Part 27 (2/2)

”Desperate straits require desperate measures, Senna.”

”Indeed. I simply don't like the idea of robbing merchants, no matter how fat fat or or occupied occupied they may be.” they may be.”

”Ye wouldn't, seeing as ye are one.”

She gave him a level look. ”As a last resort,” she allowed. ”If it proves necessary. But if there is some other way...”

Her gaze traveled over the room and settled on the proprietor and the circle of pretty, painted women cl.u.s.tered around her.

He hoped Senna wasn't getting ideas about wh.o.r.es. wh.o.r.es.

A loud clatter of something falling drew everyone's attention to the top of the stairs at the far end of the room.

A man stood there, glaring at the pitcher that had sailed over the edge and smashed, spraying shards of crockery all around the feet of the prost.i.tutes. He swung drunkenly toward the room he'd just left.

”Crazed wench,” he shouted, his words slurring together. ”I'll not come here again.”

”That's for certain, ye won't!” shouted a female voice. ”Not if ye don't pay for what ye took!”

The man staggered down the narrow hallway that paralleled the hall below. He pounded on another door, shouting vilely. The door ripped open. Two men came out, plucking at their tunics and hefting breeches up around their waists.

”Let's go,” he snarled. The other men followed as their leader stumbled down the stairs, grasping the railing with a fat, white-knuckled hand. He threw up a palm as the tall, stately patroness took a step in his direction.

”I'll not be treated that way, Esdeline,” he said in a pompous, drunken voice. It sounded like 'Ess-dull-leen,' and was followed by a violent belch. ”Either that wench goes, or I do.”

He waved his hand through the air, as if that would enhance the dire nature of his threat, when in truth it made him look like he was fanning away the belch. And with that, the men all staggered out the door.

The three girls who had been upstairs-the one who'd apparently thrown the jug and the two who'd been in the room with the others-came downstairs. Their faces were furious, although one looked close to tears, and not from anger. Finian could overhear them talking, their angry conference loud in the empty tavern. The defeated tone in their voices carried farthest.

”That's the third one in a sennight,” muttered one. ”Left without paying.”

A few disgruntled ayes ayes followed. The statuesque owner, Esdeline, her name as French as her bearing, sat on a tall stool, presiding over the conference, silent and utterly still, her graceful features rigid and stony. followed. The statuesque owner, Esdeline, her name as French as her bearing, sat on a tall stool, presiding over the conference, silent and utterly still, her graceful features rigid and stony.

”With the regiment that's been about the past few days, things have been better 'an usual.” That from the small one who'd looked scared coming downstairs. Finian heard Senna s.h.i.+ft on the bench beside him. ”They always pay, and good.”

Another girl looked at her pityingly. ”Aye, but they shan't be camped here forever. They'll move out, and just come back every now and then, like usual. Maybe once a moon.”

”Balffe always comes back regular,” said the shy one softly.

Senna's face s.h.i.+fted around to look at Finian. It was paler than a moment ago. Balffe, Balffe, she mouthed silently. Finian shrugged. she mouthed silently. Finian shrugged.

Esdeline reached out a long arm and brushed a wisp of hair off the girl's pale face. ”Go wash, Maire,” she ordered, but her voice was soft. She added, ”Use my soap, the lavender.”

Maire's face lit up. Senna s.h.i.+fted again, more sharply.

Someone else grumbled, not cruelly, but in an angry, disheartened tone, ”Och, we could bathe in lavender every night and that wouldn't make 'em pay us.”

More grumbles.

”I am not surprised to hear that,” Senna said suddenly, quite loudly. ”Sad, but not in the least bit surprised.”

Chapter 36.

Finian turned in shock. Senna was already on her feet. He grabbed for her arm, but she started across the room before he could make contact.

He shoved his heels into the floorboards and willed himself to keep his seat. Leaping up and clapping his hand over her mouth as he dragged her upstairs would probably draw too much attention. And if he dragged her outside, they'd be captured in seconds.

Every one of the prost.i.tutes was staring at her as she marched across the room. They looked about two steps removed from anger, more shocked at the moment than anything.

”Sad?” snapped one of the prost.i.tutes. What was once probably a very rosy, bright complexion appeared gray and washed out. ”What the 'ell are you to be sad over? What business is this o' yours?”

”None of it.” Senna reached the bar counter. ”And 'twill not be any of yours, either, given another twelvemonth.”

”What are you talking about?”

”What I am talking about is that this is no way to run a business.”

A few of the more experienced women formed a tuneless Greek chorus of shock. ”What?”

From the background, the tall, regal-looking woman watched in silence.

”That is, if things keep up this way,” Senna clarified. ”If they deteriorate even a dram, I give the place six months.”

”Some of us 'ave been 'ere three years,” wailed one young woman plaintively.

”Six months,” Senna said firmly, then looked at the owner, who sat regarding her with a graceful face that might have been carved from marble.

”Hush, Mary,” said the woman who'd thrown the jug at the officious debtor. She turned to Senna, interested but wary. ”I suppose you know a lot about running a business?” Finian, back at the table, groaned. ”What would you have us do?”

”Charge more,” Senna announced.

A dumbfounded silence swept the room. ”What?” ”What?”

”Most a.s.suredly,” Senna said, and even from this distance, Finian could tell that her gaze went a little distant, as she started figuring. He settled back in his seat. There was nothing he could do to stop this from unfolding however it was going to unfold.

And truly, he admitted, his plan had very little chance of success. He had no idea how provoking these prost.i.tutes offered a better better chance, but, to his own surprise, found he was content to trust to Senna in this. chance, but, to his own surprise, found he was content to trust to Senna in this.

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