“Come, Cissy, you cannot hide every night.” She said it kindly from her place at the door, casting a worried glance at Fuss. “He’s waiting now, best to get it over with quick.”

Nan looked between the two girls, her breath speeding up. The little girl was gripping Nan’s skirt now, refusing to look up. A nervous impatience radiated off the older girl.

“Who is it that waits,” Nan asked, “and what is it he wants from her?”

There was an edge in her voice, and the girl named Rosy would not meet her eye as she stammered an answer. It was a jumble of words that seemed to say there was a man who visited the brothel regularly, well-known to be a good sort unless he drank too much. He had arrived not long ago and waited in her room for Cecilia. “Bettie said as I’m to take her to him straightaway when he visits,” she said. “But it’s four times now that he’s come asking for her only to find she’s hiding away.”

So it was Rosy who had told the little girl she must let the men grab her. It could be she wanted to harm Cecilia out of spite, but Nan saw no obvious malice in her. It was more likely she had simply misunderstood.

“Nay, you’ve heard it wrong.” Nan let her hand rest on Cecilia’s hair in a calming gesture. Both girls had that nervous look she knew well, afraid of the trouble that might come of neglecting their work. “Ye are both mistaken.”

They had only to find Bea and let her say it outright, to end the confusion. She had to promise Cecilia she’d let no harm come to her before the girl took her hand and came along. Nan was watchful as they made their way, tensing at every sound, wary in this house full of lustful men. She realized she had no notion where she might find her sister at this time of night, but Rosy led the way to the room opposite the kitchen. The door to the street was there, and Bea leaned against the frame, looking out toward the tavern across the way.

When she turned and saw them, she frowned in confusion.

“What’s amiss? Rosy, one or the both of ye should be with him – or did he take to drinking?”

Rosy cast an anxious glance at Nan before speaking. “Cissy don’t want to go to him.”

Nan waited for her sister to show more confusion – to ask what she was on about, and wonder why Cecilia was anywhere but her own bed at this hour. Instead, Bea gave a sigh like she was working to control her temper, and rolled her eyes to the heavens as though asking for patience.