Chapter Five

Lena spent the next two days packing and cleaning the cottage for their move to Jack's mansion. She'd never thought she and Essie would ever live in a home so grand or luxurious. She wondered what their mother and father would think of living in a home that had servants to wait on them, clean their home, and cook.

But more thought-consuming was what her parents would think of her working at a gentlemen's club. This was something that worried her nearly every hour of the day. And yet, what choice did she have? She had no other option that would enable her to earn a living for herself and Essie.

"Here, Essie," she said, carrying another armload of clothes to where her sister sat in the bedroom they shared. "How are you doing?"

"Fine," Essie said with a smile. She folded and packed everything that they needed to take with them. "Does it look all right?"

"It looks perfect. As long as you put it in the trunk, we'll find it when we unpack."

"Is Mr. Corbin coming today, do you think?"

"Yes," Lena answered. "He said he'd come for me this morning. He wanted me to see his club when there were only a few people there so I would get a feel for what it was like before it became too busy."

"Are you nervous, Lena?"

"Not nervous so much as worried." Lena sat beside Essie on the bed and reached for her hands. "Am I doing the right thing, Essie? Do you think Mama and Papa would approve of my working for Mr. Corbin?"

"I think Mama and Papa would both like Mr. Corbin very much. He is kind and polite, and as nice as any gentleman we've ever met. And I know Papa would have made the same choice you did. He would do everything he could to take care of his family, including keeping books for Jackson's Gentlemen's Club."

"Oh, I hope you are correct."

"I'm sure I am. Now, bring me more clothes to fold so we're ready to leave when Mr. Corbin's men come for our things."

Lena leaned over and kissed her sister's cheek. She would do anything in her power to take care of Essie. Anything.

Lena left the room, took more personal items from what had been their parents' room, and carried them back to Essie. As she set them down, there was a firm knock on the door.

"Do you think that's Mr. Corbin?" Essie asked.

"Yes," Lena answered. "He said he'd be here this morning. I'll tell Mattie where I'm going. She said she'd be here with you."

"Good luck," Essie said, and smiled as Lena left the room.

Lena walked to the door and opened it. Jack stood before her, and her heart shifted in her breast. Why did he have such an effect on her? Just the sight of him caused her heart to beat faster.

"Good morning, Mr. Corbin. Please, come in."

It wasn't until he entered the house that she noticed he wasn't alone. Brad was with him.

"Mr. Prescott," she greeted him. "Please, come in."

"Miss Osbourne. I hope you don't mind. I came to see if I might be of some use to your sister."

"How kind of you. I'm sure she will welcome your help."

"She isn't alone, is she?"

Lena shook her head. "No, Mattie is here. Thank you for paying her wages, Mr. Corbin. I don't know how I can ever repay you for everything you are doing for us."

A broad smile crossed his face. "You'll know soon enough when you see the amount of work I intend to heap upon you."

Lena matched his smile. "I look forward to it." Her gaze remained locked with his, and Lena felt the connection between them growing. She couldn't allow her emotions to shift in that direction. Her connection to Jack Corbin was intensifying, and she dared not allow that to happen.

She broke their contact and shifted her attention to Brad. "Let me take you to Essie. She'll tell you how you can help her. Then I'll go to the kitchen and tell Mattie I'm leaving. If you need anything, just call for Mattie."

"I will," Brad said, then followed her to where Essie still sat folding clothes and putting things in the trunk.

"Haven't you gone yet, Lena?" she asked.

"No, Essie. I brought someone to help you."

"Oh?"

"Hello, Miss Osbourne."

"Mr. Prescott," she greeted him with a bright smile lighting her face.

Lena smiled at the look her sister shared with Brad and got a warm feeling. He was a special young man, and her sister realized it.

"I'm going now. You can work for a bit, then take Mr. Prescott to the kitchen and have Mattie give you a cup of tea and a pastry."

Lena blanched at her own words. She'd issued instructions and permissions as if her sister was a mere child, not a woman capable of showing Mr. Prescott simple courtesies. But Essie didn't appear to mind.

"Yes, Lena," she said.

