Page 71 of The Enchanted Land

“Get out of here—do you hear me?” Morgan’s voice was low, but getting louder as her panic rose. “Get out!”

Quickly, the girls left the room, clicking the door closed behind them. Immediately it opened again. Morgan didn’t look up, but continued staring at her hands. “I told you to get out. I’ve had enough of…”

She looked up into the eyes of an extremely handsome man. He was probably in his forties, but his skin was clear and youthful. His hair was blond and waved back from his head. His eyes were blue. His shoulders were wide and his chest thick, tapering to slim legs.

Morgan stared, speechless. He seemed too perfect to be real. He motioned for her to look in the mirror. What she saw startled her. Their reflections were very similar. Their hair and eyes were surprisingly alike.

“It’s as if we were brother and sister, don’t you think? I was startled at the resemblance myself, when I saw you inside. Turn around and let me look at you.” He took her chin in his hand. “Mmm, yes. I was afraid Nicole had used makeup to cover flaws, but I can see there are none.”

Morgan jerked her head from his hand. “I assume you are Mr. Shaw.”

“You do not have to say that as if I were an insect. Yes, I am Theron Shaw. You may call me Theron.”

“Well, Mr. Shaw,” she emphasized the words, “what do you have planned for your slave?”

“My slave? Well, I guess you would feel some hostility after that rather vulgar performance of Nicole’s. But I do have plans for you. It’s rather late now and I am tired. Tomorrow is Christmas Day, and we can spend the entire day discussing your future. Shall we go?”

“My wish is your command.”

“I can hardly wait for you to stop this ugly sarcasm. You will stop it, won’t you? I mean, it’s not your normal personality to be so cynical, is it?”

She didn’t answer, but he was beginning to puzzle her.

“Just let me say goodbye to my friend.” Morgan heard Jessy’s voice behind her and turned to hold out her arms. “I got me a pretty man. My girls say he’s really rich and a real lover, too.”

Her smile showed real happiness. “They told me the trick Madame Nicole played on you. I’m real sorry, Morgan, you deserve better.”

“Are you coming, Jessica?”

“Be there soon, love.”

“Hear that? He calls me Jessica. You cheer up and maybe we can visit each other soon. Goodbye.” They kissed one another’s cheek once more and parted.

Theron helped Morgan into an elegant carriage. They didn’t speak until they had stopped in front of a simple, white, two-story house. It was new but unadorned, unlike many of the new houses.

The inside was unlike anything she had ever seen. Theron looked closely for her reaction, and her surprised gasp pleased him.

“So you like it?”

“It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything to compare with it.”

“Well, you see, this is my business. I am an importer and a collector. Most people decorate their houses in whatever is in fashion at the time, but I choose whatever I like from any period of history I like. That is why you see Chinese porcelains mixed with carpets from Morocco. That blue chair is Italian, late seventeenth century. I was told that it was made especially for a king, but the dealer wasn’t sure which king.” His eyes laughed.

Theron ushered her to a beautiful staircase, the curving handrail held up by carvings of flowers and vines.

“This staircase came from your own South. The house burned down, and this was one of the few things left undamaged. Are you familiar with Renaissance paintings? Brueghel, Rembrandt, and a new man—Ingres. I like the curve of this woman’s back, don’t you? Physically impossible, of course—but a lovely line.”

Morgan was having difficulty absorbing everything.

“Morgan, you’re tired. Please forgive me. Here is your room. I’m afraid you will have to take care of yourself tonight. I had no plans to bring a guest home tonight. Jeannette will take care of you in the morning. Is there anything I can get you? Something to eat?”

Mutely, she shook her head. He bade her goodnight, leaving her standing at the closed door, her little bag of night things on the floor.

The beauty and taste of the house had been a shock to her, but the bedroom was breathtaking. The walls were covered in a pale blue silk, lightly patterned. The ceiling was white. The floor was a highly polished parquet, with white rugs scattered about. The bed was enormous, hung in the same material as the walls. There was a low dressing table, a highboy, and a glass-fronted cabinet, all of the same honey-colored wood as the floor. The cabinet held several intricately carved jade statues. There wasn’t one article in the room that didn’t look as if it had been made especially for this room.

It took a few seconds for her to regain her senses, to know that Theron would soon be coming to the room to exercise his rights as her owner. Quickly, she took off the brown traveling dress and stepped into the pink gown Madame Nicole had given her. The gown looked sleazy in the lovely room.

She brushed her hair with the brush she found on the low table. There was a matched set for nails and hair, about twelve pieces made of a rich green marble. She climbed into bed and blew out the lamp. She waited expectantly for a few minutes, planning what she’d say to convince Theron to give her back her freedom. The day proved too much for her, though, and she fell asleep quickly.

---