But Victoria was already watching the
bidding frenzy. She had the advantage of
knowing she was undoubtedly wealthier
than anyone else in the room and she
intended to use that fact.
Thirty pounds," a man on the other side
of the room shouted.
The brothel mistress regarded him with
acute scorn.
For a certified virgin, sir?
Come now, you cannot expect me to
listen to such a ridiculous offer. Let us
hear from some more noble sports."
Who's to say she's still virgin?" hooted
another. I'll risk fifty pounds and no
more."
Interesting" the bawd approved,
but
not nearly good enough. Come now, I
expected better from this crowd. You
spend more on a horse."
You can ride a horse longer than you can
a virgin," someone called out, snickering.
Nonsense. Our Molly will give you a
fine ride, won't you, Molly, dear?" The
madam stroked Molly's blond hair in a
mockingly affectionate gesture. The girl
shuddered.
Not pretty enough to go for more than
eighty pounds. And I'll want my money
back if you've lied about her condition."
Molly started to weep and the laughter
in the room grew even more raucous.
Victoria looked straight at the girl, willing
her to stay strong as she bided her time.
The bidding crept higher but not at
a very great rate after the initial rush.
The miserliness of the bids verified
what Victoria had already concluded.
Not everyone in the room was convinced
that poor Molly was worth a huge sum
nor were there any men of great wealth
here tonight. Men of vast wealth preferred
to keep fashionable mistresses and only
ventured into brothels such as this one
for casual entertainment.
Victoria waited a few more minutes until
the bidding stopped at ninety pounds.
Then she casually raised her hand from
behind the screen.
Three hundred pounds."
Lucas groaned.
The middle-aged woman turned a beam
ing countenance toward the shadowed
screen.
Why, sir, you have excellent
taste, whoever you be. Excellent, indeed.
I do believe little Molly is yours to do
with as you please this evening." She
patted the young girl's hand.
What a
lucky girl you are, my dear. Such a nice,
discreet gentleman he is. Run along now
and mind you don't make a fuss or it'll
be the worse for you."
You do not have three hundred pounds
on you," Lucas reminded Victoria between
set teeth.
You can hardly give the old
bawd your personal marker, can you?
She'll realize who you are."
Victoria blinked.
You are quite right.
Very well, you will have to pay the woman.
Say it is on my behalf as I am rather shy.
Hurry, Lucas."
Bloody, hell," Lucas murmured as he
got slowly to his feet.
Don't think I won't
collect from you for this."
I assure you, I'm good for the blunt,"
Victoria said sharply.
He stood up and strode toward the bawd,
ignoring the shouts and ribald comments.
When he reached the center of the room,
he gave Molly a small push toward the
screen where Victoria hovered.
Go on,
girl. Move."
Molly looked up at him in terror and
then responded automatically to the tone of
command. She made her way through the
laughing crowd to where Victoria waited.
Hush, now, and all will be well,"
Victoria murmured as she took the girl's
shaking hand and led her toward the door,
cramming her hat down low over her eyes
as she tugged the girl out into the hall.
Molly was too frightened to even protest.
Perhaps being led out into the night
appeared a better alternative to being taken
up the stairs. The girl staggered a bit and
Victoria realized she had undoubtedly been
given several glasses of wine or perhaps an
opium concoction to keep her dazed.
Well, well, and just where d'ye think
ye be goin" with the new piece? Ye ain't
allowed t" take the merchandise off the
premises." A very big, coarse-faced man
loomed in Victoria's path. He was supposed
to be the brothel's butler, but Victoria
could see he had another job as well.
My walking stick, if you please," she
said imperiously.
I just told ye, ye cannot be takin" the
girl off the premises," the man boomed.
I'm not going to take her off the
premises," Victoria said in an utterly
bored tone. She remembered what one
of the prostitutes had said about rods
and whips.
