Six Masters Island - The Cinderella Syndrome (25 page)

Nicolette smiled, and Sloan wrapped her arm in his, mimicking his father and mother.
 
The twins rose and each took one of Calla’s arms.
 
“We’ll meet you out there.
 
We’re taking the long way.
 
It’s darker and less crowded,” Liam replied.
 
He grabbed Marigold’s leash and she trembled and stood.
 
He whispered, “She’s really
not
selling you, so calm down.”

“Where’s Daryl?” Cynthia asked.

“Upstairs with my sister,” Nicolette answered.

“Sloan, you and Nicolette go get them.
 
We’ll grab a couple of chairs from Albert’s table,” Cynthia directed.

Nicolette knocked on the door and there was frantic shuffling.
 
“Just a minute,” Bridgette called out.
 
There was more banging and some laughing.

“Bridge?
 
Bridgette, the auction’s getting ready to begin,” Nicolette baited.
 
The door finally opened and although the couple looked fine, for the most part, it was obvious they had been interrupted from a ‘deep’ discussion.
 
Nicolette glanced at the girl tied to the post, and her eyes narrowed on a rather erratic placement of pins.
 
This was
not
her sister’s work.

“Come on, Daryl.
 
Mother’s getting a few more chairs so that Nicolette and Bridgette can join us,” Sloan said.

“Um… we have a pretty good view from up here,” Bridgette stammered.

“Of the patio roof, Bridge,” Nicolette replied.
 
“Besides, you know that we have to get this over with.”
 
She leaned over and whispered, “I’m sure you will have plenty of time to show your new playmate how to align them correctly.”

Daryl turned to Bridgette and said, “We have a table in the front.
 
Usually, we’re in the middle, but with Calla’s situation, we’ve moved to the side to get out of some of the lights.”

“Front row?” Bridgette asked.
 
Families earned position by their time in good standing and continuing presentations.
 
She knew that the Venetia’s were an important family, but the fact that they were original founders in their society was a surprise.
 
No wonder Daryl was being chased.
 
“Come on, let’s hurry.
 
They always start with the trashy ones,” she said excitedly.
 
“I can’t wait until next year when I have a few of my own to send up on stage.”

As she pulled Daryl by, Sloan whispered, “Your shoes are on the wrong feet.”

“Shit.
 
Bridgette stop, wait a minute.” Daryl slipped the loafers on correctly, and Sloan smiled at the slight embarrassment on his face.

“I think we have a winner,” Sloan noted, and he squeezed Nicolette’s arm.
 
“Would you like to swing by the bar and grab a Merlot for the auction?
 
I imagine the crowd has thinned out.”

“That would be wonderful, Sloan.”

They got to the table and Calla was arguing with Liam.
 
It happened, once in a while, with the moods of her pregnancy.
 
It was obvious that Bridgette was siding with her.
 
Calla said, “This is silly.
 
She’s going to be stuck staring at the table cloth.”

“She’s a slave, Calla.
 
It’s part of their training,” Liam argued.

“To stare at a white cloth?”

“Patience… we teach them patience,” Kyle answered in agreement with his brother.

“Patience for what?
 
To see if it changes color, or if someone spills something?
 
Whoopee.”
 
Bridgette twirled a finger in the air.

Nicolette waited while Sloan pulled out her chair, and as she sat down she asked, “Who’s staring at a tablecloth?”

“Marigold, my servant,” Calla answered.
 
“Even if I sit on the end, the cloth will be in her way.”

“She doesn’t need to watch, Calla,” Liam repeated.

“Is she a house servant?” Nicolette persisted.

“No, more like a personal maid type thing for me.
 
She was very helpful when I was sick recently, and I think her loyalty should be rewarded.”
 
Her eyes narrowed at Liam.
 
“Instead of making her spend hours on her knees staring at a damn white tablecloth.”

Cynthia nudged Alexander and she nodded towards Nicolette.
 
“Albert confirms that the girls have been out of the country the past year, studying under Master Preston and his sister, Camille.
 
Even the year could not convince them to keep the property, and they’re turning their estate back for sale to the society.
 
Chayton is setting up on his own island, so he’s leaving his share to his sisters.
 
The house was only in the family for four generations, but with their parents both dead, they say the memories are too depressing.
 
They’re announcing the winning bid on the estate tonight.”

“What are their plans after that?” Alexander asked, and he began studying the two young women.
 
Mistresses would practically give up their first born for a chance to study with Preston and Camille.
 
Someone must have spoken highly for them…
Albert and Chayton, of course
.

“Albert says they asked to stay here until they decide.
 
He says they’ve been searching available estates in the area, because he became practically family through their mother’s illness and they don’t want to move to the island with their brother.”

Nicolette put a hand on Liam’s, and he silenced from the argument.
 
“It would be beneficial to let the girl see how the auction works, in case she ever needs to go on display.
 
Even if you keep her, it would be a good opportunity for her to see beautifully trained women.
 
It will give her something to aspire to,” Nicolette reasoned.

Just as Marigold began to relax that she was not being sold, this big discussion about her began between all the Masters and Mistresses.
 
Calla kept brushing her fingers through her hair to calm her.

“What are people going to say if we let her stand?
 
She’ll be in the way of the people behind us, and… it just isn’t done,” Liam decided.
 
Calla was just being oversensitive again, because of the babies.

Nicolette sighed, and she looked at Calla.
 
“She’s yours?”

“Yes, Cynthia gave her to me as a wedding present.”

“And you want her to learn instead of staring at a sheet?” Nicolette persisted.

“I… I guess so.
 
I certainly don’t want her stuck looking at the tablecloth.
 
I mean, it’s okay through dinner, because she’s eating too.
 
