Spencer offers the women a smile, a genuine one this time. For he believed that he had identified exactly what was about to occur ….

...many years before today Spencer had been assisting an Envoy in some far flung place in the West Indies, when, quite by chance, he met a Professional Gambler that had done business with one of his uncles when they were young men. The Gambler was now an old man with many stories to tell, of vast fortunes won and lost. Sensing this man had much to offer Spencer spent as much of his free time with this man. Now, to most decent people, this Gambler would be considered a rouge, not a man to be trusted, and to be sure he wasn't but, he was old and could see something of himself in Spencer, so proceeded to induct him into some of the trick of his trade. Now he didn't consider the use of these ploys 'cheating' as such, more like 'levelling the field'. One of his favourite ploys was to hire the prettiest prostitute he could find, scrub her up and put her in a dress and have her accompany him for the evening, not for his own ego, but as a glorious distraction to the others there …..

…..and this is what Spencer believed he was walking into now, not that he believed this lady was a prostitute but she was placed here as a distraction, a figure head, a focal point to keep his attention away from …. well what?....

Spencer offered no indication as to whether he was surprised by being referred to by name and clearly, she was a lady of class and occupying such a room, potentially of influence so could be put to good use as a useful ally. 

“My dear lady” offered Spencer as he sat down  “Enchanted to meet you, I do hope I haven’t kept you waiting, this place is so enchanting and find myself easily distracted”  He met her eyes and he spoke softly and slowly, forming each work carefully and precisely and placed them in front of the beautiful women  

Turning to Miles and speaking with the same soft tones and offered Miles his hand 

“Good sir, a pleasure to meet you at last” 

Spencer often did this, embellishing the truth slightly. He believed that by making people think he knew more than them it kept them on the back foot and gave him the edge.