Page 90 of A Story of Love

The other woman frowned, mulling over Lori’s offer. Suddenly she looked much younger than she’d seemed at first.

“How old are you, Dinah?”

“Nineteen.”

Lori scrambled to hide her shock. Dinah didn’t look four years younger than her. In fact, she would have guessed the other woman as at least five years older.

“How long have you worked here?”

“I’d have to ask Mrs. Marlowe before I say anything more,” she repeated.

“I understand. Er, when do you think—”

Dinah stood. “I can ask her right now.”

“I thought you said everyone was still asleep.”

“Oh no, she’s always up early. And up late.” Dinah pulled a face. “To own the truth, I don’t know when she sleeps. If you don’t mind waiting, then—”

“Not at all.” What else did she have to do?

“I’m not sure when I’ll return.”

Lori smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”

Dinah’s eyes bulged and then she gave a surprised sounding laugh. “No, I s’pose not.” She knocked on the door.

It opened immediately and Dinah murmured something—to Barker, Lori supposed—and the door shut. Once again Lori heard the sound of the key in the lock.

Lori sighed and glanced at the water Barker had left. She might as well use it while it was still hot.

An hour or so later, after washing her hair and tidying her room, she was just sitting down to examine the contents of the lap desk when she heard the jingling of keys at the door.

When it opened, it wasn’t Dinah, as she’d expected, but an older woman—perhaps in her mid-thirties—who was breathtakingly lovely.

“I am Mrs. Marlowe and I’m in charge of this establishment.”

Lori stood and held out her hand. “My name is—"

“Lord Severn told me who you are,” Mrs. Marlowe said, lightly clasping Lori’s hand before releasing it.

“Did he also mention that I’m an unwilling captive?”

The older woman smiled faintly. “He told me you were to be treated as an honored guest.”

Lori laughed. “You know that holding a person hostage is illegal?”

“Yes, I know that. But Lord Severn owns this building and employs everyone in it. If we were to allow you to leave, he would be extremely displeased. The truth is that he has asked very little of me or anyone else here so I am inclined to do as he asks so long as he doesn’t abuse his power.”

“And depriving me of my liberty is not an abuse?”

“Miss Fontenot, you are in a whorehouse. The women who live here have an entirely different, and more realistic, definition of what constitutes abuse.”

Lori’s face heated and she shut her mouth.

“Now, Dinah said you wanted to ask her some questions?”

“Yes.”