Page 30 of King of Clubs (The Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society #9)

~June 1~

J oshua settled himself into the chair opposite Mr. Sherman, who sat behind a large oak desk in his study. He was keenly aware that Gwendolyn was just on the floor above him, sitting with his mother in her drawing room and waiting for him, but he was determined to do this right.

“Well, this is a most interesting proposal, Lord Wickford,” Mr. Sherman said, looking over the paper Joshua had had his solicitor draw up earlier that morning. In it were blank spaces where Sherman could fill in whatever number he and Joshua agreed upon for the sale of the Ryder Street Club.

“You should know that my mother and Miss Sherman came to an agreement last evening for us to purchase ownership of half the club, but I would actually like to purchase the entire thing outright,” Joshua told the man.

Mr. Sherman frowned at him. “Really?”

Joshua just smiled. “I’ve got a plan in mind, but before I broach that topic, we need to complete this.”

Sherman’s eyebrows came down a step farther. “I’d like to know what you’re planning before we can come to any sort of agreement here, Wickford. I’m not going to go blind into a business deal.”

Joshua sighed and nodded. “I figured you were an astute man. The thing is, I don’t want this next topic to color what we’re doing here. I assure you, this is all to benefit your daughter.”

Sherman sat back in his chair, folding his hands across his chest. “I’m not coming to any sort of deal until you tell me what you’re up to.”

“Please, sir, indulge me for a moment. I want to buy the Ryder Street Club. Write down how much you’d like for it.” Joshua wasn’t going to budge on this, and he could be downright stubborn when he wanted.

Sherman sat for another moment in silence, just staring at Joshua. Finally, he sat up, took his pencil, and wrote a number on the paper in front of him. He handed it to Joshua.

Joshua looked it over and then reached his hand out for the man’s pencil. Sherman handed it over, and Joshua made a small correction and then handed it back.

Mr. Sherman’s eyebrows went up again. “You’re in creasing it? Not a very good businessman are you, Wickford?”

“I am, as a matter of fact, but I don’t want you to consider that you haven’t gotten a fair price.”

Mr. Sherman shook his head and laughed. “I’m getting a perfectly fair price.” He picked up his pen, dipped it in the ink, and filled in the number on the page before signing it and handing it back to Joshua, along with his pen.

He’d changed the number back to what it had been. Joshua shrugged and signed the paper before reaching across the desk. Sherman’s hand met his, and they shook on the deal.

“A pleasure doing business with you, my lord. Now what is this plan of yours?” Sherman asked.

“The Ryder Street Club is not the only thing I’d like from you. I’d also like your daughter.”

“What?” Sherman nearly jumped from his chair.

“This is why I wanted to have our previous business done with first,” Joshua said with a laugh. “Sir, I love Gwendolyn, and I can’t imagine my life without her. I know I’m not exactly the sort of man you’d hoped she would marry, but I am a viscount, I own a plantation in the West Indies, Powell’s Club, and a small estate here in England. I have not taken my seat in Parliament, but I might in the future. I can ensure that your daughter never wants for anything and with the half—or possibly all—of the Ryder Street Club in her name, she will have property and an income of her own with which she can do what she likes.”

The man’s eyebrows rose. “Ah, that’s why you wanted the other business done with first, so it wouldn’t look like you were trying to buy my permission, is that it?”

“Exactly. I didn’t want to taint our other negotiation with your love for your daughter. I felt you should get a fair price for the club. And I want Gwendolyn to own, in her own name, her half of the club. You were the owner in full. But now that I own the entire club, I can gift her half. I have the papers already written up.” He pulled them out of the folder he was carrying and handed them over.

Mr. Sherman looked over the papers, nodding as he did so. When he looked up, there was a small smile twitching on his lips. “I was actually going to do precisely the same thing. I am expecting to move to America by the year’s end, and I want Gwendolyn financially secure before I do so.”

“Are you? That’s interesting. A certain Mrs. Rutledge wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with that, would she?” he asked with a little chuckle.

“As a matter of fact, she does, but that’s talk for another day, eh?” He looked down at the papers once more before setting them down and sitting back in his chair. He was clearly thinking things through as he stared intently at Joshua. Finally, he stood up and came around to the other side of his desk. “Wickford, you’re a good man.” He held out his hand. “Welcome to the family. It will be my honor to call you son.”

~*~

The Ryder Street Club was nearly empty when Gwendolyn, Lady Wickford, and Lord Wickford walked in the front door. It was only eleven in the morning and really much too early for ladies to be taking tea. It was not too early, however, for the entire staff to be present preparing for the day.

On their way to the club, the three of them had discussed their strategy for this next step in redeeming Gwendolyn’s reputation. Now, they need only implement it.

