“Brothel?” Rose asked.
“Yes. I must admit I’m curious to see how your parties are played out.” Her nerves almost got the best of her as she hurried on. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her throat. “I don’t want to be a participant, but an observer. I think tonight would be ideal because everyone will be wearing masks to disguise their faces. I can do the same.”
“Lily—”
“Please don’t say no.” She lifted her palms. “I’ve been so bored and need to do something with myself or I’ll scream.”
“And watching how whores and their johns interact is your idea of fun? You may be shocked by what goes on here tonight.”
“I’ve seen many upsetting things in my life thanks to the past few years.” She swallowed. “Dead bodies lining the road, half-naked children roaming the country-side, starving women selling their bodies on the street for—”
“Stop right there.” Rose rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and mumbled something under her breath. She’d been far too dramatic but wanted to show Rose she was a mature woman and not some fickle bored lady who hadn’t experienced life.
“I can stay by your side the entire time, and if you think I should return to the safety of my room because things might become too rowdy, I will.” Lily gave her a sunny smile, fingers crossed behind her back.
Tandi stood behind Rose and shook her head in bewilderment.
“Maybe it is time you’ve received a lesson. I can’t have you running out on the streets traumatized the moment you see one too many naked bodies or witness a sexual act you might consider depraved,” Rose pointed out, her voice more playful than serious.
“I promise I won’t faint at the sight of any immoral sex acts I may come across.”
Rose sighed. “I may regret this later, but fine. You may join the entertainment below. You’ll have to change into something more suitable and wear a mask at all times. So far, there hasn’t been much talk in town about you staying here. But if you mingle the men with your face bare tonight, there might be talk tomorrow.”
“I agree with you.” She lost her smile. “But I don’t have a mask. Where would I get one at this late hour?”
Rose swiped a finger down Lily’s cheek. Her skin tingled from Rose’s touch and continued to do so after she pulled away. “Remember how I said I had a mask but wouldn’t wear it? You can.” Rose eyed her from top to bottom. “I think we can find you a suitable dress as well. It may be a tad low in the bosom area, but then again, we’re not living in a convent.”
She arranged her palm on her chest, and Rose’s lips twitched in humor.
“Stop playing the naïve virgin. It doesn’t suit you.” Rose took her wrists. “You have a nice chest and should show it off. As long as no one touches, they can admire you as you stand on display like I’ll be doing most of the night to make certain nothing out of the ordinary arises.” Rose glanced at Tandi, who’s remained silent during the entire exchange even though her expression showed her displeasure. “Let’s make your mistress so ravishing the men, and perhaps even the women, will salivate for the chance to have an hour alone in her company.”
“But that won’t happen…I mean, you won’t leave me alone with any of those people downstairs?”
“Only if you want to, pretty Lily.” Rose gave her a smile full of mischief.
Cinderella and the Lady
The sudden death of Ellie’s father leaves her with an uncertain future. Her stepmother, Geraldine and step-sister Mina treat her like a servant. The seductive Countess Tremaine wants to save Ellie from her life of drudgery, but all for a price- her innocence. She feels all hope is lost until she meets a lady who makes all her wishes come true.
Lady Kristina, the Duke of Perrault’s daughter has returned home after five years abroad. She’s expected to marry, but her attraction to women stops her from carrying out her parents’ wishes. One night she meets a shy servant girl and becomes obsessed. She’ll do whatever she can to gain the trust of this mysterious woman and claim her for her own.
With the countess pressuring Ellie into accepting her unscrupulous offer, and her stepmother growing more unstable, she turns to Kristina for support. But then her whole world comes crashing down when she learns the truth behind Kristina’s identity and the lies Geraldine has kept from her.
As Ellie falls victim to those dark forces set on ruining her, Kristina fights to save Ellie’s heart before she loses her forever.
Excerpt:
Her fingers twitched with the urge to caress Elle’s mouth or cheek. If she was more forward, she would have stolen a kiss, but this wasn’t like Leena, who welcomed her touch, or the bored Finnish wives and widows who liked experimenting in the bedroom.
By the time she finished her story, Elle wrapped her arms around her legs and tucked her chin on top of her knees, her attention never waning, watching her the entire time. Earlier, she had taken off her jacket and unbuttoned the top of her blouse to cool off. She wanted to lie on her side and ask Elle to join her, but every time she moved in closer, the young girl became wary and tense. She didn’t want to frighten the poor thing, but wanted to ease the tension between them.
The next step was arranging another meeting to see if they were as compatible as she thought they were. If so, she would then announce who she was really was and offer Elle employment in her parents’ house.
Her throat had become dry from her talking, and she bemoaned the fact she didn’t have anything to quench her thirst.
“Forgive me. I need a moment to rest my voice.” She cleared her throat.
Elle dug in her basket and produced an apple. She held it out in an offering. “Here, take this. It should soothe your parched throat.”
She smiled in thanks and took the fruit, deliberately gliding her fingers over the ridges of Elle’s knuckles. She took a big bite and moaned from the sweet juices filling her mouth.
“It’s wonderful.” She saluted with the half-eaten apple and spread her legs, rotating her ankles to alleviate the stiffness there.
“Apples are my favorite fruit,” Elle smiled at August, who dozed in her lap. She scratched between his ears, and he yawned. “The best kind of pie to make is apple. The smell of cinnamon fills the kitchen, and it sticks in your hair and in your skin. My mother loved to…um.” She shut her mouth and turned away to look off to the side.
She stopped chewing, waiting for Elle to tell her about her mother. She didn’t, and that made her all the more intrigued.
“Forgive me for prying, but you don’t see your mother often or is she…?” She waved her hand around for Elle to carry on.
Elle stared at the ocean. “My mother was killed in an accident when I was a child. Things weren’t the same at home after she died.”