A Dangerous Pursuit (Regency Spies & Secrets Book 1), Laura Beers [romantic books to read TXT] 📗

a stop in front of a nondescript brick building. There was no sign hanging above the door identifying the establishment, and the front windows were dark, making it appear as if the building were empty.

The footman put the step down and opened the door. “We have arrived,” he informed her as he assisted her out of the coach.

“This is the Queen’s Gambling Hall?” she questioned.

“It is,” he confirmed. “You go through the main door and you will come to another set of doors that lead to the gambling hall.”

“I understand.”

“Would you like for me to go with you?”

Madalene met his gaze. “Are women generally escorted by men in the gambling hall?”

“No, Miss,” the footman acknowledged. “But they are usually here for a very different reason.”

Squaring her shoulders, Madalene said, “I will do this on my own.”

“We will remain here until you return,” the footman informed her.

Madalene acknowledged his remark with a tip of her head before she approached the main door. She reached down and turned the handle. The door opened, and she stepped into a dark entry hall. The sound of men’s voices could be heard drifting down the hall.

She followed the noise until it grew increasingly louder. Stopping outside of a set of double doors, she placed her hand on the handle and turned it.

As Madalene stepped inside, she was astonished to see that the hall was filled to capacity. Round tables were set up strategically throughout the room with solemn-looking gentlemen surrounding them. The acidic smell of cigar smoke dominated the space as women, wearing gowns with scandalously low necklines, walked around the room delivering drinks.

No one gave her any heed as she stayed by the door. Her eyes scanned the room as she looked for someone who appeared to be in charge.

The door opened, bumping her further into the room.

“My apologies,” the man muttered as he entered, not bothering to spare her a glance.

Madalene knew she couldn’t stay by the door for the entire evening, so she started walking between the tables. The men glanced up at her, eyeing her with approval, but their focus returned back to the cards in their hands.

A serving woman approached her with an empty tray in her hand and asked, “Are you lost, dear?”

“Why do you say that?”

The woman gave her an amused look. “You aren’t the type of woman we usually cater to.”

“Oh,” Madalene replied. “I was hoping to speak to the man in charge.”

“May I ask why?”

Madalene took a step closer to the woman so as to be heard over the boisterous noise in the hall. “I have some business I need to discuss with him,” she asserted.

The woman considered her for a moment before saying, “Follow me.” Then, she spun on her heel and started circumventing the tables.

Following close behind, Madalene gripped the strings to her reticule tighter. She hoped that the man in charge would be somewhat pleasant.

At the end of the hall, there was a closed door that the woman approached and banged on. It opened and a rough-looking man stared back at her.

“This woman would like to speak to Eddy,” the woman announced, gesturing back at her.

The man turned his beady eyes towards her, and Madalene resisted the urge to shrink back. “Come on in,” he said, opening the door wide.

The woman turned back to face her and mouthed, “Good luck.”

Madalene walked hesitantly into the small room and was startled when the door slammed behind her.

Another man sat at a large, imposing desk placed next to a window. He had a big head, a crooked nose, and thinning black hair combed over to the side. He smiled at her, but it appeared forced.

“I’m Eddy,” he said. “You wished to see me.”

Madalene nodded. “I did,” she replied, hoping her voice sounded more confident than she felt. “I would like to conduct some business with you.”

“Interesting. And what kind of business would you like to do with me?”

Taking a step closer to the desk, Madalene shared, “My friend, Edith Hardy, has gone missing, and I understand that her father owed you some money.”

“I am sad to hear about Miss Hardy going missing, but you are correct that Mr. Hardy did owe me some money,” Eddy revealed. “Quite a lot, actually.”

“If I pay the money back, would you let Miss Hardy go free?”

Eddy leaned back in his seat, eyeing her curiously. “What makes you think I had something to do with Miss Hardy’s disappearance?”

“Mrs. Hardy mentioned the possibility.”

With a loud laugh, Eddy said, “You must not believe everything you hear, darling.”

Madalene tensed at his condescending tone, but it was not the time to back down. “Do we have a deal or not?” she boldly asked.

The humor was stripped from Eddy’s face. “We do not, because I had nothing to do with Miss Hardy’s disappearance. After all, why would I hurt the lady who has been gracious enough to pay me back these past few months?”

When she didn’t say anything, Eddy continued. “But I do intend to make Mrs. Hardy pay for making such slanderous accusations against me, especially since she isn’t in a position to pay me back for her worthless husband’s debts.”

“Please don’t do that,” Madalene pleaded. “Allow me to pay off her debts.”

Eddy made a clucking noise with his tongue. “It is rather a large sum,” he stated. “Thirty pounds, to be precise.”

“I can pay it.” Madalene held up her reticule. “I have the amount right here.”

Eddy blinked. “You are carrying thirty pounds around in your reticule?”

“Miss Hardy had previously informed me of the amount she owed for her father’s debts, and I wanted to resolve this matter quickly,” Madalene explained.

Stepping up to the desk, Madalene reached her hand into the reticule and started pulling out handfuls of money, placing them in front of Eddy.

Once she had removed the last pound, Madalene stepped back. “Mrs. Hardy’s debt has been paid, and you will leave her alone,” she demanded.

Eddy’s eyes never left the money as he replied, “Yes, of course. I am relieved that I don’t