Passion Light

by Danielle Elise Girard

  The entertainments were difficult, too, especially since Isabelle was not cut out for thinking up raunchy stuff to entertain low company. She also cared little for gambling. Maybe Angela could handle those parts of it, she thought.

  “I don’t really have any notes,” Isabelle said. “Our menus change every day and other things are handled on a case by case basis.”

  Angela spoke again. “I want you to stay and advise me this weekend. You can leave on Monday so you will be here to help me with any problems that come up. After that I’m sure we can manage without your constant nagging. Additionally I want some of those slackers who hide in the dungeons to make themselves available for our customers’ pleasure.”

  “Those people have tasks that are essential for the success of the parties,” Isabelle said mildly, but she thought it could quickly turn into a disaster. Angela had no idea how much work was required to keep the castle reasonably clean, food coming at all the times customers wanted it, along with plenty of hot water. She also had to oversee other tasks that were both complicated and labor intensive. Clean sheets and other bedding were needed for many rooms more than once a day. Clothing had to be washed, too. The tasks were never ending. Sometimes things happened that no one could anticipate.

  “We need not do some of the things you have been doing, Angela said. “Men are pigs. They don’t need fancy meals or clean bedding every time they mess up the sheets a bit. They also don’t care whether the room is clean. We don’t need all these people waiting on them. They are just more mouths to feed. Your Uncle wants sex workers and people to draw customers to gambling, not waiters and cooks and cleaners. He would like for many of the people here to just leave.”

  Isabelle knew that was what Uncle wanted and there was obviously not much she could do to protect the employment and the rather insecure existence of all the people who lived in the castle.

  “It might not please the customers,” she said. “They want the comfort as well as the sex workers and cards and other gambling. It’s part of their expectations. We have offered some luxury that is unavailable anywhere else.”

  “The men just want sex,” Angela said. “It’s what they all want and they will be happier with more of it and less pampering with other stuff. Believe me, I know men. It’s the sex that makes them come here.”

  Isabelle did not have the heart to argue with her. “Is there anything else right now?” she asked.

  “No, nothing,” Angela said, turning away from them. “I have set up an office in a room next to this one. You can help me with the management this weekend. I will also need any valuables or money you have put back. Your Uncle wants you to leave all of those things here, any jewelry your parents gave you and most of your clothing, not that you know anything about good clothes, but your new husband can provide for you in the future, especially since he has not been cooperative about making an alliance with us.”

  Isabelle felt her eyes burn but she refused to cry. She had a few mementos that she was emotionally attached to, not that any of them were really valuable. It never occurred to her that she would not be allowed to keep them. It seemed someone else wanted her small treasures. She turned and headed for the door when Evan took her hand in his.

  Evan followed and placed his other hand on the small of her back. It comforted her more than she would have expected if she had been able to think.

  Chapter 12

  In a day or two new guests started to arrive. It was Albert’s job to have the first contact with them. His routine involved taking and storing their more lethal weapons, directing the stabling their transportation and giving them a list of the rules. They had to have precious metal to buy their sport, though they were allowed to hold it until they began to order whatever they wanted. Everything from sex to baths to meals to clean sheets cost something, sometimes a lot, depending on what they ordered.

  Isabelle had followed orders and was in Angela’s office. She could do little to make things work for the party. Evan stayed with Isabelle, looking more and more irritated and concerned.

  The office amazed Isabelle, mainly because she had never had one. She managed the castle by walking or running swiftly from one place to another, checking the kitchens, gardens and the laundries, treating wounds or illnesses. The sex workers got hurt more frequently than she wished, in spite of the rules she had to prevent such things from happening. Often the guests did, too. They frequently fought among themselves. She ran through all the passages supervising and then heading back to the dungeons to pass orders on to Albert and Doris. Uncle’s men helped to keep things from getting out of hand, though they were obviously entertained by guests beating on workers or fighting each other. Uncle encouraged betting during such incidents and made money from every altercation.

  Having to stay in Angela’s office was going to make the task of keeping things running smoothly and efficiently nearly impossible.

  Angela was dressed for a party in silk scarves and jewelry and impractical shoes. She was ready to have fun, not manage the business. Isabelle was escorted by two of her uncle’s guards and Evan. He had refused to leave her, but she had been given little choice in what she was required to do.

  Angela asked no questions about how Isabelle managed things. She did not seem interested. It mystified Isabelle why she had to be with her.

  Angela wore a satisfied smile as she told them, “I have given orders that the bedrooms will not be given a good cleaning until the party is over. Most of the cleaners can be fired and we’ll save having to feed them all, too. I’ve kept 5 to handle the housekeeping. The rest will have to find new homes. We’ll keep most of the cooks. We do love our food, but they can do without you, easily.”

