Free Secret Night by Anita Mills Page B

horses at Tattersall's for vastly less money. Elise decided to gamble.
    "I'm afraid I don't have quite that much in my reticule, Mrs. Coates. I could perhaps afford twenty pounds."
    "Twenty pounds! Not fer yer life! Twenty pounds says she stays, missy—fifty says she goes, and that's that, it is."
    "Er—if it is merely a matter of funds, perhaps I may be of assistance?" As he spoke, Patrick drew out a leather money folder and counted out the full fifty pounds.
    Elise knew she'd been caught out, but she had no wish to be indebted to the lawyer for anything. "That won't be necessary," she retorted. Opening her reticule again, she dug into her money pouch. "All right—fifty pounds it is, but you are a disgrace to—"
    "Me profession?" the madam supplied sarcastically. "Well, afore ye go a-lookin' down yer rich nose at me, missy, I can tell ye as I take in more'n a night than ye see in a quarter."
    "Where is Pearl?" Elise asked, ignoring the woman's gibes. "I'd take her and everything she owns with me now."
    Magdalene Coates walked to the bellpull that hung beside a heavy hanging. Her back to Elise, she gave it a hefty jerk. "The old gent as was with ye ain't going ter be happy with ye, I'll wager," she warned the young woman.
    Aware that Patrick Hamilton was watching her, Elise lifted her chin defiantly. "No, he will commend me for rescuing the unfortunate creature, I am sure," she lied. "But in any event, I shall be taking her to London Hospital."
    "Fer the poor," the madam scoffed. "Now if ye was ter really care, ye'd be a-taking her ter a better place, wouldn't ye?"
    "Where I choose to take her is none of your affair now, is it?" Elise countered evenly. "The worst pit must surely be better than this."
    "Oho now! Would ye listen ter her, Mr. Hamilton? And what would a gentry mort be knowin' as ter how I live?"
    He did not intervene, but Elise felt he was vastly amused by the whole proceeding. "Where is Pearl?" she snapped. "I have not the whole day."
    " 'Fraid m'place will rub onter her fancy gown, ain't she?" Maddie whispered loudly to the lawyer.
    Uncomfortable with the scene, Patrick reached for his beaver hat. "My thanks for the Madeira," he murmured. Setting the hat upon his head, he adjusted it jauntily, then picked up his walking stick. "Until we are met again, Miss Rand. Mrs. Coates."
    "I don't think so," Elise muttered.
    "But we ain't done yet," the madam protested. "I was a-wantin' ter pay ye—I got most of the blunt I owe ye—and who's ter say as I'll have it later? Ye'd better take it with ye."
    It was a point to be considered, given the woman's reputation as an opium user. Patrick wavered, then nodded. At that moment the door opened again, and the doorkeeper ushered the thin, wan Pearl inside. The girl wore only a shapeless dress of faded muslin, without any wrap about her narrow shoulders. Before Elise could protest, Maddie Coates herself went to the brass rack inside the door and took down a heavy shawl. Not looking at Elise, she draped it around Pearl.
    "Good riddance ter ye," she muttered. "Ye can go wi' yer fancy mort like ye was wantin'."
    The girl tried to speak, only to be overcome by coughing. The bark was deep and hollow, drawing Patrick's attention. As he took in the yellowish skin and the sunken eyes, he felt a deep pity for her. She was not long for this world.
    Elise reached to take what appeared to be no more than a dress bundled into a rag. "Come on, Pearl," she said briskly. "We shall see you are better fed and cared for. I am taking you to London Hospital." As she said it, she glanced defiantly at the madam.
    But the girl quaked. "Not Lunnon—not the Lun-non, miss!"
    "Why not?"
    "It ain't far from the poorhouse," Maddie Coates answered for her.
    "Don't never want ter go back," the girl insisted, whimpering pitifully.
    "All right, then—the Royal Hospital in Chelsea," Elise decided. "Good day, Mrs. Coates. Mr. Hamilton."
    With that, she took Pearl's arm and hastily thrust the girl through