The Cardinal's Angels by Gregory House Page A

hardly recognised y’ at first sight. I took y’ for a common vagrant. You look so bruised and torn. Whatever happened?”
    Ah so that was how poor he looked. The bruises must lend his face an interesting halo of purple and black. No wonder most people had shied away from him. The populace of London were not generally known for their kindly regard for the beaten or otherwise downtrodden. It was a miracle that when he was unconscious he’d been ‘rescued’ by the Watch after the brawl, rather than some kindly soul from the Liberties stripping him naked and committing his corpse to the river. “Bethany, I beg your indulgence, oh beauteous nymph of the dawn.”
    A raised eyebrow and coquettish laugh greeted this flowery request. “Why Ned, Mistress Anne tis very strict about bringing back punters in the daytime. I suppose for you, I’d make an exception, iffin ’ y’ feel y’ve got the quicks for it.”
    The bruises helped hide the red blush that spread quickly across his face. It didn’t hide enough and Bethany smiled wickedly at his response. Perhaps he should have thought longer on just how he had phrased his greeting. He cleared his throat with a cough of embarrassment. “ Aargh , that’s not quite what I wanted.” Actually it was, but needs overrode wants this day.
    “Well I ain’t a common strumpet! I want a proper bed and clean rushes on the floor. I’ll not hump against a wall, with my skirts pulled high, liken those sluts down at Dockside. Nor any lewd acts liken those foreigners at the Biddle!”
    This was much more than Ned’s imagination could handle right now, though his physic was sending urgent indications that it was up for the game. His daemon idly pondered exactly what lewd acts one could pay for at the Biddle that were so offensive to Bethany. Hmmm? Reason won out over these baser urgings and he strangled out a reply through a suddenly constricted throat. “No. Arghh , not that! I mean, ahh, I want to talk to you about the other night.”
    This didn’t bring the expected response, for Bethany harrumphed loudly and turned to walk away. Damnit ! The brawl, the cell and his uncle had really befuddled his thinking. This was going all wrong! “Wait, I can pay!”
    This was a bit too loud. A few stall holders took note of his cry and called out imprecations, while a couple of touts closed in, hollering out offers of sweet girls to bed.
    But his outburst did halt the departing Bethany, who swung around with a sceptical expression. “’ ow much?”
    Ned dug into his doublet and rattled the small purse meaningfully. “Two groats?” he managed to quickly squeak out. It was almost a fifth of his assets but a necessary sacrifice.
    The spark of greed lit up her light blue eyes. However Bethany was a suspicious girl by occupation. “I’ve said I’ll nay perform any strange acts, an’ I’ve got my honour t’ think of.”
    Ned came up with a bow that he thought would shame a courtier and waved her over to the table by another food stall. Londoners loved to eat. At almost every available corner were collections of competing stalls or bakeries. As Bethany cautiously settled down on a trestle seat, Ned considered what a whore or punk would call honour. He’d never really thought about it before, but supposed, like everyone else, they must have their own rules to govern actions. That bore some further thinking at another time. Ned purchased a couple of hot pies. From the painted sign above, hopefully they were pigeon. Then he pulled out one of the promised groats, laying it on the table. His new companion eyed the small, silver coin, and quickly snatched it up, at the same time taking a sampling bite from the pie. The coin instantly disappeared into the depths of her bodice.
    Ned swallowed dryly and suppressed the urge to dive in after the silver or take up the prior offer. Temptation was damned difficult to ignore. He supposed that’s why it was a sin. Bethany looked at him with an eagerness that