Lena left them and returned to where Jack was waiting near the front door.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Yes. And very anxious to see what I'm getting myself into."

"I think you'll be very impressed," he said, escorting her to his waiting carriage and assisting her inside. "It's turned into a very popular place for the gentlemen of Willowbrook to gather, and because of the admittance fee, only those with money can afford to belong or to gamble."

Lena looked at the fellow. He seemed pleased at what he'd just said, but to her mind, catering to men of extravagant means—and excluding those less fortunate—might not necessarily be the most honorable endeavor. That, in a nutshell, was the thing that worried her.

One of the things, at any rate.

After a brief, jolting ride, the carriage turned a corner and traveled down a narrow alleyway.

"This will take you to a private entrance that only three people have keys to enter: myself, Brad, and now you."

When the carriage stopped, he reached into his pocket and handed her a key. Lena looked at the oddly shaped metal object and frowned.

"It's a one-of-a-kind key," he explained, "specially designed so that it cannot be duplicated. Come," he said, stepping out of the carriage and helping her to the ground. "Let me show you how it works."

He led her to the door and lifted a lid that covered a keyhole. "Now, insert the key and turn it to the left."

"The left?" she asked, knowing that was backward from other keys.

"Yes, the left."

She did as he said and heard a loud click.

"Now pull on the door."

Lena pulled the door open and entered. She heard another click when the door closed.

"Stop," he ordered her.

Lena stopped.

"The door locked behind you," he said. "No one can get in with you. You are completely safe."

"I see you have taken every precaution," Lena said, lifting her gaze to meet his.

"My safety and that of my employees is very important," Jack replied. "Perhaps it's because of my experience during the war, or perhaps I'm just overly cautious. Whatever it is, safety is paramount."

"Is that where Mr. Prescott got his injuries? In the war?"

Jack's features turned dark. "Yes. He was captured by the Russians and tortured. I am surprised he's been as open with you and your sister as he has been. He usually avoids being around people."

"Perhaps he feels more comfortable because he knows Essie cannot see his scars."

"I imagine so. He has missed female company since that day, and finally has someone he can be around who doesn't see his deformities and isn't frightened of him."

"Were you captured, too?" she asked.

"I was," he answered, then turned away from her.

It was obvious that he didn't want to talk about it.

"Come, let me show you your office."

"Yes, of course."

Lena walked a half step behind and studied the serious expression on his face. His jaw was set, the muscle in his cheek pulsing. Someday she would have to ask him about his experience in the war. But not today.

The hall was more than an employees' entrance, with fine-quality tiles dressing the ceiling, and rather elegant gas sconces set high on the walls. Lena couldn't help but notice that they were placed properly to sweep the carpeted walkway with even light. It seemed nothing had been spared in making this a place where gentlemen of means would find themselves right at home.

"There are three rooms along this hallway. The first one is mine. The second will be yours. And the third office is Brad's." They walked past the first room with its engraved brass plate designating Jack's office and entered the door beyond. "This room was used mostly for storage, but I added a desk and extra lighting. I hope it will be adequate for your office."

Lena looked around the room and smiled. "This is perfect," she said. The room was spacious, with more-than-adequate lighting. A large desk stood in the center of the room, with three wooden cabinets flanking it on the far wall. It seemed odd, though, that there were three large, round windows on the inner wall. Lena stepped closer.

"These are most unusual," she remarked as she stepped toward the windowed wall.

Jack stepped up beside her. "We call these our spyglasses. Come closer and look. See how the glass is angled?"

Lena did as he suggested and gasped. Once she stood near enough to the large center porthole—which was what to her mind they seemed to be—the glassy haze cleared and the gambling den below came into view. Only it seemed closer than it ought to. Somehow magnified.

She turned her startled gaze to meet the smile on his face.

"I can see the… How did you…? Can they see me?"

"All they see from the gambling floor are three pretty gold globes, but inside each globe is a series of magnifying mirrors that give me this perfect bird's-eye view of everything going on down there. They can't see you, nor anyone in this room. It's the best way for me to see what's going on in my club. I can stop trouble before it gets out of hand."

