The Price of Innocence (The Legacy Series) (20 page)

* * *

Madame Laurent examined his repulsive figure, as he entered through the back door. Taking his coat and hat, she forced a smile over his arrival.

“Madame Laurent! Good to see you this evening.” He leaned into her face and winked. “A rendezvous through the back entrance . . . how intriguing!”

“Good to see you, Marquis. Thank you for accepting my invitation.”

“Tell me, please, where is the little angel?”

“She’s upstairs waiting for you in the Louis XV Chambre.” She motioned him with her finger to follow. “Please, come with me to my office. I have something I must tell you first.”

The fat man waddled behind Madame Laurent, brushing the sweat from his brow, already excited at the thought of the little creature upstairs. She closed the door for privacy and went right to the point.

“She will cost you a little extra. I’ve found out today she is still a virgin, if you can believe that. You may have her, but at a slightly higher price.” Always wanting to get the best money for the flesh sold, there was no crime asking to receive what she believed was fair.

The Marquis took his handkerchief and dabbed the sweat from his face. Bridgette could barely look at the buffoon. “Of course,” he said, taking out his wallet bulging with bills. “How much?”

“It’s 300 francs.”

“Done.” He counted the amount and placed the francs in her waiting hand. His face dripped with sweat. “Tell me, how in the world is she still a . . .”

“Don’t ask. Some foolish treachery between her and another patron who apparently fell for her charms, I’m afraid. Though he paid well for her, I didn’t hire the girl to be kept as a virgin. She’s yours.”

He turned and put his hand on the doorknob. “It’s always a pleasure doing business with you, Madame. I shall enjoy this immensely.”

“She is in the room waiting for you, but don’t be surprised if she reacts negatively. She’s expecting another.”

A wicked smile spread across the Marquis’ face. The entire intrigue caused his arousal even before he set foot on the staircase. It was exciting to be stealing the little woman from another. It might cause her to protest beforehand; nevertheless, he enjoyed rough foreplay.

Finally, at the top of the stairs, huffing and puffing from the climb, he wiped his brow one more time and made his way to the door. His eyes bulged with excitement as grabbed the doorknob. Marquis Barone slipped inside to his waiting purchase and locked the door behind him.

* * *

Robert felt exhausted as he prepared for the evening ahead. He had spent the day overseeing the packing and making last-minute arrangements for his return to England. Everything had been taken care of, and he was nearly ready for his noon departure the following day. All that remained was his last visit with Suzette.

The girl’s situation did not sit well with him, and a disappointing distrust of Madame Laurent raised its ugly head. She had never given him cause for concern in the past, but Robert had a sixth sense about people, and something was definitely not right.

His plan for the evening was to arrive precisely at seven o’clock and head straight for the room to wait for Suzette’s arrival. If she showed any signs of wanting him that evening, he would take her and be done with it. That way, he could leave and forget the entire matter, which he felt at that moment was the best course of action. Then with a clear conscience, he would board the carriage for Calais at noon and be on the ship back to England. All would be over and forgotten.

When he arrived that evening, he proceeded as planned. He checked his hat and coat with the hostess. It was Friday night, and every aristocrat in Paris seemed to be crowded into the selection parlor. He glanced quickly inside, spotted Madame Laurent with her back turned, and took advantage of the situation. He had paid his fee already and had no further business with the woman, so he climbed the stairs two at a time, anxious to reach the Louis XV Chambre.

As he approached the door, he heard the sound of Suzette’s whimpering voice and halted. Someone was inside the room with her, so he placed his ear near the door to hear the conversation.

“Come here, damn it!”

A man yelled, and then her piercing scream met his ears. He grabbed the doorknob but found it locked.

“Please don’t,” her voice pleaded.

The horrid sound of her begging sent Robert into a rage. An animalistic urge to protect Suzette rose inside his chest. He stepped back, lifted his booted foot, and kicked the double doors. They jolted slightly. With another thrust of his leg, his heel hit it again, and the doorjamb split.

Suzette’s terrified scream reached a peak, and her pleas for help were enough to force the adrenalin through his veins to finish the task. The next thrust of his leg broke the frame, causing the French doors to fling wide open and hit the opposite wall with a
crash
.