  Noise erupted from the great hall. A guest was displeased about his room assignment.

  Albert and a couple of the sex workers managed to get him in a better mood, but things were not likely to go smoothly without Isabelle’s management and ability to anticipate problems.

  Later a fight required Albert’s intervention again. Soon a group of guests gathered in the great hall, complaining loudly about their accommodations and the lack of housekeeping and luxury baths.

  “It might be wise for me to go back to supervising the laundry and cooking,” Isabelle suggested.

  “You will do as I tell you,” Angela snarled. “If these people were competent we shouldn’t have these problems. We clearly need to make changes in both the kitchens and the gardens. Housekeeping should not take as many people and as much time as it does.”

  Then the cooks burned some of the evening meal. No one brought the word to Angela. They were accustomed to Isabelle’s constant advice and had no idea what to do without her presence nearby. They forgot she usually yanked a scorching pot off the fire and dumped the salvageable contents into another cooker before the burned taste spread to the whole pot of food. They were struggling and failing to keep things under control without Isabelle’s constant attention to the details.

  The poor dinner offerings displeased even more of the guests. Soon more of them started to leave, dissatisfied with their party and it’s unusual lack of luxuries.

  Angela was flushed red with the effort and sweating profusely, although she had done no more than needle Isabelle. “What would you do with what is happening?” she asked.

  “I would get word to Albert and Uncle’s men to restore order,” Isabelle replied. “Normally I would not have let things go so far, but there is no way for me to communicate with the right staff from this location.

  “It never looked this complicated to me,” Angela whined. “I’ll go down and see if I can charm some of the guests into staying,” she said.

  “I really think you should let Albert, Doris and I handle this situation in our usual way. I am concerned about your health and I don’t think you should appear in front of this rough group of men in your condition,” Isabelle said.

  “I have told you I can do this. I know how to entertain men much better than you do,” Angela ins
isted. She left the room and asked the two guards to accompany her, leaving Evan and Isabelle alone.

  “I’m going to get my people in here immediately,” Evan said. “This situation is deteriorating rapidly. Anything could happen. There are at least 20 men here who might start a riot or ally themselves with your uncle. Most of your people would be in trouble if that happens.”

  “I must signal Albert, too,” Isabelle said. “I’m very concerned about Angela. She is far more ill than she realizes.”

  In the great hall things were not going well for Angela. Though her enormous chest did gain her some attention the men who were determined to leave did so and quickly. The few who were interested in Angela’s attributes were willing to stay only if she agreed to entertain them. They meant to have sex with her.

  Uncle was in his room with a few of the guests who were being entertained by some strippers. As yet he was unaware there was a problem developing, but the noise in the hall soon reached him.

  Some of the guests were gathered around Angela giving her lots of rude attention, including touching her breasts and pulling the scarves from her swollen body. She was flustered and laughing breathlessly, sounding more panicked by the minute.

  Isabelle ran to the peep holes where she could see what was going on and tried to think how to help. Uncle’s guests tended to be rough with women who were there for their pleasure. Isabelle was sure Angela was not prepared for what the men might demand from her. The woman was ill and could make others ill, too. She began to feel really alarmed.

  “I have people coming,” Evan said softly so that only Isabelle could hear.

  The noise level rose and Angela screeched when a man pinched her breast hard. Isabelle knew it had to hurt and she winched in sympathy. The group was getting more and more rowdy by the second. The whole thing was getting impossible to ignore.

  Uncle appeared at the top of the stairs and could see Angela and her tormenters. He yelled for his guards and some of them came running, but they lacked leadership. Uncle missed poor dead Luther even if no one else did.

  Just then several Evan’s people ran into the great hall. They surrounded Angela and gently escorted her back to her office and sat her down so she could catch her breath. She was nearly naked and her eyes looked bruised and exhausted. “I thought they were going to rape me,” she said weakly. She was shaking with fear and shock.

  Isabelle hurried to her and placed a soft shawl around her shoulders, for warmth. Angela still looked like she might go into shock and her hands were cold and trembling

  “It’s why I never have actual face to face contact with the guests,” Isabelle told her. “They sometimes act like mad dogs. We try to keep them well entertained and pampered partly because it improves their manners. Even a hint of elegance and snobbery can alter the way they react to certain situations and are part of what we have to do to maintain some civility. They are still pretty rough but if we stay on guard we can nip most serious problems in the bud.”

  Uncle burst into the room and ran to Angela. “What were you doing down there?” he asked. “You should never have gone there with all those men in the room, especially in your delicate condition.”

