Chapter One #2
As the sun began to dip toward the chimney pots and church spires of London, Meredith studied herself in the mirror. Aside from the reflection of her small, attic room—sloping roof, one lead-paned window to the west, a single bed, and walnut wardrobe—she saw herself anew.
Nancy had been a busy bee and bossy besides. She’d insisted Meredith wear a bright, canary-yellow dress with a neckline that sat midway between her bosom and her throat. In that gap now sat three strings of pearly beads and they shimmered against Meredith’s pale flesh.
Her cheeks weren’t pale, not anymore; they were rosy red, as were her lips, and her hair was piled on top of her head, a few spiral curls hanging down between her cheeks and her ears.
“Mother wouldn’t recognize me,” she muttered.
Meredith had never had much interest in fashion and this long, straight dress was the epitome of present-day styling, according to Nancy.
The same for the hairstyle and the darkness of her eyebrows created by heating a clove and drawing atop her fair hairs.
She took a deep breath and sent a small prayer heavenward to her father.
She hoped that she’d remember all that he’d taught her while he’d been sick in bed, weak and coughing, but never too tired to spend time with her.
Quiet pastimes of cards and chess had become their favorite thing for over a year, and it hadn’t mattered to her one bit if he’d nodded off mid-game.
She’d just waited. She’d had time, even if he hadn’t.
There was a knock at the door. “Meredith, are you ready?”
“Coming, Nancy.” Meredith smoothed her palms down the silky material of her dress and took a deep breath. “You can do this. You know you can.”
With her determination set and feeling as though her father were cheering her on, she left the room and headed down the flights of stairs with Nancy.
“I like your dress,” she said to Nancy. “Pink really suits you.”
“Thank you. It’s new.” Nancy grinned and checked her neckline. It was lower than Meredith’s and the first rise of her breasts was clearly visible. “Sure to go down well with the clients.”
“Who is on display tonight?”
“Sydney. He’s due an outing and the punters love the color of his skin.”
“He will match my dress.” Meredith giggled. “Don’t put him around my neck; he will disappear.”
“Or is it because you are scared of him?”
“Not scared…” Meredith shrugged. “Wary, as God intended when it comes to snakes.”
Nancy wagged her finger. “Don’t let Sydney hear you call him a ‘snake.’ He’s a python, don’t you know.” She laughed. “The clients always enjoy seeing him, though very few touch him. I guess men aren’t as brave as they let on.”
“Mmm.” Meredith shrugged. “I just hope they are well-behaved tonight. The men, that is.”
“Are you nervous?”
“I haven’t spent much time in the gaming room, and certainly not on a busy evening.”
“You’ll be fine. Just handle the cards, smile, and be polite.”
“And if I see any cheating?”
“Nod to one of the wolf pack; they’ll make swift work of removing the guilty party.”
“Okay.” Meredith had met the wolf pack in the garden a few times over the summer. They were the muscle in the gaming den, five in total, and all gave an air of being someone not to be messed with. “I’ll do that.”
The gaming den was vast with a ceiling decorated in cornices and chandeliers. Each table was set up ready for the evening and the other table hosts were preparing their decks.
They each looked up at her and nodded a greeting.
Meredith smiled. That was a good sign. They weren’t angry that a woman was temporarily joining their ranks in Peter’s absence.
Nancy squeezed her shoulder. “Good luck. Not that you need it, but your punters will.”
“Thank you.”
Nancy disappeared to prepare Sydney for his evening pursuit.
“Hey you look nice.” Bethany, one of the servers, appeared before Meredith.
“I’m working on the floor tonight.”
Bethany grinned, her pink cheeks balling and her blonde hair bouncing. “Good. That means I’ll get to see you. Hold up your hand if you want a drink and I’ll get straight over to you.”
“That’s kind, thank you.” Meredith smiled. She didn’t know Bethany as well as she knew Nancy, but she was always friendly and gave off a happy energy. She was fun to be around.
“Right. Here goes.” Meredith took a spare table. The covering was green and she didn’t have a seat. She’d stand in the curve of the C and deal to her four clients.
When they arrived.
“Good day to you,” Lysander, one of the wolves, said. He was tall and dark haired with small, all-seeing eyes.
“And to you too.” She reached for a deck of cards.
“Most unusual to have a woman dealing.” A line formed between his eyebrows.
“I know what I am doing.”
“I trust Mrs. Dove-Lyon. Therefore, I trust you.” He turned to the door as three clients came in. “But if anyone tries to bamboozle you or another player, you nod to us. If that doesn’t work, you raise your hand and ask a waiter for a sweet lemonade. He will know what to do.”
“Okay, thank you. I’ll be sure to do that.” It was good to know they had a secret sign.
“The same goes for anyone who becomes ape-drunk; let us know.” He turned to the clients again. They were all helping themselves to a brandy offered forward by a waiter. “And don’t take any nonsense from anyone. You’re here to do a job, not be leered at.”
Meredith touched her necklace. “Of course. I understand.”
“It’s them who don’t always understand. That’s why Mrs. Dove-Lyon employs men to deal, usually, but you’re here now, so we’ll have to look out for you.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it. Really, I do.”
Would she need the wolves’ protection? Were the clients really that bad?
Surely not.
They were gentlemen…weren’t they?