The Price of Innocence (The Legacy Series)

by Vicki Hopkins

“And your family? Where are they?” Though Lord Holland knew the sad story of her father’s passing, he felt compelled to inquire further, hoping his questions were not too prying.

  “My father passed away four months ago.” As soon as the words left her mouth, a sorrowful expression snatched her beauty. He felt remorse for asking and apologized.

  “I’m sorry. I should not have asked such a question. Madame Laurent mentioned the matter of your father. Please forgive me for such an intrusion into your private mourning. My behavior is uncalled for, and I see it has brought you pain to think of his passing again.” A forgiving gaze met his confession.

  “No, that’s quite all right. One day I know I shall answer the question and will not feel grief. It will pass.”

  They both brought their glasses of wine to their lips to take a sip. Each looked at the other. Robert witnessed the flickering candlelight dance off her hair, and he admired the reddish-brown color resembling a late-autumn leaf. He desired to know more about her background and hoped that she would share on her own. To his surprise, she spoke once more, this time with more assured calmness.

  “I have no other family here. My aunt and her family moved to the Americas, and when my father passed away, I found myself in a bit of a predicament.”

  “Well, I’m truly sorry to hear that,” he offered. “You are a lovely young woman, and I can see you’re quite, shall we say, innocent in many ways. I’m just surprised you are here.” He paused, lowering his voice. “Frankly, my dear, it doesn’t become you.”

  “It probably does not,” she responded quietly, “but I must take care of myself in some fashion. There were few options for me.”

  Her attempt to justify her choice did not surprise Robert in the least. He could tell from the few short minutes they were together that her character was not that of a prostitute. He dropped the subject and took another large sip of wine. Finally, when he couldn’t control the urge to touch the softness of her perfumed skin, he took her glass in hand, along with his own, and set them on the side table. A sudden look of panic crossed Suzette’s face.

  Robert noticed her demeanor change. He moved closer to her body at the end of the settee and raised his hand to meet the side of her face. With a tender touch, he softly stroked her skin. He let the warmth linger with the hope it would calm her apprehension and stop her poor knees from bobbing up and down. It was all he could do from laughing at the poor girl’s nervous response.

  “You are quite beautiful,” he softly whispered. Robert slowly traced the lines of her jaw with his hungry desire. He moved his hand underneath her soft hair and wrapped his fingers tenderly around the back of her neck. Gently, he pulled Suzette toward him and leaned into her lips. Her body grew rigid, and Robert struggled whether or not to object to her resistance.

  He decided not to force her in any way. Instead, he closed the distance until his lips rested upon their destination. He gently kissed her, enjoying the flavor of her moist flesh, and immediately the rush of desire flooded his body. Her lips tasted of unspoiled innocence, and the longer he enjoyed the moment, the more she trembled.

  He had hoped his infamous tenderness in foreplay would eventually melt her coldness, but it was obvious he needed to do more. The kiss ended, and he stroked the side of her face with the palm of his hand, while the other moved down her back. Robert fondled the curves of her body and played with the satin buttons of her dress that he couldn’t wait to undo. The smell of her perfume drugged him, and he began to lose restraint.

  His enjoyment of the beautiful creature in his grasp was tainted by Suzette’s unresponsive and frigid manner. Robert’s disappointment grew. Her fear was palpable, and he knew that she would not be a willing participant in anything that lay ahead from this point forward. It was apparent he could very well leave a virgin intact, while he throbbed unfulfilled.

  He released his grasp of her body, sat up, and then leaned his back into the corner of the settee. His response to the situation startled him. As much as he wanted to take her to the tantalizing soft bed only a few feet away, he could not bring himself to do so. He desired to undress her like a beautiful flower, slowly plucking each petal until it revealed its bud for the taking. Disappointed and fighting his own animalistic urges, he abruptly stood from the chair and walked to the liquor table for another refill. As he left Suzette’s side, he heard a sigh of relief.

  Silence passed between them, and Robert couldn’t speak a word. He was frustrated and confused. Hadn’t he just paid 600 francs to take the beauty that now sat alone?

