Lily. She wasn't getting any younger, and here, at least, she was fed and clothed and no longer subject to the whims of those grubby, woman-starved miners who'd forgetten that a woman, even a whore, wasn't meant to be maltreated.
If they were planning to addict this girl to opium, why should Lil bother to see she was kept fed and clean? Mavis could only suppose that Lil had some strong, personal grudge in this case and wanted the girl to remain healthy until she was totally dependent on her for a supply of the drug. Again, as she worked the knot of rope from the girl's wrist and found the skin reddened and sore, she reminded herself that it was none of her business.
"You'd best get somethin' down your belly," she advised, wondering why she'd even bothered to suggest it.
The covered plate of food she'd brought the night before was untouched, and she replaced it with the tray she'd just brought. Another tall glass containing the drug sat next to the food.
Mavis had orders to see the girl took it before she left the room.
"I don't want anything," Jenny snapped crossly. "Just tell me who's behind all this!" Her apprehension and fear had multiplied during the long hours of isolation. It seemed that every nerve in her body jangled, and though she wanted to resist, Jenny already craved the tranquility and soothing relief the drug would bring.
The girl's voice had an edge of hysteria Mavis recognized. It would be better if she had the drink now. She would be easier to handle, and, the maid thought in fleeting sympathy, feel less threatened. "You drink this down, honey," she ordered, holding the glass to Jenny's mouth. "I got my orders, and it'll make y'feel lots better. Believe me, there ain't no use fightin' it ... they got other ways, y'know?"
Jenny briefly considered shoving the drug away, spilling it, but the maid was right. There was always more where this had come from. Her body trembled with nervous exhaustion, and the will to resist what seemed inevitable was no longer so strong. Even as she swallowed, draining the glass of the laudanum, she realized that she was succumbing to the distant machinations of the warped mind that had conceived this slow, addicting torture.
The laudanum was soon at work, easing the tension of her limbs and leaving her almost puzzled as to why she had been so upset. No one had hurt her, she was supplied her meals, and the bath looked so inviting that she went along with passive contentment when the maid helped her to disrobe and climb into the warm, scented water.
The colors of the room, shades of dark, mellow red, seemed to surround her as though she were looking at her small world through a glass of port wine. All her senses seemed heightened. Colors were brighter, the perfumed cake of soap brought forth a vivid image of rosebuds, and even the texture of the sponge slipping sensually over her skin felt like the caress of fine satin.
By the time she had washed her hair and finished the bath, the drug had taken full effect.
Jenny found herself almost reluctant to leave the soothing water, but she was as docile as a trusting child now and stood obediently still while Mavis wrapped her in a bath sheet, fluff-dried her hair until it curled damply across her shoulders, and finally, helped her to slip on a fresh gown.
The new negligee was black silk, its bodice lacy and revealing. The silk was gathered beneath her breasts, tied with a single ribbon, and clung to every curve of her slender figure. Jenny's eyes were wide, the blue of her irises almost obscured by their dilated pupils. She held up one arm, touching the black silk that draped it and turningto smile at Mavis. "Oh ... it's so pretty," she whispered softly. With the simple pleasure of a little girl, she added, "I like this much better than the pink, don't you?"
Mavis experienced a twinge of guilt as she led the girl back to bed and helped her beneath the dark velvet bedspread. The drug had made her fears disappear, and her former
If they were planning to addict this girl to opium, why should Lil bother to see she was kept fed and clean? Mavis could only suppose that Lil had some strong, personal grudge in this case and wanted the girl to remain healthy until she was totally dependent on her for a supply of the drug. Again, as she worked the knot of rope from the girl's wrist and found the skin reddened and sore, she reminded herself that it was none of her business.
"You'd best get somethin' down your belly," she advised, wondering why she'd even bothered to suggest it.
The covered plate of food she'd brought the night before was untouched, and she replaced it with the tray she'd just brought. Another tall glass containing the drug sat next to the food.
Mavis had orders to see the girl took it before she left the room.
"I don't want anything," Jenny snapped crossly. "Just tell me who's behind all this!" Her apprehension and fear had multiplied during the long hours of isolation. It seemed that every nerve in her body jangled, and though she wanted to resist, Jenny already craved the tranquility and soothing relief the drug would bring.
The girl's voice had an edge of hysteria Mavis recognized. It would be better if she had the drink now. She would be easier to handle, and, the maid thought in fleeting sympathy, feel less threatened. "You drink this down, honey," she ordered, holding the glass to Jenny's mouth. "I got my orders, and it'll make y'feel lots better. Believe me, there ain't no use fightin' it ... they got other ways, y'know?"
Jenny briefly considered shoving the drug away, spilling it, but the maid was right. There was always more where this had come from. Her body trembled with nervous exhaustion, and the will to resist what seemed inevitable was no longer so strong. Even as she swallowed, draining the glass of the laudanum, she realized that she was succumbing to the distant machinations of the warped mind that had conceived this slow, addicting torture.
The laudanum was soon at work, easing the tension of her limbs and leaving her almost puzzled as to why she had been so upset. No one had hurt her, she was supplied her meals, and the bath looked so inviting that she went along with passive contentment when the maid helped her to disrobe and climb into the warm, scented water.
The colors of the room, shades of dark, mellow red, seemed to surround her as though she were looking at her small world through a glass of port wine. All her senses seemed heightened. Colors were brighter, the perfumed cake of soap brought forth a vivid image of rosebuds, and even the texture of the sponge slipping sensually over her skin felt like the caress of fine satin.
By the time she had washed her hair and finished the bath, the drug had taken full effect.
Jenny found herself almost reluctant to leave the soothing water, but she was as docile as a trusting child now and stood obediently still while Mavis wrapped her in a bath sheet, fluff-dried her hair until it curled damply across her shoulders, and finally, helped her to slip on a fresh gown.
The new negligee was black silk, its bodice lacy and revealing. The silk was gathered beneath her breasts, tied with a single ribbon, and clung to every curve of her slender figure. Jenny's eyes were wide, the blue of her irises almost obscured by their dilated pupils. She held up one arm, touching the black silk that draped it and turningto smile at Mavis. "Oh ... it's so pretty," she whispered softly. With the simple pleasure of a little girl, she added, "I like this much better than the pink, don't you?"
Mavis experienced a twinge of guilt as she led the girl back to bed and helped her beneath the dark velvet bedspread. The drug had made her fears disappear, and her former
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