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“I wouldn’t do anything like that. You know I love joining you on your private investigations.”
Vickie sighed.
Ruby wouldn’t, at least not intentionally.
“Good.” She hugged her friend.
“We better clean up this mess. Otherwise, George will get worried about what I’m up to when he arrives home later,” said Vickie. She wasn’t sure she wanted to alert him to what she and Ruby were up to, even though it was just a bit of fun.
Ruby gasped. “Not unless you want to miss out. I’ve heard they don’t let in late-comers.”
Vickie spied the clock on the wooden bedside table. It was eight thirty, and it would take the best part of twenty minutes to drive into the city in the steamcar. They needed to leave now. Her private-investigator mind had more questions about how Ruby knew so much about this club she’d gotten a random invitation to only a few hours ago. They didn’t have time to clean up.
“Let’s go, then,” said Vickie. She reached over and rang a servant bell to alert the driver to bring the car around.
Vickie picked up her coat and handbag. Her off-the-shoulder lace dress wasn’t going to keep her warm outside in the late autumn air.
“Wait.” Ruby grabbed her arm.
“Ruby, you just said we needed to go.”
“Have you got the invitation?”
“Yes.”
“Show me. They’ll not let us in without it.”
Vickie harrumphed as she opened her handbag. “For a secret group, you seem to know a lot about what they will and won’t do. Where are you getting all this information?”
“From the new ladies tea club, I joined.”
Vickie felt a little hurt. “You didn’t invite me to come with you?”
“I did. You turned me down. You were too busy with your private investigating. Mrs. Whatshername needed you to tail her husband.”
“Oh, sorry. Maybe I can go along with you to the next meet-up.” Vickie knew she wasn’t so good at balancing her work life with play. Even George had been reminding her of that since she’d solved her biggest case yet of how young women were being trapped into marriage. She couldn’t help it. Her business was giving her meaning after the war years when she was at home alone, worrying about her husband and if he was safe as he operated on wounded soldiers. Since the gases and other pollution from the war left many of the women sterile, it became apparent on his return they weren’t going to have children. Little ones running around would’ve kept her busy, but since that wasn’t an option, she had to find something else to keep her occupied. Her private investigation business was now running her off her feet, and she couldn’t be happier.
“I’d like that, but if you run us late to the Black Hearts Club, I’ll no longer be your friend.”
Vickie rummaged in her bag a bit longer, beginning to think she had misplaced the black paper heart. There hadn’t been a lot of time to get ready since they came back from the city, had dinner, and tried to pick an outfit for Ruby to wear.
“Have you got the invitation?” Ruby demanded.
Vickie’s fingers touched the paper, and she pulled it out from her purse with a sigh. “Yes.”
“Thank goodness.” Ruby held out her arm. “Ready?”
Vickie took a deep breath. “Let’s go and have some fun.”
They marched down the flight of stairs. This was why Ruby was her friend. They did have a good time doing things together that she wouldn’t have the confidence to do by herself.
As they walked down the hallway, James went ahead and opened the front door. Cool night air filtered in from the darkness outside like a breath of warning no one noticed.
“I have to say, ma’am, I don’t approve of you two ladies going out by yourselves like this in the evening. It’s not safe.” James swallowed hard. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his cheeks flushed red with emotion.
“James, we’re two kick-ass women who would take apart anyone who would try to do us harm,” said Vickie, holding her head up high.
“Ahem,” interrupted Ruby. “One woman and one man to be exact.”