  “Have I done something to displease you?”

  He poured the glass of wine, but didn’t turn around in response. While Robert tried to think of an answer to her question, she apologized. It sounded more like a plea for mercy.

  “I’m sorry if I’m nervous. I’ve not been with a man before.”

  Finally, Robert turned around and flashed a smile for her sake, though he didn’t feel like it inwardly. He saw Suzette’s distraught face. Her worrisome countenance broke his heart, and he didn’t have the desire to cause her further distress.

  “Yes, I know,” he said softly in a low tone. “I am not mad. On the contrary, I’m enthralled with your presence. Perhaps soon, my tenderness will melt your resistance, but I doubt it will be tonight.”

  “I’m sorry, Lord Holland. I do not wish to disappoint you,” her voice begged.

  “Nonsense. It’s not you. You have not disappointed me, rest assured.”

  He returned to the settee with drink in hand and sat close to her side. Robert boldly placed his arm around her shoulder, drawing her near to his chest. The least she could do was give him a hug.

  “There’s something about you I find most adoring, and frankly, I don’t wish to ravish or frighten you for quick gratification.” He hesitated. “Though I must admit at this point, I’m in dire need of it.” He chuckled, wondering if Suzette even understood the meaning behind his words.

  Robert decided to leave the flower intact for the moment. He didn’t want Suzette to earn her keep—not like this. Instead, tonight, he would merely settle for the enjoyment of her company. To pass the moments, he played with her silken hair between his fingertips, yearning for more but controlling his urges. If circumstances were different, and he came upon her elsewhere, she would have certainly caught his interest.

  “I don’t understand.” Suzette’s voice shook as she watched his fingers playfully toy with her curls.

  “You’re not ready, and I will not force myself on you,” he replied emphatically.

  “Don’t I please you?”

  “On the contrary, I am quite pleased, but being pleased has nothing to do with it. After paying Madame Laurent a hefty price to even be in this room, I still think it’s been worth every franc.”

  “Lord Holland, I’m afraid that if I do not satisfy you this evening, I shall lose my position here with Madame Laurent, and I will be homeless again!”

  Suzette’s desperation upset Robert. “She’ll never know,” he assured. “Don’t worry, my sweet.” For now, he would settle for a few moments of a petite lady held tightly in his arms. “The least you can do for me is let me hold you. That’s all I ask.”

  Robert inhaled her perfume, softly stroked her cheek, and whispered tenderly in her ear words of comfort. As he continued, he could sense the tenseness release from her body, because she no longer felt pressured to perform.

  For the next half hour, hardly a word was spoken. Robert held her, and Suzette sat quietly while he made occasional small talk and sipped his wine. Her only responses to his words were an occasional “uh-hum,” and Robert wondered if she even listened to anything he had to say.

  When he finished his drink, he sighed. He wanted her, and each time he thought of the bed behind him, his body responded. His unsatisfied urges were becoming increasingly difficult to curtail, so he decided to proceed with the necessary deed and get the hell out of there before doing something rash.

  “I’ll be right ba
ck,” he announced, standing up. He walked over to the perfectly made bed, grabbed the corner of the coverlet, and flipped it back into a heap. His hands pulled the sheets into a tangled mess, and he flung one pillow off to the floor. He then scrunched the bottom sheet until it looked as if it had been used.

  He returned to the side table, opened the decanter of red wine, and poured a small amount in his glass. After returning to the tousled bed, he strategically poured a few crimson drops in order to leave feigned evidence of a woman’s lost virginity. Suzette blushed profusely, understanding the full meaning of his actions. Nadine had warned her of the possibility ahead of time. He drunk the remainder of the wine, and then set the crystal glass back down on the silver tray.

  “Hopefully, this shall be proof enough that I’ve deflowered you,” he said, laughing. He picked up his cravat from the nightstand and draped it around his neck leaving it untied at the end. With his waistcoat on his arm, he walked over to Suzette on the settee and bent down, ceremoniously messing up her hair with one hand and laughing the entire time.

