Page 24 of King of Clubs (The Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society #9)

J oshua raised his eyebrows, but before he could even answer her, Miss Hanslow said, “Can you believe, I’ve even heard that some younger ladies are joining—with their mothers’ permission, of course.”

“Do you not plan on joining, ladies?” he asked, already guessing at the answer.

“Of course not! What a horrid notion. Women do not gather in clubs like gentlemen do. If we wish to visit with each other, we go to each other’s homes. Having a club for such a purpose is idiotic. There is absolutely nothing wrong with going to people’s homes nor having people to your own,” the older lady said with finality.

Joshua had no problem with a club for ladies and rather hoped Miss Sherman’s club did very well, but he decided not to tempt the beast on this topic either. “Have you gone for a ride in the park recently, Miss Hanslow? Or do you prefer to walk in the afternoons instead?”

She gave him a polite smile. “I prefer to either walk or be driven, my lord. I do not care for riding.”

“Really?”

“Yes. One comes away smelling awful and, well, it’s much more pleasant in a carriage than it is on horseback,” the young lady said.

Her mother nodded her agreement.

“And how do you feel about museums?” he asked, after quickly searching through his repertoire of appropriate topics.

The girl sighed. “Boring.” The one word said it all.

“You prefer the theatre, then,” he commented with a hopeful smile.

“No. I prefer to stay home,” she told him.

“Ah, right. You did mention that to me once before,” he commented.

“But surely, darling, you enjoy going to the theatre to see who is with whom?” her mother asked.

The young lady lifted one negligent shoulder. “I suppose that is interesting,” she agreed reluctantly.

That there might be any other reason to go to the theatre clearly hadn’t even occurred to either lady. Joshua supposed he shouldn’t be surprised. She had told him that she had no intellectual interests whatsoever. He hadn’t realized just how thoroughly she’d meant it.

His heart sank.

The dancers in front of them curtsied and bowed to each other as the dance ended. Well, at least Miss Hanslow was an excellent dancer, he thought as he escorted her onto the floor for his promised dance.

~*~

“Lady Wickford, may I say how stunning you look this evening?” Lord Keppel asked, coming up and joining her.

She’d finally got tired of Lady Findlater and Lady Wraxley’s bitter discussion, tearing apart the reputations of so many perfectly fine young ladies—none of whom did Hannah know—and had wandered away.

She turned toward the gentleman with a bright smile to find him wearing a navy-blue coat with a silver-gray waistcoat that highlighted the touch of gray in his otherwise dark brown hair. His brown eyes were smiling as always, making her feel warm and happy. “As do you, my lord. I do like that waistcoat! It brings out the silver in your hair.”

He looked horrified for a moment and then burst out laughing. “Oh dear! I think it will go directly into the rubbish heap, in that case. I don’t think I can afford to look any older than I already do.”

“But why? You look distinguished. It is so much easier for gentlemen than it is for us poor ladies—especially those of us with dark hair. It’s impossible to hide the gray. I have noticed that for ladies with blonde hair the gray gets hidden much more easily,” she said, giving him a warm smile.

“You are too kind, my lady. But you, clearly, have nothing to worry about…”

“Yet!” she pointed out quickly.

He acknowledged her point. “At least I accept my advanced age and do not go running about after young women.”

“You prefer them to come running to you?” she asked with a giggle.

“Absolutely not!” he answered horrified.

She couldn’t tell if he was funning or truly upset at the thought. “No? Perhaps just one young lady. Or perhaps it’s not the young lady herself, but her father who is the one doing the pursuing.”

“Ah, you refer to Mr. Sherman,” he said, finally catching her drift.

She just nodded.

“That is a sad case, indeed. I don’t know why the man has decided that only I will do for his daughter. She is a sweet young thing, but goodness, she’s young enough to my daughter! I am not interested, I assure you!” He paused and smiled at her. “I much prefer beautiful ladies closer to my own age.”

