Page 93 of Embracing the Earl (The St. Clairs 3)

Within half an hour, Coswell and the woman were back, clothing hanging over both their arms. Coswell demanded they remove all their clothes. Caroline hid her horror and slowly began taking off her layers with the woman’s help. Emily could barely move, though. Coswell took out his knife and cut her layers away. Caroline had to lower her eyes to hide her rage and humiliation as she continued removing what she wore.

The woman rouged their cheeks and lips. She also powdered Caroline’s cheek, trying to hide the bruise from Coswell’s blow.

The woman had them sit on the bed and she dressed the first of them in a chemise and then did the same with the other two. Then she placed stays on Caroline and laced them so tightly that she had trouble breathing. The stays were cut to reveal a large portion of her creamy flesh, forcing her bosom up until it almost spilled from the stays. She let her head loll, pretending the drink had affected her. The woman continued dressing them until each woman wore a tight, revealing dress, so unyielding that they could no longer sit and had to be leaned against the wall. Emily began sliding down it and Coswell caught her, throwing her over his shoulder. He grabbed Caroline’s elbow and jerked her along as the woman brought Belinda.

They went down the long corridor and down a staircase, entering an anteroom. She could hear a voice and recognized it as Netherby’s, the owner of this gaming hell.

“Tonight, we have three very different beauties for you to choose from. Remember, gentlemen, only gold is accepted, so bid accordingly.”

Coswell propped her against the wall and pushed back a curtain. She could see Netherby standing on what looked like a raised platform, a light shining brightly on him. Coswell joined him and slipped Emily from his shoulder, standing behind her and holding her at the waist so she wouldn’t fall.

“This fresh-faced girl is but fifteen,” she heard Netherby say. “What can I get for her?”

Voices began calling out sums, sickening Caroline. When the bidding slowed, Netherby declared a winner.

“You can claim your prize, Lord Sims, at the conclusion of the auction, when all payment is due.”

Coswell lifted the maid over his shoulder again and brought her back, dumping her on the floor. By now, Emily didn’t look conscious. Coswell grabbed Belinda and walked her out.

“This is a lord’s daughter, though a bastard one. Only eighteen and a virgin, her nether curls as dark as her luxurious hair.”

Caroline saw Netherby hoist Belinda’s skirts up, revealing her as the audience cheered. It took everything she had not to show her disgust. She would get through this, whatever Netherby did, and hoped he and all of the men in that room burned in hell come Judgment Day.

New bids were called out. It took longer to sell Belinda but she was finally returned and placed on the ground next to Emily. Then Coswell grabbed Caroline’s wrist and dragged her into the light. She let her head droop and her body sagged. Coswell latched on to her waist from behind to hold her up. He reeked of garlic.

“This, gentlemen, is our prize of the night. A caramel-haired beauty of thetonwith everything your dark desires call out for.”

She sensed anticipation rippling through the room and then a man called out a sum double what Belinda had gone for. A bidding war ensued between two men.

“I won’t go a guinea higher unless I’ve seen her breasts,” one of them called out.

Caroline couldn’t believe his words. Already, more of her was on display than she’d thought possible. She bit her lip as Coswell’s arm went about her waist, holding her to him. Then he yanked at her neckline, tearing the material, and her bosom was bared to the room. Shame filled her as the group whistled and stomped their feet.

Then it became worse. Coswell’s hand squeezed her right breast hard and he called out, “Good and plump!”

The room roared in approval.

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