Page 33 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl

She stared at what looked like a king’s ransom. ‘You cannot mean it.’

‘I do.’

‘So much money lost at the tables?’ It seemed immoral.

‘That and payment for your dances.’

‘Oh. I did not realise they were paying...’

He shrugged. ‘Why would the girls want to dance with the patrons for free when they could be putting their feet up in the withdrawing room?’

‘Why, indeed. And what else do they do for money?’

‘Now, now, Mrs Lamb, you have a very earthy turn of mind. My staff does not do anything of that sort under my roof. It is against the rules.’

‘I saw couples leaving the dancing—’

‘Couples who came together. Not my ladies. Now what do you say?’

He seemed very anxious for her to say yes. And if she made that amount of money each evening, she could retire to a little cottage in the country in no time at all.

It was so very tempting.

But she couldn’t risk being recognised.

She shook her head. ‘I am sorry. It is out of the question.’

‘I see.’ His voice was full of disappointment.

She felt guilty. As if she had let him down. ‘You see, it is possible that I might know someone among your guests. My mother isn’t pleased about my becoming a cook, but since I am always tucked away in a kitchen, no one is likely to know. On the other hand, if I was recognised acting as a hostess at what is really a gambling hell—whatever you say about it being respectable—I think it would be ruinous. Reputations other than mine would be destroyed.’

‘And last night you were not concerned about this, because you knew you would leave before the unmasking?’

She nodded.

‘Then continue to leave.’

‘Won’t people wonder why I disappear?’

‘Let them wonder. Thetonloves a bit of intrigue.’

‘I really don’t think—’

‘Give it a try for a couple of weeks. If you don’t like it, you can go back to your kitchen and I won’t hold it against you.’

She looked at the wad of banknotes in her hand and back at his face—he was grinning like a schoolboy.

Her dream of her own little cottage seemed as though it could become a reality. ‘Very well. I will try it for two weeks.’

‘That’s the ticket.’ He whirled her around in a circle and took off out of the door, leaving her gasping for breath.

Oh, my word!What had she done?

Let him charm her. That was what she had done.

Chapter Six

Damian had been very careful to keep his distance from Mrs Lamb for the past two weeks. They had exchanged the odd remark relating to her new position, but for the most part he had left her in Pip’s charge.