She was certain he meant her and could feel her face warm with his attention. She liked him, too, but wasn’t certain the wisdom of admitting so to him. Happily, she was saved from having to respond at all by the presence of Mr. and Miss Sherman themselves.

“Good evening, good evening!” Mr. Sherman said, approaching them. His daughter lagged ever so slightly behind, but he had a good grip on her arm.

“Good evening, Mr. Sherman, Miss Sherman, I do hope you are enjoying this lovely gathering?” Lord Keppel asked.

“Absolutely!” Mr. Sherman answered immediately.

“Did you see that Lady Sorrell is dancing,” Miss Sherman asked, turning toward the center of the room where the dancers were performing the pretty steps.

“No,” Hannah said. She looked, and indeed, there was Lady Sorrell laughing with some gentlemen as they turned about. “Is this uncommon?” she asked Miss Sherman.

“I’ve never seen her dance, and Lady Welles just told me that she’s known Lady Sorrell for three years and has not seen her dance,” Miss Sherman said.

“Do you dance, Lady Wickford?” Lord Keppel asked.

“Gwendolyn is an excellent dancer,” Mr. Sherman answered before Hannah could even open her mouth.

“I’m not at all surprised,” the gentleman said. When he turned back to Hannah, there was laughter in his eyes, making her hard-pressed not to laugh right out loud.

“I do not, my lord,” Hannah said. “And I am too old to learn,” she said quickly before the suggestion could even be made.

“Ah, perhaps some time I will convince you otherwise.” The warmth in his eyes was almost too much for such a public display.

She quickly turned back to the others. “Miss Sherman, did I see you Friday at the opening of the Ryder Street Club?”

The girl’s eyes widened momentarily, but then she quickly turned her gaze away, seeming reluctant to actually look Hannah in the eye. Hannah thought it amusing. She was probably embarrassed at having been caught kissing Joshua the previous week. Poor girl. She decided she would do her best to make the girl feel comfortable again.

“Er, yes, my lady. I was there. I’m glad to hear that you were as well. Have you decided to join the club?”

“I have,” Hannah told her. “I think it’s a brilliant idea to have a club for ladies.”

“I have to agree, although I am curious,” Lord Keppel said, turning to Hannah, “if your son isn’t the one behind it?” He raised his eyebrows.

Hannah gave him a smile but couldn’t help but notice Miss Sherman’s expression of surprise out of the corner of her eye. The young lady seemed to be waiting anxiously for her answer. “As far as I know, he is not, but then again, he does not discuss his business with me,” she said with a little shrug. “I know there is a great deal of speculation as to who the mysterious owner is. I, myself, would like to know as well, so I can congratulate them on their bold and clever idea.”

“Ha!” Mr. Sherman burst out. “My lady, I would greatly enjoy discussing this idea with you further. Would you care to promenade?” He held out his hand for her to take, but Hannah had absolutely no intention of leaving Miss Sherman alone with Lord Keppel—and even if she did, the gentleman’s pleading eyes would have convinced her otherwise.

“Er, perhaps, if you would indulge me, Mr. Sherman, you and I might go for a stroll. There’s, er, a business matter I’d like to discuss with you,” Lord Keppel said, jumping forward.

Mr. Sherman frowned, but as Lord Keppel slapped a hand on the shorter man’s shoulder just then, to steer him away from Hannah and Miss Sherman, he didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter.

Hannah did her best to hide her laughter as Mr. Sherman was practically dragged away. She turned to say something to Miss Sherman but noticed the young woman’s eyes were glued to Joshua, who was turning a young lady about on the dance floor.

~*~

Gwendolyn could not keep her eyes from Lord Wickford. She knew she was being horribly rude to Lady Wickford, and she felt bad for it.

When Gwendolyn and her father had entered the ball, she’d noticed him speaking with Miss Hanslow. They’d had their heads together as they’d discussed something rather seriously, and now he was dancing with her. Surely, he might share his favors with some other young ladies?

She sighed. It was none of her business.

“I don’t know that I believe they make a very nice couple,” Lady Wickford said, clearly following Gwendolyn’s line of vision.

