Page 1 of The Duke's Pet

Chapter One

Jemima gripped thehandle of her small wicker basket and stared up at the sign over the entrance to The Rose and Thorns. She’d never thought her life would come to this. That she’d have to swallow her pride and become a plaything, an object of pleasure, for men.

But it had. And she couldn’t see any other way to survive. It was this or die.

“It’ll be okay, don’t look so worried,” Emily, her friend of old said. “Mrs. Riley is a fair madam. She’ll make sure you’re fed and have a warm bed.”

Jemima nodded. Her parents had died suddenly of fever nearly a year ago, and it had been a long cold winter up on the Yorkshire moors. She’d been hungry most of it too, the crops having failed during her grief due to flood. And now, destitute and penniless, she had no choice but to enter a world of pleasure for money, of laying her virginal self down and doing what she needed to.

“And the fellas here are okay.” Emily opened the door to the tavern.

A rush of warm beer-laden air and a roar of deep male voices spilled out. A ruddy-cheeked man barged past them, holding his gut. He tipped forward, gripping the wall, and vomited on the cobbled street.

Jemima recoiled.

“Well, mostly they’re okay.” Emily slipped her arm around Jemima’s waist. “Come on, this way.”

They entered the throng of people. The floor was spread with sawdust and candlelight threw amber shadows over lusty, laughing male faces. Behind the bar girls served drinks, the necklines of their dresses low, their ample breasts spilling over the top, one girl exposing the dark arcs of her nipples.

“We’ll go straight upstairs,” Emily said, her grip tightening on Jemima and urging her forward. “Don’t make eye contact with anyone, not yet.”

Jemima’s heart rate soared and her mouth dried as they pushed forward. The heat of bodies wrapped around her and seemed to fill her nose, her lungs, and her blood.

She blinked rapidly as they walked through a puff of pipe smoke, then she gasped when a hard smack landed on her rump.

“Hey.” Emily turned and jabbed her finger at the culprit. “This one ain’t for sale.”

“Well, she should be.” He leered forward, showing off the fact he had no top teeth.

This is a terrible idea.

Jemima pressed closer to Emily as they continued.

“Alright, Em?” a tall bearded man said, folding his arms and looking down at them.

“Aye, thanks, we’re fine, Will, just heading to see Madam.”

---