Felicity smiled. “You’re so beautiful I don’t think the men will care about your hair or your ear.”
Lucia waved away her compliment. “I care. I have to look at myself every day.” She pouted. “I suppose I could go home for a month.My mother and sister haven’t been to town to see me in a while.”
Felicity set down her pot of salve and turned to Lucia. “You have a mother and sister?” She hated to admit she was surprised to hear it.
“In Hampshire. My sister is about to have her third baby.”
Felicity stared at her in wonder.
Lucia turned to face her and laughed. “I bet you assumed because I trade my body for money that my family would disown me?”
Felicity bit her lip in shame. “Well, to be honest, yes. I’m sorry I assumed something so wretched. It’s my own twisted upbringing that still shapes most of my thoughts, and I must remember that I’m wrong about everything, usually.”
“Where is your family?”
“Still at home in our little village that didn’t seem to come out of the dark ages.”
Lucia strolled toward her vanity and sat. “Do they speak to you?”
“No. They don’t know where I am.”
“Because of what happened? They took his side, didn’t they?”
Felicity blushed and turned away.
“They always do,” Lucia said vehemently. “Fathers, at least. Mothers always know the truth. I never knew my father. My mother also made coin on her back but not in a safe place like this. Once I started making real money here, I made her retire. My sister married a farmer. It’s a small farm, but they have enough to eat and enough coin to stay warm. It’s the best we could ever hope for. She’s not like me and mum. Elena is shy. But her husband makes her happy and they make beautiful babies.”
“I have two younger sisters. Fifteen and twelve. I hope I will see them again.”
“You know, there has been talk.” Lucia moved her hair aside and Felicity examined her ear.
“Talk about me?”
“You’re a bride, aren’t you? Mrs. Dove-Lyon will match you withone of her lords. Who’s your soon to be husband?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“You get to decide?” Lucia whistled.
“I was matched once already. After that didn’t work out, I told her I wanted to choose.”
Lucia tilted her head while Felicity dabbed on the salve.
“Does it hurt?” Felicity asked, her stomach pulsing with nervousness.
“No.”
“Your ear will likely scab and then peel. Perhaps you should go visit with your family after all.”
Lucia smiled. “I’ll miss the lusty lads, but I think you’re right.”
Felicity turned away as she screwed on the top of her salve jar. “Doesithurt?”
Lucia stood. “No, love. I promise it doesn’t, even though it looks terrible.”
Felicity turned to face her. “It. Laying with a man. When he pushes his cock inside of you.” Felicity blurted. Lucia’s mouth popped open. She’d managed to shock a courtesan. Felicity turned way. “Never mind, that was terribly rude of me.”
Lucia grabbed her hand. “Dove, I was only shocked and delighted to hear the wordcockcome out of your mouth. Are you scared?”
