Page 232 of Once an Angel
"Oh, Em!"
All of her doubts flew away as Tansy threw her arms around her, enveloping her in a perfumed embrace. Time melted and suddenly they were just two frightened little girls clinging to each other in a lonely attic.
Emily drew back, still clutching Tansy's arms, loath to relinquish her familiar warmth. "What happened
to you? Did you inherit a fortune? Rob a bank? Finally snare a rich gentleman for a husband?"
Tansy cocked her head, preening with guileless abandon. "Not yet, but I might very soon. I'm workin'
fer Mrs. Rose now."
Emily frowned as the name struck a discordant note in her memory. "Mrs. Rose? She must pay you
very well indeed. Are you her personal maid?"
"She don't pay me at all. It's 'er gentlemen callers that pays me."
Emily felt her mouth fall open in shock. Tansy gently pushed her chin up with the tip of her finger. Her ringer was now smooth without a hint of a callus.
Emily swallowed hard. "You're working at a bordello?"
"That I am. Most of the gentlemen are very kind with gentle hands an' open purses. They luvs me, they do. They all tell me so. I'm one o' their favorites."
"I don't understand. What happened to Miss Winters?"
Tansy's full lips tightened in a pout. "She tossed me out, she did, after yer guardian plucked 'er nerves. Ya should 'ave been there. 'E tore into the old 'ag right and proper."
Emily's throat tightened. "You saw him?"
"Lordy, did I! And ain't 'e the prettiest fellow I ever did see!"
"Yes," Emily admitted softly. "He is that."
"Some of my gentlemen friends say 'e's rough and dangerous like, but I knows better. Gave me money,
'e did. Told me if I ever needed 'elp to march straight to Grymwilde Mansion in Portland Square an' ask for 'im. If I 'adn't been set on provin' I could stand on me own two feet, I might 'ave done it, too."
For a dazed moment Emily's pain was so intense she couldn't see straight. She barely felt Tansy's gentle touch on her arm.
"Where've ya been, girl? Why'd ya go and run off like that without tellin' me?"
"I didn't run off. Barney and Doreen carted me off on some mad scheme of Miss Winters's."
Tansy's full lips tightened. "I knew them bloomin' buggers was up to no good. I shoulda told that nice gentleman when 'e came lookin' fer ya. 'Ed ave cooked both their skinny gooses."
"No!" Besieged by sudden panic, Emily gripped her arm. "You must swear to me that if your paths should cross again, you won't tell him you saw me. He mustn't know I'm in London."
"What is it, Em? Are ya in some sort of trouble? 'E's a good man. I know 'e'd lend a 'elpin' 'and if ya'd
let 'im."
Emily pressed her eyes shut, trying to banish the memory of Justin's graceful tan hands against her skin. When she opened them, they burned like raw flames. "He can't help me now. I've done something terrible. And if he finds out, he'll despise me forever."
"Come now, dearie. What could be that terrible?"
Falling in love with Justin. Making him fall in love with her while lying to him with every breath. Emily just shook her head, unable to choke a reply past the icy lump in her throat.
Tansy's blue eyes were painfully earnest. "Why don't ya come with me, then? Mrs. Rose'd be glad to
