“How wonderful that women have such a splendid place to gather.” They’d discussed whether they might run into any of the members today. If so, they’d just keep their heads down and hurry away from them. Fiona doubted anyone would recognize her, but they might Cassandra.
“What are you girls doing in here?” The high-pitched demand came from behind them.
Fiona let out a soft squeak as she whirled around. Tossing a glance toward Cassandra, Fiona was impressed to see that she didn’t look as if she’d been caught somewhere she oughtn’t be. But perhaps her heart was thudding as wildly as Fiona’s.
The middle-aged woman, whose costume varied from the other maids in that her apron was white with an embroidered phoenix on the chest, narrowed her eyes at them. She stood in the wide doorway that led toward the front of the house. “I don’t recognize either one of you.”
Fiona froze. This was it. They’d been found out. The woman—the housekeeper?—would alert Lord Lucien, and perhaps even Lord Overton. Would he send Fiona back to Shropshire?
“We’re new,” Cassandra said evenly. If she was even half as terrified as Fiona, she didn’t show it in the slightest.
She looked as if she might believe Cassandra. “Lord Lucien hired you?”
Cassandra nodded. “Yes.”
The woman exhaled and shook her head. “Wouldn’t be the first time he forgot to tell me.” She glanced at the bucket Cassandra held. “You’re supposed to be ensuring the ballroom is tidy.” Her gaze flicked to the right. “Go at once, before the ladies arrive.”
“We will,” Cassandra said earnestly.
After the woman left, Fiona sagged, reaching for a nearby chair to steady herself. “I feared we were discovered.” She stared at Cassandra. “However did you maintain your composure so well?”
“Years of avoiding my father’s disdain when I did something he didn’t care for.”
“It was most impressive. And how did you come up with us being new?”
“My brother likes to help people in need and often assists them with finding employment.”
“How lovely of him. And convenient for us. Do you think that was the housekeeper?”
“I do.” Cassandra moved toward the closed door the housekeeper had glanced toward.
“Because of her fancy apron?”
“Mostly the authority in her tone,” Cassandra said drily.
“Yes, that.” A tremor rippled over Fiona’s shoulders. “What ladies do you think she referred to?”
Cassandra shrugged. “Members? However, surely they wouldn’t come this early in the day.” It was not yet noon. “Who knows what she meant.”
They stepped into the next chamber, closing the door behind them. A harp stood in one corner and a pianoforte in another.
“The music room, I suppose,” Cassandra noted, her gaze sweeping the chamber before narrowing at the open doorway on the opposite side.
“Aha!” Fiona said, moving past Cassandra. “The heart of the establishment—for the assemblies anyway.” She strode into the ballroom and marveled at the high ceilings edged with elaborate cornicework. Two massive chandeliers hung from wide, ornate medallions. A wall divided the large room, but the sliding doors were thrown open between the two spaces.
“It’s the entire ballroom,” Cassandra said excitedly. “Meaning that part over there is the gentlemen’s side. The forbidden realm.” She added the last in a dark, playful tone as she set the bucket on the floor and twirled about. Her skirt brushed the bucket.
“Careful you don’t knock it over, or we really will have to clean.”
Cassandra laughed. “We wouldn’t want that. I haven’t the slightest notion.”
Fiona did. She could scrub the floor and beat the carpets. She could even clean out the hearth, though that was her least favorite job.
“Come, we have to look.” Cassandra was already striding toward the doors to the other side of the ballroom.
Dropping the cleaning rags near the bucket, Fiona hurried to join Cassandra.
The ballroom looked precisely the same on the men’s side—tall windows that looked out to the garden, a gleaming oak floor, elegant chandeliers, and several mirrors on the wall opposite the windows which made the already large room seem even more grand.
Cassandra stood in the center of the floor with her hands on her hips, her gaze flitting about. “I’d like to know how wealthy my brother is. This was not an inexpensive endeavor. I realize we haven’t seen everything, but so far every room is impeccably designed and beautifully decorated, just as he described. My father would never have given him money for this. He loathes the very idea of the club’s existence.” Cassandra turned toward her. “I am beginning to think it’s quite possible my brother is not the sole owner.”
“It would seem to support your aunt not being invited, though I suppose that could just be owing to the Star Chamber.”
“Perhaps, but my brother is most persuasive. Whatever the cause, membership is evidently not entirely up to him.”
Fiona was especially glad they’d executed their plan since it truly seemed they would not be able to attend the assemblies. “It’s good that we came today. This will likely be our only entrée into the Phoenix Club.”
“Until we are wed and duly invited.” Cassandra’s eyes darkened. “If my brother doesn’t ensure I receive an invitation to join the club, I will sever ties completely. Won’t that delight my father?” she added with a laugh that carried no humor.
Fiona thought of what Cassandra had just said a few minutes earlier about her father, as well as all the other times she’d mentioned his coldness. “Cassandra, if you ever—”
Cassandra lifted her finger to her lips. “Shh. Did you hear that?” she whispered, looking toward a closed pair of doors leading from the ballroom.
Without waiting for Fiona to answer, Cassandra grasped her by the hand and pulled her toward a wide archway cloaked with a thick curtain. She released Fiona and slowly parted the drape. “Stair hall.” Inclining her head for Fiona to follow, she held the curtain until Fiona passed through.
Standing in the stair hall, they could see directly into the entry where a footman stood near the door. He didn’t