To his horror, the Marquis’ naked fat body was firmly planted upon Suzette, attempting to force her legs apart with his knee. Suzette’s hands clawed at his back, and he angrily grabbed her arms and pinned them above her head. Torrents of tears flowed down her cheeks. The Marquis, ignoring Robert’s arrival, was about to gain successful entrance into Suzette’s purity. The scene appalled Robert to such a degree that he lost all control.

The moment the Marquis was about to thrust his erection into his purchase, Robert wrapped his arm around the man’s neck and jerked him backward off her body.

“Get your filthy hands off her, you pig!”

Terrorized, Suzette screamed louder as she wiggled her torso away from the Marquis. Her vision caught sight of Robert’s seething face, and she screeched, “Robert, please, help me!”

It was all Robert needed to finish the deed. With every ounce of strength, he flung the Marquis’ naked body off the bed. He landed on his back with a
thud,
which
shook the floor. The Marquis moaned in pain.

“I should kill you for this!” Robert growled.

Immediately, he turned his attention to Suzette. When he saw her nakedness, he pulled a sheet up over her body. The groaning buffoon rolled on the floor at his feet, and Robert continued his angry rant.

“You’re a disgusting animal! I should thrust my knife in your fat gullet and be done with it!”

“I paid for her, you know,” he huffed, out of breath. “She doesn’t belong to you. I want what is due me,” the Marquis argued indignantly, trying to stand up.

Suzette turned away from his grotesque, naked body and clung to the sheet. Robert took out his wallet, grabbed 300 francs, and tossed them into the Marquis’ face.

“Here’s your refund—the price Madame Laurent charged you for a virgin, no doubt.”

“You English trash!” the Marquis growled. “I will not be treated in this fashion. I’ll see that you pay for this!”

Robert was about to pull out a knife from his pocket and carry out his threat. When Suzette’s uncontrollable sobs filled the room, he relented, realizing she had suffered enough.

“Come with me,” he said, holding out his hand to her. She quickly grasped it, and Robert led her shaking body, wrapped in a sheet, to the door. A crowd had gathered outside, other patrons and prostitutes drawn by the noise of screaming and splintering wood. Nadine was among them, and Robert asked for her help.

“Nadine, do me a favor,” he said softly, knowing he could count on her assistance.

“Yes, whatever you need,” she answered, looking at Suzette in his arms.

“Take Suzette back to your quarters, dress her, and bring her downstairs to Madame Laurent’s office as quickly as possible. Whatever you do, don’t let that fat ass touch her again. If he tries, fetch me immediately, and I’ll finish the job.”

Suzette clung to Robert. “Don’t leave me! I’m afraid.”

With sympathetic eyes, he instructed her gently. “I need you to trust me, Suzette. Do as I ask. Dress quickly in whatever you can find and meet me downstairs. Do you understand?”

She nodded, and he released her into Nadine’s care. He sped down the staircase in search of Madame Laurent. Apparently, she had heard the commotion coming from upstairs and was about to ascend the staircase. Robert glared at her and bellowed a command.

“Madame Laurent, a word with you . . . NOW!”

As soon as the word “now” left his lips, the entire parlor within earshot of his voice fell silent. Madame Laurent, well aware of what the discussion was about to entail, answered him tersely.

“Very well. My office then.”

She entered first and quickly walked over behind her desk, in order to put distance between the two of them. Robert slammed the door behind him and stood in front of her. He placed both his hands on the desktop and leaned forward. With clenched teeth, he demanded answers.

“How much, damn you? How much to buy her out of this whorehouse?”

Madame Laurent fell back into her chair aghast over Robert’s frightening demeanor. She had never seen him in such a state of anger. Even a formidable woman such as herself had the good sense to respect the ire of a man when she recognized it.

“I suppose 5,000 francs,” the words spewed from her mouth without thought. “That’s three months of profits I’d gain from her body.”

“Fine, then 5,000 francs it will be. She’s worth all of it. I am taking her with me this instant.”

