Jack of Clubs by Bárbara Metzger Read Free Book Online

sick. The sooner he got her out of here, the better.
    â€œI do not believe I have ever met you, Miss Silver.”
    He expected her to try to claim some forgotten incident while he was at university or home on leave, or at a drunken house party. He supposed he might have fathered a child some time in his youth, although his big brother had pummeled the dangers and the disgrace into his head often enough.
    He did not for an instant suppose he had lain with Miss Silver. Not a stiff-backed, slight, and unshapely female who wore her virtue the way Rochelle wore her furs. He much preferred his women ripe and ready, full-bodied and free of pesky morals.
    Miss Silver appeared full of indignation as she said, “No, I have never had the pleasure.”
    Now Downs coughed, but Jack did not think Miss Silver meant any double entendre. He doubted the woman had an innuendo in her. And yet Miss Silver had a child.
    He spoke the thought out loud. “And yet Downs mentioned a child.”
    Color flared in her cheeks at the mention of her daughter. She looked almost pretty, Jack thought, and felt sorry for a woman in her unfortunate situation. Still, she was not going to pin some other chap’s sins on his shoulders. Jack had enough of his own.
    One was tugging on his sleeve. “C’mon, then, Jacko. You promised me dinner, you did.”
    Suddenly Rochelle sounded common and coarse. Jack felt himself embarrassed, and decided to be angry at Miss Silver for the uncomfortable feeling. She was the one who had walked into his club of her own free will, dash it. Why should he be ashamed of his way of life? And who was she to look so pure when the proof of her own fall from grace was sitting in his waiting room?
    He looked down his formidable nose, which never ceased to intimidate his junior officers, and spoke in his coldest voice. “Forgive me, Miss Silver, but I do have other commitments, as you can see. And since we have never met, I do not suppose that we have anything to say to each other.”
    She met his stare without flinching, only raising her slightly pointed chin. “Would you prefer to speak to the solicitor?”
    Lud, he’d dragged the Endicott name through enough mud by opening a gambling parlor. Playing his own games with the lady dealers had been fun after the deprivations of wartime, but had added fuel to the raging gossip fires. He had even taken on a mistress to stop some of the rumors that he was an insatiable satyr. Rochelle was not nearly as much entertainment, but Jack’s name had not been in the scandal columns in at least three days. His big brother ought to be happy Jack was settling on one woman, instead of one every night. Hell, his brother the earl ought to be happy Jack was no drain on the family estate, and neither were his inamoratas.
    A breach of promise suit or whatever Miss Silver was threatening was bound to make headlines. His brother would not be happy, no matter who had to settle the accounts, but Ace would recover. He would grumble and lecture, and pay whatever it took to keep Jack from prison or penury. Jack worried more about his lovely sister-in-law, though, heavy with child and still fretful of the skeletons in her own family’s closet. Nell did not need another scandal in her dish.
    â€œVery well, Miss Silver, speak your piece.”
    â€œIn private, if you please.”
    He did not please, nor did Rochelle. She pulled on his arm, leaving creases on his sleeve. Miss Silver blushed again, at the brazen display of familiarity and possession. Good grief, how had she borne a child if her sensibilities were so easily shaken? Hell, how had she
made
a child?
    Truth be told, Jack was not enamored of Rochelle’s grasping ways either, not her clinging nor her carping for more of his time, more of his money. Besides, he was not willing to air more of his dirty linen in public. Downs had served with him in Belgium and was as loyal as they came. Rochelle’s