Quicksilver Passion (106 page)

McGaa Street looked like a rough place, all right. She found out it had been named for an early prospector. The area around McGaa and Blake Streets was home to the rougher element of Denver. Silver continued along the street, remembering to walk in the prim manner that a governess might assume.

The Duchess’ Palace was several blocks away—an imposing two-story frame building. Was she out of her mind to try this? She’d never get away with it. On the other hand, there was a little girl in this terrible place who needed someone to care about her and it might be a peaceful retreat for Silver to lose herself from all her memories.

The inside was elegant, all red velvet and ornate tables. A carved rosewood bar with a huge mirror ran down the length of one wall. Everywhere she looked were poker table and faro setups. The place smelled of whiskey and cigar smoke and cheap perfume. It was empty this early in the morning, one lone black boy sweeping up.

Silver looked around at the piano, the stage. The Palace was much fancier than the Nugget. A few months ago, Silver could have come here and been the star performer; now she was applying for a drab position behind the scenes.

She asked to see the Duchess, and the boy yawned and pointed up the ornate stairway that began in the center of the huge saloon.

Could she possibly convince anyone she was a respectable governess or would they see through her and realize that she was only a scarred saloon girl looking for a refuge from the world?

With heart beating hard, she hesitated before the door at the top of the stairs with an OFFICE sign on it. She needed this job. If nothing else, she had spunk. She rapped on the door.

Come in.”

Silver said a little prayer and entered. The office was done in an overly ornate Victorian style as if someone with more money than taste had decorated it. The woman in the low-cut yellow dress sitting behind the big desk was dark and pretty in a vulgar, overblown way. Her black hair was done up in an elaborate hairdo and she wore a great deal of expensive jewelry.

Silver wished immediately that she had not come. The woman’s dark eyes were as hard as obsidian. She might have been Spanish, or Mexican, or Indian. But she was older than Silver.
I—I’ve come about the governess position.”

The woman laughed and her voice was hard and sarcastic.
Well, I certainly didn’t think you were applying for anything else! You look like a governess—all drab and prim. What’s your name.”

S—Sylvia Jones.”

Miss Jones, have you asked about this place?”

She wasn’t quite sure what to say but she wasn’t a good liar. Basically, Silver was an honest person.
Frankly yes, I did.”

But you came anyway?” The other woman looked amused as she leaned back in her chair.

I need a position,” Silver said with as much dignity as she could muster.

You must! The last two quit before a week was out.” The other woman laughed and drummed her nails on the desk. The light reflected off her rings and bracelets. Expensive baubles, Silver thought. If there was anything she knew, it was good jewelry.

Silver looked her in the eye.
Is the child that difficult?”

The woman laughed again.
I like you, Miss Jones, I find you very amusing! You’ll find my daughter sweet, I’m sure. It’s just that the Palace is not the sort of place prim governessess feel at home in. It’s not even the sort of place a Duchess from Seville should feel at home in.”