“They don’t allow women inside.”

“Clay arranged it. He took me to see the painting there after we left Sherry’s.”

“Just the two of you?”

Florence nodded. A lump formed in her throat, a tight ball of misery and embarrassment. And anger, of course. “It was romantic. He was so sweet. I thought . . .” Never mind that. Whatever she’d thought had been wrong.

“I saw the way he looked at you last night on the street. He’s in love with you.”

“Justine, he is the person behind the development on Granny’s block.”

Her sister blinked, confusion clouding her gaze. “Clayton Madden is the one buying all those houses and tearing them down? Good gracious, why?”

“I don’t know. It has to do with revenge against Daddy.”

“That is a bit extreme. Was it over a business deal or some such nonsense?”

“I have no idea. But Daddy told me I cannot open my own casino and forbade me to see Clay ever again.”

“Oh, you know Daddy is full of bluster. He’ll change his mind once he cools down a bit.”

“I don’t think so. He wants Mr. Connors to court me.”

“Mr. Connors? But he’s . . . old.”

“Yes, he is. Don’t worry, I’ll run away before I let that happen. I don’t wish to marry.”

“Unless it’s Clayton Madden.”

Florence rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. Justine believed love could cure all society’s ills. “I don’t wish to marry Clay.”

“Liar. It’s clear you have feelings for him. Mamie and I both commented on it during our ride home.”

Damn her sister’s perceptive nature. “My feelings for Clay don’t matter. He attempted to tear down our grandmother’s home.” Even saying it aloud was horrifying.

“In his defense, it’s not as if she wasn’t offered money to sell. Clay tried to purchase the property, as he did the others. There’s nothing untoward about what happened.”

“Except he intended to build a casino around her to force her to move.”

“I’m not saying I approve of that idea but Granny has enough money to go anywhere she wishes. In fact, she could buy land somewhere else, have the house torn down and rebuilt brick by brick. Being wealthy solves most problems.”

Justine volunteered with many charity organizations and fought for better services to aid the city’s poorest residents. She was constantly reminding Florence and Mamie of the privileges they enjoyed because of their family’s wealth.

“According to Daddy, the house will now be converted into a school. So Clay won’t get the revenge he hoped for.”

“Did you know?”

“About the revenge? Yes, Clay told me the night I met him that he planned revenge against Daddy.”

“So you knew from the beginning.”

“Yes, but there was no need to make me . . .” Fall in love with him.