Page 26 of Master of Paradise
Billie nodded. "Met him in N'Orleans."
"Perhaps you're mistaken. It could have beenanother Hampden," Jennifer suggested.
"Ha." Billie's raucous voice cracked outloudly. "No mistakin' Wade Hampden." She leaned toward Nicholas andwhispered hoarsely, "Randiest male ah ever encountered!"
Nicholas tried to keep his face straight ashe struggled with the vision of Billie attracting a man.Perhapsbefore the folds of flesh took over, she possessed someallure.
"Son takes after him." She winked atNicholas.
At this reference to Beau, Jennifer said, "Idon't know what you mean, Aunt Billie."
Billie's laugh was crude and suggestive. "Youwill girl. You will if you keep flutterin' them eyelashes at him,to say nothin' of other anatomical parts."
Jennifer looked shocked. Ladies did notindulge in coarse conversation. Amanda was enjoying the unusualrepartee immensely. Nicholas smoothly steered Aunt Billie intoanother channel of conversation. "I am told New Orleans iscomparable to Paris."
She cocked an eye at him. "It is a city ofcontrasts, enjoyed alike by the very poor and the very rich. Butwhatever their status, the men and women of N'Orleans havesophisticated tastes in all things. Are you a Francophone, Mr.Peacock?"
He looked directly into her eyes and grinned."In most things, Billie."
"Have you actually been to the wicked city ofParis?" Jenny asked, betraying her tender years.
"Upon occasion," he murmured.
"Oh, do tell us about it," Jenniferbegged.
"He wouldn't dream of corrupting us with thesordid details, would you, Nicholas?" Amanda's eyes twinkled.
"Your mother would not approve of thisconversation, and speaking of your mother, I think it would be kindof you both to go and sit with her for an hour." He turned to AuntBillie. "Don't run off. Join me in a bourbon and branchwater out onthe verandah."
He mixed the drinks himself and escorted thelarge lady to a comfortable wicker chair. As the aroma of theglass's contents reached her nostrils, she put her head on oneside. "Ah feel it is only sportin' of me to warn you that ah amaware of what you are trying to do."
"And that is?" Nick asked, amused.
"Ply me with liquor to loosen my tongue."
Nicholas grinned. "I confess."
Her raucous laugh rang out. "It won't work.Ah can hold my liquor like a man. Drink most of 'em under the tablein fact. You are most perceptive, Mr. Peacock. When you look at me,ah feel pinned to the wall like a butterfly. Well, perhaps not abutterfly-- let's say a very large moth."
"You seem to know a lot about men," heprompted.
"Ah am an expert, nay aconnoisseurofmen. Ah'll tell you-- you've probably guessed anyway. Ah ran ahouse in N'Orleans." She smacked her lips over the bourbon. "Ahtell you suh, it was the most respectable whorehouse in the wholeof Lousianna."
He smiled. "Madam Billie's, I presume?"
"True for you, Mr. Peacock. Ah catered to noreal perversions, mind you. No girls under twelve."
Nick almost choked on his bourbon.
"Most men want a body, preferably a prettyone, and a touch of the exotic is always appreciated. Best moneymakers ah ever had were a pair of identical twins. They did asister act. Charged triple for the two of them; would have been aright shame to break up the set. Pretty little blonde things. Gotthem when they were thirteen. Had them five years an' passed themoff as thirteen all that time." She said confidentially, "Gentlemenlike their girls young, you see. In a way though, that's what didme in." She shook her head.
"The twins?" he ventured.
"No, Giles Gregoire, stood high ingovernment. Used to issue me orders for girls. 'Nothin' overeleven!'he'd say. Politicians are the worst you know. Anyway,the old fool got himself shot. Managed to do it in my place, theson-of-a-bitch! The ensuing scandal was hideous. Authorities closedme down and forced me out of N'Orleans. Ah decided to visit my dearhalf-brother until things cooled down. Found life here so pleasantand indolent, why work for a livin'?"
"This county thrives on gossip. Are youaccepted among the hostesses who guard our morals sozealously?"
Her raucous laughter cracked out. "Truth isthat although most of the men hereabouts have visited my place inN'Orleans, not one wife has ever heard tell of Madam Billie."
