“Now, tell me what is going on with Mr. Madden.” When Florence didn’t immediately answer, Mamie added, “I know you’re fond of him. It’s written all over your face.”

That was a lie. Florence had played enough poker that she knew how to school her features. “Stop. You’re digging.”

“Fine, I am. But please tell me what’s troubling you. That will at least take my mind off my own troubles.”

She lifted her porcelain cup in front of her face again. “He wants to sleep with me.”

Mamie covered her mouth with her cup. “Of course he does. He’d be a fool not to. You’re stunning and smart.”

“Thank you,” Florence said honestly, flattered by her sister’s praise. They were normally sniping after one another, not complimenting. “I’ve told him no.”

“Good for you. So you’re not attracted to him.”

She thought about the night of the raid. “No, I am. Desperately so.”

“Oh. Then you’re worried about getting caught?”

“We’re often alone at the casino. I don’t think we’d have any problems with privacy.”

Mamie paused and refilled her coffee cup from the pot on the table. When she sat back, she lifted her cup to hide her mouth. “You told me you and Chester had already . . . you know, at the Astor Place. If you need me to explain how these things work, however—”

“No, no. Not that. It’s not the mechanics of it. I hardly know the man. How can I sleep with a man I don’t trust?”

“Don’t trust? Florence, you’re practically putting your life in his hands every single time you go in there.”

Hmm. She hadn’t thought of that. She must trust him a little. She decided to tell Mamie the rest. “He hates Daddy. He readily admits it and says he is plotting some revenge scheme against our father. How can I sleep with a man who will do that?”

“Has he told you what this scheme involves?”

“He refuses.”

“Take it from me. You cannot let Daddy come between you and another man.”

Florence remembered about Mamie and Frank Tripp, Daddy’s attorney. Frank had resisted any relationship with Mamie in fear of risking their father’s wrath. “In this case, Clay is hoping to hurt Daddy.”

“Physically?”

“No, Madden says it’s nothing physical and won’t ruin him financially.”

“Embarrassment, do you think?”

“I cannot fathom how Madden could embarrass Daddy.”

Mamie took a sip of her coffee and kept the cup aloft. “Me either. Daddy has his share of enemies, yet no one has been able to touch him. Clayton Madden wouldn’t be the first to try and fail.”

“You think I’m concerned over nothing?”