Prudence smiled. “I am uncertain, which is probably bad since I should know these things. I just can’t imagine gaming is encouraged for a young, unwed lady?”
Cassandra joined them. “I’m afraid I have frightfully good hearing. Playing cards with other ladies at a party like this is perfectly acceptable. The important thing is not to play high stakes, which we won’t. If we play at all.” She looked at Fiona. “Do you even know how?”
Fiona shook her head.
“Then probably not. We can, however, watch.” Grinning, she linked her arm through Fiona’s once more before turning to address Prudence. “Does that meet your approval? I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. After all, Fiona is your charge.”
“She isn’t really. I am her companion, not her sponsor. Though I may act as her chaperone, it really isn’t my place to dictate her behavior. I shall leave that to Lady Pickering and Lord Overton.”
“Is it all right if we go inside?” Fiona asked. “I will only observe.”
“If Lady Cassandra says it’s acceptable, I bow to her judgment.” Prudence gestured for them to precede her.
“Don’t be nervous,” Cassandra said as they entered the card room. Six tables were set up, of which four were occupied.
“What are they playing?” Fiona asked.
“Loo. It will be easier to explain after you watch it for a time.” Lady Cassandra led her to a table to the right of the door. Keeping her voice low, she said, “Lady Hadleigh is a highly regarded player. She’s the one with the two ivory feathers in her hair.”
Fiona nodded as they took a position near the table. They fell silent as they watched for a few minutes. After a while, Fiona began to understand what was happening. It looked like great fun.
“They’re only wagering pennies,” Fiona whispered.
“For now. I suspect on the next round the stakes will rise. But that’s because of Lady Hadleigh’s presence.”
“Does anyone want to join our table? We need at least two more,” a voice called out.
Fiona looked toward the woman, who was perhaps ten years her senior, but didn’t recognize her.
“Should we?” Cassandra asked, her voice rising with excitement.
Fiona glanced toward the doorway. “What about the musicale?”
“I’m sure we still have time.” Cassandra looked to Prudence. “Would you mind going to check?”
“Oh yes, that’s a brilliant idea.” Fiona smiled gratefully at Prudence. “Thank you.”
Prudence nodded before taking herself off with alacrity, while Fiona and Cassandra made their way to the table that was seeking players.
“Don’t tell them you’ve never played before,” Cassandra said softly. “If you get stuck, just nudge me under the table, and I’ll try to help you.”
Fiona clutched Cassandra’s arm more firmly. “I don’t have any money.”
“Don’t worry, I do.” She waggled her eyebrows at Fiona.
They’d arrived at the table where three other ladies had already sat down.
Cassandra made the introductions—at least to the two women she knew—while she and Fiona took their seats. The third was then presented, and everyone exchanged pleasantries.
The dealer tossed three chips onto the center of the table before dealing the cards.
The oldest player, Mrs. Montgomery, on the other side of the table from Fiona, inhaled sharply, her gaze on the doorway. She muttered something that Fiona couldn’t hear, but the woman to her left nodded.
Cassandra picked up her cards and silently told Fiona to do the same, her eyes darting down toward the cards on the table in front of Fiona. Plucking up her hand, Fiona promptly dropped the cards again as soon as she heard the voice behind her.
“Pardon me, but I’ve come to fetch my ward for the musicale.”
Fiona’s blood turned to ice. She slowly turned her head, and her gaze connected with a rather inappropriate area of her guardian. Lifting her chin so she wasn’t starting at his crotch, she looked into his face.
And immediately wished she hadn’t.
His eyes were a positively glacial shade of gray, even though his mouth was curved into a slight smile. There was no humor in it, just a façade meant to convey something opposite to what he was feeling.
For that, she was grateful.
“My goodness, I didn’t realize it was already time.” She turned back to the table. “Forgive me, I must go.” She sent an apologetic glance to Cassandra before standing.
Overton held her chair, then offered her his arm. She would have rather walked out without touching him, but to do so would invite curiosity—and probably his ire. More ire than he already possessed.
Holding her head high and staring straight forward so she didn’t see anyone’s reaction to her being fetched from what appeared to be a ladies-only chamber by her male guardian, Fiona departed the card room on his arm. Prudence stood just outside, her lips pressed into a firm line and her gaze inscrutable.
Fiona wasn’t sure what had happened, but she didn’t blame Prudence. “I lost track of the time, my lord.”
The earl looked to Prudence. “We’ll join you in the drawing room.”
With a slight nod, Prudence turned and left.
The gallery was empty. Presumably everyone had gone into the drawing room.
Overton pulled her along, then diverted into a small sitting room. He withdrew his arm from her grasp and closed the door.
Fiona turned, her mouth open to apologize, but the earl’s features had grown even stonier since they’d departed the card room.
“Don’t bother saying whatever you meant to say. Just what on earth did you think you were doing?” He shook his head. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
“Are you angry because I lost track of the time when you told me not to be late to the performance?”
“Yes. I’m also angry because you apparently think it’s acceptable to gamble at loo during said performance.”
“It was my understanding that playing cards, and even gambling, was acceptable, provided the stakes weren’t high.”
“How were you even gambling at all? You have no money.”
“Cassandra has money.”
He wiped his gloved hand over his face. “I am beginning to think Lady Cassandra is a bad influence. I will speak to her brother at once.”
Fiona stepped toward him. “Please don’t do
