Suddenly Susan gasped and clutched Emma’s arm. “We need to leave right now,” she whispered in a nervous voice.
“What is wrong?” Emma hadn’t even spied Kingsley yet. Then she remembered he watched the floor from his office. He would never be able to identify her from there.
“My brother is here!”
“He will never notice you in that mask,” Emma replied calmly.
“Yes, he will. He always comments on how much he likes this gown on me, Emma.”
“Edmond, not Emma,” she whispered back. “And with all these people, he will never notice you.”
Except, as soon as she’d said those words, Gavin Lancaster rose from his seat and turned toward them. Susan observed him and abruptly left, racing out the double doors. Emma strode after her friend, who had gained quite a lead on her. By the time she reached the front door, Susan had already climbed into a hackney. Emma watched as they drove off.
“Too much excitement for your friend?” the man at the door asked.
“Yes, she happened to notice her husband and ran off before being caught with me.”
The man laughed coarsely. “Of course. Don’t forget to remove your hat when you go back inside.”
She nodded as Susan’s carriage drove down the street. Emma could either do the same and run away or turn around and have some amusement tonight. Gavin Lancaster was a test. If she could stroll past him without gaining his notice, then she would remain. Susan’s brother strode past with barely a glance at Emma.
There was no turning back now.
She entered the gaming room again. She’d come to gamble, and that’s what she intended to do tonight. Moving to a roulette table, she pulled out her money and placed her first bet.
“Can I get you a drink, young man?”
Emma looked over at the woman and barely caught herself from gasping. The same woman she’d seen on Kingsley’s lap nearly a year ago when Emma had come here with Louisa, who was looking for Harry. Only the woman had not just been sitting on his lap. The image of that woman with her dress down and her bountiful breasts displayed for him had burned into Emma’s mind. The woman had been sliding up and down on the man’s....
Oh, she couldn’t even think about it.
“Whisky,” Emma said in a low voice.
“Of course, sir,” the woman said with a sensual smile. “Don’t forget to put your hat on the table.”
“I don’t want to lose it,” Emma replied.
“Melissa is watching the table. Nothing will happen to it. Would you like me to take it over there for you?”
“No,” Emma said in a harsh tone. “Just get my drink.”
The woman pursed her lips. “As you wish.”
The croupier behind the table announced that her number won. She smiled and decided to play again.
SIMON HAD JUST FINISHED his business letters when Riley entered the office. The man scowled down at Simon.
“There’s a young man who has refused to remove his hat,” Riley said. “I was going to confront him but thought you might want the pleasure.”
Simon rose and walked to the window overlooking the gaming room. He spotted the fellow immediately, noting the amount of money in front of him and the man’s diminutive size. “How much has he won?”
“He’s been here for about an hour and has already won thirty pounds.”
“It’s damned hard to cheat at roulette, Riley.” Still, the man, if Simon could call him that, barely looked old enough to be out of leading strings.
“That’s why I waited to inform you.”
“Perhaps he only intended to play a game or two but kept winning. Or maybe he’s losing his hair already and doesn’t want to take off his hat.” Simon grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair. “I think I’ll watch the floor tonight. What’s the man drinking?”