Page 62 of As the Earl Likes
After arriving at the Billingsworth ball on Saturday night with Gwen and Somerton, Jo danced with Sheff and visited with her friends. She recalled what Sheff had told her about being back at the Siren’s Call by midnight—or thereabouts—and decided she could leave soon.
The question was how?
She didn’t think Gwen and Somerton would want to leave yet. And she couldn’t simply hail a hack. Could she? Perhaps Min or Ellis would have an idea.
Going to the last place she’d seen them, Jo found Ellis seated against the wall. She didn’t look bored, exactly, but she also didn’t seem to be enjoying herself. But why would she?
Jo slid onto the empty chair beside her. “Do you think I could leave the ball without causing a stir?” she asked quietly.
Ellis looked at her sideways. “That depends on what you mean by a stir. The duchess will not be pleased.”
Exhaling, Jo slumped against the back of the chair. “I suppose not.”
“There’s a ladies’ entertainment room,” Ellis said with a sly smile.
“What is that?”
“Gaming, liquor, probably ribald jests. Lady Billingsworth is known for offering a ladies’ version of the men’s gaming room.”
“What a marvelous idea. Could we hide there for the rest of the ball?” Jo asked.
Ellis shrugged. “We could try. Though I daren’t stay long. The duchess will notice, and I’m supposed to be available to Min.”
“Min can join us,” Jo said.
“Oh no,” Ellis said firmly, shaking her head. “The duchess would lose her temper, and then the fact that she’d lost her temper would make matters worse.”
“I can see how that would happen,” Jo murmured. “But could we at least go for a short while?”
“We can say we were in one of the retiring rooms.” Ellis rose.
Jo leapt up, eager to depart the cloying heat of the ballroom. She followed Ellis into the antechamber and then along a corridor.
“Where are you going?”
The duchess’s shrill voice sounded from behind them. Jo and Ellis exchanged looks of disappointment before turning to face her.
“To the retiring room,” Jo said brightly.
“That isn’t the way.” The duchess moved toward them. “I might think you were trying to find Lady Billingsworth’s ladies’ gaming room, but you must know that is only for those of us who are married.”
“Is that where you are going?” Jo asked. She glanced at Ellis who pressed her lips together in an apparent attempt not to smile.
The duchess’s eyes narrowed. “You need to return to the ball,” she said, as if that was a response to Jo’s question. “You don’t attend enough events as it is, and you must be seen. You must engage. You need to show people that you are up to the challenge of becoming a countess.”
Jo wanted to ask why it was any of their business, but she feared she knew the answer. Instead, she summoned a smile. “I will do that. Excuse me.” But before she could return to the ballroom, the duchess held up her hand.
“Just a moment. I need to speak with you first.” She looked—briefly—at Ellis. “Do excuse us.”
Ellis blinked, then gave Jo an apologetic look before hastening back to the ballroom.
Jo braced herself for a possible lecture.
The duchess moved into an alcove and motioned for Jo to join her. She spoke quietly. “This isn’t going to work.”
“What is that?” Jo asked, thinking she could mean any number of things.
“Your behavior. Your working at a gaming hell.” The duchess’s eyes blazed. “You must stop working there. You cannot be a duchess and work at a club!” She kept her voice low, but her tone managed to remain shrill.
