‘The house is built on to the back of the club, so you won’t have far to go to work, will you?’ he teased cheerfully as he rapped smartly on the door.
It was opened by a young girl in a drab grey dress. Her mousy hair was dragged into a ponytail and tied with a tatty ribbon at the nape of her neck and there was a scattering of pimples across her plain face. She was tiny and looked as if one good puff of wind would blow her away.
‘I’ve brought Miss Winter. Mrs Flynn is expecting her,’ Jasper informed the girl.
With a nod she stood aside to allow them to pass her.
It was the smell that Abi noticed first. A cloying smoky smell, although she had no idea what it might be.
‘Miss Lilly is through in the club, sir,’ the girl told him. ‘If yer’d care to wait ’ere I’ll run an’ fetch ’er for yer.’ And with that she was off like a miniature greyhound.
As Jasper toted her luggage inside Abi looked around curiously. They were in a long, narrow hallway with many doors leading off it and judging from the noise that was issuing from beyond some of the doors, a lot of the rooms were occupied. There was the sound of music, laughing and giggling and suddenly Abi had to stifle the urge to turn tail and run. The place was nothing at all like she had expected it to be. The noise of music grew louder as a door at the end of the corridor swung open and the young maid and a blousy-looking woman in a buttercup-yellow gown that left very little to the imagination appeared. The woman’s hair was a bright red colour and piled into huge curls on top of her head and her face was heavily powdered and rouged. She was what Abi’s mother would have scathingly called ‘mutton dressed as lamb’ but even though she was well into middle-age there were still traces of her being a beauty in her younger days.
‘Jasper, me darlin’.’ She strode down the hall in a rustle of silk and enveloped Jasper in a bear hug before releasing him and turning her attention to Abi.
‘So this is the new girl you told me about, eh?’
Abi flushed as the woman stroked her chin thoughtfully, walking around her as if she were examining a beast she was thinking of buying at market.
‘Well, just as yer said, she’s a looker, I’ll give yer that,’ she told him. ‘I’m sure she’ll be in great demand wi’ the punters.’
Abi began to feel as if she wasn’t even there until the woman asked, ‘Tired, are yer, queen?’
‘Yes .?.?. I-I am rather.’
The woman giggled. ‘Ooh, an’ she talks all la-di-da too. That’s another plus. Our richer clients’ll be fightin’ over ’er.’ She clicked her fingers and the little maid who had been standing silently behind her hurried forward. ‘Take this young lady to ’er room,’ Lilly ordered. ‘She can start work tomorrer but fer now she looks ready to drop.’
‘Yes, Mrs Flynn.’ The girl dipped her knee and snatched up one of Abi’s heavy valises as if it weighed nothing before saying, ‘Foller me, miss. I’ve got a room all ready fer yer.’
Abi hesitated as she looked at Jasper but he gave her an encouraging smile and a gentle nudge in the back. ‘Go with Winnie and I’ll see you in the morning after you’ve had a good rest. I’m going to go through to the club to try my hand at the gaming tables.’
He walked away with Lilly’s plump arm tucked into his as if he didn’t have a care in the world and sighing, Abi lifted her other valise and followed Winnie up the steep staircase.
At the top of the stairs was a long landing and if anything, the noise issuing from the rooms that led off it was even louder than it had been downstairs. They had gone a short way along when they passed one door that was standing ajar and when Abi glanced inside, she saw a young woman who was in a partial state of undress lying across a chaise longue with a gentleman kissing her passionately. Blushing furiously, Abi almost tripped and quickly averted her eyes.
‘’Ere we are then, miss. The missus said to put you in ’ere,’ Winnie said as she pushed a door open.
Abi followed her into the room that was to be hers for the foreseeable future, should she decide to stay that was! The room was decorated entirely in rich scarlet and deep gold colours that made it look quite dark and Abi wasn’t sure she liked it, although it was undeniably ornate. There was a silk chaise longue, much like the one she had just glimpsed in the room they had passed, and a large four-poster bed littered with lace-trimmed pillows, the blankets turned back to reveal what appeared to be silk sheets, dominated one wall. A highly polished armoire with a matching chest of drawers stood against another and fringed scarlet velvet curtains hung at the window. On another small table Abi noticed a selection of crystal goblets and bottles of champagne and wine and wondered why they were there. Surely the girls who lived there weren’t encouraged to drink spirits in their rooms? But she had no time to dwell on it as Winnie asked, ‘Would you like me to unpack your luggage for yer, miss?’
‘What? .?.?. Oh no .?.?. thank you. I’ll do it in the morning,’ Abi assured her.
‘It already is mornin’,’ Winnie giggled. ‘But right y’are then, miss. Per’aps a cup o’ tea or coffee then, or somefin’ to eat?’
‘A cup of tea would be nice,’ Abi responded as she undid the ribbons on her bonnet. She was suddenly realising how exhausted she felt and was sure that the moment her head hit the pillow she would sleep for at least a month.
‘I’ll ’ave it up to you in two shakes of a lamb’s tail,’ Winnie promised as she headed for the door.
Once she was gone Abi was able to take a better look at the room. On the wall opposite the bed was a huge painting in a gilt frame of a plump woman, who was wearing next to nothing, reclining on a sofa, and once again she felt the colour rise in her cheeks as she wondered just what sort of establishment Jasper had brought her to. She had heard the girls at school whisper and giggle about places called brothels where women sold their bodies and now she was getting concerned. Surely Jasper would never bring her to such a place, and yet what else could account for the noises issuing from the bedrooms she had passed on the landing. Thoroughly worn out she shook her head. No, she was sure Jasper would never do that to her. She was here to be a hostess. If it turned out she was wrong, she promised herself, she would be on the first train home.
Winnie was back within minutes bearing a tray with a delicate china cup and saucer and a plateful of dainty sandwiches.
‘Just in case yer get peckish, miss,’ she said, placing it down on a small table.
‘Winnie .?.?. do all the hostesses live here? And what time does the club close?’ Abi enquired, choosing her words carefully. She was shocked that so many people were still there.
Winnie grinned. ‘Oh no, miss. A lot o’ the girls just turn in for work each night an’ ’ave their own places. An’ the place don’t shut till the last clients leave, simple as that. Some of ’em don’t go till breakfast.’ As if to add credence to her words, she gave a big yawn and smiled apologetically. ‘Sorry, miss. I’m ready fer me bed now.’
‘Yes, of course. I’m sorry to keep you.’ Abi smiled at her. ‘You get off and get some rest.’
