Arabella (19 page)

             
After all, why should Mistress Elizabeth have taken her into the house and cared for her unless she had some reason for doing so?  Such kindness was seldom met with in strangers.  Yet had she not come along when she did, Arabella would likely have given birth where she lay in the street and probably died, for she believed she owed her life to the nursing Mistress Elizabeth had given her.

             
Naturally she would expect payment.  But what kind of payment would be asked of her?

             
Arabella was alerted to the danger she was in, but what was she to do about it?  She was not so naïve as to imagine that she could simply walk out of the house.  For one thing she had nothing to wear but the nightgowns Mistress Elizabeth had provided for her.  Her own dress had been discarded because it was stained with blood and filth from the street.  For another, there must somewhere be a manservant who guarded the girls – perhaps more than one. Yes, in an establishment like this there were bound to be several. They would not permit her to walk out if she tried.

             
An attempt to run away would meet with punishment, Arabella was certain.  This was a dangerous situation and the only way she might escape her fate was by using her wits.  There was a possibility that she might be able to persuade Mistress Elizabeth to let her go.  Perhaps if she believed that she had money and could pay for her freedom.

             
She must be careful not to antagonise her.  Tears and tantrums would avail her nothing.  Persuasion was her only weapon, and she must use it carefully.  For the moment it would be wiser to pretend to go along with whatever Elizabeth suggested and use her recent ordeal as an excuse for not entertaining the guests in a more personal manner.

'I am sure you will find a girl who appeals to you at Mistress Elizabeth's house,' Jack said.  'The last time I was there she had a pretty little thing called Thea there – hardly above fifteen and as fresh as a daisy.  You should forget about the red haired vixen, Gervase and indulge yourself with an obliging nun.  'Tis the best way to forget her.'

             
'Perhaps…' Gervase's tone was non committal.  He was aware that Jack thought him a fool to continue the search for Arabella, and perhaps he was right.  Yet the thought of her abandoned, perhaps in trouble, haunted him, leaving him little rest.  'Yet I do not think I am in the mood for Mistress Elizabeth's goods.'

             
'They say she has a niece from the country staying with her,' Jack went on.  'No one has been allowed near her and she is there merely to serve wine and make conversation with the guests.'

             
'If you believe that you are more gullible than I thought,' Gervase said and yawned behind his hand.  'They are all her nieces.'

             
'But this one is different so they say,' Jack persisted.  'She is a lady apparently and gives herself airs…'

             
Gervase's eyes narrowed as he looked at his friend.  Why was Jack so keen to make sure he accompanied him to Mistress Elizabeth's establishment that evening?

             
'What are you trying to say?  Out with it!'

             
'Someone said they were going to auction her off to the highest bidder at midnight.  Apparently, she retires at a quarter to each evening and Mistress Elizabeth has refused all offers for her.  But tonight it will be different, and after she has gone there will be an auction, the highest bidder will be the first to lie with her.'

             
'If she be a virgin in the first place,' Gervase said.  'How long has she been staying with Mistress Elizabeth?'

             
'She has been entertaining the guests for more than a month now,' Jack said, 'though they say she was staying in the house before that but unwell. Mistress Elizabeth guarded her like a dragon until she brought her downstairs.'

             
'To whet the appetite of her customers one presumes.'  Gervase smothered a yawn.  'Go and bid for the little nun if you wish, my friend, but I do not think I care to waste my money.'

             
Jack shrugged his shoulders.  'Please yourself, Gervase, but never say I don't try to find amusement for you.'

             
'Oh, you are a very trying fellow,' Gervase said and grinned at him.  'But I bear with you, Jack.'

             
'Well, if that don't beat all…' Jack stood up.  'Insult a fellow too often Gervase and you might find yourself short of friends…'

             
He took himself off without a backward glance, and Gervase realised that he had ruffled his friend's feathers a little too often of late.  His temper had been on a short rein, and though he had merely meant to mock in his old way, Jack was out of sorts.  Perhaps he ought to have gone along with him if only to watch the others making fools of themselves…

'It is a lovely gown,' Arabella said as she tried on the emerald green silk evening dress.  'But if you would let me send for my own things, Elizabeth, I would not need to use yours.'

             
'Plenty of time for that, my dear,' Elizabeth said, her shrewd eyes narrowed.  'When you are settled and happy.  Besides, it pleases me to lend you pretty things.  Our little arrangement has made my guests even more eager to spend their money.'

             
Arabella had confronted her hostess with her suspicions after the first evening downstairs.  Seeing it was useless to deny what was obvious, Elizabeth had agreed that she arranged for girls to entertain men in whatever way they chose in their rooms.

             
'The gentlemen pay me and I give the girls bed and board, and provide their clothes.  If they can persuade their gentlemen to give them presents I let them keep all they get.  I am not a greedy woman, Arabella.  I look after my girls, fetch a doctor to them if they are sick, and protect them.'

             
'I do not wish to sleep with any man who is willing to pay for me,' Arabella told her.  'I had one lover – a gentleman of rank – who deserted me.  I have family and could return home.'

             
'But you told me you had none when I brought you here.'  Elizabeth looked at her through narrowed eyes.  Was she telling a lie or the truth?

