Chapter Ten

S eth knew that her family was poor, but he hadn’t realized the situation was so dire that Frances was forced to find employment.

He had wondered how she had been able to purchase a voucher for the masquerade ball and since she had to find employment, he knew for certain that she’d have not been able to do so. It was likely his cousin or Lady Bethany had purchased her entrance.

Yet, that wasn’t so much a concern as her new position and how she had come about it.

Had Frances turned into a bloody bluestocking?

No wonder she had not wed. Gentlemen tended to avoid bluestockings because they did not want to be married to anyone who may be more intelligent.

Had she really changed so much? Frances claimed that she had, but perhaps it was far more than he realized.

A dealer and managing tables! He could not imagine her doing such.

He recalled teaching her the various games of chance and she had been lucky to win a few games, but her skill had not matched his and Seth hoped that his cousin was not making a mistake by putting Frances in charge of the tables. The reason for having such a business was to bring in extra funds, but if the dealer did not play well, or did not watch for cheating, a gambling den could go under rather quickly.

“Do you play billiards?” she asked, and Seth was jerked out of his thoughts.

“Yes. Why?”

“When Lady Bethany and I were touring the Argyll Room, we entered a billiards room and I was surprised to see women playing as well as gentlemen.”

“It is not so common of an occurrence except perhaps for there.”

Frances nodded. “Would you teach me?”

Seth would teach Frances anything she wished to learn. “I will have Blythe invite you to dinner to protect your reputation and ask my cousin and her husband to join us. I will teach you then.”

“You have a table in your home?”

“Yes, many gentlemen do, I believe.”

“Do you play with Lady Blythe?” Frances asked.

Seth frowned. “No, she does not play. Mostly, I challenge myself when at home. When out at a gentlemen’s club there are friends that I play against.”

She smiled. “I look forward to learning.”

While he would look forward to having Frances to dinner and teaching her a new game, his mind remained on her new position at Athena’s Salon. “How does one purchase a subscription to Athena’s Salon?” Seth asked.

“You must speak with Her Grace or Lady Bethany. They must approve all gentlemen.”

As Tessa was his cousin, Seth couldn’t imagine that she would deny him a subscription. If he could attend Athena’s Salon when he wasn’t required to be at The Emerald Garter, then he could spend more time with Frances and work on winning her heart. “What of women?”

“They are not scrutinized as much as a gentleman. In fact, I believe Lady Blythe has already received an invitation.”

“Would I be able to attend as her guest?”

“Guests also have to be approved, just as subscriptions are not given to just anyone.”

Seth didn’t see any obstacles in his joining and looked forward to entering a game of chance with Frances again.

For the remainder of the drive, they spoke of family. She asked after his and he asked after hers. Seth then brought up memories from the time they spent in the cottage. They were happy memories that also brought pain because they were now clouded with distrust.

Except, not the first five or six years because he’d only been five and ten when they met. That had been real. Their friendship and the love she developed.

When Seth walked her to the door, she did not invite him in. In fact, she needed to put distance between them.

“Thank you for the drive,” she said.

“May I call on you again tomorrow?”

“The day after,” she answered. He may wish to court her, but Frances was not going to allow him to occupy all her time.

“I look forward to seeing you again.” Seth lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. He’d never behaved in this manner in Laswell, but there had never been a reason for him to do so. Outside of the cottage they only saw the other in church, and occasionally in town if she were shopping, but that was all.

As soon as Frances entered the house, she shut the door and leaned back against it.

She enjoyed the drive with Seth and looked forward to learning how to play billiards. But she also had to carefully guard her heart until her plan had reached fruition.

That plan—to draw him in and let him believe that they were returning to the friendship that they once shared. He might even decide that he loved her as she had loved him once and when he believed in a future, Frances would bring him to his knees when she took the one thing from him that had been more important than she had been.

As much as she had once wanted a future with Seth, trust had been lost and she wasn’t certain it could ever be restored.

She was also angry that he believed he could simply enter her life again, after five years, as if he had not rejected her. Seth had taken her for granted then, knowing that she would always be waiting and admitted that if she were still at the cottage in Laswell he would have continued to return. A part of her wondered if he was expecting the same to happen now despite her earlier rejections of him.

Yes, he claimed to be sorry, but if he had truly missed her and regretted what he had done, Seth would not have waited five years and even then, it was a chance encounter.

With a sigh, Frances turned for the drawing room where Bethany and Tessa were preparing for the evening.

Both ladies turned to her and smiled.

“How was your drive?” Tessa asked anxiously.

For a moment, Frances’ stomach tightened. Would she lose her employment when they realized her true plans for Seth? He was Tessa’s cousin after all. But, if Tessa knew how he had broken her heart, perhaps she would understand.

It did not matter. This was something that she needed to do whether anyone approved or not.

“It was pleasant,” Frances answered and then remembered Seth’s interest in Athena’s Salon. “I must beg a favor, however.”

Her employers grew serious.

“What?” Tessa asked.

“Please do not grant Lord Seth a subscription.”

Tessa frowned. “Why?”

Oh, how much did she tell them? Certainly not the whole of it. “He mentioned that he would like to court me.”

“That is wonderful, Frances,” Bethany cried.

“I have not yet decided. Until I do, I would like a place where he cannot be.”

“Of course.” Tessa grinned. “As we are not allowed in The Emerald Garter, why should he be allowed here?”

Frances supposed it was a good enough excuse as any, until the time was right.

“I will let you know when he can purchase a subscription, if you are in agreement.”

“I have no objection and will wait for you to decide when that will be,” Tessa answered. “Now, we need to finish preparing for tonight. Are you ready to begin your new duties?”

A shiver of excitement and nerves coursed through her body. “I think so,” she answered honestly.

“You will do well,” Bethany said.

“Better than well,” Tessa added.

Frances hoped that they were correct because she needed this position so that she could continue to live here or she would be forced to return to her family in Yorkshire as a failure.