Seducing the Master (An Erotic Historical in the Red Chrysanthemum Series) (31 page)

“I would have him a hundred times,” Terrell
blurted before thinking.

“He is as good as that then?”

“He is…unlike the others.”

“Yes, and for that reason, he is a danger to
us.”

“How can that be?”

Sarah looked wistful. “Because we shall only
torture ourselves with longing for a man whose company must surely
come to an end sooner than we wish.”

“By company, you intend something more than
venereal.”

Sarah studied her. “I suppose you might be
in less peril than those of us with a more tender inclination.”

“If you fear I might fall in love with
Master Gallant, I am far too practical to succumb to that sort of
infatuation. I would venture to say that I am incapable of tender
emotions.”

Sarah shook her head. “You’ve not such a
cold heart.”

“It’s true I’m not completely devoid of
benign sentiment, but, in my situation, I cannot allow for
affection. It does me no good.”

“I will take inspiration from such
pragmatism. It—and faithfulness—have not done me good either.”

Terrell smiled in encouragement. “I cannot
know love, but I can know pleasure, corporal pleasure, to the
fullest.”

“Yes! I know too many women who have neither
love nor the pleasures of the flesh in their marriage. At least I
may know the latter.”

“Does Captain Gracechurch come tonight?”

“He set sail this morning for Lower Canada
and will be gone at least two months. I do not mind the reprieve.
Tonight I will care for Georgie on my own and wish you well in your
endeavors.”

“If all goes well, I will find you and
Georgie fast asleep upon my return,” Terrell acknowledged. She
reached under her pillow for
Fanny Hill
, which she had
retrieved last night from the scene of her crime.

“If I were a betting man, I would lay the
odds in your favor. If he submitted to you once, he will do it
again. Men are predictable creatures.”

“Thankfully so.”

Book in hand, Terrell took her leave of
Sarah and Georgie. She had two objectives tonight. First, for many
reasons, she wanted Miss Katherine to make significant progress.
Second, she wanted Master Gallant to accept her as his submissive.
The events of last night had hardly quenched her desire for him.
Rather, she knew now, beyond doubt, that she wanted Master Gallant
in the fullest way possible. And she would not rest until she had
him.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

“T
his matter with Miss
Terrell concerns me greatly,” said Madame Devereux. “I mean to
speak with her but wished to consult you first.”

This was the meeting Charles had
dreaded. He had learned from Baxter that no note from the
Wendlessons had arrived. Thus, Miss Katherine, and likely the
viscount as well, would be expected. It was possible Miss Terrell
had once again intercepted any communique, but Charles sensed
enough contrition in her last night to believe she would behave
herself better tonight.

Joan reached into the bowl of
confections upon her writing table. Chewing a chocolate confection,
she expounded, “As you may know, Wendlesson approached me the other
night requesting—practically demanding, I should say—the assistance
of Miss Terrell. As you can imagine, it is hard to refuse him. He
has been such a devoted patron.”

“
And a generous one, I should
think,” Charles added. Seated opposite Joan in a settee, he
reserved further comment to himself. While he had not the wealth of
Wendlesson or Arthur, he was situated well enough in the way of
funds that he could bandy money about to further his own purposes.
It was simply not his habit or his inclination.

“
You understand me too well, my
dear Charles. I have no wish to upset Wendlesson, but while Sir
Arthur is new to the Red Chrysanthemum, I have no wish to upset him
either, and one of his conditions in seeking the company of Miss
Terrell is that she not entertain the attention of any other
man.”

Charles was loath to keep secrets, but, despite his
avowal to do so yesterday, he did not wish to betray Miss Terrell
to Joan.

“
Was Sir Arthur’s stipulation made
known?” he asked.

“
I explained as much to
Wendlesson, and Miss Terrell is well aware of her restrictions, but
I do not trust the girl. Where money can be had, she will not turn
away.”

“
Perhaps she hopes to purchase
better accommodations. The room she shares with Miss Sarah is
barely comfortable for one person, let alone two.”

“
They have no complaints, for it
is far easier for them to receive their room and board
here.”

“
You could let them use one of the
rooms upon the third floor without impacting the activities of the
membership. If she felt better provided for, she might have less
need to seek out every possible coin.”

“
Her compensation, especially with
Sir Arthur as one of her suitors, is more than decent.”

“
She gives little appearance of
it. I wonder she has more than one shift.”

“
What she does or does not do with
her funds is her affair. Perhaps she is partial to gin or
gaming.”

He considered the possibility.
While he did not know Miss Terrell well enough, he saw no evidence
to indicate she squandered her money on such pursuits.

“
I wonder that their kind have the
forbearance to resist simple temptations,” Joan added.

Charles raised his brows. “Their kind? Whatever
their vices or failings, which seem to differ little from those of
any other mortal, they have proved among your most profitable
members.”

Joan raised her brows in turn.

“
I doubt any of your other members
could claim a prize as rich as Sir Arthur. And then there is
Mistress Primrose. She may not have the complete appearance of a
blackamoor, but it is plain she is of mixed blood. Her two
submissives are Edeltons, and from what I gather, absurdly devoted
to her. It would not surprise me if she could milk their last penny
from them.”

“
Your acumen is impressive. Yes,
well, it would seem I’ve had a bit of luck with their kind. But
Miss Terrell could easily jeopardize her situation with Sir Arthur.
I have a mind to forbid her any further dealings with
Wendlesson.”

“
The viscount is interested
primarily in his wife.” As he spoke, Charles hoped this to be true.
“Miss Terrell’s presence affords Miss Katherine
comfort.”

“
Yes, I understand, for Wendlesson
said as much. In truth, this surprises me much about Miss
Terrell.”

