Page 44 of Indecent Desires of a Proper Lady
It came to Philip’s turn. “I raise you two pounds.” He placed his chips in the center, and the rest of the men sighed in response and placed their cards facedown.
“You are a skilled player, Mr. Winston,” said an older, white-haired man to his left. “I think the most of us would rather keep our pounds this afternoon. Go on, then, we fold. Show us your cards.”
Philip grinned. This was perhaps the most fun. To show one’s card at the end and reveal to the other players. To see their crestfallen or frustrated expression that they had been fooled. “A pair of aces, you see.”
The old man shook his head. “Well, I must be off now. Matters to deal with the missus. Good day to you.”
“Good day,” Philip said, and the other men got up while he collected his chips. He remembered briefly that it was thrilling to win, and now he had just a little extra money with which to spoil his dear Margaret. That thought gave him no end of pleasure. But as he cashed in his chips, he felt the heavy sense of dread and duty. It was time to speak to Branson, the gaming hell master. He wasn’t particularly a pleasant fellow on a good day, and now Philip would be pestering him with questions.
He walked toward Branson’s office, which was in the far corner of the expensively furnished room. Philip’s footsteps were muffled by the soft red carpet underneath, and he could hear the clink of crystal as men began to partake in their daily dose of brandy and other liquors.
He took a breath in front of Branson’s door and knocked. “Hello? Come in,” a gruff voice said, and Philip pushed the door open.
“Ah, Winston. How can I assist you?” The slightly younger man stood up, pushing the tails of his coat behind him. No one ever knew from what sort of family Branson had arisen from. He was not gentry, for every so often, his accent would betray him, but he was always well dressed and had quite a few women vying for his attention. Although, the ladylike nature of these women left much to be desired.
Philip closed the door. “May I sit?”
“Of course.” Branson was beginning to watch him with a suspicious eye. Philip did not like to converse with those in charge of peddling money and entertainment. They always seemed vulgar in a way, and as if they were always waiting for someone to steal from their very pockets.
Philip frowned. He wasn’t exactly sure how to begin. “Branson, I know this may be a sort of delicate subject, but I wished to enquire about my friend, the Earl of Durby.”
Branson nodded. “Of course. What is it you wish to know? You must understand, though, that I am not at liberty to reveal everything, or else you may be implicit or held responsible for any of the problems we may find there.”
Philip nodded, but he felt his heart beat faster.
Problems?
But Branson did not give it away that there was anything that difficult to deal with. He simply opened a notebook and flipped through to his name, putting an index finger down to hold his place while he looked up at Philip. “Go on. Do you wish to know about his standing at the hall?”
“Yes, that is exactly it. He intimated to me that he had rather large debts, and I was surprised to hear it.”
Branson frowned, looking at the page. “There are a few, but nothing major. There is nothing to give cause for worry.” Branson sat back, folding his hands over his stomach. “It is easy for the titled gentleman. I am not very harsh with them, for they have their reputations at stake if they do not pay and usually have a lot of money at their disposal.”
“So, if there were problems of a great nature, how would you handle them?”
Branson smiled both toothlessly and mirthlessly. “That is, of course, my business and the business of club management. It is a very rare occasion.”
“I see. Would you ever consider threatening with violence?”
Branson reddened. “Mr. Winston. I would not expect such questions of a gentleman. I do not like where this is heading.”
Philip nodded, afraid that he would step even further if he continued. “Of course. I understand. Thank you for your time and information. It is out of concern for my friend, as you can understand. But I am glad to hear that he is in no great debt at your establishment. Would you happen to know his debts at any other gaming hells?”
Branson stood up, closing his notebook as he did so. There was still an air of hostility about him, but the rage of before had begun to dissipate.
“That I cannot reveal. You will have to visit them in person. It is not my business to discuss things of that nature. I concern myself only with the debts owed to me. It is the way of a businessman and a gentleman, of course. I do like to emulate the attitudes of my clients.”
“Thank you, Branson. I am most appreciative.” Branson bowed his head, and Philip took his leave of the hall, armed with only a bit of new knowledge.
As he put on his hat and gloves in the street, he wondered what to do next. There wasn’t much time left, as he would need to report to the naval office early the next day. There were two options. Either Charles was lying to him about the amount of his debts or he had debts elsewhere with other nefarious characters that Philip did not know about. His debts could be of a severe and dangerous nature. Well, the letters proved that.
He decided then that the best action he could take at the moment was to write Leonard a letter to let him know all before he left for the Navy. He hoped that he would do something and that nothing would befall any of Charles’ acquaintances while Philip was gone. That hope was slowly thinning as he left the gaming hell and made his way home.
Chapter Nineteen
Two days later, Margaret sat in the library, dreaming about Philip and his training, her pen hovering over her journal page. She wondered what sort of things he would experience, what sort of people he might meet. Sometimes, she wished that she too could be a man, so that she could be set free upon the world. That might give her even more inspiration for her writing and painting.
Sighing, she returned to her page. Being a woman was not so bad. She, after all, had liberated herself and was now in pursuit of a dream. Her writing had come on tremendously, and she was nearly halfway finished. The main hero was becoming even more like Philip. He was a sea captain and was waiting to return home from his adventures upon the sea to profess his love to the woman who had been waiting for him, or so the captain hoped.
