Page 1 of Lady Gambit
Chapter One
Fortune’s Den
Aldgate Street, London
“Including the vowels Tindell wrote last night, the man’s debts run to ten thousand pounds,” Aramis said, glancing at his ledger. “I shall visit him today to ensure he knows he’s not welcome in the club until he’s settled his account.”
Delphine Chance sat at the dining table, observing her four brothers as she slowly sipped her tea. She rarely attended the family meeting held at ten o’clock each morning. She had no interest in business matters. Mr Tindell would find himself in the Marshalsea. Next week, they would sit discussing another faceless man addicted to the turn of the cards or roll of the dice.
But if she meant to attend her secret meeting with Mr Flynn this afternoon, she had to know her brothers’ whereabouts. She could not outwit them. They were strong, intelligent men, a product of a life spent surviving on the streets. Now they were as rich as Croesus, with resources aplenty. A lady needed more than a strategy if she hoped to evade suspicion.
Her eldest brother Aaron—known as the King of Clubs to those who frequented the gaming hell—sat at the head of the table, scanning a page in his leather-bound diary. “Meldrum is late with his payment. We must remind the arrogant lords of thetonthat they receive no special privileges here.” He set his dark eyes on their youngest brother, Theodore. “Speak to Meldrum. Tell him he’ll incur a five percent fee if he fails to pay within the next three days.”
Delphine gave an inward sigh of relief.
Aramis would visit Mr Tindell near Chelsea Common. Theodore would be occupied with Lord Meldrum. Aaron had an appointment at the solicitors and the bank. That left Christian.
“You haven’t forgotten I’m at the museum today?” came Christian’s well-timed question. “It’s Isabella’s lecture on Egyptian mathematics. I’ll not let those with a contempt for female scholars mock her work.”
Christian would walk over hot coals for his wife.
Nothing would drag him away from the museum.
“And I’m at the modiste’s at two,” Delphine said, thankful there was no one to act as her chaperone. “I cannot miss the appointment.”
She prayed the mysterious Mr Flynn would attend this time. One would expect a former Bow Street runner to be reliable.
Aaron arched a curious brow. “Today? I’ve no record of the appointment. You usually inform me two weeks in advance.” He flipped to a page in his diary. The one where he noted all her movements. When she ate and slept and breathed. “There’s no mention of a visit to Miss Darrow.”
Delphine kept her composure. She’d spent the last two days standing before the looking glass, rehearsing her reply. “We had a slight disagreement at last week’s fitting. I had to leave to arrange Aramis’ wedding breakfast but agreed to continue thediscussion today.” She forced a frown. “I told you about it when you accused me of acting strangely.”
Having sent word to Mr Flynn, informing him to enter Miss Darrow’s premises via the yard, she had battled disappointment when he’d failed to show.
Aaron rubbed his chiselled jaw as he studied her. “When I asked what was troubling you, you said it wasn’t worth mentioning.”
“You have more important things to worry about than ladies’ fripperies, but I said I needed to return today.” Guilt flared. She hated lying to the people she loved. They were her brothers by choice, not blood. That made them all the more exceptional. The last thing she wanted was to hurt them, but she was beyond desperate for answers. “It was when Miss Lovelace arrived. Perhaps your mind was engaged elsewhere.”
The lady had a profound effect on Aaron.
He denied it most vehemently, of course.
Indeed, the mere mention of the woman who owned the ladies’ club across the road had Aaron firming his jaw. “Be assured, there isn’t a woman alive who could distract my mind.”
Aramis snorted. “I recall saying something similar once. Love has a way of catching a man unawares.”
Quick to intervene before anyone else offered words of wisdom, Aaron said, “I consider Miss Lovelace our competitor. The less said about her, the better.” He pinned Delphine to the seat with his intense gaze. “Theo will accompany you once he’s dealt with Lord Meldrum. Send word to Miss Darrow and inform her you’ll be late.”
Late? Mr Flynn would not wait.
Her throat tightened.
Aaron’s lack of trust in her was a bitter pill to swallow.
Yes, dissolute lords might take her hostage in the hope of having their debts cleared. Yes, men looked for ways to hurt herbrothers. But she was almost six and twenty—well, she wasn’t exactly sure how old she was. Aaron had guessed her age when he found her alone and injured in an alley all those years ago.
“I’m not a child anymore. I’m a grown woman.” At times, he still treated her like a ten-year-old urchin with no clue as to her identity. “I told Miss Darrow I would be there promptly at two, and I intend to keep my word.”
Aaron closed his eyes briefly. “As a grown woman, you know why I insist on taking every precaution when you leave the house.”
