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girls who worked here, made certain they understood the rules, stayed clean, weren’t abused. “Things are good, but I think yer goin’ to lose Annie. One of the lords offered to set ’er up as ’is mistress.”
    â€œDoes she want it?”
    She nodded. “’e’s a good bloke.”
    â€œMake sure she understands he’ll never marry her.”
    â€œShe knows, Jack. ’ell, we all know what we are.”
    â€œWhat you are, Pru, is a bit of wickedness. Every now and then a man needs that.”
    She winked at him. “Well, let me know when you need some. I’m still yer girl.”
    With a flourish, she returned to where her gentleman waited for her. Lately Pru was the only working girl Jack availed himself of. He didn’t need jealousy among his girls. He paid Pru very, very well—not because shewas particularly good, but because she never expected more from him than he was capable of giving.
    He turned away from the room where men enjoyed the company of women.
    Strolling back through the gaming room, he acknowledged a few of the gents. It was long after midnight, but still the room was crowded and spirits were high. Sin possessed no timepiece, which suited Jack well as he required little sleep.
    He shoved open the door that led to the back rooms where his business was managed. He stopped by an open doorway, leaned against the doorjamb, and watched as Frannie Darling made precise notations in his ledgers. She’d been one of Feagan’s children as well—the only one whose skillful hands had matched Jack’s. No one had ever brought in as much booty as the two of them had.
    Her red hair was pulled back into a bun, but it didn’t seem to draw the skin tautly across her cheeks the way the duchess’s had. Like the duchess, she also wore black, not because she was in mourning, but because she didn’t wish to draw attention to herself. Jack had once bought her a dress of emerald green. He preferred bold colors and had thought she’d look beautiful in it. She’d blushed and thanked him profusely, but as far as he knew, she’d never worn it. She didn’t like for gents to notice her, but notice her they did. Jack didn’t think a single one of Feagan’s lads hadn’t fallen in love with her at one time or another. Even he wasn’t immune to her charms.
    Looking up, Frannie gave him the impish, shy smile that had won many a lad’s heart. “There you are. You were gone a rather long time.”
    â€œThe meeting turned out to be far more complicated than I expected.”
    â€œDid you want to talk about it?”
    â€œNot particularly, but you need to be aware of some changes that are likely to occur.”
    â€œI’m not certain I like the sound of that.”
    Stepping inside, he glanced around. Unlike the residence he’d just left, this room was sparsely furnished with a desk and three chairs. The walls were plain. One set of small shelves held the ledgers that provided a history of his business. Against another wall was a couch. He wasn’t certain what she used it for. She certainly didn’t sleep there. Her bed was in an apartment accessed through an alley and stairs at the back of the building. He had his own apartment there as well, as did most of his employees. Cost him a bloody fortune, but a happy worker didn’t take from the till.
    â€œWhy don’t you sit down?” Frannie said.
    Shaking his head, Jack took a step nearer and folded his hands around the top of the leather chair in front of her desk. “I spent too much of the night sitting.” He jerked his head toward the open books spread across her desk. Frannie was a genius when it came to ciphering. Perhaps because Feagan would sit her on his lap and let her count the handkerchiefs and coins that the others collected through the day. He might not have realized it, but he’d given her a skill that served them all