Free Lovers Forever by Shirlee Busbee Page B

worn, dry material felt wonderful against her chilled body. A further search of the trunk revealed an old pair of jean half-boots, which she found, to her great pleasure, fit her almost to perfection. She took a moment to braid her wildly curling hair and tie the end with a scrap of green ribbon she found in the bottom of the trunk.
    Nervously smoothing down her gown, she hesitated a moment longer. Perhaps she had misjudged Mrs. Darley; perhaps if she went to the kitchen and explained? Explained what? she wondered miserably.
    Tess was touched when she reached the kitchen to find that Mrs. Darley had prepared for her not only a plate of cheese and bread, but also a large slice of rare roast beef and a flagon of dark foamy beer. Mrs. Darley was not in evidence, although the young girl and boy smiled shyly at her. Seating herself at the scrubbed oak table, Tess fairly wolfed down her food. It was only when she pushed aside her plate that the girl sidled up to her and said softly, “Don’t mind the missus—she has a mean tongue, but give her fair work and she’ll treat you fair. It’s the master to be careful of— he’s a hard’un!”
    Mrs. Darley came sailing in as Tess rose from the table. She stopped abruptly, staring at Tess, her mouth thinning. “Well, I must say that you don’t look like a fancy piece in that garb. Just as well—the Black Pig is a respectable tavern, and I don’t approve of the goings-on that some people claim will help bring us a few new customers.” Her face softened for a moment. “You’re too young and pretty to let yourself be used this way, child.” Then, as if angry with herself for her brief lapse, she said tartly, “Of course, it makes no never mind to me! Come along with me to meet my husband—you’ll be working for him tonight.” As they left the kitchen behind and walked down a short hall, she asked suddenly, “Now then, what did you say your name was?”
    Tess swallowed, her mouth dry. What was her name? Before she had time to think, she heard herself saying calmly, “Dolly. My name is Dolly.” A half-hysterical bubble of laughter rose in her throat. She supposed that the name of an old farm horse was as good as any when you didn’t know your own!
    Henry Darley proved to be a congenial-looking man, but Tess immediately realized what the young girl in the kitchen had meant. He was a hard man, it was there in those small hazel eyes and in the selfish curve of his mouth. He wasn’t a man to be crossed, and Tess’s spirits, which had revived somewhat during the past several minutes, sank to the soles of her borrowed jean half-boots.
    After introductions had been made, Harry looked her up and down and muttered, “Can’t see as how that skinny little body of yours is going to do much to bring in the farm lads. But Tom says you know what you’re doing and that he ain’t had any dissatisfied customers yet, so we’ll just have to see. In the meantime there is plenty of other work for you to do.” He nodded to several rough oak tables that were scattered about the low-beamed room and cluttered with tankards, plates, and pitchers. “Start clearing those tables.”
    Filled with growing uneasiness, Tess set to work. Thank God she hadn’t been confronted with some lusting, eager oaf! What in heaven’s name was she to do when the time came, and there was no doubt that the time would come, that she was expected to take some strange man up the stairs and . . . uh ... work her wiles on him? She shuddered, wondering if perhaps she hadn’t gotten herself into a situation far worse than her previous one. Not knowing anything about herself, she realized, it was possible that she was just the sort of woman the Darleys thought she was. But she doubted it. It just didn’t feel right.
    Fortunately, Tess didn’t intend to stay any longer than necessary, and she