She gasped, and the question would have knocked her off her feet had she not already been sitting. “No.” In fact, she’d finished bleeding just a few days ago.

“Thank Christ for that,” her father muttered. “And you can hardly act surprised that I’d ask. God knows how long this has been going on.” He dragged a hand down his face. “You’re going to put me in an early grave, Florence. I cannot understand why you thought any of this was a good idea.”

“It’s what I want, Daddy. I do not wish to marry and settle down. I want my own business. And I’m good at cards and games of chance.”

He shook his head, his mouth twisting in a patronizing smile. “Besting the old ladies at your grandmother’s weekly euchre game is a far cry from running a casino.”

Lord, he would never understand her. “I am aware of that. If you would just give me an opportunity—”

“And have you considered the scandal? It would kill your mother. No, this conversation is over. Mr. Connors has asked to court you and I think it’s a fine idea. I’ll tell your mother to ask him—”

Florence couldn’t take it one second longer. Shooting to her feet, she faced him down. “I’ll never forgive you if you force me to marry.”

He blew out a long breath. “Sometimes a parent must make decisions in a child’s best interest. You’ll understand when you have your own children. So if this hurts you, I am sorry. But you’ll thank me one day.”

“No, I absolutely will not.”

Turning on her heel, she left the room, biting her lip to stem the tears threatening. Her father would never understand. He thought she was reckless and irresponsible. He wouldn’t approve of anything she wanted unless it was to get married. Trying to convince him was a waste of time.

She had to do this on her own.

“What happened last night?”

The voice came from directly behind her. Florence started and put a hand to her heart as she turned. For God’s sake, where had her sister come from? “Justine, you scared me to death.”

Her younger sister took Florence’s hand and pulled her into the shadows of the portrait gallery near the front entry. “I thought you heard me. I called your name.”

“No, I didn’t hear you. Why are you following me?”

“To find out what is going on. Daddy’s mood at breakfast was awful and Mama said she had no idea why. I heard him leave before the two of you came home last night. So what happened?”

Florence grimaced. Might as well come clean with it. “Daddy found Clay and me together last night.”

“Oh, no. He must have been furious.”

Florence lowered herself on a settee. “It was absolutely awful. We were at the Hoffman House’s saloon.”