Page 7 of The Duke's Pet

“Purring.” Despite herself Jemima giggled. “What does he mean by that?”

“Who knows?” Emily shrugged. “Men have some strange requests at times.”

“It is a shame I cannot help him out.” Madam flapped the letter. “Because it’s something we don’t have, a virgin. Damn bad luck when the money is enough to get the roof fixed and pay off my debt to old Nick Ballins.”

“Jemima.” Emily inclined her head, as if encouraging Jemima to speak.

Jemima’s heart did a strange rolling beat, as if it knew her next sentence would be momentous and would change the course of her life.

“What is it?” Madam asked.

Words were stacked on Jemima’s tongue. She swallowed, bit on her bottom lip.

“What is it?” Madam repeated. She hauled herself to her feet, setting down her glass of sherry and the letter. “Are you...?”

“Yes, she is,” Emily blurted. “She told me.”

“Oh, dear Lord.” Jemima reached for the small cross she kept around her neck. A flush of heat traveled over her cheeks.

“You are, aren’t you?” Madam’s eyes widened. “We wouldn’t even have to pretend and hope he didn’t notice.”

“I... I have never been with a man,” Jemima managed. “It is true.”

Madam walked up to her, her gait slow and lumbered. She cupped Jemima’s chin in her hot hand. “And you were going to start work here, for me, tonight?”

“I have nothing, Madam, except for the clothes I stand up in, and clearly they are of little use to me. I was going to have to borrow a dress from Emily.”

“Oh, sweet child.” Madam shook her head. “You really should have said something.”

“And would you have let her start work here?” Emily asked.

“Why, yes... but her first client would have been the highest bidder, not one of the usual drunks. We can make a good profit from a virgin.”

“You’re not going to get a bid higher than that.” Emily nodded at the letter.

“Yes, but...” Jemima tucked the cross back into her dress and wrung her hands together. “What will happen in that week?”

“You’ll give this rich man your maidenhood.” Madam released her chin and turned. She leaned on the dresser as she moved back to her chair. It was as though her legs pained her. “And you will do whatever else he desires of you, no matter what. Consider this your week’s trial for The Rose and Thorns. If you pass and the duke is satisfied, if he pays up with no complaints about your behavior, then you can start work here. From that point on you’ll get a percentage of what you earn the house.”

“All you have to do is lay back, close your eyes, and think of something else for a week.” Emily laughed.

Jemima gulped. What if he wanted to do a whole manner of strange things to her? There was no Will there to holler for should she need him. This duke might be a twisted old fella who’d use and abuse her for his own enjoyment. It couldn’t be normal to have to pay for a virgin to come to his house.

“Call the delivery man in,” Madam said.

Emily opened the door and shouted for him.

The man came in, his head a little bowed and twisting his hands together, as though he really didn’t want to be there.

“You can tell the duke we can accommodate his needs.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“And if he sends a carriage at noon tomorrow, his package will be ready.”

“I will relay the message. Thank you.” He backed out of the room.

“That,” Madam said when the door was closed, “will give you time to bathe, eat, and have a good rest. We need you looking the part of a young maiden when you step onto the Hillcrest estate.” She paused and frowned. “Not that we’ll be able to feed you up in that time, but we’ll work with what we have.”

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