features so as to not reveal her nerves, since she didn’t want to attract any more attention than was necessary. It would already be quite scandalous for a commoner to be invited out front to play a duke, but if that person was discovered to be a woman… Well, that would be more scandal than she could survive.
The room was nearly six times the size of the back room, and it boasted as many more tables and games. Dark, rich paneling covered the walls from floor to ceiling, and two large fireplaces flanked the broad wall in front of her. She followed Clipps as he led her through the maze of tables. Two roulette wheels sat over to her right, both surrounded by large, noisy crowds of men, and she spotted at least fifteen ladies of leisure moving around the room. Clipps continued to weave between the tables, stopping every now and again to speak to a patron or answer the question of a dealer. They finally stopped at one in the center of the gaming floor. A huge chandelier hung overhead, sparkling with what seemed like a million candles.
Roe sat amidst the other men, equally well-dressed, but looking impossibly broad-shouldered and handsome. She sucked in her breath.
Clipps chuckled. “Don’t fret the nerves, lad. He’s not nearly as ferocious as he appears.”
But she knew the truth: Monroe Grisham, Duke of Chanceworth, was about as dangerous a man as she could find, at least for her.
She merely nodded and tried to give a slight grin, but was certain it came out as more of a grimace. She took the seat offered her, which placed her directly across from Roe. Perfect. Now she would have to do everything she could to concentrate on the cards and keep her wandering eyes off her guardian and his beautiful face. It had been easy to do in the back room when he’d seemed far more interested in bantering with Cabot, but here, everyone was looking at her—or “the boy,” as it were.
She put her money out to buy into the game and the other men eyed her as if she’d crawled out of the gutter. If only they knew. Would they find it more or less offensive to be playing a woman than to be playing a man below their station? That thought alone gave her enough courage to face the first hand. So far, since taking her seat, no one, not even Roe, had spoken to her. She won her hand, but it was not terribly exciting considering the rest of the players did, too—the dealer had gone over with his cards.
Roe settled his glance on Caroline. “I’m glad you accepted my invitation,” he said evenly.
“I wasn’t aware I had a choice. You are a duke.”
Two of the men at the table chuckled, the other one seemed offended.
Roe smiled, then cocked his head. “Perceptive of you.”
They continued playing for a while, then one of the prostitutes sauntered over to their table. This was one distraction the men in the back didn’t have to suffer. Naturally, the women would be out here, where the bulk of the wealth sat.
The woman walked around the table, running her hand along the backs of the men as she moved. She stopped behind Roe, moved her hands up his broad back, and then whispered something in his ear. He laughed.
Caroline had never before seen a prostitute, but she felt certain this one was of a higher class than those who worked the dark alleys and down by the docks. This woman was actually quite pretty, if not for the age beginning to show in her face. Tiny lines fanned out from her eyes and the same lines marked the tender skin above her painted lips. Her dress was clean and stylish though exceptionally low-cut, revealing more of her breasts than Caroline felt necessary. Then again, this woman was selling her wares, so she might as well give the men a peek at the merchandise.
The woman, whom one man referred to as Reggie, made her way around the table. She stood up straighter when she saw Caroline.
“What do we have here?” she purred. “A new player, and a young one, too.” She ran her hands up and down Caroline’s upper arms. “My, my, aren’t you a skinny thing. Might need to get you some food to fatten you up.” Then Reggie gave her an exaggerated wink. “I can think of some other activities to fatten up a certain part of