  Then he turned on Isabelle. “What the hell were you doing to let her do this?”

  “She didn’t ask for my advice,” Isabelle said, “besides Evan and his people handled the problem, even if you didn’t want them inside the castle. They’ve left and we have a greater concern. I think Angela should lie down if you can clear out that bunch in your room.”

  Angela looked ready to drop and even Uncle could see it. He went next door and got everyone out of the room so Angela could have privacy. Isabelle came with her and helped her undress and get into bed. Evan and the guard turned away as Isabelle helped her into a gown.

  Chapter 13

  “I have a medical question for you,” Angela said. She seemed unconcerned with the presence of either the guard or Evan.

  “Of course,” Isabelle replied. “I will help if I can,” but she knew she was on dangerous ground. Angela’s days were numbered. Her health had only gotten worse. She was beginning to look ill. It would soon be evident to anyone, even people without Isabelle’s unusual talents. She resisted the urge to look at Evan but she felt him come to attention.

  “I have had some bleeding and some pain with the baby,” Angela said. “I am becoming concerned and I don’t feel well, especially after what just happened.” Her hands were shaking still after her encounter with the men in the great hall.

  Isabelle felt as sorry for Angela as she would any other sick person. She wanted to help the woman. “Do you know how far along you are?” Isabelle asked. “When did you have your last period?”

  “It’s only been three months,” the woman replied, “but I am enormous, larger than I thought I would be, but then I’ve never before been pregnant.”

  “You said you did not feel well,” Isabelle probed. “Describe what you feel.”

  “I feel feverish and my belly hurts quite a bit, even to touch. Sex is very painful. I was horrified at the thought of having to service all those men. Group sex generally grosses me out, especially if I am the only woman in the group.”

  Well, that was a revelation for Isabelle. The poor woman had obviously had some bad experience. No wonder she liked Uncle better. At least he was only one guy with a pencil dick. It was just the thing for a woman who and been used too often and roughly, too. It made her feel a lot of compassion for Angela…reluctantly.

  “Have you had nausea?” Evan asked. He had sensed Isabelle was distracted momentarily.

  “Only in the past few days, but I have not actually thrown up. Today I haven’t felt like eating at all. Normally I love my meals, but right now I can’t bear the thought or scent of food.”

  Isabelle had to ask, based on what she felt about the woman’s health, so she did. “Are you sure you are pregnant?”

  Angela rubbed her swollen belly. “What else could it be?”

  “It could be an infection,” Isabelle said. “I think you are running a fever. Do you feel weak?”

  Isabelle could see the truth in Angela’s desperate eyes. The poor woman was now very alarmed and she was also getting angry.

  Angela looked horribly frightened and gasped out a breathless objection. “It can’t be true. Don’t touch me. You can’t possibly know what you are doing. You’re just jealous because I’m taking over from you.”

  “That’s not it at all,” Isabelle said. “I’m just concerned about you.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Angela snarled. “I want you out of here.”

  “I’ll leave if you want,” Isabelle said, “but I think in light of your symptoms you need to avoid intercourse and rest as much as you can. Bed rest would be best.”

  Evan took Isabelle’s hand and was already walking toward the door, pulling her with him. She could feel his concern. The guard flung it opened and slammed it shut in their wake. They could hear Angela crying like a hurt child. It broke Isabelle’s heart.

  They went toward the stairs as Evan leaned toward her and asked, “Do you know…see what I see?”

  Isabelle shook her head and said, “Wait until we get to my room.”

  Chapter 14

  As soon as the door closed she turned to him and said, “She’s not pregnant. She’s got an infection and she is dying. I don’t think I could save her now no matter what I did. It might be better if I’m just not involved in what’s going to happen.”

  Evan took her in his arms. “I think you are right about what’s happening to her. She looks and worse still, smells ill. I’m sure she is going to go faster than ever now, after the shock she had earlier.”

  “What will happen when she dies?” Isabelle asked. “Uncle will be furious.”

  Evan shook his head. “We need to make some plans. Knowing what’s coming gives us an advantage, but we have to be ready.

  Isabelle stopped her hand wringing, which was unproductive at best and nodded. H
e was right. They did need to make plans,

  “Can we get a bath?” he asked.

  “Come, I’ll show you,” Isabelle said as she pulled him toward another door they had not yet explored. A hot bath waited for them thanks to Albert’s primitive hot water system. The water was heated in covered tanks on the roof by the weak sunlight and piped into some rooms, Isabelle’s being one of them. The guests shared a bath if they liked to bathe in public. Others paid for private baths.