But I do have certain tastes
I like to indulge. And I have found that
my walking stick makes a very fine rod for
my purposes. It has just the right heft and
balance, if you take my meaning."
Little Molly stifled a scream but the
big man looked somewhat mollified. It
was obvious he was accustomed to such
bizarre things.
So that's the way of it, is it?" He leered
at Molly.
Yer in for a fine time tonight,
Molly, my girl."
Victoria waited tensely, glancing back
over her shoulder once more for Lucas.
He was still nowhere in sight. When the
butler appeared with her walking stick, she
decided she had to act on her own and
find a way to the door directly behind the
big man.
Now, I believe I would prefer the
comfort of my own carriage for what I
have in mind," she said coolly. She started
forward, yanking Molly with her.
The man narrowed his eyes and crossed
his beefy arms across his chest.
I told
ye, ye ain't takin" the little piece off the
premises."
Victoria did the only thing she could
think of. She lunged forward suddenly,
ramming the end of the walking stick
straight at the large man's crotch.
The butler shrieked and fell back, cursing
and clutching himself. Victoria raced for
the door, hauling Molly along in her wake.
Hell," said Lucas from somewhere
behind her.
I should have guessed some
thing like this would happen."
There was a roar from the butler and
then a solid, sickening thud. Victoria
looked back from the doorway and saw
the big man sprawled on the floor and
Lucas calmly reaching for his coat and
gloves.
Go on," he ordered.
Get into the
carriage."
In all the commotion Molly had clung
to Victoria, and now pale and nervous, she
began to babble in fear.
Victoria patted her shoulder as she
steered her out into the night.
Do be
quiet, dear. No one's going to hurt you."
The dozing coachman who had driven
Lucas and Victoria to the brothel flapped
the reins on the horses" rumps and moved
the vehicle into position when he saw his
customers emerge. He leered at poor Molly
as Victoria thrust her up into the cab.
I want t" go home," Molly wailed as
Victoria climbed in behind her. The girl
threw herself, sobbing, against Victoria's
shoulder.
Please sir, just let me go home
to Lower Burryton. My ma will be ever so
scared. I should never
ave left but I was
told there were plenty o" good jobs
ere in
Town and my family needs the money so."
Hush, hush,
tis all right. You will
go home, I promise." Victoria was still
comforting the sobbing girl when Lucas
emerged through the carriage door. He
eyed the crying Molly.
Well, she's yours now, what do you
propose to do with her?" Lucas asked as he
signaled the coachman to pull away.
You
can hardly take her to your aunt's house.
You cannot possibly explain her presence.
Everyone will know what you've been up
to tonight."
Once again you have the right of it,
Lucas. How very perceptive of you. She
cannot go home with me, so we must send
her home with you. Your housekeeper can
see to her welfare tonight and get her on
the northbound stage in the morning."
Bloody hell," said Lucas. But he looked
resigned to the inevitable.
Silence, broken only by Molly's sobs,
reigned for a few minutes.
Had enough of brothels?" Lucas finally
inquired calmly.
Victoria shuddered.
Quite enough. I
never want to see such a place again
as long as I live. It was sickening,
Lucas. That those poor women should
be reduced to being forced to survive by
selling themselves to those awful men goes
against all decent sensibility."
Allowing you to witness such a scene
goes against all decent sensibility, too,"
said Lucas.
I have only myself to blame
for having indulged you in such a foolish
fashion. I begin to think our night games
have gone far enough."
Victoria was suddenly alarmed by his
unexpectedly grim tone.
Surely you do not
mean to put a halt to our adventures."
Lucas glanced meaningfully at the still
sobbing Molly.
We had best discuss this
at another time."
But, Lucas
."
By the bye, you owe me three hundred
pounds." Lucas leaned his head back
against the seat cushions and closed his
eyes.
Plus whatever it costs to get her out
of town tomorrow morning."
Victoria sniffed.
Really, Lucas. If you're
going to be that way about it, I shall see
that you are repaid immediately."