This just seems stupid.”

“Fine.
 
Liam, tilt your chair back,” Nicolette said.

“What?”
 
Liam felt Nicolette begin to jerk the back of his chair.

Nicolette slipped the end of Marigold’s leash under the chair, and she grabbed the girl’s chin.
 
Marigold almost peed herself.
 
“Lay down on the grass and you can see the stage from under the cloth.
 
Your Mistress is going to quiz you to make sure you paid attention.
 
Do you understand?”

Marigold gulped, glanced at Calla, and then back at this new woman.
 
“Yyyes, Mistress.”
 
She dove for the grass, avoiding the legs behind her.

“Calla,” Nicolette said in a low voice.
 
“Just pick out a few things you think she can do… and that she’ll remember… and ask her later.”

“Thanks, Nicolette.”
 
Calla realized that Nicolette knew Marigold was not exactly a top slave.

Liam stated quietly, “She was a bit of a misfit, but she tries hard, so mother thought she would be a good starting point for Calla.
 
Calla has been training her own girl, but the pregnancy slows her down a little to manage someone disagreeable.”
 
A thought occurred to him.
 
“How did you know I was Liam?”

“Calla treats you differently.
 
She treats Kyle easier, like she worries about his feelings.
 
She’s comfortable with you, and you give her strength,” Nicolette answered.

An announcer stepped up on stage dressed in a solid black tuxedo, complete with top hat and tails.
 
“Attention… attention everyone.
 
Welcome to the one hundred seventy sixth anniversary of the Winter Display.”

Everyone clapped, and Calla said, “One hundred seventy six years?”

Liam whispered, “Actually, that’s when they formed an official society.
 
Most of the families go back many more generations.”

“First, let me say this is a great turnout, and we have a bountiful selection of merchandise to present this evening.
 
As usual, the brochure of offerings went out several months ago, but updated statistics of any particular interest of yours are in the books in the center of your tables,” the announcer informed them.

“Nicolette?
 
Are you and Bridgette ready?” he asked, searching the crowd after seeing they were not at Albert’s table.

Nicolette reached across the table and squeezed Bridgette’s hand.
 
“Come on.
 
Let’s get it over with so that we can enjoy the rest of the auction.”

“Nicky, what’s going on?” Sloan asked, slipping unconsciously into her nickname.

“We’ll be right back,” she smiled, and the young women walked towards the stage.

“Sloan?
 
Daryl?” Cynthia called.
 
“It might be nice for you to ask them back to the estate for a few days to get their minds off this.”

Recognition hit Sloan first.
 
“The Millers,” he whispered.

Daryl said, “How come I don’t remember them from Displays?”

Cynthia whispered, “Joan was practically bedridden for the past ten years, and the girls were too young to come without an escort.
 
When she died… and then, their father.
 
Boys, just see if they’ll join us for a while.
 
Joan was a good friend of mine.”

“What happened to their father?” Calla whispered to Liam.

Liam shrugged, but Sloan answered, “Officially, it was listed as a car accident.
 
Most of the people that knew them, think he did it on purpose.
 
He was lost without Joan, and Chayton and the girls were old enough to take care of themselves.”

Before she could ask any more questions, Nicolette stepped up to the microphone.
 
“For those of you who don’t know us, I’m Nicolette Miller and this is my sister Bridgette.
 
We would like to thank the society for their support and the many friends who have helped us through this difficult time.”

Cynthia glanced down the table to where Sloan sat with his gaze fixed on the young woman.
 
She nudged Alexander and they both smiled.
 
“She’s perfect.
 
Did you see how she took control of the situation with Marigold?”

Alexander replied, “We may have a double success.
 
Daryl is not exactly disappointed with Bridgette, either.”
 
They returned their attention to the stage, where Nicolette was giving her difficult speech.

“The decision to sell Hawthorne was not an easy one to make.
 
Some of you know, we have spent over a year to make sure that this was our proper course.
 
Even with a year on Six Masters Island, and yes, it was as pleasurably distracting and informative as you ladies could imagine.”
 
There were some brief chuckles and whispers from the tables.
 
“The sadness had not left when we returned home.”

“Bridgette and I have no intention of leaving the society that has meant so much to our family, and we are considering some new properties.
 
For now, Hawthorne needs to be placed in our past.”
 
She turned to the announcer and he handed her an envelope.
 
“We heard there were numerous offers, and we want to thank you.”
 
Nicolette handed the envelope to her sister.
 
“Bridge, why don’t you announce the winning bid?”

Instead of the controlled person Calla saw earlier, the shy, panicked Bridgette surfaced.
 
Daryl chuckled, “She said Nicky would do this to her.”

“God, Daryl, she’s terrified,” Calla said.

“She’ll be fine.
 
Watch what she does.”

Bridgette took the envelope, and her eyes searched the crowd until they focused… on Daryl.
 
He gave her a thumbs-up and smiled at her, and Calla saw her slight nod.

“Thank you, everybody.
 
Mother and father would have been very happy to see the support their friends have shown us,” Bridgette began nervously, staring at Daryl.

Cynthia nudged Alexander, and the twins, Calla and Sloan all looked over to Daryl whose mouth was forming the same words as Bridgette.
 
“Shit, I thought they were fooling around.
 
They were writing a speech,” Sloan whispered to Liam.

“Nicolette and I would also like to thank Albert for his open invitation to stay until we make our decision.
 
We also appreciate his letter to Master Preston for our credentials.”

“Mother told us that the society was founded to be a place for us to live our unique lifestyle in the safety and privacy of supportive friends.
 
She believed in it until the day that she died, and passed on her belief to my brother, sister and me.”