Mother Courage nodded again. ‘Of course you do, deary.’ She gazed at the clock standing against the wall. ‘She should be done with the last one, I’ll just go and check.’
She shuffled off down the hall and Thea heard her shout something up the stairs which was not in the sweet and proper accent they had just heard. From the room to Thea’s right there was a crack of leather, and someone shrieked. Thea jumped and thought to race to the rescue, but then there was a giggle and a moan that did not indicate pain. Thea stayed where she was and exchanged a look with Harriet. Then she tried not to look at Harriet and rocked back and forth on her heels whilst she waited, serenaded by the couple behind the door.
She jumped, when Harriet moved closer. ‘I do hope it is her,’ her friend whispered, ‘otherwise the Hartford household is about to be landed with a small, ginger prostitute.’
Thea was about to respond with panic, but Mother courage appeared back down the stairs.
‘She’ll be out in a minute,’ she said with a sweet smile. ‘She has the front room, so we’ll get it turned around and have you up there in–’
‘Goodness, no,’ said Thea, feeling her neck heating up. Then she checked herself in her haste, not wanting to offend the brothel owner. ‘I wish to take her with me. If it’s the right one. I mean if she is the right one. I mean, if she is who I think she is.’ She looked to Harriet for help but received only a look of amusement.
Mother Courage giggled lightly. ‘Nothing off the premises I am afraid ma’am, I do like to ensure my girls are safe and I canensure that, here.’ She remained polite, but the words now came with an edge.
‘She will be quite safe with me,’ said Thea, drawing herself up into her most haughty duchess pose. ‘I will give you as much as you wish for her, and we will ask no more questions.’
If it wasn’t her, whoever Anya was could do the fires, Thea supposed. Although it would probably pay less than this did.
‘There will be no questions, Mrs Rogers.’ That edge got a little sharper. ‘The last one I let off wasn’t the same for weeks and I couldn’t get her near a smoothing iron ever again. When I tell you–’ Thea pressed her thumb and middle finger into her eyes.
‘I want her for gardening.’
Mother Courage blinked at her. ‘Gardening,’ she said after a minute. ‘There’s always a new term I haven’t heard I suppose. Newfangled desires and all of that. Is that to do with trimming–’
‘No,’ Thea interrupted quickly, noticing Harriet almost shaking with suppressed mirth. ‘It is to do with plants,’ she began, but was cut off by Frankie appearing down the stairs. And it certainly was her. ‘Oh, thank goodness!’ She made for Frankie, but Mother Courage stepped ahead of her. Thea retreated a little and regarded Frankie’s state. She looked well enough in a clean enough and simple gown but seemed drawn and tired. Tired they could deal with. She also looked shocked.
‘Duchess.’ Her hand grasped the banister, and she looked around her warily. ‘Whatever brings you here?’ Thea was dimly aware of Mother Courage’s head snapping towards her, but she was too distracted to care.
‘Frankie.’ Thea breathed out, astounded at how much she had missed that quiet confidence. ‘Mrs Henry told me you were here.’
‘Who?’ asked Frankie, then looked round the hall. Her eyes rested on Harriet. ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘Primrose.’
‘Primrose?’ asked Thea, looking from Frankie to Harriet. She noticed the colour start to rise in Harriet’s cheeks. A bubble of amusement rose inside her, despite their situation.
‘Never mind that,’ said Harriet quickly. ‘I happened to mention to… Mrs Rogers here,’ she glared at Frankie, ‘that someone of your description worked here, and she thought she may know you.’ She stepped a little closer to Frankie and lowered her voice. ‘She’s been looking for you.’
‘Why?’ asked Frankie, looking suspiciously at Thea.
Thea glanced sideways at Mother Courage and stepped a little closer to Frankie. ‘Will you come with me?’ she asked.
‘Where?’ asked Frankie.
‘Home,’ said Thea reassuringly. ‘To my house. In Whitehall.’ She heard Mother Courage take in a sharp breath.
‘I have told her,’ she said, ‘that my girls do not go off the premises.’
‘Quite right,’ said Frankie, appraising Thea with a scouring gaze. ‘I can have no guarantee that I will be safe with you after what happened last.’ Mother Courage’s eyebrows raised. Thea tried to ignore it and appraise the stony look on Frankie’s face.
‘What do you mean?’ she asked. Frankie folded her arms. ‘Is there somewhere more private we could go?’ she asked, flicking her eyes to Mother Courage. Who shook her head.
Frankie did the same. ‘I’d rather stay here, if it’s all the same to you.’
‘You don’t trust me,’ said Thea, seeing a caution in Frankie’s countenance that hadn’t been there before.
‘Why would I?’ asked Frankie.
‘Why wouldn’t you?’ she shot back, a little louder than she had intended. ‘What do you mean after what happened? I just want to help.’
‘I don’t need your help,’ said Frankie.