“Mr. Jamieson, would you please assemble the staff in the tea room,” Gwendolyn said, after she found the gentleman straightening tables in the dining room.

“Of course, Miss.” He bustled off, and a few minutes later the chef, two scullery maids, and four footmen took their seats in front of the three of them. On their way over to the club from her home, they had agreed that perhaps a little fib wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Now Gwendolyn needed to channel her inner actress to make it believable.

“In light of the gossip going around the ton, Lady Wickford and I decided that perhaps we have been remiss,” she began. She paused and looked around at the faces staring at her. Not one of them looked curious or confused, which meant they were probably all very well aware of the rumors.

“We should have informed you of the ownership of the club when you were hired, but since Her Ladyship and I had decided I would be the one doing all the behind-the-scenes work… well, we did not. However, Lady Wickford has very kindly agreed to take over the business because of… well, everything.”

“What Miss Sherman is trying to say,” Lady Wickford said, continuing on, “is that I used to own half of this club, but in light of all that’s happened, I have purchased the entirety of it. I had hoped to be a silent partner in this endeavor, but in order to keep Miss Sherman’s reputation intact, I’ve decided to no longer stay in the background. I will now be the one to greet our members and ensure that everything is running smoothly. Miss Sherman will continue to assist me as I believe she is an excellent business woman, but I am now the sole owner of the club.”

“But that makes so much sense!” Matthew, one of the footman, said. He immediately covered his mouth, embarrassed by his outburst. “I beg your pardon, but it makes a lot of sense. There are so many similarities between this club and Powell’s. I was wondering if Lord Wickford knew about it.”

Lord Wickford gave the man a reassuring smile. “It’s all right. I did know about it and supported it.”

All the staff looked relieved and happy. Perhaps there had been a lot more worry about this than Gwendolyn had realized. Only Jamieson looked at all confused by this turn of events—only he knew the truth of the matter. But it was all right, she would have a word with him later.

“What I want to know,” Lady Wickford continued, “is who let slip that Miss Sherman was the owner of this club?”

Gwendolyn was glad she was not on the receiving end of the lady’s stern look, she was a little frightening.

Clearly the staff thought so as well. There was a good bit of shuffling about in chairs. After a moment, Mr. Ropier stood up. “It was me. I cannot lie. I told my cousin, Margarite. She is the cook in the ‘ome of Lord and Lady Hanslow. I did not realize she would try to ruin our Miss Sherman with this information. I… I apologize and will give my resignation if it is your wish.” He hung his head.

Gwendolyn sighed and looked to Lord and Lady Wickford.

“You did not know,” Lady Wickford said sadly, shaking her head.

“I swear to you, I did not! I would never do anything to ‘urt our Miss,” the man said vehemently.

Gwendolyn nodded. “Very well. At least now we know the truth of it.”

“I… I am so very sorry,” Mr. Ropier said, shaking his head. “I… I will go and tell ‘er I did not speak the truth. I… I will tell ‘er that I was mistaken.”

“You would lie to help me regain my reputation?” Gwen asked, surprised at the man’s loyalty.

He nodded firmly. “But it would not be a lie, not now that Lady Wickford is the owner. You ‘ave created something extraordinaire, Mademoiselle. I ‘ave great respect for you. And this is my fault. I will tell Margarite that I was mistaken. Lady Wickford is the owner. You ‘ave been ‘ere to ‘elp, and I was confused.”

“That is very good of you, Mr. Ropier,” Lady Wickford said, clearly agreeing that this would be the best plan.

“It was a mistake I made but I shall tell Margarite the truth of the matter as it is now,” the chef said. “Today. I will go today.” He looked toward the clock above the mantle. It was nearly noon. “I shall prepare luncheon for you and then go and pay a visit, yes? The footmen and maids can ‘andle the afternoon tea ladies.”

“If there are any,” Gwendolyn said quietly. She hadn’t been back to the club for two days, but she couldn’t imagine there were very many members still coming.

“There were a few yesterday—older ladies who don’t care so much for what the gossips say,” Jamieson said.

Gwendolyn nodded. “Then I’m certain we can do without Mr. Ropier for a little while this afternoon while he straightens things out with his cousin.”

~*~

Later that afternoon, Lady Wickford was back at Gwendolyn’s home this time to pick her up for their planned walk in the park. Gwendolyn didn’t want to go. Apparently, her reluctance was obvious because the lady just laughed at her when she was admitted into the drawing room.

“Do not look at me like I am a curse come to make your life miserable,” Lady Wickford said.

Gwendolyn gave her a little smile. “But my life is about to become, if not miserable, then certainly quite unpleasant.”

