Napoleon's Gift (11 page)

  His hand left my
hair; he gripped my shoulder with one hand, and my hip with the other guiding me. I could feel it building, as he leisurely moved. He reached around me, rolled his fingers, and I screamed. I pushed back, and this time he moaned, his rhythm just a bit faster.

I could hear the kiss of our flesh.

I screamed again as the sensations built, pulling me into the orgasm. He yelled, and with one last stroke fell forward.

He looked at me grinning, then smoothed the hair from my face.  He kissed my forehead, then rolled to the side gasping for breath.

“Ye my sweet are a prize.” He said grinning, then pulled me to him and kissed me again.

“
Je ne comprends pas
.” I do not understand, I said, he smiled and kissed my forehead again.

“
Dormir, vous en avez besoin. Nous parlerons de cela demain
.” Sleep, ye need it. We shall speak of this on the morrow. He grinned, then pulled me into him.

I sighed closing my eyes.

I had never experienced anything of the sort
, I thought as I felt the spirits and the lovemaking lulling me to sleep.

Benjamin knew
when she fell into sleep, by her even breathing.

He smiled as he looked down on her.

He had never made love like that in his entire life!

Just the thought of her whispered yes, stirred him, and he shook himself.

He needed to tread lightly with her, least he find himself in love and committed to her. He asked himself if it was because she reminded him so much of Geneviève that he felt this way after a few hours with her
.

He
speculated frowning, nevertheless she had touched something in him he thought long dead. He frowned again, as he thought about another man caressing her as such.

He was quite
sure; she conveyed him the truth about her sexual relations. Although a born seductress, he could easily distinguish she had no vast relations or couplings with men.

He kissed her forehead again, then eased himself out from under her.

He smiled as he watched her while he dressed.

He meant that, as of this moment, she belonged to him.

When he was dressed, he quietly exited the room, to go in search of the Madame.

He found her in the parlor, just as Bartholomew was
descending the stairs.

“I
trust everything went well.” Madame Soleil purred, and he frowned.

“The
girl, which ye sent to me?”Benjamin inquired his frown still evident.

“Was she not to your liking?” Madame asked with a slight frown
of her own.

“Yes she was, completely. I wish to
procure her for the duration of her services.” Benjamin said, and Madame choked on her wine.

“
Répéter
?” Repeat she wheezed, and Benjamin sighed.

“I believe ye understood. I will
compensate for each night, for the duration of my stay here in advance. She is not to entertain anyone else but me.” He said, and Madame smiled.

“That shall require a sizeable amount of coin ma lord.” She grinned, and Benjamin frowned even deeper.

“It is of no concern. Transmit the bill to the estates, and it shall be tallied.” He stated, turned for the door, then paused.

“And her name?”
Benjamin asked, and Madame frowned again.

“My word ma lord, but I cannot
verbalize. I do believe she never informed me.” Madame Soleil stated, just as surprised as Benjamin.

“Fine, send the bill.”

“As you wish my lord.” She bowed, and both men exited the establishment.

Madame Soleil clapped her hands in glee.

She knew from the moment the girl walked in, she had struck gold.

She hurried up the stairs to the brown room.

When she entered, the girl was asleep. She clapped her hands several times, and the girl jerked awake.

“It is time for you to leave
chér
, especially if you do not wish for your precious granny to have knowledge of this.” She commanded, and I nodded as I got up. “You will find your clothes in the red room where you left them.” She said as I put on the dressing gown, nodded and hurried from the room, her following me at a brisk pace.

“You have made quite
the impression with the Earl; you are to labor for him and him solely.” She stated, I paused to gaze at her, and she nodded.

I gave her a slight smile before I realized it.

“I see this is to your liking.” She grinned, and I bit my lip to keep from smiling, as I nodded slightly.

“Then I shall see you this evening.” She said, then walked away before I could reply.

I dressed quickly, rushed down the stairs, then gasped as I saw the first shards of daylight.

My lord! Had I truly spent the entire night with him?

I frowned as I saw Monique walk into the parlor.

“Madame has asked Harvey to carriage you home, since the hour is very early.” She said, I nodded, and Harvey instantly appeared. I nodded as he bowed, then motioned me out the door.

***

Madame frowned as constable Jefferies came through the entry.

“My
recompense.” He hissed as he stepped in front of her, and Madame looked up at him with such contempt, had she been poison he would have immediately fell dead.

Madame frowned
as she walked around the specialized counter.

Most people
did not know it, but Madame’s was Napoleon’s quiet little gift to New Orleans. Madame was not the first to run the establishment.

Prostitution was one of the staples of the
French Quarter
; yet, New Orleans’ first anti-prostitution ordinance was the 1857
Lorette
ordinance, which prohibited prostitution on the first floor of buildings, which was why her girls did business upstairs.

However
, soon after it was signed, it was declared unconstitutional, but by then it was more comfortable for the many establishments to keep it that way. In July 1865, after the Civil War, more regulations were made leading up to the creation of the R
ed-Light District
. Yet, since St Louis, Missouri passed the
Social Evil Ordinance,
empowering the Board of Health to regulate prostitution, the state of Louisiana seemed next.

