Page 1 of The Show
THE SHOW
“Come now, my pretties, do not be shy,” cajoled Madam Eve, gesturing for us to step up onto the little dais in the private salon. “Let the gentlemen see their choices.”
The two other women were ahead of me, and didn’t seem to mind their nudity. One—her hair so red the color must not be true—blew kisses to her audience, while the other held her shoulders stiff and back straight. Was she as uncomfortable as I was, paraded before the eyes of so many men?
“There we are,” Madam Eve crooned approvingly, even as she turned to the audience with a grand flourish. “And hereyouare, good sirs. Three lovely flowers from my Garden of Pleasure. Which one shall keep you company tonight? Rose, Violet or Heather?”
It was my first time on the dais, and I wished I wore a robe, if only to have someplace to dry my palms.
If the silk hid my skin from such lecherous stares, all the better.
As Madam had taught me, I kept my chin high and my gaze locked across the room.They will think you aloof, darling, she’d murmured comfortingly to me,and will pay extra to take you down a peg. It is easier if you do not meet their eyes.
Anything to make this easier!
My mother had spent years hounding me about poise and polish and a haughty attitude, telling me it was the best way to win a titled suitor. Putting those lessons to good use tonight, I kept my chin up and my eyes—hidden behind the ornate domino mask I wore—from focusing on the men who were murmuring to one another as they studied us.
While it was my first experience as the center of attention, I had been in this room before, several times. Each time it had been as a server, one of the girls Madam employed to bring the gentlemen their whisky and keep them happy between shows.
I’d never been the center of attention before, but this would pay so much better. After tonight, after this humiliation, I would have enough money not just for a ticket to New York, but train fare to any other part of America, and living money besides. After tonight, I would be on my way to my new life.
I would find a place where no one knew of my ruination, no one knew my name. I would find a husband, settle down, and live a respectable life.
After tonight, afterthis…I would have enough money to make it happen.
“Well, my lords? Which of my flowers catches your eye tonight? You can have one or all, you know the price!”
“I think, Madam Eve, my friends and I are in the mood to…share.”
I caught my breath, my gaze slamming downward before I could stop it. Sure enough, I recognized that handsome smirk, that arrogant stance, and I forced my eyes away from Edward, Lord Stanthurn, before he noticed.
Oh God.
Oh God.
Praying none of them could hear the frantic beating of my heart, I chewed on the inside of my lip.
Only years of deportment lessons with my mother, of being trained to hide my true feelings and portray only the vaguest polite interest, allowed me to keep from bursting into tears. From hunching over, hiding my nudity, and running from this brothel, this place of sin.
Sin I’d agreed to participate in.
With the man who had ruined me?
Dear God, let him choose one of the others.
I could hear them murmuring to one another, Edward and his friends. Without looking, I could guess who they were: Rogers, Bertie, and Sir Michael. Perhaps a few more, judging from the vague shapes I’d seen in my quick glance. Edward was always the life of the party. Peoplewantedto be his friend.
It was what had drawn me to him, after all.
Madam Eve, ever the professional, was solicitous. “There is much pleasure to be found, I have always said, when friends share among themselves. Food, drink…women.” Her throatylaughter joined theirs. “Each of my flowers knows exactly how to offer pleasure, but they have different stipulations in their contracts. Rose, for instance, is willing to take no more than two cocks at a time.”
I swallowed, fighting the urge to close my eyes in humiliation as the redhead at my side giggled and blew a kiss. My mask hid my pink cheeks, but could the men see the way I blushed elsewhere?
Let them choose Rose.
But Edward’s voice cut through the chuckles and speculations. “The one in purple. I’ve always been fond of curves on a wench.”
And my blood ran cold.
