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Chapter One
Asoft orange glow from the lantern illuminated Carmen’s features as she walked to the edge of the wharf. Thick mist roiled around the riverside and a dreadful cold climbed up her spine. Carmen shivered and pulled her shawl closer. It was the dead of the night, and not a soul in sight.
Perfect, Carmen thought to herself. If she was found here by somebody, it would spell disaster. She heard rapid footsteps behind her and turned around, but it was almost impossible to see anything beyond a few yards.
When a woman came into view, Carmen heaved a sigh of relief to see Lily, her oldest friend, who had been with her since she came to London seven years ago.
“What are you doing here?” she asked Lily.
“You slipped out of the bed in the middle of the night. Of course I had to come find you,” she said. “Is it another woman?”
Carmen nodded. It was always another woman. No matter how many she saved, many others were out there waiting for her help, waiting to be found.
“Couldn’t it have waited till tomorrow?” Lily asked.
“She belongs to a powerful man. She barely escaped, but she’s afraid to be caught. He has threatened to have her arrested on false charges of theft already,” Carmen said. “She’s walking a thin line. She wanted to meet under the cover of darkness because she feels safer this way. Besides, John wrote in the note that she’s injured and needs immediate attention.”
Lily nodded. “Then we must see to her immediately. They’re not here yet?”
As if on cue, a small dinghy channeled slowly out of the blanket of the mist towards where Carmen and Lily stood. Carmen cranked up the heat of the lamp as John, the boatman, tied a thick rope around the wooden post, and the dinghy gently bumped into the wooden walkway.
Carmen stepped closer, helping the woman that John had ferried out of the dinghy. She wore a thin gown and her teeth chattered against the cold. Immediately, Carmen took off her shawl and wrapped it around her. The woman was in worse shape than she had initially estimated.
Lily hissed when she noticed the woman’s wounds. Her lip was cut, and her eye was bruised as if somebody had boxed it; knowing the truth, someone probably had. “Are you all right?”
Her voice shook. “I managed to escape. I’m as fine as I can be.”
“Lily, hold her,” Carmen instructed. She took out a few coins from her purse and handed them to John, who waved her away.
“Don’t be silly. I’m glad to be of help.”
Carmen shook her head. “John, you’re a good man, but I can’t make you work for free, especially for something as dangerous as this. Your wife and children need it. Take it.”
John sighed. “Fine, if you insist.” Carmen liked the boatman. He was one of the few men that she trusted.
“Thank you again,” she whispered. John held his cap to her, then untied his dinghy from the shore and headed back into the water to return home.
Carmen turned to Lily, who had the other woman in her arms. She was visibly shaking. “You’re fine now,” Carmen said. “You’re safe with us.”
“Thank you,” the woman whispered. Her name was Remi, and the first letter she had written to Carmen was over a month ago, informing her of the ill-treatment meted out by a certain Earl. She had no idea who it was as Remi refused to give his name.
“Won’t you tell us who the man is?” Carmen asked Remi again, hoping the other woman would give in and reveal the truth, but she only shook her head. “He’s too powerful. You’re better off not knowing.”
Lily looked at Carmen and said, “It’s fine. You’re with us now.”
Together, they supported Remi between them and took off towards home, which was only a few streets away. The dilapidated building used to be a theatre a long time ago, but had been shut down. After scouring the entirety of London for a decent living space for about twenty women, they had finally come upon it.
The streets were silent and empty, but she felt safe. They walked up to the broken steps of the building, which was now cast in darkness. The entire west wing had caved and fallen in a few summers before they moved in, and they were fixing it brick by brick.
Remi cast an uncertain look at the building. “What is this place?” Most people were intimidated the first time they saw it. Maybe that’s why not many people dared to venture inside, which worked in their favor.
“It’s all right,” Carmen said. “This place only looks scary. Once we’re done fixing it, it will be one of the brightest places in the city.”
Remi’s eyes widened. “What are you transforming it to?”
“A music hall,” Lily said. “But let’s get you out of the cold first or you might get sick.” The three women ushered inside. Carmen led Remi into the kitchen where a lantern was kept on the table. The dying hearth of the fireplace warmed the room. Carmen looked out into the empty hallway. It was completely silent.
“Good, everyone is asleep,” Carmen said. “We have a busy day tomorrow.”
