Page 12 of Anything But a Duke
“The dining rooms?”
“Across the lobby, miss.” The young man pointed toward the entrance of the club.
“Thank you.”
When she and her brother had entered an hour ago, she’d steered him determinedly toward the reception rooms. Ladies were not allowed in the club unaccompanied, and her brother had long been a member for Lyon’s other offerings. Namely, its gaming tables. Thankfully, he’d been too exhausted by whatever debauchery he’d gotten up to the night before to show much interest in those rooms today.
She pushed at her brother’s arm to rouse him. “I need you to escort me to the dining rooms.”
“Not hungry.” His mumble emerged indignant, even as his body sagged against the settee.
The prospect of dragging him along as she searched for her folio held no appeal, and she suspected allowing him a moment of sleep might make him a more useful escort when she faced the Duke’s Den.
“I’ll return shortly,” she told him, giving his arm a gentle shake. “If they call me, hold them off as long as you can.”
He nodded his assent but didn’t bother opening his eyes.
Diana considered leaving her scale model next to him, but it was the one part of her presentation she absolutely could not risk losing. She scooped up the handmade box and made her way into the club’s main lobby.
“No ladies allowed on the gaming floors, miss,” a crimson-coated attendant called before she’d made it halfway toward the dining rooms.
“I’m searching for something, sir. Notes for my presentation marked by a purple ribbon. I think another gentleman may have mistaken them for his and has gone into the dining rooms.”
The older man assessed her a moment, casting a frowning gaze over her ruffled rose traveling gown before lingering on the polished wood container clutched in her arms. A tiny dip of his chin told Diana he’d made up his mind.
“If you return to the reception rooms, miss, I’ll search for your notes.”
“I’d prefer to look myself.” It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate the man’s courtesy, but time was of the essence.
“That’s impossible, miss. Ladies are not allowed in the dining room.” The man nodded solemnly as if the ridiculous rule of not allowing females to walk about freely was a very serious matter.
Looking around at the club’s male attendees and a scattering of members settled on plush chairs reading the morning papers, Diana wondered if she was the first woman to ever enter the doors of Lyon’s Gentlemen’s Club.
Every man who caught her gaze looked shocked, if not thoroughly appalled, to find a lady invading their male enclave.
Another man approached to ask the attendant a question, and Diana took her chance.
Clutching her box to her chest, she rushed toward the dining rooms, only to tangle with a cluster of tall, bulky men crossing in front of her. One of the three sidestepped to avoid a collision, but another passed behind her at the same moment, bumping her elbow and stealing her balance.
Diana reached out to steady herself, clutching at the sleeve of one of the three men. She heard the rip of seams as she stumbled backward. The wearer reached out an arm to catch her, but his hand knocked the edge of her box instead.
“No!” She scrabbled to hold on and lost her grip entirely.
The box slammed to the marble floor with a sickening crack. Diana dropped to her knees, hands shaking as she examined the container for damage. No apparent splinters. The locking mechanism remained sound, and she prayed her model had too. She’d padded the insides well.
As two of the men hovered and murmured apologies, the third, the one whose coat she’d ripped, hunched beside her.
“Forgive me, miss. I didn’t intend—”
“I know!” Diana drew in a shaky breath to keep from barking some more. Her nerves were frayed, and she still hadn’t found her notes. “I think it will be all right.”
When he stood, the man cast a long shadow, blotting out the light from the colored-glass dome overhead. Diana tipped her head to get a look at him.
Heat flooded her cheeks as she stared.
The stranger.
She’d memorized the lines of his face, heard his voice in her head, and recalled his scent far too many times.
