Seducing the Master (An Erotic Historical in the Red Chrysanthemum Series) (10 page)

Miss Katherine looked up. “Truly?”

Terrell nodded. “As happy as a man could be
on such occasion. Like I said, made the rest of us women envious.
We thought for certain we’d seen the last of him. It does signify
that he has brought you here and wishes to share the Red
Chrysanthemum with you. I know others whose wives are kept at home,
oblivious, while their husbands satisfy themselves with the
strumpets here.”

Miss Katherine brightened at this
reasoning.

“And it shows your generous spirit, m’lady,
that you’ve not cast him aside with disdain but seek to fill his
need.”

Her ladyship took an easier breath but said,
“My family and friends should be horrified if they knew.”

“Your pleasure is none of their business, if
you not mind my sayin’.”

“Pleasure? Is it truly pleasure?”

“It is,” Terrell answered with such
earnestness that Miss Katherine gazed upon her more keenly.

“I’m a member myself,” Terrell supplied,

Surprised, Miss Katherine looked her over
from head to toe. “Are you no dressing maid?”

Realizing her attire gave the appearance of
a peasant, Terrell smiled and shook her head. “The proprietress
desires my services elsewhere, but, as Tippy is engaged, I will see
to your needs as I am done for the evening. May I fetch you
refreshment?”

“A cordial perhaps.”

When Terrell returned with the beverage and
a bowl of sweetmeats, she found her ladyship sitting on the edge of
the bed, her apprehension still palpable.

“It is quite reasonable one should be
fearful of the unknown,” Terrell said gently as she handed Miss
Katherine the cordial. “I was frightened out of wits my first
time.”

“Your first time here?”

“The first time I surrendered my
maidenhead.”

“Yes. The pain quite surprised me,” Miss
Katherine acknowledged. “I knew nothing of what to expect.”

“Did your mother not provide you
warning?”

“My mother told me nothing. My sisters told
me nothing.”

“I’m sorry. At the least, once the
maidenhead has been surrendered, all else is pleasure, especially
if the man be attentive and skilled.”

Miss Katherine blushed and drank her
cordial. “But the purpose here would appear to be
pain
.”

“Ah, yes, but it is pain in the pursuit of
pleasure.”

“I find it hard to fathom the one can
contribute to the other.”

“True appreciation can only come from the
experiencing of it.”

“I suppose. I wish my husband would instruct
me in its ways, but I think my ignorance tries his patience, for he
has fobbed me off to another.”

“Your husband was wise to do so. There is
none better than Master Gallant. I’ve seen many a man through these
doors, and there be none like him.”

“He was civil and tolerant of me last
evening. But I wonder what he intends for a lesson tonight?”

The creak of floorboards outside startled
her ladyship. “He is here!”

The two women waited and heard footsteps
retreating down the hall. Miss Katherine gave a heavy sigh of
relief.

“You fear Master Gallant?” inquired
Terrell.

“I fear what he will
do.
”

“I suspect he would be gentle at first.”

“Precisely! At first! I think my husband is
eager I finish my ‘lessons’ as soon as possible. The two of them
spoke yester evening. I am certain my husband conveyed his desires
to Master Gallant, and my husband is not a man to be
disappointed!”

Miss Katherine looked ready to cry.

“If you wish it, I will stay with you,”
Terrell offered. “If it would ease your fears, if you should not be
ready to feel the fall of the crop or flogger, I will accept it for
you, m’lady.”

Miss Katherine stared. “Indeed?”

“I am an old hand at this. Nothing Master
Gallant can do will be worse than that which was done to me prior
to my time here.”

“But my husband will not be pleased.”

“I will not replace you as the pupil, but I
will assist in the lesson. The perspective of a woman could benefit
your progress. Master Gallant might use me for demonstration, and
that would bide you more time to calm your fears.”

Her ladyship nodded. “I would be grateful
for this. Do you expect I should…is there a rate of recompense for
your assistance?”

“None, m’lady, but if you should find me
useful, I shall not decline a perquisite.”

“You are kind to do such a thing.”

