The meeting Salvael had with the young king had gone well, but he still had decisions to make which he would not decide upon until he returned home. For now, Lord Baelish had promised him a new servant and he was hoping the man would keep his word despite what had transpired the evening before.
Finella, the woman in the tavern, had been correct. As soon as Salvael had left the tavern, he was followed by the young man. He managed to elude him around a corner, only to hide there until the young man came around it, then he punched him in the face. Salvael then questioned the man who confessed. He was following the lord to find out which women he preferred and report back to Lord Baelish. The depths which Lord Baelish stooped always amazed Salvael. He let the young man go and watched him run off.
Salvael paced his room nursing a swollen hand from hitting the man that spied on him. As he made another pass around the room, he thought of Finella who had informed him of potential threat. If Lord Baelish offered someone half as good as her, he would be happy.
A few minutes later there was a knock on the Lord's door to his temporary chambers.
"Enter," Salvael said as he stopped his pacing in the middle of the room.
"Good evening, Lord Musgood. I hope you have been enjoying your stay in King's Landing," Littlefinger said as he entered.
"Drop the act, Lord Baelish. I know you are well aware I know you sent one of your spies to follow me last night. I left evidence on his face," Lord Musgood returned.
"He told me he was kicked by a horse," Littlefinger tried to brush it off.
"Bull shit," Lord Musgood said as he sat down. "Do you have a servant to offer me or not?"
"I have a few from which you can choose," Littlefinger said after clearing his throat obviously bested at his own game.
"Get on with it," Lord Musgood said pouring himself some wine.
Littlefinger went to the door and opened it. He looked through the doorway and issued one of them forward with a gesture of his hand. The first woman entered. She was young, small, and blonde.
"Close the door," Lord Musgood commanded. Littlefinger went to shut the door. "Not you. Her."
The young woman turned to Littlefinger who nodded his head. She did as she was told, then went to stand in front of the lord.
"What is your name?" Lord Musgood asked.
"Sarrell," she answered.
"What did you do before you came here?" he questioned.
"I was a servant for another lord. I cleaned his house. I cooked for him. I did his laundry," she answered diligently. Then she added with a sly smile, "I did anything he asked."
"Really?" Lord Musgood said leaning forward in his seat with a smirk on his lips seemingly interested in that statement.
"Yes," Sarrell said looking brighter.
"Would you like to be in my service?"
Sarrell looked him over and then answered. "Yes."
Lord Musgood smirk quickly vanished as he leaned back in his chair and said, "Next!"
Sarrell was taken aback by Lord Musgood's sudden dismissal. Littlefinger ushered Sarrell out and beckoned the next woman to enter, a brunette with large breasts. Littlefinger looked to Salvael to gauge his reaction. There was none. Littlefinger licked his lips and swallowed hard.
"What is your name?" Lord Musgood asked again.
He asked the same questions of every woman. He went through half a dozen women with no reaction that Littlefinger could observe.
The hand that had been poised by Salvael's lips fell lightly onto his lap as the next woman came to stand in front of him as all the others had, but her eyes remained on the floor. It took Salvael a moment to regain his thoughts and began to question her.
"What is your name?" he asked much softer than he had with the others.
"Finella, milord," she answered. She had thought that he had forgotten her name. She let out a small sigh.
"What did you do before you came here?" he questioned.
Finella didn't answer. He already knew what she did before she came to be standing in front of him. Had he forgotten that quickly, as well as her name?
"Please, answer the question."
"I cleaned for Marcus Olangus, proprietor of The Warm Hearth, milord," Finella finally answered.
"Would you like to be in my services?"
"Yes, very much so, milord."
Salvael stared at her for a moment. Finella waited for the next question with the greatest anticipation.
"Next," Lord Musgood ordered.
Finella curtsied before turning to leave. Her head drooped as she walked out of the room. She was sure the lord was not going to choose her. She was too timid, not clean enough for a lord, and definitely not sophisticated enough for him.
Lord Musgood went through the remaining few women. When the last woman left, Littlefinger softly closed the door behind her.
"Do you need a few minutes to decide, My Lord?" Littlefinger asked.
"No," he answered shortly. He drank the last of his wine and stood up to join Littlefinger.
"Who do you choose?"
"The only woman who answered my questions honestly and with respect," he returned glaring at Littlefinger.
"Are you certain? I wasn't impressed with her," Littlefinger said offering his own opinion. "She may do her duties, but, as you stated, you want someone who will offer advice when sought. I don't think she has much of an opinion to give. She's so . . . ."
"She's the one I want. Send her in," Salvael commanded.
"Very well, milord," Littlefinger said with a sigh. He turned on his heal and left the room.
Out in the hall, where the women were lined up, Littlefinger instructed Michael to take the women back to the new brothel. All except one.
"Finella, Lord Musgood has selected you to be his servant. Please go with him," Littlefinger said gesturing for her to join Lord Musgood who was now standing in his doorway.
Finella's heart gave a leap but her face indicated no emotion. "Yes, milord," she said as she quickly left Littlefinger's side.
"What do I owe you, Lord Baelish?" Lord Musgood asked.
"Let me know if she works out first. If not, you owe me nothing and you can have her beheaded for all I care," Littlefinger said. "If she does, I'll let you know the price. I'll inquire in a week's time."
"Very well," Salvael said with a nod.
"Good evening, Lord Musgood," Littlefinger said as he left.
"Come, Finella. There is much we need to do to prepare for tomorrow," Lord Musgood said.
Finella was speechless but she managed to utter, "Yes, milord," as she curtsied and entered his chamber.