  The relief in Suzette’s soul spilled over, and she laughed along with him. Robert took his index finger, wiped the lipstick from her lips, and smudged a bit along his lip line.

  “If anyone asks, Cheri,” he jested in a French accent, “I am the greatest lover you’ve ever known.” He paused as he corrected that thought. “Though some will think I do my deed far too quickly!” He turned to walk to the door, and Suzette stood up and ran to his side, grabbing his forearm.

  “I’m very sorry if I’ve disappointed you.”

  “No, you’ve not disappointed me, I assure you.” He gave her an endearing wink in an attempt to allay her fears. “On the contrary, I’m quite pleased.” A longing look entered his eyes, and he spoke in confidence what he hoped would be true. “I will be your first when you are ready, and it will be when you want me as much as I want you.” He took his finger and touched the tip of her nose. “Perhaps tomorrow night, eh?”

  Hesitantly, Robert opened the door and stepped out, closing it quietly behind him, leaving behind a stunned, untouched virgin. He ran down the grand staircase trotting like a stud and burst into Madame Laurent’s office. She sat in her chair behind her desk, and he loudly announced his arrival. “I wish to speak with you!” He stood in front of her and peered intently into her surprised face.

  Madame Laurent thought the worse and spoke in defense. “Did she not please you, Robert? I’m very sorry if that’s the case. I shall deal with it immediately.”

  Robert corrected her misconception. “On the contrary, Madame. She is the most enjoyable creature I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.” He continued with a serious look upon his face and began to lay out his proposition. “I’ve come to thank you for the next two nights of ultimate bliss before my return to England. I want to make sure our deal stands, and you will not sell her to another before the end of the week.” He would not leave the premises until she assured him of their agreement.

  “Yes, Robert, you have my word, and you’ve paid in advance.”

  “Good. It’s agreed then. I will arrive tomorrow evening at seven sharp!” He turned toward the door, but made one last request before departure. “Don’t have her come to me until after I’ve arrived. I’ll wait for her in the room.”

  “Very well.”

  “Good! Au revoir, Madame.”

  He left and walked back to the foyer to retrieve his hat and topcoat. Feeling quite pleased with himself, he hailed a cab, and climbed inside for the trip back to his townhouse. As the carriage lurched forward, the sound of the horses’ hooves on the cobblestone pavement echoed in his ears like the beat of his own heart. Something stirred deep within, as he struggled with a mixture of yearning and desire. Suzette was one of a kind, and he felt concern for the young woman’s wellbeing and safety. The only problem he faced was how to deal with the matter before leaving Paris and returning home in two days.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Suzette watched Robert walk from the room and close the door behind him. Alone in the Louis XV Chambre, her heart released its apprehension with a loud sigh from her lungs. Her nerves had been on edge for so long that she felt dizzy. She made her away back to the settee and flopped.

  She giggled like a schoolgirl. The mirrored room reflected her silliness back to her, but she couldn’t contain her joy that she was still a virgin. Suzette thanked God for sparing her from damnation for another night.

  It was hard not to relive what had just transpired. She closed her eyes and pondered the moment Madame Laurent walked her to the door. When it opened and revealed a most agreeable man in appearance, she felt relieved. His shocking golden hair and deep, blue eyes beguile her so much, that she quickly hastened her gaze to the floor. He was handsome and different in manners from typical Frenchmen.

  Lord Holland stood at least four inches taller than her own father did, and she felt weak when he looked down upon her shaking frame. When she finally lifted her eyes to look at him, they were level with his open linen shirt at the collar line. Just gazing at a portion of his bare skin brought a queasy feeling. Suzette had never seen a man’s exposed chest and taunt muscular physique. She found it shamefully fascinating and began to wonder if these were some of the pleasures that Nadine mentioned.

  Suzette’s emotions ran rampant from relief to worry. Her greatest concern was Madame Laurent and what she would do to her if she found out. Should she check the room, the evidence placed by Robert would hopefully convince her that he had accomplished the task. Suzette stood to her feet and walked over to the bed to examine the crimson stains that had dried on the sheet. It represented the loss of her virginity, but Suzette still kept her precious virtue intact.