Terrell felt a little ashamed at not
disputing her ladyship’s belief that it was kindness that prompted
her actions, but she did not feel it necessary to reveal to Lady
Wendlesson that Master Gallant, not compensation, was what she was
after. Thinking of how Master Gallant would react made her pulse
quicken, and for a moment she hesitated to pursue the opportunity
she had just contrived. She guessed he would not be pleased at
first, but what man would not wish to spend the evening with two
women? He would come to enjoy her company soon enough, lest in some
manner, he was repulsed by her blackness. She knew many of his kind
despised blackamoors yet had no trouble fucking them.

“Better than fuckin’ sheep,” she had once
overheard Mr. Tremayne, the overseer, remark. “Smell a bit better,
too.”

His friend had disagreed. “After being on a
ship full of them black creatures, I can’t see them as anything but
vermin. God must have cursed them something fierce.”

But Master Gallant could not hold such a
view or he would not have kissed her, in front of an audience, no
less. She had noted the admiration the other members held for him.
Did not the fact that he had chosen her provide further validation
of her worth, her ability to be as good as any white woman? Better,
even. In her short time at the Red Chrysanthemum, she had
established herself as good as a veteran, and she would make this
known to Master Gallant.

Resolved, she waited with Lady Wendlesson
for his arrival.

CHAPTER TEN

“M
iss Katherine awaits in
the room you requested,” Tippy informed him.

Charles nodded as he handed his coat and hat
to the page. “Has Sir Arthur been here?”

“He has, and left already.”

Glad there should be no chance of crossing
paths with the man, he headed for the stairs. One encounter with
Sir Arthur was sufficient for the day, though Charles considered
afterwards that some repair on his part need be offered.

“Sir Arthur is not a man who takes kindly to
being challenged,” Sir Canning had said after their meeting. “If
you wish to become a burgess for Porter’s Hill, I suggest you curry
his favor instead of his ire.”

As Charles climbed the steps up to the third
floor, he put aside his thoughts of Sir Arthur to focus on the
matter at hand. Charles contemplated the possibility that Miss
Katherine could prove more challenging than Miss Greta. The latter
understood the peculiar type of pleasure fulfilled by the Red
Chrysanthemum. The former was not yet comfortable in her own body.
He preferred to heighten her awareness and ensure her appreciation
of her own lascivious desires before introducing more wanton
elements. He carried with him a book that he hoped would aid his
efforts.

The room he had requested should prove more
comfortable to Miss Katherine. If he intended to accomplish the
success Lord Wendlesson sought, he needed to do more than converse
with her tonight.

After a brief rap upon the door, he entered
the room and stopped upon the threshold. He stared. Miss Katherine
sat upon the edge of the bed. Beside her stood Miss Terrell.

What the devil…

“A good evening to you, Master Gallant,”
Miss Terrell said cheerfully. “I’ve offered myself as your
assistant for the night.”

His frown deepened. “I’ve no need for an
assistant.”

“Ah, but as your assistant, I would also be
aiding Miss Katherine, and she has accepted my offer.”

He looked to Miss Katherine, who kept her
gaze lowered. “Indeed?”

Miss Katherine raised her eyes. “If—if you
do not think it would infuriate my husband.”

Charles said nothing. Lord Wendlesson would
more than likely be thrilled that his wife had invited another
woman, and Miss Terrell at that.

“I am at your disposal, Master Gallant,”
said Miss Terrell, her dark eyes boring into him, “and will do
anything you or Miss Katherine bid.”

He wanted to bid her leave, but if her
presence gave Miss Katherine comfort, if Miss Katherine had
requested her, then he could not send Miss Terrell away. Miss
Terrell had conjured the situation, he was certain of it. How she
had managed to ingratiate herself so quickly with Lady Wendlesson
mystified and impressed him. The cunning chit.

“Are you certain you wish to have a third
party bear witness to our lesson?” he asked gently of Miss
Katherine.

She nodded.

“You may stay,” he said to Miss Terrell,
“but for this night only. As I’ve said, I do not require an
assistant.”

“You may not require, but you may
benefit
from one nonetheless.”