Much about Miss Terrell is
surprising
, Charles thought. Aloud, he
said, “I think, if we grant one or two more nights with Miss
Terrell’s assistance, we may reach enough progress that her
presence will no longer be required. Without doubt, my task with
Miss Katherine would have been much more difficult, near
impossible, were it not for Miss Terrel’s assistance. Lord
Wendlesson cannot grant me more time. Without Miss Terrell, I fear
I cannot accomplish the objective we all wish for.”

He had not intended to defend Miss Terrell’s
participation in the education of Miss Katherine as strongly as he
did, but he granted that the Viscountess benefited from the
blackamoor. He had, of course, his own selfish interest in seeing
Miss Katherine advance as much as possible. If he succeeded, his
servitude with Joan would be at an end. It was the only motive he
would permit for himself to entertain.

Joan sighed and reached for another chocolate. “I
suppose I must allow it then. But you will see that she behaves
herself?”

“
I do not think she intends to
seduce Wendlesson.”

“
Nevertheless, you will ensure
that Wendlesson’s attention remains fixed upon his
wife?”

“
Gladly.”

He did not confess that his own
attentions needed guarding. He meant what he said to Miss Terrell,
that there could be nothing betwixt them. But she had a way of
confounding his statements. He was not a capricious man, not a man
who made idle threats, not a man given to harsh statements or
treatments toward the fair sex, yet it would seem he was all these
things when it came to Miss Terrell.

“
I should like to see Sir Arthur
become a full and continued member of the Red Chrysanthemum,” Joan
said. “Perhaps I can persuade him to take an interest in Miss Sarah
or one of the other members in place of Miss Terrell.”

Charles made no reply. Having tasted of Miss
Terrell, Sir Arthur might as easily be persuaded to give up
Bordeaux for rot-gut gin.

“
At least I can trust you will
handle the situation,” the proprietress continued, giving him a
large smile. “Indeed, I feel much relieved of the dilemma after
speaking with you. I wonder that I was not too hasty in offering
your freedom?”

He cringed inwardly at her declaration of trust. He
wanted to say he was not as worthy of her trust as she believed,
but said instead, “If I fail to protect the interests of the Red
Chrysanthemum, you may reclaim my servitude.”

“
That is kind of you, Charles, but
I will do right by you, not merely because you are a valued member
here, but because I value our friendship. As Miss Katherine may be
here already, I will detain you no further.”

Standing, he readily took his
leave. He vowed to strengthen his forbearance where Miss Terrell
was concerned. Last night was an exception, complicated by her
outrageous deeds and his own miserable actions. He could not have
known that she wished to hide her gruesome disfigurement from him,
but he would have expected better of himself to refrain once he had
heard the panic in her voice, which, without the haze of anger
clouding his head, echoed plain in his ears. Though he could only
wish that tonight would hold no surprises, he was determined, for
all their sakes, not to succumb to Miss Terrell.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

S
till giddy and nervous
from the events of the prior evening, Terrell allowed herself to
dream of another night with Master Gallant. He had said there could
be nothing more betwixt them, but there might come a time when she
could renew her request for him to make her his submissive for a
night. One night would seem less daunting to him. And if she could
secure one night, he might be inclined to more afterwards.

“
You are exceptionally alluring
tonight,” Terrell remarked to Miss Katherine as she removed the
pins from the viscountess’ hair. It was a quiet night at the Red
Chrysanthemum and they had the dressing room to
themselves.

“
Am I?” Miss Katherine responded
as she looked at herself in the vanity mirror. “I purchased a new
shade of rouge. You do not think it too bright?”

“
It is very pretty.”

“
It is called Rose of Venus. I
thought the name appropriate for the evening.”

Miss Katherine blushed, and
Terrell thought she saw a sparkle of eagerness in her eyes. Terrell
inquired into the health of the countess.

“
Better,” Miss Katherine replied.
“The countess suffers from bouts of insomnia, but his lordship
offered to sit by her side till she fell asleep. She did so in ten
minutes! When I am there, she must first lament her condition for
at least half an hour.”

Terrell smiled as she brushed Miss Katherine’s long
locks. How easily the brush slid through the soft, thin hair!

“
What say you we surprise the
gentlemen tonight?” Terrell asked.

“
What do you mean?”

“
Is it said that ours is the
weaker sex, but in venereal matters, their sex is often the weaker
because the eros reigns supreme for them. They lust for our bodies.
Let fall the garments from your shoulders and bosom, and they fall
to their knees.”

Miss Katherine shook her head. “I could not bring my
husband to his knees.”

“
You can. And you shall.” Several
thoughts went through her. “If he be on his knees already, you will
bring him to his feet.”

Miss Katherine’s breath grew shaky at the
prospect.

“
Would you like this?” Terrell
asked.

Miss Katherine nodded.

“
And would you be willing to press
yourself further to accomplish this?”

“
How?”

“
Follow me lead. Worry not. I will
not have you do that which you are not ready for. And you always
have at your disposal the safety word. Do you recall
it?”

Finding that she sounded like Master Gallant,
Terrell smiled to herself.

“
Jean,” Miss Katherine
answered.

“
Good. Then let us finish
undressing upstairs.”

Gallant had left only brief
instructions for the women to await him in their appointed room. He
and Lord Wendlesson had been requested to attend upon Madame
Devereux, who wished a word with the gentlemen. Terrell could not
help suspecting that she might be the subject of their
discussion.

Once in the familiar room, she was reminded of all
that had transpired the previous night. She could not look upon the
chair without recalling how Master Gallant had been bound to it,
his cock at her mercy. Looking to the bed, and in particular the
edge her arse had rounded, she felt a tingle where his paddle had
landed. Heat began swirling between her legs.