Diana Spaulding 02 Fatal as a Fallen Woman by Kathy Lynn Emerson

Author:Kathy Lynn Emerson [Emerson, Kathy Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Mystery
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2006-10-14T22:00:00+00:00

Thursday afternoon was the time most of the girls who plied their trade on Holladay Street had free. After sleeping till noon, some frequented the horse races at Overland Park. Others paraded uptown in tallyhos drawn by two horses, ostensibly to do their shopping but really to see and be seen.

On the twenty-sixth day of April, however, the activity started early. The Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad ran two daily express trains that stopped in Torrence. The first left Denver at eight in the morning.

A platform wagon and two six-passenger hacks stood in front of the Elmira Hotel at seven, the first piled high with trunks and the others occupied by eight boarders, one piano player, a cook and a night maid.

"Ning, you young scalawag," Red Katie called out. "Come and give us a kiss goodbye." She lifted the brown veil she wore to ward off freckling and the boy, who had been watching from the shadow of the porch, darted forth and complied.

The sound of another vehicle approaching distracted Diana from her farewells. She turned to see an open victoria turn onto Holladay Street and had no difficulty recognizing its sole passenger as Mattie Silks. The diamond-studded cross she wore around her neck winked bright in the morning sun.

Mattie remained ensconced on the plush upholstery until her driver came around to help her out of the four-wheeled vehicle, then descended to the street with as much dignity as any wealthy dowager.

In the harsh light of day, fine lines showed around her eyes and mouth, suggesting she was closer to forty than Diana had previously thought. More surprising still was how alert Mattie was for such an early hour. Her face had a fresh scrubbed look and her blue eyes sparkled with curiosity. It was possible, Diana supposed, given how little she knew about the personal habits of the many madams of Holladay Street, that some of them rose at dawn. And perhaps, like Jane, Mattie started the day with a bracing splash of cold water and a session of calisthenics.

"So it's true," Mattie said, coming to a halt at Diana's side and tilting her head back to peer into her face. "You're closing up shop and sending everyone away."

"I thought it best."

"A word of advice, Mrs. Spaulding. It is never a good idea to give up your independence completely. And marriage is not always the best bargain a woman can make."

Diana's hands clenched at her sides. "I hadn't realized my engagement to Matt Hastings had become general knowledge." She should have warned the girls not to gossip but it hadn't occurred to her that they would. Foolish of her.

"If I were you, I'd tell him you've changed your mind. Keep this place open. If you don't like living here, buy a little house of your own elsewhere."

"Is that what you do? Live somewhere else?"

"Just moved into a place over on Lawrence Street." Pride underscored every word. "It's in a fashionable residential district. I've got posh neighbors now."

Diana couldn't help but share Mattie's pleasure in the accomplishment.

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