What if she left, and perhaps went to Cornwall again, then returned to Soho to open her own business? She’d saved enough as a courtesan and over the past two years working at the club that she could reinvent herself again and start anew. She thought of the Siren’s Call, a gaming hell run by a brilliant woman, Jewel Harker, who’d opened its doors some fifteen or twenty years ago. It employed only women, and they lured men to come drink and gamble. They did not, however, offer sex, and any man overstepping with any of the women there was quickly and soundly thrown out on his arse—by women.

Evie didn’t want to duplicate the Siren’s Call, but she could speak with Jewel and ask her advice on what to do. Yes, she’d do that soon.

A soft knock on the door drew Evie to turn her head. She didn’t really want to see anyone.

“Evie, are you in there?” It was Ada.

Exhaling, Evie didn’t want to ignore her friend. “Yes. Come in.”

Ada slipped inside, closing the door behind her. She walked slowly toward the desk, her features tight, her hands clasped as if she’d been wringing them. “I was waiting for you to come back to the members’ den. When you didn’t, I determined something must be wrong. Or you were just incredibly fatigued after having to speak with Millie.”

Evie actually cracked a smile. “That is certainly possible, but no. Fatigued is not the right word. You may as well sit. This is a rather horrible story with a not very happy ending, I’m afraid.”

Blanching, Ada went to move a chair toward the desk. Evie stood and waved her to stop. “We’ll sit here.” She gestured to the central seating area with a wide settee and the daffodil-colored chairs Evie loved so much.

Perching on one of the chairs while Ada sat on the settee, Evie told her what had happened with Millie, that she’d tried to force Lucien to do her will, and when he refused, she’d said Evie would be sorry. “Then Lucien expelled her from the club.”

Ada gasped. “He’s only tried that once before, and it didn’t stick.”

“He did that to Wex out of anger,” Evie said, referring to when he’d banished his now brother-in-law. “He doesn’t want to let Millie come back.”

“Nor should he.” Ada sniffed in disgust. “He’ll fix this.”

“I don’t know that he can,” Evie said softly. “There is more, and please don’t be angry with me for keeping it from you. It was important to me—and to my livelihood—that I kept it secret. Very few people knew the truth.” Now all of London and beyond would know. Ada should know before any of them.

Ada’s eyes were wide and dark. “Now, you’re making me quite anxious.”