He had returned despondent and financially depleted, but Jewelene’s father had helped him work out a scheme to open up the Silver Heart. While not exactly a genteel trade, it kept house and home together, had lifted his spirits, and gave him a man’s work to keep him busy. Jewels thoroughly approved.
Jewelene sighed as she recalled her father, whom she had adored though she knew he had been addicted to gambling. It was that addiction that had depleted his own fortune …
However, she meant to win it back with a scheme of her own.
The door opened, and Jewels looked up into the oval face of an attractive man. Gentle brown eyes were set in a pleasant countenance. Silky brown waves of hair were cut to make one think that the wind had some hand in the styling. His shirt points were correctly starched, his neckcloth fashionably tied, his velvet coat well fitted—and Jewelene never noticed anymore that one empty sleeve was folded and pinned at the elbow. His smile was warm and welcoming, and she adored him.
“Jewels!” he said, tossing his cape and top hat aside as he came forward to take her hand and bring it up to meet his lips.
She liked Ben so much, and she gave him a coquettish smile as he took off her kid gloves and kissed her fingertips flirtatiously. Neither one was serious, and they both knew it. “Oh sir, you take my breath away, you handsome devil!” It was a harmless game they played—harmless and safe, and one they both enjoyed.
“So, puss, what brings you here?” he asked as he turned to his satinwood wall table and a decanter of sherry. He offered her a glass, accepted silently when she shook her head, and poured himself one.
“Ben, I have the solution!” she said, smiling at his back.
He turned and gazed at her a moment before taking a sip of the sherry he held to his lips. “Do you now? That sounds like trouble.”
She took a step towards him. “It came to me yesterday when I was in the attic going through m’mother’s clothes. You know we have the dowager Lyndhurst’s son and his cousin staying with us, and I thought I might find a few pretty things to wear, but never mind that now. I also found a lovely black wig, a mask, and a most unusual red ball dress. I remembered that Mama had worn the outfit to a masquerade ball. Oh, it was many years ago … when I was quite young. She went as a Fr
ench woman, and it came to me … so shall I!”
“You have totally lost me, child.”
“Lyla said you were most distressed when your best female Faro dealer left to get married …” Jewelene said slowly.
Dawning and then disbelief lit on his face. “Aha … I shall call for the doctor at once, my little friend, for you have gone mad.”
“No, no … only do listen, Ben. I shall wear the wig, the mask, and the gown. You and Papa often said there wasn’t another female alive who could deal faro as well as I … and we do so need the entrance fee for Lightning …”
“Ah, so that is what this is about? The entrance fee for Derby? Dearest, I shall lend you—”
“No. We don’t want charity. We want to do this on our own. You didn’t take charity when you started the Silver Heart. You pawned everything you had … you stood up like the man you are, and you took charge. Allow me to work for my family … for our way out of our mess …”
“But, darling, if you get caught … you will be ruined.”
“I shan’t get caught, because you will have my back and I will be Babette … in disguise.”
“No. I won’t let you do this.”
“Then you are sending me to Omsbury.”
“Over my dead body!” Ben snapped. “He is a cad—a devil! Don’t blackmail me, girl … don’t do this.”
“What choice do I have, Ben?” She shook her head. “Things are dire, Ben … the next thing that will happen—we shall lose our home …”
“I won’t let that happen.”
“Ben … let me earn the entrance fee as Babette,” she said quietly. “I can do it.”
“What if Lightning loses …? What then—have you thought of that?”
“One thing at a time, dear Ben … one thing at a time.”
“Mad—absolutely raving … and I must be as well, because, damn … I think we can get away with it for a short while …” He shook his finger at her. “For only a very short while …” He looked upwards and whispered, “God preserve us this day’s work.”
Five
RYKER STOOD APART from the assembled group in the parlor of Henshaw House and studied them. Everything was all wrong. This was not the desired result he had looked for when he had switched identities with his cousin. Things had not progressed according to his plans. For one thing, Robby was a mess, guilt-ridden and complaining at every turn that it wasn’t right to deceive these good people. He’d even threatened to leave.