He opened his coat pocket, pulled out a small checkbook, and flipped it open on her desk. He dipped her feather quill pen into the ink well, scrawled her name on the check, and signed it forcefully. After placing the pen back in its holder, he picked up the check and blew on the ink until it dried. His stare bore into Bridgette with disgust over her cruelty to Suzette, and he threw the check on her desktop.

“You betrayed my trust, woman, and I refuse to return to your establishment again.”

He stomped toward the door and flung it open. Suzette stood at the end of the hallway wrapped in the arms of Nadine. He approached the hostess and asked for his topcoat and hat. The night was chilly, so he took his coat and wrapped it around Suzette’s trembling shoulders.

“I owe you, Nadine, but I’m afraid I shall not be returning here again.”

Suzette grabbed Robert’s arm, afraid of where he was taking her. “Robert, where are we going?”

“Don’t worry, Suzette. Trust me.” He led her out the door to his waiting carriage parked a few yards down the street. As he approached, his driver opened the door with a curious look upon his face.

Robert helped Suzette inside and gave orders to be driven to the Hotel du Louvre. Robert climbed into the carriage and closed the door. Suzette, obviously in shock, sat motionless and pale. Her condition broke his heart, and he sat next to her and drew her into his arms.

The carriage gently rocked to its destination, and Robert stroked her hair with his hand. “It will be all right. I promise you.” As he consoled Suzette, the rapid beating of his angry heart subsided. Finally calm, he explained his violent reaction.

“I have despised that fat pig for many years. He’s been a thorn in my side, and when I saw him on top of you, I could have killed him.” He paused, considering his words. “I should have killed him.”

The realization of what he could be capable of on her behalf shocked Robert. He held in his arms a beautiful, delicate creature that deserved so much more than a life of prostitution. His path, for whatever reason, had crossed a damsel in distress, and she had captured his heart. He felt endearment toward the French Mademoiselle. Unsure of what to do next, he only knew that Suzette Rousseau was never meant to live inside the Chabanais.

* * *

The carriage pulled away, and a shaken Madame Laurent walked back into the hallway to calm down the upset patrons. The Marquis limped down the staircase, his face red as a beet, spewing his rage.

“I damn well expect a replacement,” he growled. “I nearly got killed by that mad Englishman.”

As much as she hated to say the words, she offered her condolences. “I apologize for Lord Holland’s intrusion.” She leaned in and whispered in his ear. “By the way, were you able to accomplish the task?” she asked hopefully.

The Marquis lied. “I damn well did,” he said, puffing his chest out like a male peacock. He wasn’t about to admit defeat in the area of his sexual expertise.

“Good,” Madame Laurent said, satisfied all had not been lost on her behalf. She glanced around the room and saw that her petite Asian prostitute was still available. “May I offer you a trip to the Orient this evening Marquis for your trouble? I’ll even give you a refund.”

He looked at the little Asian beauty, who fluttered her black eyelashes at him, and his arousal returned. “Yes, that will be fine,” he said. He wasn’t about to tell Madame Laurent that Robert had already paid him a refund. As far as he was concerned, it was merely restitution for throwing him on the floor.

His purchase sauntered over to the Marquis and began stroking his forearm. “You wish to come with me?” she purred. The Marquis wasted no time. He followed her up the staircase, puffing the entire way.

Madame Laurent watched the two depart and let out a long drawn-out sigh. Nadine approached with a smirk across her face, determined to ask one more time. “So, does the Louis Chambre XV belong to me now?”

Madame Laurent smirked. “Fine,” she reluctantly agreed. “You may assume your role as queen of the brothel.”

Nadine smiled.

Chapter Fifteen

  Suzette, shaken from the last hour, listened to the
click clack
of the horses’ hooves on the cobblestone pavement. For the moment, she felt safe in Robert’s strong arms. In extreme shock, she remained speechless as the haunting visions of what had transpired returned.

As requested, she arrived at the room on time, spending only a few moments thinking of what lay ahead. She struggled with her attraction for the likeable Englishman, so she played a game in her mind to prepare for the night. She would pretend they were married and it would be their wedding night. The fantasy would allay her fears, and if he stayed true to the tenderness he had expressed beforehand, all would be bearable.