Page 42 of Sweet Mead for Lady Martine

“Tell them it’s the new rules.”

“All right, I guess. Why not?”

“Tell me more about the rooms at the inn.”

“Three of the rooms are used for– well, for Cinnamon’s customers.”

“Nay,” she said, shaking her head. “That needs to change. We need to have at least two of the six rooms ready for nobles at all times. We can charge four times the price that you charge commoners for a plain room. Plus, for an extra charge we’ll provide a bath for the nobles.”

“A bath?” asked David sounding as if he didn’t agree. “I don’t have a wooden tub.”

“You and Dirk will easily be able to make a tub or two out of the empty barrels from the wine. You mother and sister can sew in a soft lining so the nobles won’t get splinters from the wood. I know how to sew and can teach them how to make it.”

“I suppose that would be nice,” said David. “I mean, no one wants a splinter up their ass.” Martine tried hard to hold back from laughing. David never seemed to stop surprising her with the things he said.

“Three of the rooms can be used for the commoners,” continued Martine. “Only a simple bowl of pottage will be given to those who share the room and only one free drink each, just so we don’t lose too many customers. They’ll have to pay for the rest. If they want a fire on the hearth, each person in the room will have to contribute to the cost. The same goes for candles. And speaking of candles, I noticed you have beeswax ones here. Why?” She nodded to the fixture on the ceiling.

“They last longer, and it’s a struggle to get Dirk up there to change them out.”

“No more wax candles,” she told him, opening up the ledger and flipping through the pages. “Wax is too expensive and not meant for taverns. Tallow will do just fine.”

“You mean, wax tapers aren’t meant for commoners, don’t you, my lady?”

Martine looked up, realizing she would have to be careful with her words so she wouldn’t insult him. “We need to keep the cost of supplies down, David.” She thought he’d object, but he changed the subject, no longer speaking of candles.

“You realize that only leaves one room for Cinnamon and her customers. It should be sufficient but she won’t like that.” David’s attention roamed over to the stairs. A door slammed shut upstairs and Martine was sure Cinnamon had been listening. She didn’t care. It was good that the whore eavesdropped on their plans and that she heard David agreeing to them as well.

“One room is more than enough for the whore and her business. She can’t have her customers tying up the rooms. Actually, I think this inn would be better off without a whore at all. Then it would bring in more families.”

“You have a lot of ideas,” said David. “Ones I have never thought of before. However, Cinnamon has been here for years. I’d hate to kick her out.”

“Then she’ll stay for now. On a trial basis only.” Martine wasn’t happy with the idea, but she really didn’t want anyone to be homeless.

“Trial basis?” he asked.

“Yes. Just like what I’m doing here. It is only temporary.”

“These plans of yours. They might just work.”

“Of course, they will, David. I told you, I can help you make money. I know what nobles like and what they’ll pay for. However, you need to make them want to come in here. The stench alone is offensive.”

“Stench?” he asked. “What stench?”

“The smell of urine mixed with mold and spilled drinks. Why don’t you use rushes on the floor to sop up the moisture and hold down the stench?”

“It is easier for Uncle Joe using his cane if we don’t have anything on the floor.”

“Then you’ll need to wash the floor more often. At least have more handfuls of dried sage and rosemary hanging from the rafters. Far away from the candles, of course.”

“If I may say, my lady, I think you will be good for the Cross Hare Inn. Some fresh blood is just what is needed.”

She looked up at the mention of blood. “By the way, I saw a bloodstain on the floor near the far table.”

“I know. A fight broke out there last week. I haven’t been able to remove the stain.”

“Then we’ll have to cover it with something. Or move the table over it.”

“No, no. The tables and benches have to stay. They can’t be moved. If so, Uncle Joe will trip.”