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McShane’s, officially, was not a club. This was due to it not being a gentleman’s one, though its founder and several members very often crossdressed when within its walls. This was also due to some members having no true wish to reveal themselves as members, as well as the illegal activity often plotted within its walls.
In short: it was a proper lark.
In the years since its creation, McShane’s had grown greatly, and now there was always some company to be found within its walls.
On one miserable day, Ace did not take a parasol for the walk there. She did not care much for how the rain touched her dress, for once she had reached the building she went within and changed immediately into a suit. Then, once she was more comfortable, she went out into the club itself.
Gwendoline and Karra were playing a game of cards. Seeing Ace, the former raised a lazy hand in greeting, just in time for Karra to take a quick glance at her deck. Ace smirked, but said nothing. Gwen had the money to throw away like this, even while funding most of McShane’s.
At the bar Mags was drinking and trying to tempt Susie into joining her, but it was Melanie, reading by the fire, who caught Ace’s attention, waving her over with a smile. Ace went over and slung herself in a chair opposite her, stretching out her hands with a sigh of relief at the warmth.
“Hello, doughnut. What’s it today?”
“Well,” said Mel, “Yasmin mentioned she had a friend she thought might appreciate the club.”
“Yasmin?” Ace remembered her rather quickly. She had sat down with her before she’d joined the club, and the woman’s nervousness had been palpable. She was lovely, of course; just still getting over the early jitters of realising she was a sapphist and coming to accept that. “Did she ask you to tell me?”
“She was a bit afraid, bless her.”
“Tell her to come to me, then.”
A few days later, Ace, in her own office, heard a rapping, and called for whoever it was to come in. Yasmin entered, and positioned herself with an attempt at boldness.
“What can I do for you?”
“Has Mel told you about my friend?”
“Yes, I believe so.”
From there, Ace arranged to meet Yasmin’s friend at a nearby coffee house. Really, the meetings were a formality; it was not illegal, what they did - apart from the gambling - but that did not mean some people would not object strongly to the club and its members’ existence. It was safer, always, to check potential members beforehand.
The woman arrived early, dressed in a rather beautiful green day dress. Her hair was done up elaborately, and she had a definite grace to her movements, so it was a little shocking when she first spoke - “I take it you’re Miss McShane” - and revealed herself through her voice to be no well-bred lady at all.
“I am,” said Ace, after a moment. She rose and extended a hand, and after a moment, the woman shook it. “I presume you to be Miss Li?”
“Shou Yuing, please.”
“Shou Yuing, then. Well, I insist you call me Ace.” She was offered a small smile, and sat down once more. “I took the liberty of reserving a table in the quietest area.”
“Thank you.”
“Well,” said Ace, “I suppose the very first question is the most obvious.”
Shou Yuing let out a small chuckle. “Yes, indeed. I can answer in the affirmative. I’ve always taken pride in it, but subtlety is the wisest approach in this world, when I am not around fellow lesbians. That’s the new word, isn’t it?”
“If you like. Have you ever been part of a club before?”
“No, but with my sex, that isn’t surprising, is it?”
“Or any similar organisation, I more mean.”
“No, not really.”
“Well, don’t think you shan’t join for that. With our members’ sexes, as you said, few have been before this one.” She adjusted her skirt. “I shall buy you your coffee, if you wish for some.”
“Thank you.”
When Ace returned, she and Shou Yuing began a deeper discussion.
“Can you read? I presume so, but it is always safer to ask beforehand.”
“I can, fluently.”
“Do you work?”
“I try to. From time to time, I work at The Gore Crow - a local pub - but chemistry is my real passion.”
“Chemistry! You are a learned woman, I take it?”
“I should like to think myself so.”
Ace smiled. “What is it that so intrigues you about the subject?”
“Are you interested yourself?”
“Should that matter?”
“A painter, madam - Ace - cannot truly impress pigments and brushes and oils onto one who had never seen art before. Their answer would be different for a layman.”
“Then I am so.”
Shou Yuing’s eyes truly seemed to gleam. Hardly conscious of it, Ace leant closer to her.
“I was very young when I first became curious about what made gunpowder explode…”
At half seven the next morning, Melanie found them both on the steps to McShane’s. Shou Yuing’s face was sooty, and Ace’s hair slightly burnt. Both winced at the watery sunlight beginning to hit their eyes.
“I’ve told you, Ace, you drink too heavily.”
Ace made a sound that wasn’t quite a word and got up with a groan.
“So,” said Mel, a few minutes later, once they’d let themselves in, by way of Ace picking the lock, “what was your verdict?”
Ace rubbed her head with a sigh. “She’s getting a membership.”
“She seems like trouble.”
“Mm,” said Ace, and liked her even better.