Never Run From Love (Kellington Book Four) by Maureen Driscoll Page A

shadows,” said the dressing gown woman.
    As the onlookers turned to look his way, Hal
reluctantly stepped out. 
    “Oi!” said the dressing gown woman.  “It’s Lord
‘Al.  If I’d knowed you was with ‘im, miss, I wouldn’t a kep’ you talkin’ so
long.  Let’s the three of us get inside.”
    Hal was afraid something like that might happen. 
The woman in the dressing gown was a girl named Terry, whom he’d patronized
several times over the past few months, including his recent night out with
Francis.  He hardly thought she was looking for salvation.
    “Is this lady a friend of yours, Lord Henry?” asked
Melanie in a tone that made him think she already knew the answer.
    “’Lady!’” snorted Terry.  “Ain’t never been called
that before except for a nob who liked to pretend I was ‘is best friend’s
wife. 
    “I’m sure that is an interesting tale best left
untold,” said Hal.  “Thank you for the offer, Terry, but I’m afraid my friend
and I aren’t here to solicit your services.”
    “Then why are you here, Lord Hal?”
    Hal turned to see the arrival of Aurelia Thurmond,
flanked as she often was by two of her burly servants.  Madame Thurmond was in
her middle years, her black hair flecked with grey, including a shock of it at
her temples.  She didn’t dress with the flamboyance of the typical madame. 
Tonight she was wearing a purple silk evening gown that might have been worn by
a society matron at the opera.  Hal didn’t know how much Madame Thurmond earned
from her business, but he suspected it was a healthy living.
    Her brothel was one of the more elegant in London. 
It was clean and featured girls who, for the most part, were free from the
opium addiction so common among those in their trade.  And it charged a premium
for services. 
    Madame Thurmond herself was soft-spoken and
maintained almost a clinical detachment from the services her business
offered.  She might as well have been a solicitor drawing up business contracts
for all the emotion she displayed to her clients.
    That wasn’t to say she always remained so
unruffled.  But her infrequent bouts of temper were rarely witnessed by
clients.  If a girl displeased her, such as being rude to a client or pocketing
too much of the payment she received, she was simply dismissed and never seen
at the brothel again. 
    Occasionally, Hal wondered where they went.  He’d
known a few girls who’d suddenly left Madame Thurmond’s.  One had been offered
a long-term position as a banker’s mistress.  He’d heard another had gained
employment at a rival brothel.  A third girl was rumored to have gone back home
to Northumberland.  Hal wasn’t sure if he believed that one.  More likely,
she’d simply disappeared into the vast London stews.
    Madame Thurmond was rumored to have a business
partner, though no one had ever seen him.  But it was thought that her partner
was the one who kept the Watch away from her house and who ensured she didn’t
lose her business to any of the crime syndicates that were always looking to
expand.
    Quite frankly, Hal had never given any of it much
thought.  When he was at the brothel, he exchanged pleasantries with Madame
Thurmond and told her when he wanted to move on to a new girl.  She was always polite,
but never personal.
    But as she approached Melanie, Hal could tell that
Aurelia Thurmond was not pleased with the disruption to her business.  It was
still early and the girls had all been on a break, but he was sure she wouldn’t
take kindly to suggestions that her employees forsake their careers and move to
the American frontier.  He knew she personally wouldn’t resort to violence, but
wasn’t sure what her two bodyguards would do.  He moved closer to Melanie,
inserting himself between her and the two men.
    The move – and likely its meaning – was not lost on
Madame Thurmond.
    “Good evening, Lord Henry.  It is a pleasure as
always to see you,” she said with a smile