While Dante had told her that she was free to use the dining room on the office floor as he and Driscoll did, when she was not with one of them, she felt more comfortable among those who worked at the club. Which was a surprise to her since she’d never associated with working class people before.
Even though Driscoll and Dante were by definition working men, they still had the aura of the Beau Monde about them due to their connection to the Earl of Huntington.
She’d passed up dinner at home since Father was away for the evening and rather than eat alone, she decided to wait until she got to the club.
“Hello, Miss Sanford. It’s always nice to see you.” Mr. Fallen, one of the security guards greeted her as she entered the room. The sideboard was filled with dishes, the scent wafting through the air, reminding her how hungry she was since she’d skipped tea earlier.
“It is very nice to see you as well, Mr. Fallen. How is the little one doing?” The last time she’d worked he’d told her his young son was suffering from some sort of an ague.
“Much better, thank you. Oftentimes the little ones recover quite quickly.”
“I’m happy to hear that.” She walked to the sideboard and eyed the array of food. Whitefish in some sort of a delicious smelling sauce, along with roasted beef, root vegetables in another sauce, two different potato offerings and an entire section devoted to pies, tarts, and biscuits were laid out in an enticing manner.
They ate well at the Rose Room.
Lydia was just finishing her coffee that had washed down a delicious slice of Charlotte Russe, when Dante entered the room.
“What brings you down here with us lowly ones?” Mr. Fallen asked.
“I know what brings him here,” Sally, one of the maids said. “Mr. Rose has a fancy for Miss Sanford.?
?
Gertrude, another maid, laughed out loud as she stood. “Our Mr. Rose? Never. He wouldn’t give up all his ladies for only one. No. I don’t believe it.”
Lydia felt her face growing red. Dante smiled at the women—his natural response to anything female Lydia had noticed, and then sat next to her. He waved in their direction. “Off with you. There is work to be done.”
Once they left the room he said, “It seems the reason the Ambassador gave up his night at the musicale was to have an evening of gaming here at the Rose Room.”
“Truly?”
“Yes. He sent word that he would like his usual chair at the vingt-et-un table reserved for him.” Dante ran his fingers through his hair. “It looks as though your request to again deal at the table has been granted.”
Lydia perked up. As much as she liked helping the men out by doing Driscoll’s work when she was able, she truly loved the excitement of being on the gaming floor and especially working at the table.
“That’s wonderful. Well, I’m sure you don’t think so, but I’ve been waiting for another chance to give it a try.”
“The problem is your outfit.” He waved his hand up and down her sensible blue light wool dress, hardly anything like the one she wore the last time she dealt. But then there hadn’t been any reason to expect to need anything different this time to merely work on the books.
“Yes. I see what you mean.”
“I told you we kept gowns along with the masks for the employees to use when we hold our annual ball. I’ll have one of the maids accompany you downstairs to where they are stored and help you find one and get you into it. I still have the mask you used the last time.”
“Now?”
Dante checked his timepiece. “Yes. The club will open in about a half hour. Can you be ready by then?”
“Yes.” There was no doubt in her mind that she could slip into something different and don a mask again. What she needed time for was refreshing her memory on dealing. She’d ask a couple of the other employees to work with her to gain her confidence back.
He stood and pulled out her chair. “Come. I will find someone to help you.”
“I would also like a few others to play the game so I can refresh my memory.”
“That is a good idea.” He placed his palm at her lower back and steered her out of the dining room into the kitchen. There he found a maid to take her downstairs to change into a gown and ask her to round up a few employees that would be free until the club opened to work with Lydia on the dealing.
She was excited to be back dealing again. Before she’d gotten a chance to say anything else to Dante, he was gone, leaving her with the maid and a wardrobe full of gowns.
She rifled through them and came up with a red satin gown, black lace along the neckline, the end of the sleeves and the hem. She held in up against her body and looked into the full-length mirror. “Perfect.”