Anosia came in, smiling. She was wearing a beautiful green garment, with green stones around her neck and gold earrings. Her hair was lavishly done, with ribbons and curls, and she smelled of roses. She looked like any other fine lady in a fine home as she took a seat at the table.
“I’m perfectly healthy,” she said. “That little sniffle I had a few days ago never became any worse. Of course, the physic made me eat pickled lemons and had me drink hot apple cider, but it did the trick. I am cured.”
“Good,” Desdra said. “Do you have a full day scheduled?”
At Aphrodite’s Feast, the women kept their own client schedules. Most brothels had a single woman who managed the women who worked there, but not at The Feast. Each woman was like an independent business, and they had to pay the house half of everything they took in on a daily basis. To keep them honest, Zeus, the head of The Guardians, kept track of the men in and out and what services were rendered. Anosia produced her silk purse, one that matched her dress, and put a large handful of coins on the tabletop.
“That is from yesterday,” she said. “I will bring you my ledger later. I wrote everything down from yesterday in it.”
Desdra took the coins off the table and put them into a basket that was on the shelf behind her. “I will count it later,” she said. “Bring up your ledger and I’ll match it against Zeus’.”
“Shall I fetch it from him?”
“Nay,” Desdra said. “There is no immediate need for it. I have not yet received the accounting from everyone, so I willwait to go over everything all at once. Now, let us speak on something more pleasant. You spoke with Lord Chester’s nephew yesterday? What did he say?”
The subject shifted to Jareth, and Anosia nodded to the question. “I spoke to him,” she said. “Truly, Des, I do not know what I was expecting of our new lord, but a very handsome knight was not among my thoughts.”
“He said that you told him your story,” Desdra said. “How did he respond?”
Anosia shrugged. “Kindly, I suppose,” she said. “He said he was at the Battle of Lewes. That is where my husband was killed. I wonder if he knew him but am afraid to ask. We are not supposed to reveal our true identities here.”
“But he is your new lord,” Desdra said. “He has a right to know who you truly are. You should ask him.”
Anosia thought on that a moment. There was distress in her eyes as she sat back in her chair, averting her gaze.
“I wonder if I even want to know,” she said quietly. “That was seven years ago. Seven years since I last saw my love. When I was informed of his death, I was only told that he died in battle, not how he died. I never spoke to anyone who was with him. When his body was delivered to me, I did not ask questions. He was dead and knowing the circumstances would not bring him back. But I find that the more time passes, the more curious I am about it. Like a door that has been left open, not quite closed. Not quite satisfied.”
Desdra could see the pain in the woman’s expression. “Mayhap you will want to know someday,” she said. “Mayhap you will have the courage to ask, because I hope that open door does not remain open and you are forever wondering.”
Anosia nodded wearily. “I know,” she said. “But anytime I hear of the Battle of Lewes, it is almost as if I am hearing the news again. My belly feels strange. I feel sick.”
“Then it is not time for you to need answers yet,” Desdra said. “What did you think of Sir Jareth when you spoke with him?”
Anosia lifted her shoulders. “He seemed kind enough, I suppose,” she said. “He seemed interested in what I had to say. But those men he brought with him—it has been a long time since I have seen a collection of knights like that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Elite, I suppose,” Anosia replied. “You can tell they are well trained, from good families. And one of them—he says his name is Orion—has been quite persistent. You asked me about my schedule today. Heismy schedule.”
Desdra looked at her strangely. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that he has already paid for nearly the entire day,” Anosia said. “All of my time. He says he only wishes to play chess. I am very good at it. I hope he knows what he is asking.”
Desdra chuckled. “He shall soon find out.”
“Indeed.”
They shared a giggle before Desdra picked up her quill again. “Will you please ensure that the morning meal has been set out?” she said, returning to her ledgers. “And ask Zeus to bring me his accounts if you see him.”
Anosia stood up, preparing to face the day ahead. “I shall,” she said. Then she paused. “God’s Bones. Today is the day following the Sabbath.”
“It is.”
“The Pope visits today.”
Desdra looked up from her ledger. “It is his usual day,” she said. “Did you not send word to him about Sir Orion?”
Anosia shook her head. “Nay,” she said. “I will do it now and tell him he must come later today. I cannot entertain him when he comes midday as he usually does.”