             
'My family are not in London, but my father would welcome me home if I chose to go,' Arabella told her.  'But I am willing to stay here for a while to repay my debt to you by being nice to your guests and making them feel welcome – but it ends there, ma'am.  I am your niece and I am not for sale.'

             
Elizabeth looked at her consideringly.  Arabella had given birth only recently and was not truly ready to entertain men in her room. Besides, men always wanted what they could not have, and it would whet their appetites to be told that they could see and not touch.  Arabella was clearly of good family, and that would appeal.  If she wore her hair powdered for a start, and then, when it was time, went unpowdered, that red hair would drive them wild.

             
'Why do you not wear your hair without powder this evening?' she asked Arabella now as she looked at herself in the dressing mirror.  'It would set off that gown to perfection.'

             
Arabella frowned at her reflection.  She had hoped that the powder gave her some protection against recognition amongst Mistress Elizabeth's guests. 

She had recognised at least two gentlemen whom she had met while in the company of her aunt, but both were foxed at the time and neither had seemed to notice her – and she had retired immediately the night that Jack Meadows came to the club with a friend.  His companion had clearly been in his cups, but she was not sure whether Gervase's friend had seen her or not, because she had escaped the moment she noticed him, pleading a headache.  As he had not arrived until fifteen minutes to midnight nothing had been said about her absence.

              The longer she stayed at the house the more likely it was that someone would recognise her, Arabella realised.  If she was going to run away, it must be soon.  She believed that Mistress Elizabeth had relaxed her guard a little and somehow Arabella would find a way of slipping out during the party that evening.

             
She smiled at her hostess, pretending to go along with her.  'Yes, I do believe you are right,' she said.  'I shall leave my hair unpowdered this evening, Elizabeth.'

             
Arabella knew that one of the girls had a blonde wig in her room.  When everyone was drinking heavily and it was possible to leave without being noticed, she would slip into Serena's room, take the wig and a cloak and then go out of a side door and disappear into the night…

Gervase hesitated outside the house.  From the outside it was respectable, with little to distinguish it from any other.  Inside, it was very different, the décor in shades of gold and scarlet that proclaimed its function as a high-class whorehouse.  Having visited it in the past, Gervase knew the Madam well enough.  She was not a bad woman by her standards; there were many worse that exploited their girls and treated them badly.  At least Mistress Elizabeth looked after her young ladies, as she liked to call them, though most were ignorant girls who had no education or any skill other than how to please their gentlemen.

It was half past eleven and if Jack was right the auction was due to take place at midnight.  He was not sure why he had come, whether it was out of a desire to make amends to his friend or merely curiosity.

              The doorman recognised him at once, inclining his head respectfully as he stood back to admit him.

             
'We have not seen you for some time, milord.'

             
Gervase nodded but made no answer.  He rarely saw a girl in these places that interested him, often feeling sorry for those who appeared innocent and had perhaps been trapped into a life of degradation and ultimate pain.  Many though were bold brassy pieces who enjoyed their work and fleeced their gentlemen for all they could, which was fair enough, he thought with an inward smile.  If the young fools who came here were too drunk to know where their gold went no one could blame the girls for taking advantage. However, the wine and food offered at Mistress Elizabeth's was usually good, and he had in the past sometimes enjoyed a game of cards in her back room.

             
He was mildly interested in the girl who was to be auctioned that evening, though he did not suppose her to be anything out of the ordinary and had come merely to please Jack.  The girl usually left before midnight and…Gervase's idle thoughts were suspended as he saw her talking with one of the gentlemen.  The shock was so great that he could only stare in dismay.  He had men searching all over London and she was here!

             
'I see you changed your mind,' Jack's voice said quietly at his elbow.  'I think it may be worth your while after all, Gervase.'

             
'Did you know it was her?' Gervase's eyes narrowed to angry slits.  'Be careful, Jack, for if…'

             
'I swear I was as ignorant as you,' Jack protested.  'I caught but a glimpse of her one night as I entered and thought something familiar, but she wore her hair powdered that night and I could not be sure.  I came earlier this evening.'

             
'Have you spoken to her?'

             
'I tried but she pretended not to know me and avoided talking to me by saying that she must speak to her aunt.'

             
'Is she a party to this auction?'  Gervase felt the anger rip through him.  For months he had been haunted by his fears for Arabella – and there she was laughing and talking as if she hadn't a care in the world.  For a moment he wanted to take her by the neck and throttle her.

             
'I don't know,' Jack admitted truthfully.  'She must know the purpose of this place.  She isn't a fool and by pretending to be innocent she is pushing her price up…'

             
'She was never quite that, though Sylvester took advantage of her nature.'  Gervase watched Arabella.  She was smiling at someone, and accepting a glass of wine, which she simply held but did not touch, putting it on a small wine table as she turned and walked from the room.  'Excuse me…'

             
He moved to follow her, but was prevented by Mistress Elizabeth, who stopped him by laying a hand on his arm.

             
'I am delighted to see you here for our special evening, my lord.'

             
'It is true then?  You intend to auction the girl?'

             
'You make it sound so commonplace,' Elizabeth said with a little pout.  'As a special favour to my gentlemen I have decided that one of them shall have her as their own for this night and for as many nights after as pleases the winner of my little contest.'