To an upscale brothel

Merthin guided Christine away from the wealthier districts near the Cathedral down towards the river on the Eastern side of the city. He led her through a narrow alleyway and up a half flight of steps to a large stone house which was set one street back from the docks. The building was three stories high; the base of the large structure was built with large blocks of grey stone and the upper floors were timber built. The building was easily fine enough for a ship's captain or wealthy merchant. A neatly dressed guard nodded politely to the Verderer appraising Christine with undisguised interest as she passed by wrapped in the long thick cloak.

A large open room was filled with about a dozen sturdy tables that, for the most part, were empty. At two of the large tables were well-dressed merchants or guildsmen with plentiful means. The wealthy occupants sprawled lazily on cushioned chairs before tables topped with hearty food and fine wine. Christine even noticed glassware, a sure sign of wealth.

These diners were attended by young women and girls who all seemed overly familiar with their guests, laughing and teasing the men as they brought them food and refills for their cups. One of the serving girls squealed suddenly with laughter as she was swept onto a grey-haired man's lap and hugged tightly as she wiggled to get free.

Merthin didn't seem at all alarmed by the plight of the hapless server, but then again neither the other wealthy merchants nor even her fellow servers seemed concerned. He seemed oblivious to the curious looks of the diners as he steered Christine firmly through the large dining space to a large arch on the side wall. Christine however was more than a little concerned at the way the men eyed her; she pulled the heavy woolen cloak as tightly as she could as their eyes followed her every move trying to gauge what she might look like under the layer of thick wool.

"I doubt anyone is going to come looking for you in a place like this." Merthin chuckled as he pushed her through the ornately decorated archway to a small chamber off the main room, "Keep your mouth shut, and let me do the talking." He instructed her as he knocked on the door on the far side of the small room.

A woman with a low-cut bodice and her skirts tucked into her waistband sashayed by with a heavy tray loaded with chicken, bread and roasted vegetables. Another woman with golden earrings that dangled from her pretty ears followed with four tankards of foaming ale that dripped onto the wooden floor.

"What is this place?" Merthin didn't answer, but in her heart, Christine already knew the answer. She had never been in a brothel, but she had read about them, and her father's guards sometimes would talk about these places when they didn't realize that Christine was sitting quietly nearby listening to their ribald jests. She considered pulling free from the Notary's grip and running, but the truth of the matter was that she had nowhere else to go.

The heavy wooden door opened silently on well-oiled hinges and revealed a richly decorated chamber dominated by a large desk piled high with books papers and notes. A red-headed woman with striking blue eyes was studying them with a neutral look on her face.

"Merthin, what an unexpected surprise!" She came from around the desk and let Merthin kiss her on her cheeks in a very familiar greeting.

"Lady Scarlett, allow me to introduce you to my young friend, Miss Evelyn."

Scarlett smiled warmly, "Why, hello there, Evelyn. Any friend of Merthin is a friend of mine." The woman's formal words and easy smile kept Christine from fearing the worst and she curtsied gracefully as she had been taught from her earliest years.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Scarlett."

The woman walked right up to where Christine was standing and without a hint of hesitation pushed the hood back so she could better see Christine's face.

"Well, Evelyn. You are a petty little thing." Scarlett smiled easily, "You'll fit in easily enough here once you've had a bath and we get you some decent clothes." Christine didn't know whether to be relieved or insulted that this Madam though she looked like one of her prostitutes. She lifted her eyes to meet Scarlett's gaze, refusing to let her weariness and hunger weaken her position.

"Thank you, Ma'am." The words were neutral, and for just a second Christine thought she saw the hint of a smile on her hostess' face before she turned away.

Scarlett, nodded to the Merthin, "I'll have Alice take her to the bathhouse and after she's cleaned up a little will see that she has something to eat too. While that is taken care of, would you allow me to offer you a drink?" With an encouraging smile, Lady Scarlett rang a silver bell and as if by magic a pretty blonde girl in a lowcut dress appeared by her side.

"Alice, take Evelyn here to the baths and get her cleaned up and something to wear. I'll have Jaron bring by a tray with some food for her." At this point, Christine didn't care where she was if it meant she would get a chance to bathe and some food in her rumbling stomach. "Oh, Alice," Lady Scarlett stopped them as they started to leave, "Evelyn here isn't like the other girls, she's Master Merthin's special friend, so be nice."

Christine let Alice lead her away in silence wondering exactly what that meant. Of course, she wasn't like the other girls; and what exactly did Lady Scarlett mean by calling her Merthin's special friend?" Did Scarlet expect her to work the tables like the other prostitutes? Would she be expected to ... surely that's not what Merthin intended when he brought her here ... unless he intended to be the one that visited her in this place. Was that what it meant to be a special friend?

In spite of her hunger and fatigue, Christine could feel the heat in her cheeks as she followed Alice down a hallway to towards the rear of the building. She had a lot to think about, but first a bath and food.