Page 14 of Blackmailed (The Browns of Butcher’s Hill #2)

“Oh yes. Many had been there often with their mistress and knew each other. They considered it an entertainment, from what I could tell. They played cards, some read books or wrote letters or had someone write a letter for them if they couldn’t.

And gossiped about the families they worked for.

” She smiled. “I said nothing, just ate and drank to my heart’s content. ”

Virginia laughed. “Well, if we ever return, you can tell them I won six pennies the last time I was here.”

“Oh, but, Miss Wiest. The things they were saying about the women who play that game, what is it called, poker? That’s it. They say those women win and lose hundreds, even a thousand dollars in an afternoon.”

“I heard the stakes were high.”

“Did you see anyone you know or that Mr. Brown might know?”

“Oh yes,” she said. “I’ll be sending a note to Mr. Brown this evening.”

“What did Dolly say to the Pinkertons when they came to her house after those three men broke into her shop? Did she tell you?” Phillip asked Sarah while they ate their noon meal in the kitchen.

“I don’t think she told them much, but she was likely hysterical at the time and may not even remember what all was said. She told me repeatedly that she did not mention your name or Uncle Patrick’s or Mr. Shoeman’s.”

“Then who did she say shot out her window glass?”

“She told me she was going to tell them she was cleaning her gun and it went off, but then she didn’t know how she would explain the broken chairs and dishes. She told them some men broke in looking to steal her strongbox, she refused to give it to them, and they went on a rampage.”

“That sounds more plausible than her cleaning a gun,” Phillip said. “How did she say she got the men to leave?”

“She said a neighbor was hollering for the night watch, and it spooked them.”

Phillip shook his head. “I seriously doubt the Pinkertons believed any of that.”

“That’s what I thought, but I didn’t want to upset her any more than she was. We got her rooms straightened up and cleaned up the mess they made in the workroom. We didn’t want customers to see that there was trouble again at her shop. She needs the business.”

A knock sounded at the front door, and Phillip got up to answer it. He was surprised to find Virginia and Miss Hughes waiting on the stoop. “Come in. Please.”

“Thank you,” Virginia said and handed her hat and jacket to Jenny. “I was hoping you had a moment to speak with me, Mr. Brown.”

“I’ll just wait in the kitchen, Miss Wiest,” Miss Hughes said.

Virginia nodded at her maid and looked up at him expectantly.

It was hard to think straight when she was standing just a foot or so from him, smelling like spring and looking like it too, in her yellow dress with lace at her neck and wrists.

He did not think he would ever see a woman as pretty as her if he lived to be one hundred years old.

Then he realized they’d been standing near the stairs staring at each other for several moments.

“Of course you can speak to me. Anytime. Here, come in the parlor.” He waited until she was seated and sat down across from her. “Is there something I can help you with?”

She glanced at her gloved hands and up to his face. “I think I may be able to help you, but I imagine you will be cross with me, so I thought I’d enjoy your goodwill for a few minutes longer.”

“Cross with you? Why would I be cross with you? I can’t think of why . . .”

“I went to the Ladies’ Organization for the Benefit of Baltimore City yesterday.”

He took a deep breath. “I thought I was very specific about you not making any inquiries.”

“Actually, the only thing you forbade was for me to ask you anything about why you wanted to know about it. I didn’t ask you anything.”

“But you must have known I did not want you involved in any way!” he said, louder than he should have.

“I don’t have to do as you say or even what you imply, do I, Mr. Brown?”

He stood and shook his finger at her. “No, but you should. You don’t know what you’re getting involved in, and you put yourself in danger. I should have never mentioned it to you!”

“But you did, and I went. Don’t you want to know what I saw?”

Phillip took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His mind was at war with itself. Of course he wanted to know what she saw, but he also wanted her to listen to him and be safe. He wanted to bundle her up in warmth and shelter. In his arms, preferably.

“I do want to know what you saw, but you are right. I am cross with you. It seems I either can’t take my eyes from your face or I want to throttle you.” She had the poor manners to giggle at that.

“Won’t you sit down again?” she asked with a smile.

Phillip sat, unsure whether he could be furious with her when she smiled at him as she was doing now and refused to be cowed when he was stern or even angry.

Or to just realize it was his job to keep her as safe as possible when she chose to do whatever she wanted, which she would invariably do.

He had best get used to the latter as he doubted she would change in any principal way.

“Are you going to tell me what you discovered? I can tell you want to,” he said.

“I’d be happy to share what I learned—if you are in the mood now,” she said placidly, as if her actions hadn’t precipitated his temper.

He couldn’t help himself. He smiled. “Go ahead, then. Tell me your news.”

“I was shocked to find the organization’s card day was so large. There must have been thirty tables, some playing whist, some euchre, and a few playing poker. Mrs. Everly was playing poker,” she said, eyes on him.

He leaned back in his seat and shook his head to clear it. “Poker? Mrs. Everly plays poker?”

“Oh yes. And the stakes can be very high.”

“What else?”

Virginia outlined what she had learned about the penny games and what those pennies were worth at the poker tables.

Hundreds of dollars of losses or gains. Maybe even a thousand.

And how an employee kept track of those winnings and losses.

He’d wondered early on if Mrs. Everly had any involvement with the thefts but had firmly put it out of his mind.

She was just too starchy, too upright, to involve herself with something as base as gambling. He would admit he was shocked.

“Close your mouth, Phillip. My father always says you will catch flies that way,” Virginia said.

“I’ve made a promise to someone that I would not share any of what I find out with anyone else. I’m sorry, Virginia. I can’t tell you anything, but I can say your information will likely lead me to solve the issue.”

She smiled. “Then I am pleased.”