Read Online With One Look by Jennifer Horsman - Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Horsman
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the men, gently pushed her back to the chair and she heard a simple statement through her mounting terror. "I see a little persuasion will be necessary. Especially if you are to stand the block."
"Oh, no, Madame! Please don't do that to her, I beg you! She is too new, too frightened!" "Exactly why I will have it." Madame Charmane moved to the door, the silent shells of her
men followed. "Welcome to my house, Mary. Let's see to the first lesson. Obedience, absolute obedience ..."
*****
Chapter 3
Twilight reached through the windows, darkening the rooms when Madame opened the door again to Mercedes's room. She found the young woman kneeling at the bedside, apparently deep in prayer. Mild amusement entered her voice as she asked, "Think your God listens to a harlot's prayers?"
Startled hazel eyes came opened, and Mercedes stood quickly to her feet. She took in the signs, the terrible signs: the relaxed features of the Madame's face, a detached and calm air that surrounded her, like a lazy and well-fed cat who watched the world from indifferent eyes.
The vicious lust had been satisfied.
Now would be the time to ask for a favor, Mercedes knew: the rare outing, a new gown or perfume, a mailing posted. For horribly, the Madame found this generosity only after a violent episode.
It had been very bad for Jade Therese.
"We should have a full house tonight. You are to prepare Mary for the block."
Mercedes searched the woman's face and knew it would be futile to protest the cruel measure. "Madame, please. She should have the concoction then, to ease the horror of it."
The concoction was a powerful potion made in part of opium cubes and strange-smelling herbs and secret medicines, a potion bought from the voodoo queen—whoever she was. It would send Jade Terese to a heavenly plane of intoxication, a place where it would be impossible to feel pain or fear, a place where all women welcome a man's desire. Even a virgin, if she was a virgin. It did not last very long, a couple of hours, but it would be enough. It was very expensive, and the Madame used it sparingly. Once in a situation similar to Jade Terese's. For Angel on the eve of her death.
Mercedes held her breath as the Madame looked for a moment irritated. "My friend had mentioned that the potion might be best. Perhaps she does need a little help acting the part. Very well—"
The two menservants appeared, holding Jade's arms, half dragging her, half holding her up.
Mercedes quickly assessed the damage, searching for signs of physical injury, though it was not likely the Madame would damage the physical beauty she meant to sell. Jade wore only the thin orange silk robe, her hair falling over that in chaotic disarray. Tears streaked her pale face. The two men brought her to the bed and pushed her down.
door.
"Don't disappoint me, Mercedes."
"Yes, Madame," Mercedes said, nodding curtly as the Madame and her servants shut the
Mercedes went quickly to Jade's side. Jade stiffened with alarm until Mercedes whispered,
"Jade Terese. It's me—Mercedes."
"Mercedes ..." A trembling hand reached to touch the voice before she fell into Mercedes's arms. "Did you hear her scream?"
"Who?"
"My servant, Maydrian!" With a trembling voice Jade told of the nightmare she had just survived. "Maydrian, poor old Maydrian, is tied and bound in the basement. She was being tortured... somehow. I couldn't see, and the stench, the terrible stench, and I couldn't see! Maydrian was screaming." Jade squeezed her eyes shut as if to escape the memory. "A horrible muffled sound… The Madame made me fall to my knees to save her. I told her she would be hung for this, tarred and feathered, pillared and then hung, that she was too horrid to be believed. She slapped me! She says she will let me tell my sorry story to the constable tonight, that he is one of her most loyal customers. Is that true? Can that be true?"
"I am afraid that the constable often visits this house. The Madame pays him
"Oh, no, Madame! Please don't do that to her, I beg you! She is too new, too frightened!" "Exactly why I will have it." Madame Charmane moved to the door, the silent shells of her
men followed. "Welcome to my house, Mary. Let's see to the first lesson. Obedience, absolute obedience ..."
*****
Chapter 3
Twilight reached through the windows, darkening the rooms when Madame opened the door again to Mercedes's room. She found the young woman kneeling at the bedside, apparently deep in prayer. Mild amusement entered her voice as she asked, "Think your God listens to a harlot's prayers?"
Startled hazel eyes came opened, and Mercedes stood quickly to her feet. She took in the signs, the terrible signs: the relaxed features of the Madame's face, a detached and calm air that surrounded her, like a lazy and well-fed cat who watched the world from indifferent eyes.
The vicious lust had been satisfied.
Now would be the time to ask for a favor, Mercedes knew: the rare outing, a new gown or perfume, a mailing posted. For horribly, the Madame found this generosity only after a violent episode.
It had been very bad for Jade Therese.
"We should have a full house tonight. You are to prepare Mary for the block."
Mercedes searched the woman's face and knew it would be futile to protest the cruel measure. "Madame, please. She should have the concoction then, to ease the horror of it."
The concoction was a powerful potion made in part of opium cubes and strange-smelling herbs and secret medicines, a potion bought from the voodoo queen—whoever she was. It would send Jade Terese to a heavenly plane of intoxication, a place where it would be impossible to feel pain or fear, a place where all women welcome a man's desire. Even a virgin, if she was a virgin. It did not last very long, a couple of hours, but it would be enough. It was very expensive, and the Madame used it sparingly. Once in a situation similar to Jade Terese's. For Angel on the eve of her death.
Mercedes held her breath as the Madame looked for a moment irritated. "My friend had mentioned that the potion might be best. Perhaps she does need a little help acting the part. Very well—"
The two menservants appeared, holding Jade's arms, half dragging her, half holding her up.
Mercedes quickly assessed the damage, searching for signs of physical injury, though it was not likely the Madame would damage the physical beauty she meant to sell. Jade wore only the thin orange silk robe, her hair falling over that in chaotic disarray. Tears streaked her pale face. The two men brought her to the bed and pushed her down.
door.
"Don't disappoint me, Mercedes."
"Yes, Madame," Mercedes said, nodding curtly as the Madame and her servants shut the
Mercedes went quickly to Jade's side. Jade stiffened with alarm until Mercedes whispered,
"Jade Terese. It's me—Mercedes."
"Mercedes ..." A trembling hand reached to touch the voice before she fell into Mercedes's arms. "Did you hear her scream?"
"Who?"
"My servant, Maydrian!" With a trembling voice Jade told of the nightmare she had just survived. "Maydrian, poor old Maydrian, is tied and bound in the basement. She was being tortured... somehow. I couldn't see, and the stench, the terrible stench, and I couldn't see! Maydrian was screaming." Jade squeezed her eyes shut as if to escape the memory. "A horrible muffled sound… The Madame made me fall to my knees to save her. I told her she would be hung for this, tarred and feathered, pillared and then hung, that she was too horrid to be believed. She slapped me! She says she will let me tell my sorry story to the constable tonight, that he is one of her most loyal customers. Is that true? Can that be true?"
"I am afraid that the constable often visits this house. The Madame pays him
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