Surrender Amanda Quick

by Surrender (lit)

  you will remain so for a few more years.

  You must be careful."

  If I were widowed like Isabel Rycott, I

  would be free," Victoria muttered tightly.

  Cleo grinned, breaking the tension. Are

  you by any chance contemplating marriage

  to the earl and then doing him in so that

  you can gain the freedom Isabel Rycott

  enjoys?"

  Victoria's answering grin was reluctant.

  stone vale asked me very particularly not

  to consider that course of action."

  Cleo stared at her in astonishment

  and then burst into a gale of delighted

  laughter, I am pleased to learn that

  stone vale is every bit as quick and

  intelligent as I had thought. Obviously

  the two of you have arrived at some

  sort of mutual understanding. You do

  not need my advice, after all, Vicky.

  Please forgive my intrusion into your

  affairs."

  Victoria relaxed slightly. I appreciate

  your concern, truly I do. And I will

  treat what you have said with the utmost

  consideration."

  Do that. Society will tolerate a great

  deal but there are limits, as we both know,

  especially for females. I should hate to see

  you ruined socially at such an early age,

  my dear. You take far too much pleasure

  in your friends to risk losing them," Cleo

  warned gently.

  That is certainly true enough." A small

  jolt of alarm went through Victoria. She

  would be heartbroken if she thought she

  could never entertain Annabella or some

  of her other friends again.

  Cleo nodded in satisfaction. Precisely,

  my dear. Now, if you will recall, we are

  engaged to talk to our man of affairs this

  morning. Something to do with that ship

  we invested in last year. Apparently it

  has returned safely with a lovely cargo

  from China. We are several thousand

  pounds richer as of this morning. Isn't

  that nice?"

  Victoria was immediately distracted. She

  loved the more exciting sort of business

  ventures such as investing in shipping. A

  bit of risk always added an element of

  interest to the deal.

  Marvelous!" Victoria exclaimed. We

  must thank Mister Beckford for recommending

  that particular ship to us. Oh,

  Aunt Cleo, wait, there is something

  I wanted to ask you about." Victoria

  reached under her chair and picked

  up the monogrammed silk scarf she

  had found on the conservatory door

  the previous night. Do you recognize

  this?"

  Cleo examined the monogram with a

  slight frown and handed it back to her

  niece. No. It's obviously not one of mine.

  Wherever did you find it?"

  In the garden. I asked the servants if

  one of them knew anything about it and

  they all said they did not recognize it.

  Perhaps it belongs to one of the members

  of your natural history society?" Victoria

  said, running her finger over the elegantly

  woven W."

  Hmmm. Perhaps. It is a man's scarf.

  Let me think. Who do we know who

  has a name beginning with W'? There's

  Wibberly and Wilkins for starters. I must

  remember to ask both of them the next

  time I see them if either lost this. Is that

  all, Vicky?"

  Yes, Aunt Cleo. That is all I wanted to

  ask. Let's go talk to Mister Beckford about

  our latest business success. Perhaps he will

  have something else to recommend."

  Victoria hated to admit it but the notion

  of going to a brothel had been a serious

  mistake.

  She clutched her glass of champagne

  and sat tensely in the shadows, partially

  concealed by a garishly gilded screen. There

  were several such discreetly shadowed areas

  around this room and the adjoining one.

  All the lamps had been turned very low.

  Drunken giggles and other sounds of a very

  unsettling nature emanated from behind

  most of the screens. Victoria shuddered to

  think of what was going on upstairs.

  It was very late, well after three in

  the morning. Lucas had dictated the

  time of their arrival. He had said he

  wanted to take no chance of running

  into anyone who might be sober enough

  to recognize Victoria. He had also specified

  this particular house because it catered

  to those who favored some modicum of

  privacy. Hence the screens and subdued

  lighting.

  Everyone around her except Lucas

  appeared to be staggeringly drunk. Some

  men, snoring heavily, lay sprawled on

  pink velvet sofas. The room was too

  loud, too hot, and choked with smoke

  from rich cigars. There was another sort

  of smoke coming from two or three odd

  pipes scattered here and there around the

  pink and gold chamber.

  Victoria was beginning to feel a little

  sick. A moment earlier she had watched

  Lucas casually wave off two young women

  whose gowns were cut so low as to reveal

  the tops of their rouged nipples.

  We just came to observe the activities

  tonight," he'd explained smoothly when

  one of the women had protested being

  sent away.

