Highland Dragon (The Treasure of Paragon #6) - Genevieve Jack Page 0,24

descent, its light casting long shadows across the village streets. She needed to find a place to spend the night. Although she’d slept well enough outside last evening, she was desperate for a hot meal and a bath.

The forest opened and she had to smile. It was like walking onto a movie set. The packed dirt street was lined with two rows of stone buildings. It wasn’t hard to find the village inn. Vibrant conversation and candlelight poured into the street through the windows of a large stone building with a wooden sign painted with a lion and a rabbit, The Lion and the Hare.

She was about to walk inside when a bell rang behind her. A man in a kilt passed her on a bicycle. She stared after him, blinking. Did they have bikes in 1745? She honestly didn’t know, but then she had to remind herself that it was 2018 here just like it was on the outside, simply a 2018 that had evolved on its own, cut off from the modern world. She frowned. She couldn’t wait to reach Xavier and get out of here. Thinking about this place gave her the creeps. It was almost like she’d gone to another planet.

Which reminded her… She dug in her bag and pulled out Nathaniel’s box, pressing the small black mole to her throat. Now she’d speak and understand the language no matter what that might be.

Avery smoothed her hair and her skirts and entered. Inside, the stuffy air crowded around her. Smoke from the large fire along the far wall mingled with the scent of unwashed bodies and spilled ale. All of it was made worse by the faint floral scent of something that wanted to be perfume but wasn’t strong enough to do anything but add cloying sweetness to the mix. She breathed through her mouth and took a seat at one of the tables, ignoring the stares of the women and men who were obviously curious about her.

“Can I help ye, lass?” A woman stood before her, her ample bosom almost spilling out of her tight dress. I bet she makes great tips. Avery was too tired and hungry to think any more of it.

“I’d like something to eat and a room please.”

“We dinna serve lasses here, ye ken?” The woman lowered her chin.

Avery gave her a hard look-over and then eyed the other women in the pub. They were in various stages of undress, sitting on laps, running fingers through their gentleman’s hair, all while the men played cards or sipped drinks. Oh. This wasn’t an inn; it was a brothel.

“Unless yer looking for work yerself?” That the woman said a bit softer, eyeing her hair, her throat, and her chest as if sizing up her earning potential.

“Uh, no. I don’t need work… or company. I just need a room and some food. I can pay you for it.” Avery began to dig in her bag. She’d much rather spend the night in a brothel than beside a tree.

The woman shook her head and placed a firm hand on her arm. “Nay, lass. I canna allow ye to stay here. I won’t be part of ruining yer reputation. Take my advice and go home to your father or husband where ye belong. This is not the place for a wee thing like you.”

“I’m not…” What could she say? She didn’t think it would be a good idea to yell that she didn’t care about her reputation or that she didn’t have a man at home waiting for her. Would she even be safe in this place if the wrong person thought so?

Avery considered leaving and trying somewhere else, but she didn’t know where else to go, and she was too exhausted to move. For all she knew, all inns in the builgean were houses of ill repute. She sighed heavily. This wouldn’t do. She could not spend another night outdoors, and she needed a hot meal to quell the protests of her hungry belly. She stared at the woman, who raised an expectant eyebrow. Clearly she was a woman who did what she had to in order to survive. A woman not unlike herself.

“What’s your name?”

“Evangeline. I’m the madam of the house.”

“I’m Avery.” She held out her hand, and Evangeline took it reluctantly. “Would you consider a wager?”

“What kind o’ wager?” Evangeline gave her a shrewd stare.

She reached into her bag and pulled out one of the larger silver coins, pushing it across the table