Madame
frowned again.

However, this was
not France
.

She thought, as she motioned Monique to the strong box.

Jefferies smiled, bowed, then left the establishment.

Madame, would have to think of something soon, or he would break her.

She immediately thought of Cole.

Haven

Plantation…

I had to make haste before
the sun came up, because I would have no explanation of where I had been all night.

My word! What would Isaiah think?

I jumped down from the carriage, waved to Harvey, then rushed into the house. Isaiah startled awake, then frowned at me.

“I am
truly repentant, I was with Ms. Claudette after town, and seemed to have lost all track of time.” I said, his frown disappeared, replaced by a slight smile.

“Ms.
Claudette is quite the angel.” He said, and I smiled.

I could
perceive he fancied her.

Not that it would ever come to fruition.

“And Granny, how is she?”

“My apologies
chér
, but she hasn’t made a peep.” He replied, and I sighed nodding.

He bid me good morning, then left the house.

I went to Granny, pulled the blankets up to her chin, then kissed her forehead.

Blowing out the lamp, I walked to my own room and removed my clothes.

As I did, I instantly got images of our lovemaking, and it made my knees weak.  So much so, that I had to sit on the bed to steady myself.

When the images finally left my head, I dressed for sleep, then climbed into the bed and pulled the blankets up to my chin.

As I thought on him, I realized I had somehow not gained his name!

My word, sometimes I am completely
addled
. I thought sighing, as I felt sleeps pull, and saw those magnificent dimples of his.

I had best watch myself, least I find myself haplessly in love with him. I knew a relationship as such could never be allowed to prosper, and I knew this to be true by my parents.

Chapter Five…

Haven

Plantation

Benjamin absently ate the sausage and eggs Mildred placed before him moments ago.

His mind could not cease reverting to her, and he knew not what her name was.
However, as he thought of Geneviève, he felt the stirrings of guilt. He was utterly torn between the two of them.

“What has ye
so distracted this morn chum, I daresay I’ve called yer name thrice.” Bartholomew gripped, and Benjamin finally looked at him with a slight frown.

“Tis nothing.” Benjamin sa
id, waving off his comment.

“I take
it she has made quite an impression with ye?” Bartholomew grinned, and Benjamin looked at him sharply.

“Who?” He questioned frowning, and Bartholomew grinned.

“The young lady ye paid for in advance.”

“Humm
...that she has. I am not at all sure that is wise.” Benjamin muttered, then looked away from Bartholomew.

The
y both looked up as Abel walked into the room.

“Did ye find Geneviève?” Benjamin asked, and
Abel nodded.

“Sir, she waited
, but Ma lords did not make it back from town.” Abel returned, and Benjamin nodded frowning slightly.

“Have her here directly after the morning meal.” Benjamin commanded,
Abel nodded, then left the room.

“I
must say she’s a flighty one.” Bartholomew stated, and Benjamin nodded.

Benjamin
sighed as he thought about the girl from last evening again.

Could there truly be anything between them?

Were his notions of taking her from a life as such, just those?

Moreover,
what of Geneviève, he had loved her for years.

Would she even have him now, especially after what happened?

It was the very reason he was reluctant to come in the first place.

How could he face her, even now?

They looked up as Clarette Ampère walked into the dinning area.

“Clarette, has it not been ages?” Benjamin cried as he rose to embrace the graying woman, and she laughed as she embraced him back.

“I believe it has. It was dreadful news of your father Ben, and I was quite sorrowful at his passing.”

“
Thank ye very much for that; however it was a peaceful passing. I could not have asked for more if he was to leave this life.” Benjamin replied as he gestured to the chair next to him and she sat down.

Lucy
immediately placed the breakfast rolls and coffee in front of her, but Clarette waved off the food and motioned to the china cup. Lucy filled it, then went back to the kitchens.

“And have you been to see Gaillard?” She questioned as she sipped the coffee, and Benjamin shook his head.

“No, I only arrived the day before yesterday, still unable to wrap my head around this entire thing. Why ever would Tobias bequeath this to me?”

“Because you know yourself, these narrow minded people here, excluding us French of course, would never allow Geneviève to procure his lands, no
r his money, because of the color of her skin
chér
.” Clarette replied, and Benjamin nodded frowning.

“Then I take it, it is best if I was to see him at once. When ye sent the
letter, Mr. Gaillard attached a replication of the will, but I daresay, because of this Mr. Charles, I should have the original.” Benjamin asked looking up at Clarette, and she nodded, still frowning.

“You had best.
Charles has been after Tobias to sell to him ever since he became ill. I personally think it is only to get his hands on Geneviève.” Clarette spat with such contempt, that both Benjamin and Bartholomew frowned.

“Whatever do ye mean?” Benjamin
asked, immediately incensed.

“You have not see
n the
petite fille
in many years. She has grown to be
une très belle jeune femme chér
I promise you. He wants her, not the land, nor the money. She is the one thing that he has not been able to procure, because Tobias threatened to take his life if he ever touched his daughter. However, now that Tobias has passed on, she is vulnerable.” Clarette sighed, and Benjamin’s frown deepened.