  But it's ever so much more fun to join

  in the play," the other cooed. Her eyes had

  moved over Lucas in a glance that made

  Victoria want to dump the contents of a

  chamber pot on her head.

  What about the young gennelman?" the

  first woman asked with a beckoning smile

  aimed at Victoria. Wouldn't you like to

  come upstairs with me? My, you're a pretty

  boy. I have a lovely-looking glass on the

  wall o" my room. You can watch everything

  in it. And you should see my collection

  of rods and whips. Every bit as fine as

  the ones they use on young lordlings in

  school."

  Victoria had shaken her head quickly

  and edged a bit deeper into the shadows.

  Lucas had shot her a sardonic glance and

  sipped his champagne, offering little help.

  She could almost hear him saying I told

  you so."

  In addition to acknowledging that the

  brothel idea was a bad one, she was also

  fast arriving at the conclusion that men's

  clothing was not always very comfortable.

  Her flawlessly tied cravat was much too

  high and much too tight around her throat

  tonight, for example. The top folds were

  halfway up her ears and covered her chin.

  She was practically drowning in the thing

  and it was all Lucas's fault. He had retied

  it for her in the carriage because he'd

  claimed he wanted her features better

  concealed.

  He had also insisted she keep her hat on

  and pulled down low over her eyes until

  she'd found a secluded
spot to sit. As a

  further precaution, Lucas had deliberately

  chosen a house that was not patronized by

  the males of the ton. He had wanted to

  take as few risks as possible.

  Her stomach grew more queasy. She had

  to get out of here. She did not think she

  could take much more of the appalling

  display.

  She was about to lean forward and

  inform Lucas that she was bored and

  quite ready to leave when a cheer went

  up at the far end of the shadowed, crowded

  chamber. Then a sudden hush fell over the

  throng of drunken men and provocatively

  dressed women.

  The middle-aged mistress of the brothel,

  dressed in a billowing, low-cut gown,

  walked into the center of the garishly

  decorated room. The bawd's face was a

  mask of white face powder and rouge in

  the style that had been popular several years

  earlier. Her dress was made of expensive

  pink velvet that matched the chairs, but

  it lacked the elegance of simplicity which

  was the hallmark of fashion in polite

  circles. The gown was as cheap looking

  and overblown as the woman herself.

  Gather round, all you fine gentlemen

  who are so anxious to prove your mettle

  this evening. The house invites you to

  inspect the lovely bit of goods we have

  on offer tonight. Guaranteed as clean and

  virgin as the day she was brought into this

  world. Fresh from the country and not yet

  thirteen years of age, I present our newest

  recruit to our noble profession, little Miss

  Molly."

  Victoria stared past the edge of the screen

  in horror as a dazed-looking young girl

  dressed in a thin white shift was pushed

  into the center of the room. Molly gazed

  around at the leering men and laughing

  women and hugged herself tightly. The

  laughter increased.

  Molly's frightened gaze moved from one

  face to another until her eyes somehow

  collided with Victoria's. The girl did not

  look away. Victoria clutched the arm of

  the chair as the sick feeling in her stomach

  grew more intense.

  Now, then, let us begin the bidding.

  Sweet young things such as our Molly do

  not come cheap," the madam said.

  I think it's time we left," Lucas muttered

  as voices rose loudly in the room. He

  flicked one last, disgusted glance at the

  brothel owner and started to get to his

  feet.

  No." Victoria shook her head, unable to

  look away from the terrified Molly. No,

  Lucas, we cannot leave. Not yet."

  Damn it, Vicky, you don't want to

  see this."

  They are bidding on her, Lucas. As if

  she were a cow or a horse."

  And the winner will take her upstairs

  and introduce her to her new profession,"

  Lucas concluded roughly. Perhaps he

  won't even bother with privacy. Perhaps

  he will do the business right here in front

  of an audience. Surely you do not wish to

  witness such a thing."

  Of course not. Lucas, we must save

  her."

  Lucas stared at her in amazement as he

  sank slowly back into his chair. Save her?

  How do you propose we do that? It is a

  common enough occurrence here in town.

  The young women from the country step

  off the hay wagons straight into the arms

  of ruthless old abbesses such as this one.

  The girls are doomed and there is nothing

  that can be done."

  Well, there is certainly something that

  can be done about this one," Victoria

  stated. I shall buy her."

  Lucas sucked in his breath. You don't

  know what you're doing, Vicky."

  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