Leaning back on her elbows, Alice asked, “Sally still insisting on whoring?”
Catching hold of the coin, Pearl scowled as the woman in question slapped the trader’s shoulder flirtatiously. “She says it’s good money, and she likes the work.”
“Well, it could be a truth it’s good money, but she can’t do it here. Have you spoken with her about it?”
“Of course I have. Damn fool can’t seem to get the notion through her head the Diamond don’t support such things.”
Pearl’s words spoke of annoyance, but Alice could hear the pain and frustration behind them. She understood too well how her friend took the actions of her Diamond Girls to heart. “Do you need me to speak to her?”
“No, I’ll speak with her.” Her expression dimmed. “I just hate letting one of them go.”
Pearl’s role at the Diamond was two-fold—star of the Diamond’s monthly Spectacular, and manager of the women who performed with her. The burlesque dancers looked up to the singer, and she held affection for each and every one. It wasn’t often she had a need to dismiss one of her girls, and it broke her heart every time.
It still amazed Alice that Pearl had agreed to move to Ironwood. They’d grown together in the same dance hall in Chicago, where both their mothers had performed. When her mother had contracted her illness and hit upon her fool idea to send Alice to Ironwood as a child-bride, she had lost touch with her friend.
Seven months after Seth had passed, Alice had started her first tentative moves toward creating a kind of burlesque show. She’d wanted Pearl to be her star, the draw card she would structure the show around, and so she’d sent her old friend a letter. She hadn’t expected much, maybe a reply if she were lucky. However, Pearl had sent an enthusiastic response and, after a six-month of correspondence, had accepted the offer to be the centrepiece of the Diamond’s Spectacular.
The barkeep made his way from serving at the other end of the bar to stand before her. “Can I get you anything, boss?”
“Not tonight, Simon.” Previously, she’d had occasion to admonish the boy, being as he didn’t take as much care with his garb and appearance as expected of a Diamond employee. Now, however, he wore the barkeep uniform of a crisp white shirt under a pristine red vest, his dark trousers were well-pressed and he’d even combed his hair neat, parted in the middle and slicked down with oil. Good. She hated to let one of her people go just as much as Pearl did.
“Miss Pearl?” he asked, directing his attention to her friend.
The singer gave him her dazzling smile, the one that had charmed all the boys in the dance hall they’d grown up in, and had earned her a place in the dance review when they were fourteen. “No thank you, dearie. Not with the boss lady about.” She winked.
Simon flashed beet red and scurried to attend a customer at the other end of the bar.
Amusement filled her as she watched Simon stumble over taking the man’s order, obviously still dazed from Pearl’s attention. “You’re terrible.”
“He loves it.” Pearl leant one elbow against the bar. “So, tell me about your meeting.”
She shrugged. “Nothing much to say. He wanted to buy the Diamond. I said no. End of story.”
“That’s it? No salacious details? No clothes ripping or tongue duelling?”
Shock dropped her jaw. “Christ above, Pearl, why on God’s green earthwouldthere be?”
Her friend raised her brows. “I think the better question is, why wouldn’t there be? That man is downright pretty.”
“Don’t matter if he’s pretty, normal people don’t rip at each other’s clothes five seconds after an introduction.”
“Speak for yourself. I’ve known plenty who’ve done so.”
“Have you known me to do so?”
“No. Unfortunately.” Pearl heaved a sigh. “Fine. What was it that you did instead of riding that pretty, pretty man?”
“We discussed the meaning of the word ‘fortnight’, he displayed that not one thought was contained in that pretty head of his, and then he offered to buy the Diamond.” The last tasted sour on her tongue.
Pearl’s jaw dropped. “Truly? He must be a simpleton, if he thought you would ever sell. It is a truth set in stone: the sun rises in the east, summer follows spring, and Alice Reynolds will never sell her Diamond.”
Alice felt heat creep up her cheeks. “There’s no need for facetiousness.”
“I ain’t being facetious. He’d only have need to talk with any within a ten mile radius to know how much you love the Diamond and that you would never part with it.” Shaking her head,Pearl signalled for Simon. “Dearie, I’ve changed my mind. It seems I’m in need of a stiff beverage after all. Be a love and pour me a whiskey.”
Alice watched as Simon poured, blushing all the while. Pearl was right. Everyone knew she would never sell. Either Llewellyn really was as stupid as he appeared or...he had another game in mind. “I’ve sent for Wade.”
Ever so slightly, Pearl stiffened. “Why?”
