gambling. If a man wanted to throw his money away, he would just as easily do it at another club.
Numbers did not interest him enough tonight. Not with the picture in his mind of Amelia warm and soft and lying in a bed only a few doors away. He slammed the book shut and left the office again.
Thank heavens the night was almost over.
* * *
Amelia turned in her bed, crossed her hands over her middle, and stared at the canopy overhead. By the looks of the sun coming through the window it must have been close to noontime. Although Driscoll had left her at her door a little after two o’clock that morning, it was nearer to five before she fell asleep.
She’d spent a great deal of time tossing and turning in the bed. At first her body was simply uncomfortable. She ached in places of which she was generally unaware. Her nipples were sensitive and the area between her legs was heavy and moist.
Then once that had passed, her brain deliberated repetitively on the kiss she and Driscoll had shared at the door.
I want you so much, Amelia. Do you have any idea what you do to me? I’m tortured with the idea of you sleeping here, so very near to my office.
She shivered each time those words replayed in her head. It troubled her immensely that, had Driscoll continued his assault, she might have invited him into the bedroom.
Whatever had she been thinking?
The last thing she needed was that complication. Her life had never been in such turmoil. She needed to remember her plan. Save money. Leave London. Start a new life. Driscoll Rose had no part in that plan. She still wasn’t absolutely certain that he, or Dante, would not turn her over to Randolph had they discovered her situation.
She was amazed at how her trust in humans had shrunk since her own stepbrother had offered her up as payment for a debt. Since her contact with men had been quite limited, she had no idea if that was the way most of them behaved. Until she was sure, she intended to stick with her plan, and put Driscoll far from her mind.
And heart.
She threw off the covers and gave herself a wash in the water that was quite cold from the night before. Since Randolph had fired her companion, there had been no chocolate in the morning, no warm water to wash with, and no assistance in dressing and fixing her hair.
Those were pleasantries she might as well get used to no longer enjoying. She doubted very much if she could ever save enough, or earn enough, to employ servants.
At least she had a roof over her head and food on the table and a way to earn money. She had none of that and no way to secure it when she’d snuck out the window of Randolph’s townhouse with no more than the clothes on her back.
When she gave herself time to ponder what she’d done, it amazed her that things had worked out as well as they had.
Once she was washed and dressed, she made her way to the dining room. Both Dante and Driscoll stood as she entered. She glanced briefly at Driscoll and felt the flush rise to her face.
Dante smirked and Driscoll glared at him.
“Good morning.” Driscoll pulled out a chair for her.
“Good morning.” She nodded at Dante and Driscoll. The teapot sat on the table so she helped herself to tea.
“I have good news for you,” Driscoll said as he poured more coffee into his cup.
She smiled at him and he hesitated. “What is that?”
He cleared his throat. “You will work this evening at the vingt-et-un table.”
Amelia almost dropped her teacup. “Tonight? Do you think I’m ready?” Any desire she’d had for breakfast fled.
Driscoll reached over and covered her hand with his. “Yes. You are ready. You did a wonderful job yesterday.”
She swallowed her fear. “Why so soon?”
Dante leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “One of the security men has to take some time off for a family matter and Marcus is taking his position. So, you will be taking Marcus’s place.”
She blew out a deep breath. Well, she had no choice. They had been more than good to her. She could not let them down. “Yes. I think I will be all right.” She just wished her words were more forceful.
“Driscoll will stay close to the table for the first hour or so for moral support.” Dante stood and nodded to her. “I am off to visit a friend—”