  There was nothing more to be done, except return to her room and lie about what transpired. She opened the door slowly and poked her head out into the hallway looking down the corridor both ways. All was quiet, so she quickly closed the door of the bed chamber behind her and tiptoed down the hall to her room. Another swift turn, and finally she was behind the closed door, safe and sound for the remainder of the night, or at least she hoped.

  Overcome by relief, she felt the need to let it all out, so she ran to her bed, fell upon her pillow, and bawled like a baby. It felt good to sob and let the threads of her pillowcase catch her tears.

  Before she finished the task of completely emptying her burdens, the door flung open, and Nadine walked into the room. Upon seeing her sobbing figure bobbing up and down, she came over to Suzette’s bedside and sat down.

  “Good Lord, sweetie. Are you all right?” Her hand gently lay upon her shoulder. “I didn’t think your first time with Lord Holland would cause such a sorrowful reaction. He wasn’t mean or anything was he?”

  Suzette blurted out through her blubbering tears. “No . . . no . . . he wasn’t mean.”

  Nadine sighed with relief, but was shocked at Suzette’s behavior over her first night of work. She quickly pulled back her comforting hand and rose from the bedside. “Well, losing your virginity surely isn’t worth all those tears.” She walked over to her bed and sat down as Suzette continued to wail.

  “If you’re hurting down there, it will go away soon. By tomorrow night, you’ll be good as ever, and each time you allow a man to have his way with you, it just gets easier. The pain leaves, and then you’ll learn about the pleasure.”

  Suzette didn’t wish to lift her head and discuss the matter further, but Nadine seemed intent on finding out every little detail of her experience one way or the other.

  “So, how was Lord Holland? Did you like any of it?”

  “He was fine,” Suzette said reluctantly, finally raising her head and wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “I don’t wish to discuss the details.”

  Nadine shrugged her shoulders. “Whatever, dearie. I’ve shared his bed a few times myself. I know what he’s all about down there. Nothing new to me.” Yawning, she stood up, undressed, and prepared for bed.

  “I
’m tired,” she said, stripping nude. She left her clothes in a heap on the floor and crawled under the covers. “Turn the light out, will you!”

  Suzette was exhausted, as well, having spent every ounce of emotion from the evening, but she still needed to undress. “I will in a moment,” she said, standing up. “But I need your help with these buttons.”

  “Damn, you’re such a pest!” Nadine flung the covers off and walked behind Suzette, undoing the buttons one by one. As she did, she wondered how the dress got back on her body so neatly again. “Don’t tell me Robert took this off and then buttoned you all back up!”

  The act of redressing Suzette seemed a bit odd to Nadine. She knew Robert loved the sexual tease of undressing women. He was great at taking his time with her corset, slowly pulling the fabric cords through the multiple eyelets one by one with his long, slender fingers. He drove her crazy by his actions, and she often felt like ripping it off her body so they could get on with it.

  “Yes,” Suzette muttered. “I asked him to button the dress for me.”

  Accepting her answer, Nadine returned to her bed and slipped back under the covers. After placing the dress on a hanger and putting it in the closet, Suzette slipped into her nightgown and crawled into bed.

  As she lay there in the dark, Lord Holland’s entrancing eyes teased her imagination, and a thousand questions about his life plagued her thoughts. He acted kindly toward her, but she knew she had not escaped the inevitable. He had paid a price to take her innocence, and no doubt, very soon he would collect what he was due.

  * * *

  The morning arrived, and Suzette woke to find Nadine gone. Her bottled-up fearful emotions had drained her the night before, and she had finally fallen into a deep sleep. She slipped from bed, donned her robe and headed downstairs for morning coffee.

  Suzette quickly learned that the brothel was like any other home. There were routines. Each morning, the girls who boarded in the brothel congregated to talk about the night before, like one huge sisterhood sharing their secrets between the sheets. Between the hours of 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., the men owned their bodies. The remainder of the time, they did as they pleased. The opulent brothel was their home, and the camaraderie of the prostitutes passionate.