Lorelie Brown is a frequent commenter here at It’s Not Chick Porn and a good friend to our blog. In fact, you might remember her from her awesome entries into those writing contests I used to throw (and I will again, I promise, once I find the time… and the dough). When I asked her if she could oblige us with a novella and she gave me this one, I squee’d. So fun. So sexy.

If you haven’t already, please read chapter one here.

Two years ago, Corrine McQuade was desperate to escape her father’s house. In a perfect world, she would have run to Adam Springton, handsome owner of the Gilded Angel saloon and the man she’d daydreamed about for years. Believing he saw her as only his sister’s best friend, Corrine struck out on her own, finding employment and creating the best life she could. Suddenly Adam is paying attention to her – the kind of attention that makes her skin tingle and heat and she’s tempted by a new chance at love.

But who ever heard of a happy ending for a whore?

Presenting the second chapter of Lorelie Brown’s Tarnished Angel…

Chapter Two

Corrine sat curled in the chair in her room, sorting through a pile of dress trimmings. Somewhere in the pile hid a green cord that would look wonderful on the dress Lissa was having made. It was hard not to be smug. Corrine had known Lissa would come around on the dress and indeed had done so after meeting Jonas Wynan. It was also hard not to feel nostalgic. There were points in a person’s life when they could see things were about to change. She felt that special crackle in the muggy summer air lately, especially when she saw Lissa with Jonas.

Corrine had given up all such opportunities with her choices. It was a bitter pill to swallow but she’d known what she was doing. The life she’d had to look forward to in her father’s home had been walking death. Anything, even prostitution was better. She could have married but there had only been one man she’d have tied herself to, trusted enough to marry. Such violently emotional creatures were men, as she’d seen with her father. The interior workings of their brains were a mystery. It was much better to come together to satisfy a need and then go separate ways.

Her bedroom door flew open and Lissa posed dramatically in the entry, the back of her hand on her forehead. “Whatever shall I do?”

Corrine threw a frothy bundle of lace and ribbons at Lissa’s head. “Cease reading those dreadful gothic novels.”

“I’m entirely serious.” Lissa threw herself across the bed with an absolute lack of decorum. “I saw him again. I came out of the mercantile and he was entering. I wish he would stop making me laugh every time we speak. It does nothing for my self control. And he kissed me, in the office of The Gilded Angel! What do I do?”

“Are you truly asking the advice of a whore?” she asked, without looking up from her busy hands.

Lissa propped herself up on an elbow. “Don’t call yourself such. You did what you had to.”

Tears welled in Corrine’s eyes. “You’ve been such a wonderful friend, Lissa. You were always the only one to stand by me.”

“There but for the grace of God. I only wish I could have done more. If it hadn’t been such a difficult point in Adam’s business and him gone to the city to straighten it all out, I’m sure we could’ve helped.”

“I couldn’t have lived on your charity forever.” Nor would she be able to stand always being near Adam, with no hope of him ever desiring her in return. “And it’s really not so bad. I have mostly a few regulars.” It was the truth. Perhaps she’d burn in hell, but she didn’t mind her profession most days. Most of the men she saw were lonely, looking for a bit of intimate companionship. Not a high price to get out of the hell of her father’s home. She pulled a peach colored bit of lace from her pile. “Still, I imagine I’m not the person to be giving you advice on attraction.”

“I don’t care. What would you do about desire?” Lissa asked.

Corrine’s hands stilled but she didn’t look up. “I wouldn’t know. I haven’t felt it.” Lying to her only friend was horrid but if she admitted to ever feeling it, Lissa would pick and pick until she dragged every scrap of the truth out. How could she possibly admit it was Adam she wanted?

“Never?” Lissa sat all the way up. Corrine shook her head but only after a pause she couldn’t help.

“It’s wonderful,” Lissa sighed “I’m warm when I think of him, tingly and fluttery when I see him, and nearly go up in flames when we speak.”

“It sounds awful. Like influenza.”

Lissa laughed. “It is awful, too.”

“What would you like to do?”

“Be trapped in a cabin with him and a bottle of wine.” Lissa sighed. “The real question is what I will do. Which is nothing.”

“Why not? He’s a friend of your brother and Adam is an honorable man.” So honorable he would never make an inappropriate comment to his sister’s friend, even when the friend was a prostitute. More’s the pity. “I’m certain Adam would have told you if Jonas was hiding a wife.”

