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“It’s time we returned to work,” Driscoll said as he pulled out Amelia’s chair.
“In all seriousness, Driscoll, I do need a few minutes of your time. A few issues have come up that we need to discuss.”
“Of course, do you want to go over them now?”
Amelia walked to the doorway. “I will return to work.”
Once she was gone, Driscoll took his seat. “What issues are there?”
“Remember Lord Randolph Newton?” Dante took a sip of coffee.
“The one we banned for fighting?”
“The very same.”
Driscoll snorted. “The man is an idiot, and ready to raise his fists for the slightest reason. Why are you bringing him up now?”
“He appeared at the door tonight with one of his friends, Mr. Daniel Lyons, who is still a member, but close to being banned himself for cheating at cards.”
Driscoll frowned. “If he was caught cheating at cards why hasn’t he already been banned?”
“Because it wasn’t proven, just strongly suggested by one club member. A Lord Batterley.”
“I know the man. He’s accused more than one member of cheating. In fact, he cornered me at White’s one afternoon with a long recitation of two other members he believed filched money from him in card games.”
Dante shook his head. “It seems Newton showed up here with Lyons in an attempt to be reinstated.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I said I would speak with you about it. My own opinion is we should keep him banned. There’s something shady about the man that I don’t like. What I wanted to know from you is how much is he in debt to us?”
Driscoll thought for a moment. “I would have to check my books. I don’t think it’s an outstanding amount or I would know right off how much. Come with me to the office and I’ll check.” He stood. “Was there anything else you wanted to discuss?”
“Yes.” Dante drained his coffee cup and set it down. “Have you learned anything else about our new employee? It seemed when I entered that th
e two of you have become—shall we say—friendly?”
Driscoll gritted his teeth. “Don’t. Say. Any. More.”
Dante shrugged. “I don’t care one way or the other, except we don’t know anything more about the woman now than we did the night she dropped through the window.”
“What is your concern, then?”
They began to walk back to the office. “Nothing really. Curious, perhaps. Unless she gives me reason to believe there is something in whatever her secret is that she’s keeping that could hurt us.” He glanced over at Driscoll. “Or you.”
“Don’t worry about me, little brother. I can take care of myself.”
* * *
Amelia raised her head as Driscoll and Dante entered the office. She’d been a little concerned when Dante said he wanted to speak with his brother. As she worked on transferring numbers, questions plagued her. Had they found out who she was? Did Randolph manage to track her down? Was she about to be fired and tossed onto the street? Or, horrors, were they about to turn her over to her stepbrother?
Although she did not truly trust them, from what she’d seen she doubted that either brother would condone her stepbrother selling her into prostitution. But who knew what sort of a story Randolph would spin for them? Men were always believed over women.
As she worked, she had also tried to make sense of the kiss she and Driscoll had shared. She would be lying to herself if she pretended it was a complete surprise. She’d felt the attraction between them, even from the time she crawled through his window.
At one and twenty years she had experienced a few kisses from the village boys, but absolutely nothing like she just shared with Driscoll. Her blood was still running hot and she’d yet to get her breathing completely under control.
Her social life had been scant. She’d been able to attend some of the local assemblies while she still had her companion, Mrs. Marsh. But in the past year Randolph had dismissed the woman, saying Amelia was too old for a companion since she was considered a spinster. She always felt he let Mrs. Marsh go because he didn’t want to pay her wages anymore. Once she lacked a chaperon, attending dances was no longer possible.
