The side of his mouth kicked up. “What would you have done had I not noticed you in my casino?”

“Keep coming back until you did.”

“I knew you were bribing my men at the door. I could have stopped you at any time.”

“And yet you didn’t. Was it because of my father?”

“Definitely not. I do not make allowances for anyone connected to Duncan.”

“Are you certain you won’t tell me your plans regarding him?”

“Absolutely positive.” He tapped his fingers on the desk. “So what will it be? Lessons on how to operate the Bronze House for one hundred dollars an hour, or back to visiting the poolrooms?”

She nearly shuddered. The idea of never returning here, of going back to the poolrooms—seedy, filthy gambling haunts in rough neighborhoods—was depressing. Sitting here, she was closer than she’d ever been to her independence. She couldn’t leave.

She’d just find a way to thwart his revenge plans later on.

“Fine. I’ll pay for mentoring.”

“Call me Clay, then.” He pushed out of his chair and started toward the door.

When he turned the knob, she quickly stood. “Wait, where are you going?” They hadn’t settled on a tutoring schedule yet.

“Come along. It’s time to begin your first lesson.” He disappeared into the corridor, and she was left staring at the empty doorway. Oh. She hadn’t expected to start tonight.

Lifting her skirts, she hurried after him.

“Wouldn’t you rather hear what I am interested in, what I need help with?” she said to the wide shoulders draped in black wool. “You don’t even know what I am planning.”

He began to climb a small set of stairs, clearly ignoring her. Huffing out a frustrated breath, she started up behind him. “Are you going to answer my question?”

“There’s no point. You need to start at the bottom.”

“What does that mean?”

He came to the landing and turned to wait for her. “It means the pace and content of each lesson is at my discretion. And if I need to cancel or cut our time short, you’ll respect my decision. This is not up for debate. Now, go left and around the corner.”

God, he was so frustrating.

She continued along the scarred wooden floors and into a corridor. Noises from the casino—shouts and curses, dice and chips—rose up and jolted her like a shot of energy into her veins, as if she’d touched a live electric wire. Men took this for granted, their ability to wallow in vice and sin at will, while women were tasked to uphold society’s virtues. Any slip meant failure and ruination, the damnation of one’s soul and confinement to spinsterhood.