“No, I’m sure there’s nothing like that. Yet I truly don’t know him much. Besides which, he’s unlikely to be willing to marry me, so why begin? No,” Lissa said resolutely. “I shall do nothing.”

***

Corrine fingered the tumbled pile of lace and ribbons Mr. Heath grudgingly slapped on the counter before her. Perhaps it was shallow but she loved her small pretties. They were one of her few joys. The merchant didn’t like serving her but he didn’t have a choice. Her money was just as good as anyone else’s in town. Perhaps it was even better, as she never needed to ask for credit. Besides, Mr. Heath had been a client of hers once.

On reflection, perhaps that was why he didn’t wish to have her in his store, more than her actual profession. Corrine knew his shortcomings, both in size and endurance. From under her lashes, she surveyed Mr. Heath where he waited on Ethel Wilkes at the other end of the counter. The man darted a furtive glance at her and Corrine raised her chin two inches. Being a whore certainly gave a person a fresh perspective on things.

Outside the large plate glass window, it was a beautiful clear day. As Corrine watched, Phylissa came out of the saloon dressed for a ride in a wine colored habit. A ride sounded wonderful and she knew Lissa would be happy to have her along. As she considered abandoning the pile of ribbons, Jonas Wynan approached Lissa.

Oh how nice. Her friend would likely be married before the autumn leaves fell. Even across the street and through the glass she could see their bodies straining toward each other, like they had their own, unique gravitational pull. Corrine had felt an emotion like it only once and only on her side, but it wasn’t hard to recognize. Adam hadn’t seen her as anything more than his sister’s friend. Never mind the fact that she’d wanted to revolve around him.

Lissa thought the one time she’d had intimate relations a problem but Corrine knew the truth. It was nothing compared to her own problems and the future she faced. Corrine almost thought she could accept growing old alone before her time if she hadn’t once woven herself magical dreams.

As if conjured from her thoughts, the object of her dreams appeared beside Corrine. Adam was so handsome; it melted her brain, as usual. The Springton straight nose and high cheekbones were elegant on Lissa but looked decidedly different set above a harsh masculine jaw. “What are you watching so intently?” Adam asked. Corrine kept her mouth firmly shut, sure gibberish would spew forth if she loosened. He looked out the window and saw for himself. “Ah, Lissa and Jonas. What’s quite so interesting about them?”

“New love,” Corrine blurted, then wanted to smack herself in the head. It wasn’t gibberish she spilled; it was her only friend’s private business.

“New love?” he repeated. “Has Lissa said as much, then?”

She shook her head. “Never. It’s what I’ve observed.”

“You do that a lot, don’t you? Sit to the side and observe?”

“I didn’t notice you in this store.”

His broad shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I was in the back buying feed.”

An awkward silence dropped over them like a woolen blanket and Corrine felt compelled to pull it away. It was the only explanation she had for why she said what she did. “Thank you ever so much for allowing Lissa to continue as my friend. It means the world to me.” The past was over and done with. It had been two years ago that she’d set out on her path. Likely too late to thank him, but she never had before.

“I wouldn’t dream of trying to stop her, even if I could. Besides, you’re still yourself, no matter what has befallen you. I wish you’d stayed with Lissa and me after you left your father’s house. I told you I wouldn’t be away long, that you should wait.” A bittersweet smile touched his lips and his eyes filled with pity.

Once, Corrine would have given anything to have Adam Springton look at her as if he really saw her. Now he did, and what he saw was only worth pity. A swollen feeling attacked the back of her throat. If she wasn’t careful, she’d burst into sobs in the middle of the mercantile. “Good day, sir,” she whispered, then left as quickly as she could.

Stay tuned next week for Chapter Three…

___________________________________________

Lorelie Brown is a goddess walking among us. She works for the US Government and is married to a paratrooper who’s very stingy with his X chromosomes. As a result, they’re trying to turn three hellions into well behaved little boys. She can order a beer in five languages and is one of those annoying people who always win at Trivial Pursuit.

Occasionally she even remembers to move the laundry from the washer to the dryer.

This an original story given generously to us by Lorelie Brown. DO NOT post any part of this story on your site without attribution to Lorelie or a holla-back at her site. That’s not cool. Always give credit where credit is due, yo.

Note: Hey, other writer-types, do you want to contribute to The Serial? If so, email me and I’ll hook you up, yo.

Till, then… Love, peace, and snarkage, my babies. Peace!

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