Isabella gave a short bow, highlighting her outfit. “This is the cost, Abigail. Only this.”
Emily pushed past Eliza, coming to stand at Isabella’s side. “I’m with Abigail. I don’t like this at all.”
She sighed. If she were them, she wouldn’t like it either.
Eliza came to join them, and she held out a hand to Emily and Abigail as all four sisters held each other, forming a ring. “I’ve met His Grace,” she said. “He’ll keep our Isabella safe from other men.”
“Yes, but…” Emily tapped her slippered foot. “Who is going to protect Isabella from him?”
The temporary Aunt Mildred entered the room too. “Ladies do not need protections from dukes. If such a man decides to lavish attention on a lady, she should know she’ll be rewarded for it.”
Abigail scoffed. “This is our chaperone?”
Isabella gave a small smile. The gesture was meant to soothe her sisters but even she could feel how hollow it was. They understood that Isabella was giving up her future and if she were in their place, she’d be terribly concerned for them too. “Try not to worry. My identity will be protected at the club. No one will be the wiser. And His Grace is only interested in my ability to keep track of cards.”
Emily wrinkled her nose. “I believe almost everything and even I don’t believe that.”
Eliza gave a much quieter, more demure laugh. “Isabella will be fine. And in the meantime, Aunt Mildred is going to take us shopping for clothes. Isn’t that right, Auntie?”
“Clothes for what?” Abigail asked, looking back at Isabella.
“Aunt Mildred is going to launch you into society,” Isabella answered. “So we’ll need fresh dresses in more current fashions.”
“Yes, I am. All four of you are to be prepared,” Aunt Mildred replied. “We’ll leave at noon tomorrow to go shopping and then, Eliza and I have another errand to run. To see my dear brother-in-law.”
Eliza shook her head. “No one calls him dear…not even your late sister who was his wife.”
“And my husband? Alive?”
“And ornery,” Abigail volunteered. “We met him once as children.”
“But he let me come down here because?” Aunt Mildred asked, primly folding her hands.
The girls fell silent. Eliza tapped her chin. “It wouldn’t be for money. He’s never cared about that. At least not Papa’s.”
“Perhaps something to do with our cousin, Ewan? Mayhap Ewan needs some English connections to expand the sale of their grain?” Emily volunteered quietly.
“Excellent.” Mildred nodded. “And I last met your uncle at…”
“Your wedding. But honestly, you married three years after Aunt Frannie, so you were quite familiar with Uncle Malcolm for a time.”
“Was I? Oh my head. I’ve grown so forgetful in my old age. Have you seen my spectacles?”
Eliza gave a nod. “That should do. He’s mean as they come and a thief to boot.”
The new Mildred nodded. “Understood.”
“Now,” Eliza let go of her sisters. “We have to get Isabella ready for her first night at work.”
Bash sat behind his curtain, watching Isabella deal. His chest was tight as he fixed his gaze on her tapered fingers. How could all the men at the table not see they were the hands of a woman?
He’d barely glanced at any other table, which he knew was a mistake. He needed to watch the entire floor, but he couldn’t take his gaze off her.
A burly guard leaned against the wall behind her. There were four stationed about the room, so it wasn’t strange. He didn’t appear to watch just her, but Bash had put her at that table, so she’d be close to himself and even closer to that guard.
She flicked over several cards as another round of betting took place. Men shifted, they called out numbers, tapped for extra cards.
One, just to Isabella’s right, scrubbed the back of his neck. He’d been steadily losing all night and Bash had noted that he grew more agitated with each passing hand. It was part of being in a club like this and the very reason Isabella didn’t belong here. He stood, his muscles tensing as he watched. “This is the hand my luck will change.”