Mistress Quickly knew my situation was bleak, but even she was growing tired of me. I could see the frustration after each man I sent away. I wasn't earning my room and board, and she wouldn't tolerate it much longer.

But these men - gross, old, fat men - smelled of stale beer and filth, and the very thought of being with them made me want to wretch.

The other girls wouldn't speak to me, believing that I thought I was better than them. That wasn't true. They at least had the courage to take care of themselves. I, on the other hand, still clung to my old life, taken so swiftly by the death of my father and the mountain of debt he left behind.

I lay on my bed each day, waiting for the next blob of a man to enter my room, hoping that I might find a way to get through it. If I could just make it through the first, then the others would be nothing.

When the Prince himself walked through my door, I jumped to my feet and gave a bow.

"My lord."

"None of that here," he said as he leaned against the door. "I've seen you about, but not often. Why is that?"

"Mistress doesn't want me amongst the men downstairs."

"That seems counter-productive."

"I keep turning them away, my lord."

"Also counter-productive. Would you turn me away as well?"

I stared at him until he smiled, then I lowered my eyes.

"No, my lord."

"Why not?"

"Because you are the Prince, and have every right to me."

"I think not," he said. He sat in a chair and propped his feet up on a makeshift table. Nothing more than a box, really. "No man has claim to you unless he has paid, which I have not. Not yet."

I felt his eyes on me, and couldn't bear to look.

"What is your name?" he asked.

"Whatever you wish, my lord."

He stood before me and took my chin between his thumb and forefinger.

"I wish to know your name."

"Elizabeth."

He pulled a gold coin from his pouch and held it up to me.

"Is this sufficient?"

That one coin would pay my room for three months.

"More than, my lord!"

He placed it on the table and put a hand on my waist.

"Do you wish to send me away?"

"No, my lord."

He smiled and kissed my neck. It occurred to me then that I had no idea what I was doing, and he clearly did. He would see through me, no matter how confident I pretended to be. His lips found mine as he unlaced the bosom of my dress. I breathed through the kiss and forced my hands to his face, but he took them in his own and pulled back.

"You're trembling."

"With excitement, my lord. It's not every girl who gets called upon by the Prince of Wales."

He examined my face, and I knew he didn't believe me.

"Why did you turn away the others?" he asked.

"They smelled."

He chuckled and caressed my face.

"Was there no other reason?"

His fingers slipped down to my cleavage, and I took in a deep breath, which only served to push my bosom toward him more. He smiled.

"Have you not taken money for your services before?"

"That is only part of my reason, my lord."

I stared into his eyes, begging him without words to understand so I wouldn't have to say it. His face softened, and his hand moved to my arm.

"Ah... you are untouched?"

"Yes, my lord."

"But you did not turn me away."

"You are my Prince."

"What if I were not? What if I were just a man who approached you in every other way as I am now: without filth or, I hope, an offending smell?"

I laughed, despite myself, and he smiled.

"Am I pleasing enough to you that you would take my money when I come to call?"

"More than, my lord!"

He put a finger to my lips. "When I come to call, I am not your Prince. Call me Hal."

I nodded my agreement, and he caressed my face once more. Then he took my hand and backed toward the bed, pulling me with him. He removed his leather top and hung it from the bedpost, leaving him in a billowing, black undershirt. He pushed himself back onto the bed and lay on his side.

"Come here," he said as he patted the empty space next to him.

I climbed next to him and he pulled me down into his arms. I expected his mouth on mine, but he tucked my head beneath his chin and pulled me close.

"How did it come to this?" he asked.

"I don't want to bore you with my troubles, my lord."

"Hal."

"Yes... my apologies."

"You will not bore me. I am interested."

"My- my father was well off. We lived an easy life. We had a servant. My mother died when I was still very young. I barely remember her. My father never remarried. It was just us two... until the day he died. It was then I discovered he had been hiding financial troubles; borrowing money to keep up our lifestyle. He left me with a large debt, and no way to pay. Everything was taken from me, and my records were cleared, but I now have nothing to live on. I have no skills. But I've been told I have a pretty face and a firm body... most recently by the men whom I owed a debt. I was relieved that my belongings were enough to pay them off."

"Yet, here you are."

"I have no other options."

He lay back and lifted my face to look at him.

"Would you lie with me here for a while?"

"Just lie here? That coin procures much more than that."

"It is all I request at the moment."

I lay beside him with my head resting on his shoulder and my hand on his chest. His hand held mine there while the other raked fingertips through my hair.

I marveled at his gentleness. Other men who came to see me grabbed me without so much as a word, let alone a show of coin. I had to fight them off and shove them out of my room, which was fairly simple in their drunken states.

But Hal... he spoke with me. He calmed me. He asked about my plight when he had only to demand my body.

After lying there a while in silence, I began to trail my fingers over his chest. He let out a contented hum, so I continued until he shifted to his side and moved lower, until his face was near my bosom. My lacing was still undone, leaving ample cleavage exposed. He kissed the swell of my breasts, then all but buried his face between them, kissing and licking at my flesh.

I gripped his shirt, and my leg curled up over his until he caught hold of it and held it there.

"Hal," I whispered.

He groaned into my breasts, then kissed his way up my neck to my lips. His kiss was searching. Probing. Demanding, yet somehow still asking for permission. I buried my fingers in his wavy hair and held him to me, permission granted.

When he pulled away, his eyes held mine while he laced up my dress.

"I will call on you again," he said.

"It would be my pleasure."

Hal stood and dressed. He left with a wink, and I fell back onto my bed. The Prince, calling on me. I still couldn't believe it. A moment later Mistress Quickly was at my door.

"The young prince gave me coin enough to pay your room for half a year."

"What!"

"And says to me, 'No man is to be allowed in with Elizabeth but me.'"

"I don't understand."

"Said it loud enough for all to hear, he did."

I fell heavy into my chair. He gave me coin, then paid for my room and board, and then made it so I no longer have to fend off lustful, beer-soaked brutes.

"Mistress Quickly, you know the Prince well."

"Indeed."

"Is he a good man?"

"Aye, the best you'll find around here, for sure. Among the best of his own class, too."