“It is true. You, however, are a very strong young woman and will manage it very well. Come along now.” The lady gestured for Gwendolyn to follow her out the door. She did so—reluctantly.

As expected, the park was full of members of the ton promenading, riding, and driving slowly by. It was a beautiful spring day, and everyone wanted to bask in the sunlight and see who there was to see.

Lady Wickford put her hand around Gwendolyn’s elbow, so they walked arm-in-arm. Gwendolyn was grateful for the support and gave the lady a smile to tell her so.

Happily, the first people they met were Gwendolyn’s friends, Lady Rossburke who was out riding with her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Warwick. “Miss Sherman! Lady Wickford, how lovely to see you this afternoon,” Lady Rossburke said, giving them a bright smile.

“And you,” Lady Wickford said. “It is a beautiful day, is it not?”

“It is. Miss Sherman, are you doing well?” the lady answered, giving Gwendolyn a concerned look.

“I am, thank you. We are out today to spread the truth,” she told the ladies.

“What is that?” the duchess asked.

“That I am the owner of the Ryder Street Club. My poor, sweet friend here has taken the fall for me because I wished for anonymity, but now I see that was a mistake. I do hope you will spread the word,” Lady Wickford told them. “Oh, and also there will be a special tea at the club tomorrow. I am going to be debuting a new blend of tea which I have created to complement the one we already serve. It will be more reminiscent of my home in the West Indies, with tropical flavors added to the tea—hibiscus with a hint of pineapple.”

Gwendolyn stared at the woman. She hadn’t known this!

“Oh, that sounds delicious! I can’t wait to taste it. We will absolutely tell everyone we meet!” the duchess said with enthusiasm.

“Excellent. Thank you, ladies. I hope to see you tomorrow, then, for tea at the club.” Lady Wickford gave them a little wave and turned to walk on.

“When did you create this tea?” Gwendolyn asked.

“This afternoon after we met with the staff. I realized we would need something special to draw the ladies in once again, so I went to an Indian spice merchant Joshua knows and procured the ingredients we would need. I’m certain it won’t be nearly as delicious as your blend, but I thought we should give it a try.” She turned to look at Gwendolyn. “I hope you don’t mind. Perhaps I should have checked with you first?”

“No! It’s a brilliant idea,” Gwendolyn said. She wasn’t used to having a partner and had been wondering what it would be like. With ideas like this, she now thought it was going to be very good indeed.

As they continued down Rotten Row, they stopped and chatted with as many women as they possibly could. Some outright avoided them, but others they managed to speak to before they could do so.

Just as they reached the gate once again, they finally saw the three women who would be the most important to win over.

“Lady Findlater, Lady Wraxley, Lady Hanslow, how do you do?” Lady Wickford said, somehow drawing up yet another smile.

“Lady Wickford, I am shocked at the company you keep,” Lady Findlater said, keeping a shoulder to Gwendolyn.

“We are together to make a point, my lady.” Lady Wickford didn’t skirt the honest truth. Gwendolyn couldn’t wait to see how the lady reacted. “Miss Sherman has been wrongly accused, and because of this, I have decided to come forward and tell the truth. I am the owner of the Ryder Street Club.”

“You?” Lady Wraxley exclaimed.

“Then why did my cook tell me it was Miss Sherman?” Lady Hanslow asked, her eyes narrowing at Gwendolyn.

They explained to her their theory that she was trying to ensure Miss Hanslow got the gentleman she wished for. The lady nodded as realization dawned on her.

“So you say it was, in fact, untrue?” Lady Findlater asked, quite astounded.

“I’m afraid so. Your cook, bless her soul, was merely trying to make sure her young mistress was happy. You cannot fault her for that. Sadly, it was at the expense of Miss Sherman’s reputation.” Lady Wickford looked deeply troubled, forcing Gwendolyn to admire the lady’s acting skills.

“Well…” Lady Hanslow said, thinking about it.

“Please, all of you, come to the club tomorrow. I am going to be revealing my newest tea blend—a tropical tea to celebrate my West Indian home. Do say you will be there? It would mean so much to me,” Lady Wickford said, appealing to the ladies.

They looked to each other and then nodded. “Very well, we shall be there,” Lady Findlater agreed.

“And do, please spread the word. I am considering it as a sort of grand-reopening.”

Lady Hanslow gave a slight smile. “We shall see you tomorrow, then, my lady.”

As they walked away, Gwendolyn leaned in saying, “You are remarkable. I am quite in awe of your brilliant skills, my lady.”

Lady Wickford laughed. “You simply have to have the right blend of flattery and confidence. You’ll learn.”