She crossed her arms before her. He wanted
to drag her out the room then and there and give her a sound
talking to—or a sound spanking, the one from yesterday apparently
not having sufficed.

“As would I,” said Miss Katherine.

“How long have we this evening?” he
addressed Miss Katherine.

“Till midnight.”

“How gracious of his lordship to extend us
half an hour more,” he commented unhappily. He would be
hard-pressed to accomplish what he wished, especially now that Miss
Terrell had interposed herself into the matter.

“May I ask what the lesson this evening
entails?”

Her demeanor had changed, he noticed. She
was still demonstrably wary and anxious, but she met and held his
gaze for far longer than she had yesterday. Perhaps Miss Terrell
bolstered her confidence. For that, he began to see possible value
in having the interfering jade.

“This evening we but seek your arousal and
review the rules common to the submissive position,” he
answered.

Her countenance turned crimson.

“I do not expect you will require your
safety word,” he continued. “Nevertheless, do you recall it?”

She nodded. “Jean.”

He turned to Miss Terrell. “And yours?”

“I am the assistant, not the pupil,” Miss
Terrell replied, arching a perfectly curved brow.

“Unlike Miss Katherine,
you
may
require yours.”

To his satisfaction, Miss Terrell started.
Miss Katherine glanced with concern at her new friend.

“I’ve not had a safety word in some time,”
Miss Terrell said with a defiant flip of her hair. “You may do your
worst, Master Gallant.”

He clenched a hand, which itched to show her
just how wrong she could be. “The Red Chrysanthemum requires a
safety word of everyone. Do set a good example for our pupil.”

Her eyes glimmered and he fully expected her
to respond with something ribald or mischievous. More. Flog. Cock.
Fuck.

“A simple word, preferably plain and
boring,” he advised.

“Charles.”

He tried not to glare at the woman, given
the presence of Miss Katherine. Miss Terrell was testing him,
goading him. He thought of tying her between the bedposts and
whipping her till she cried her safety word over and over. But that
was precisely what she
wanted.
He needed to retain his
composure. He lost credibility with Miss Katherine if he allowed
Miss Terrell to rankle him.

“Perhaps you can recite the tenets of proper
submissive behavior,” he said to Miss Terrell.
You’ve a need to
remember them yourself.

“The most basic principle is showing your
dominant the respect due him.”

“Dominant?” Miss Katherine echoed.

“He who commands you, who is your
superior.”

“Not superior in qualities,” he clarified,
“but only in position and within the context of your carnal
bondage.”

“Though some men will attempt to claim their
superiority in all respects. They think us the weaker sex, but in
truth, they are the weak ones.”

“How can that be?” Miss Katherine asked.
“Their sex is superior in all ways that matter.”

“If you would see how women till the fields
beneath a sweltering sun from dawn to night, bent in constant
labor, some with babes upon their backs—”

He stopped her. “Miss Terrell, if you’ve a
desire to elucidate the philosophies of Wollstonecraft or Bentham,
I bid you do so on your own time, not mine.”

She looked at him, frowning. By the
earnestness in her tone, he discerned what she had described to be
of a personal nature to her, but what little time he had was
dedicated to Miss Katherine and her arousal. Tragic images were
completely at odds with his purpose.

“Pray, repeat this most basic principle for
the submissive,” he instructed Miss Terrell. “It bears reminding
for us all.”

Knowing that he spoke of her, she
half-scowled at him. “Respect your dominant.”

“What happens if you fail to adhere to this
principle?”

“You shall be disciplined.”

“How?” asked Miss Katherine.

“That depends upon the wishes of the Master
or the Mistress,” he replied, “but know that you may employ your
safety word on any occasion.”

Turning back to Miss Terrell, he said, “Let
us elaborate upon this principle. How might you respect your
Master?”

“Do as he bids, promptly and without
question,” she replied.

“Very good. What else?”

“Speak to him with deference. Always.”

“And the consequences for impudence?”

Miss Terrell grinned. “Punishment. Which can
be most enjoyable.”

He gave her a warning look. “Or extremely
painful.”

“It depends who is administering the
punishment. Some Masters have a light hand.”