Jack of Clubs by Bárbara Metzger Read Free Book Online Page B

being Sunday.”
    Jack had not taken his gaze off the child in the corner. “Good grief, he must have been foxed.”
    Miss Silver did not disagree.
    Jack sighed. He looked longingly at the brandy decanter, knowing he could not drink alone in front of the lady. “May I offer you some refreshment?”
    â€œTea would be lovely. And milk and some toast for Harriet. We missed our midday meal.”
    She looked like she had missed more than a few meals, and the child—Gads, there was a child in his office!—was skin and bones. Hildebrand had been a beanpole, though, so perhaps she had inherited his physique too, along with the red curls.
    Miss Silver coughed again.
    â€œOh, yes, refreshments.” Milk? Toast? This was a gaming club, not a lady’s drawing room! Where the deuce was he supposed to get nursery fare? Jack stepped out to the hall, the one that led to the public rooms, not the applicants’ waiting room, and bellowed for Sergeant Calloway.
    Miss Silver winced, but Jack did not apologize. When Calloway arrived, Jack’s former batman and current major domo looked as if he was ready to fend off an ambush, singlehandedly. Jack told him to fetch tea, cold meats, bread and cheese, and milk.
    Calloway’s mouth was hanging open, seeing the brat and the beldam in his boss’s office. He would have swallowed his wad of tobacco if he had not spit it out at the captain’s call.
    â€œYou’re goin’ to feed them?”
    â€œI am not going to devour them for dinner, so yes, I have invited Miss Silver and Miss Hildebrand to share a meal with me.”
    Calloway kept staring. Miss Silver nodded as if she were the queen, and the halfling stuck her tongue out at him.
    â€œMilk, sergeant. Tea, food, you know. I keep an expensive chef in the kitchen. Surely he can provide us a light repast while we decide what to do.”
    â€œWhat to do? I says run ’em off like we did the Frogs.”
    Oh, how Jack wished he could. Before he could say anything, Miss Hildebrand piped up. “I would like chocolate, please,” she said in a sweet little voice, “Mr. Snake.”
    Miss Silver started coughing. Jack looked at Snake—Calloway—pleadingly.
    â€œRight, cap’n, tea and chocolate. An’ another bottle of brandy.”
    That was why Jack kept a former convict on his payroll. The man understood his needs. After Calloway left, Jack turned back to Miss Silver. “While we are waiting, why do you not tell me your part in this?”
    â€œMy part? My last duty as an instructress at Miss Semple’s School was to deliver Harriet to her grandparents. I do not wish to sound mercenary, but the funds given me for the journey were insufficient, so—”
    Jack brushed that off. What were a few coins in the face of catastrophe? “I shall reimburse you, of course. But what were your plans?”
    â€œI fear you have not been listening, sir. I admit I was hoping to be asked to stay on as governess with Lord and Lady Hildebrand until I could find another position or they found another school for Harriet, but that was all.”
    â€œYou came to London with no position and no place to go?”
    â€œI had no choice.” She stood, and bent to reclaim her cloak from where Harriet had dressed the old dog in it. “I think I will leave you now, though, now that I have fulfilled my commission. You and Harriet need some time to grow accustomed to each other, and as you pointed out, I have to find a place to stay.”
    â€œYou are going to leave? Like hell! That is, not without supper. And not without a plan for Miss Harriet’s future. I do not know anything about little girls!”
    Allie sat back down. She was hungry, and her throat was sore. Tea sounded heavenly. So did Captain Endicott’s desire for her to stay with Harriet. She would not have to go off on her own in the city this very night, thank goodness.
    Relieved at the