Page 70 of The Enchanted Land

Madame Nicole rushed to them. “Girls … be careful they do not muss their dresses. It will be Mary first, Jessy, Alice, and last”—she looked adoringly at Morgan—“our Morgan.” She was gone, and soon they heard polite applause.

As Nicole addressed her audience, her voice purred. “My dear gentlemen: The first lady is Mary. Mary will need some taming to overcome some of the unpleasant aspects of her personality. But as our Mr. Shakespeare has noted, there are ways to tame a shrew.” Polite laughter. “I apologize for the need for Samson, but I hope you will agree with me that Mary is well worth the extra effort.”

They heard the soft sounds of an orchestra.

“What do you think is going on?” Jessy leaned toward Morgan.

They heard Mary’s voice from the stage. “No!” Then the crack of Samson’s whip.

Alice looked anxiously at the other two women, quickly losing some of her recently acquired courage. They heard Mary sobbing. After a few moments the music stopped and they heard the tearing of paper.

“Mr. Thomas Millsant has just made a purchase,” Nicole called out cheerfully.

There was a rustle of curtains at the other end of the stage, and the three women turned to see Mary, her face buried in her hands, her body gleaming in the dim light.

“Oh, my God! She’s naked!” Alice seemed ready to faint.

Before Jessica could speak, her maids were hurrying her to the other side of the curtain. Morgan had a glimpse of Jessy’s frightened face before she disappeared.

Again Morgan heard Nicole sketching the personality of one of “her” women. She exclaimed over Jessy’s sweetness and complaisance. Again there was music, but there were no screams of protest from Jessy. There was polite, interested applause when the music stopped.

Morgan did not look at the opposite end of the stage when Jessy left it. She tried to make her mind blank, to will it somewhere other than where it was. She knew now what was to happen to her. Alice walked past her. Only vaguely did she hear Madame Nicole expounding on Alice’s virtues and virginity.

It seemed only seconds had gone by when she heard applause, much louder than before, and Madame Nicole’s voice announcing the winner.

Her two servants helped her stand up. They smoothed her hair and dress. Morgan heard Madame Nicole.

“Now, gentlemen, the one you have waited for, the one all San Francisco has heard about. I must warn you now that if the bids are not high enough, I will reject them all. Now we will show you our jewel.”

The music began and Morgan was led out onto the stage. She was glad there was so much light in her eyes, because she could not see the men in front of her. She tried to concentrate on something pleasant, but could find nothing.

The girls walked her back and forth across the stage and then, as she knew they would, they began to undress her. As they removed each layer of clothing, they turned her around to show off all the parts of her. Morgan was aware of low, quiet male voices.

Her body was bathed in the pink light the hundreds of candles gave off. It took the assistants nearly half an hour to remove Morgan’s clothes. Finally, she stood clad only in high-heeled pumps and black silk stockings, held in place by lace garters just above her knees. The girls turned her around and removed the pins from her hair, allowing it to cascade down her back.

It was then that the applause broke out. It seemed thunderous, as if hundreds of men were out there. She heard chairs moving back, scraping the floor. She wanted to run, to hide, but the girls held her arms and Samson blocked the exit.

They led her off after what seemed hours. They had walked her back and forth again, while her hair was down.

The girls put her arms into a robe and she collapsed into tears on the bed in her room. Madame Nicole came in close behind her. “You were sensational! My sale will make history! A standing ovation!”

“You got what you wanted. It’s over for you, but for me it is only just beginning. I’m sold to God only knows who. To some man who will use me in any way he pleases.”

Nicole loved her girls in her way, and it hurt her to hear the venom in Morgan’s voice. She took her in her arms, Morgan sobbing on the woman’s ample breast. “No,chérie, I am not without feeling. For years I held these sales in New Orleans. This is only my second sale in San Francisco, and because of you I am already a great success. You have made a new name for me, and I am grateful.”

She held Morgan’s shaking shoulders. Looking into her tear-filled eyes, she explained, “I was young once. I do know what it means to love someone, truly love someone. I have given you a new chance in life. I did not take the highest bid, and I pray no one will find this out. Your benefactor will suit you well while your broken heart mends. When you are well again, when your mind is as beautiful as your body, you will be able to begin again, to look for another love.”

Morgan wiped her eyes. “I don’t understand what you’re saying, what you mean.”

Nicole stood up. “You will, and I hope that someday you will not hate me. It is not easy to sacrifice a good profit. Girls! Get Morgan’s traveling outfit. Mr. Shaw has a carriage waiting.” She gave Morgan a nod of farewell and left.

“Mr. Shaw! Such a handsome man.” Carrie rolled her eyes.

“Madame Nicole will tan you if she finds out what you’re saying.” Both girls giggled.

“Why are you acting like this, first Madame Nicole and now you two? What’s wrong with this man, this monster she’s sold me to?”

The girls looked at one another and dissolved in giggles. Their fingers were shaking so that they could hardly finish the closings on Morgan’s chocolate-brown cape.

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