"Oh, I see. I had no idea such a…a device existed."

Jack laughed. "It does now, although it didn't before Brad stumbled onto the idea." He leaned close and lowered his voice. "It's our secret, Miss Osborne, so please don't reveal it to anyone. In fact, if someone other than you will be in the room, it's a good idea to draw these curtains before they enter." He reached for a tasseled cord and drew an elegant velvet drape across the three portholes. Or spyglasses, as her employer had called them. "It's our best defense against cheating, you see. Sometimes our only defense. But there's no need for anyone to know about Brad's invention."

"What do you do if you spot someone cheating?"

"I ask them to leave and tell them not to come back."

"Oh," Lena said as she watched several men playing cards down below, even though it was early in the day.

"Brad usually helps me watch the players, but as you know, he is more interested in your sister than watching for cheaters at the moment."

Lena lifted her gaze and met Jack's smile. "Yes, so it seems."

She watched the activity a few moments more, then went to her desk and sat. Jack followed her and sat in a chair in front of her desk.

"What exactly will be my routine?" she asked.

"This is the ledger you will work from." He stood and opened the book before her. "You can see where I left off."

Lena studied the page in front of her. From the top to almost the middle of the page, it was filled with Jack's writing. His numbers were bold, and showed a strength that matched his personality. There was nothing weak in his writing.

"Every morning when you arrive, you will find this metal box on your desk. Here is the key that will open it." He handed her another key.

Lena opened the padlock and lifted the lid to the box. She looked inside and sat back in shock. Inside were several bags of money.

"There are nine gambling stations on the floor. Each bag is numbered according to the station it came from. As you see here, this came from table one. That's the front table on the right. It's usually a poker table. Table two is another poker table. You can learn more about each table later. Just know that each page is numbered according to the table it represents.

"When you come in each morning, you will divide the bags according to the tables they came from. Then, starting with the bags from table one, you will count out the money and enter the sums on the correct pages."

Lena listened while Jack explained the procedure. When he finished, he looked at her and smiled.

"Any questions?"

"Of course. I have several questions, but I won't know exactly what to ask until I go through the procedure the first time."

Jack studied her confused expression several seconds before he laughed. "I don't expect you to understand what you are doing for a week or two."

"Or three," she added on a sigh.

"Or more," he added.

"Hopefully, it won't take me that long. If it does, you'll lose all faith in my abilities."

"No, I won't do that," he said, shaking his head. "But do you have any questions right now?"

"One that I can think of. What time do you expect me to arrive each morning?" she asked.

"That is up to you. If you feel more comfortable working early, come early. If you would rather stay home with Essie, then do that. Your hours are your own, although you'll find it will be best to begin by noon so that you complete your work before the bank closes every day. Lock the money in the box and stack the bags according to table on that wooden tray." He pointed to a large maple tray poised on the right edge of her desk. "It's Brad's job to get the bags back to the tables and the money to the bank or into the safe." He smiled. "Oh! And you should know that there are two complete sets of bags, so one set is always at the tables, and the other should be here with you. All right?"

Lena nodded.

"Don't worry," he said, taking her hand. "I will, of course, work with you for the first several days, or until you catch on to what you are doing."

Lena looked down to where his hand was atop hers. His flesh was sending a wave of heat that traveled up her arm and wrapped around her heart.

She slowly lifted her head. She wasn't sure why he affected her like he did, but the emotions that surged through her were too confusing for her to decipher.

"U-um…" she stammered. "Do you want to help me enter this day into the ledger?"

"Well…why…why don't you start by counting out the money for table one? I…I need to get a cup of coffee. I'll be right back," he said, and left the room.

Lena sat back in her chair the moment the door closed behind him.

What on earth had just happened? She wasn't worried that she wouldn't be able to understand the job he expected her to do. But she was terrified that she wouldn't be able to protect herself if she had to spend several hours every day with Jackson Corbin. She was already in jeopardy of losing her heart. Something she couldn't risk doing. It would only lead to heartache and disappointment.

Her first responsibility was to Essie. No one could come before her sister, and Jack didn't seem the type of man who would be satisfied being second in any relationship.