“Oh, that is interesting.” She couldn’t believe she was sitting here discussing a job at a gaming club. If her poor deceased mother could see her now, she would be horrified. However, when one considered what her alternative was right now—mistress to Mr. Lyons—this was immensely preferable.
“Yes, I could do that. I would need some practice, though.” Relief flooded her when she realized this man might be her knight in shining armor after all.
He reached out and covered her hand with his. “I know you are running from something—” She started to pull her hand back. “No. Just hear me out. I won’t insist you tell me, but I need to know a few things.”
She gave him a brief nod, wondering if all her joy was to come to an end.
“I assume since you climbed through my window that you have no place to stay?”
She offered a curt nod.
“I would be willing to allow you to stay in the bedroom you slept in last night until you receive your wages and are able to secure a room in a woman’s boarding house.”
“That would be wonderful.”
“You may take your meals here, even after you move out—all our employees do. I can also advance you a small sum to buy a dress and whatever else you need, since we can’t have you dealing cards in trousers.” His smile changed his entire face. She thought him pleasant looking until he smiled, then Driscoll Rose was one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen.
She immediately chastised herself. The last thing she needed with the mess she was facing was an attraction to a man. Her initial plan to make enough money to move somewhere her stepbrother couldn’t find her hadn’t changed. Even though Randolph had been banned from this club, there was always the chance he could be allowed back. As much as she’d like to ask Mr. Rose to not permit that, she couldn’t without telling him her story and then risking him notifying her stepbrother. At present she considered her new employer a nice man, but there was no reason to trust him just yet.
He studied her for a minute and seemed to fidget in his chair. “One more thing.”
Her spirits took a downward plunge. She licked her dry lips. Here it comes, the one thing that will make her walk away. “What is that, Mr. Rose?”
“I would feel much more comfortable if you wore a mask when you worked. We can find you something that one would wear to a masquerade ball.”
Amelia was stunned and her descending spirits rose again. “I think that is an excellent idea.” In the off chance that one of Randolph’s cronies was a member of the club, she needn’t worry about being recognized.
Not that she’d spent any time with Randolph and his friends, but she did see some of them when they came to the house.
Driscoll continued. “It appears you have no belongings, so I suggest you take care of that issue today. This afternoon, I will send one of the maids with you to the store—” He stopped when she began to shake her head furiously.
She could not go to stores. “I don’t wish to be more of a burden than I already am, but perhaps I can just borrow a dress from one of the female employees?”
The way he sat back and continued to stare at her with those deep brown eyes had her now squirming in her chair. It was almost as if he could see inside her, see her trepidation, feel her anxiety.
His next words proved he allowed, if not fully understood, her reluctance. “I will have you get together with Margie, another of our maids. You will instruct her on your needs, and she will purchase them. I will give you the receipts which we will deduct from your wages over the next few weeks.”
She blew out the breath she’d been holding, just waiting for Mr. Rose to rescind his offer of employment and send her on her way.
There was no way she could stop the tears that gathered in her eyes, the relief was that great. She would not cry again in front of this man. She surreptitiously blotted the corners of her eyes, but the movement was not lost on him who offered her a soft smile. “Everything will be all right, Miss Pence.”
She nodded, not too sure if her voice would hold if she tried to speak. After swallowing the lump in her throat a few times, she said, “Thank you so very much.”
He stood and offered her his hand as if she were a true lady in a ballroom. She accepted it and stood, the warmth from his hand doing strange things to her insides. However, that she could not allow.
Not now. Not ever.
5
Driscoll searched the building for about fifteen minutes before he found his brother leaning against the doorway to the storage room, flirting with the very maid Driscoll was looking for. “Dante, the game room is not going to ready itself.”
Dante winked at Margie who blushed furiously. She glanced sideways at Driscoll and dipped slightly. “Good afternoon, Mr. Rose.”
His brother leaned down and spoke close to Margie’s ear. “Don’t let my brother frighten you. He never did learn how to deal with the ladies, and I fear he’s a bit jealous.”
Ignoring him, Driscoll said, “Margie, I need you to run an errand for me.”
Dante sauntered off leaving the poor maid flustered. He really should not encourage them this way. Dante employed a mistress and had no intention of taking a wife, so flirting and teasing with the maids was cruel. But then as Dante pointed out, Driscoll did not exactly have an abundance of women looking to flirt with him.
That thought brought to mind the lovely young
