Page 21 of A Curvy Girl for the Prince
Nerilda smiles sassily.
“Is what they say true?”
I frown again.
“About what?”
The older woman giggles behind an open hand before shooting me an appraising look.
“You know what I’m talking about. Do you have the genetic deformity rumored of the royal family? You certainly are a fine piece of man flesh, Prince Haakon, and there’s so much gossip about your anatomy swirling around.”
I grimace because this is not the woman I want to be having this conversation with.
“Why? Maybe,” I hedge. “What’s it to you?”
Nerilda leans forward then, her eyes bright.
“Show me,” she breathes. “This will be one for the ages.”
But I pull back, already repulsed by the middle-aged madame. She’s not ugly. In fact, Nerilda is quite attractive if you like hardened MILFs with jet-black hair and obviously fake breasts. But I know how to play my hand.
“If you tell me where Matilda is, then I might show you.”
Nerilda’s eyes go wide as she flicks her cigarette.
“I already told you, I don’t know.”
I shrug.
“Really. The madame of a whorehouse doesn’t know where one of her girls is.”
Nerilda holds both her hands up.
“I swear it. Matilda hasn’t been around recently!”
I shrug.
“Yeah, but you have spies all throughout the city. There are little birds that whisper in your ear at all hours of the day and night. So where is Matilda? Tell me and I might let you have a glimpse.”
Nerilda licks her ruby lips, considering my offer.
“I might know something,” she concedes. “It’s not concrete, but there are rumors.”
“Then tell me,” I command. “And you’ll get to see the Lysenian double shaft.”
With that, Nerilda’s eyes light up with anticipation.
“Okay,” she says in a rushed voice. “There are rumors that Matilda was kidnapped.”
I squint.
“Okay, by who? Who would want to kidnap her? And for what? To where?”
Nerilda rolls her eyes.
“So many questions, my prince. But I’ll tell you what I know. Matilda went on a date with Albert Ray. Rumor is that Albert kidnapped her, and that she’s off in the Colonies now.”
I squint.