“Why not, my lady? I’m sure Miss Hanslow is very nice and a very well-trained young lady.”

Lady Wickford harumphed . “Well trained. Like a dog?”

Gwendolyn burst out laughing. “No, I meant that she has many fine qualities. I’m certain she plays an instrument, paints, does lovely embroidery. All the appropriate pastimes for a young lady of society.”

The older lady by her side just shrugged. “What is the point of having such accomplishments? They do not help my son or make him happy.”

“Well, I’m sure she knows how to organize and host a party as well. That could be very helpful to him. He needs to marry someone who will further his position in society or assist when he takes his seat in Parliament, especially if he wants to become active in politics. I’m certain she’ll know precisely how to—”

“He wants to do none of those things. He wants to run his club and be social with his friends.” The lady turned toward Gwendolyn. “Do you have an interest in him? Or are you interested in Lord Keppel?”

Gwendolyn widened her eyes. The lady certainly didn’t beat around the bush, did she? Well, Gwendolyn appreciated straight talk. “It is my father who wants me to marry Lord Keppel, not me, I assure you. He’s much too old for me! Goodness, I think he’s old enough to be my father.”

“He is.”

“Well, I certainly have no interest in marrying anyone that old. As for Lord Wickford…” Gwendolyn swallowed. “I have no interest in him either.” She turned back toward the room, her eyes straying to the gentleman in question. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to look Lady Wickford in the eye, or watch her son as he laughed at something Miss Hanslow had just said to him, she just… she needed to find an excuse to escape. She needed to go and check on her club. It had been nagging her ever since she and her father had arrived. She wanted to be sure everything was running smoothly without her.

She’d promised her father that owning the club would not interfere with her social life and her attempts at finding a husband, and she was determined for that to be true. But the club had just opened. She wondered if anyone was there at all, or if all the ladies of society were here at this ball or at some other party. She had no idea if there would be anyone at the club in the evenings.

Ryder Street Club had only been open for one day. There had been a smattering of older ladies there earlier this evening, according to Mr. Jamieson. She was wondering if it would be worthwhile to keep the club open in the evenings. She really wanted to sneak out to see what was happening there now.

“If you have no interest in my son, what were you doing in his office last week?” Lady Wickford asked.

Gwendolyn spun toward her. She hadn’t even thought of an excuse as to why she’d been there. She’d hoped that Lord Wickford would have said something to tell his mother. She gave the lady a tremulous smile. “Surely, he told you himself?” she asked.

“No, he—”

“Mother, Miss Sherman,” the man himself joined them, nearly making Gwendolyn sag in relief.

“Ah, Joshua. We were just—” Lady Wickford started.

Gwendolyn could not, would not stay to hear what the lady might have to say. It was too terrifying, and Gwendolyn was a coward. Yes, yes, she was. She would never admit as much to anyone else, but to herself, absolutely. “I do beg your pardon. I think my father is calling for me,” she said, escaping while she could.

She went out the back and, with a quick glance around to make sure no one was noticing, slipped into the garden and then out through the gate. Her coachman was waiting around the corner just where she’d asked him to. Yes, she’d known she wouldn’t be able to stay the entire evening without needing to escape to check on things at the club. And she was certain she wouldn’t be missed—at least she hoped not.

~*~

Joshua watched Miss Sherman make a quick exit.

“Well!” his mother breathed.

“I didn’t mean to send her running.” Joshua watched Miss Sherman give a quick look around and then slip out the French doors toward the garden. He wondered, with a slight tightening of his chest, who she was meeting out there.

Lady Wickford gave a little laugh. “I think I asked a question she didn’t want to answer.”

He turned to look back at her. “What did you ask?”

“What she had been doing in your office the other day.” She raised an inquisitive eyebrow at him. He hadn’t answered her either, and she’d asked him twice now.

“Well no, I don’t suppose she would want to answer that. And no, I’m not going to do so either,” he informed her.

“I don’t know why you aren’t courting the girl,” Lady Wickford said, narrowing her eyes at him.