Chapter One
London, England
Spring 1797
The knock at Persephone’s bedroom door made her jump.
“Are youready, love?”the feminine voice called from the other side.
Sephy, as most of the women in her mother’s bawdyhouse referred to her, looked at her reflection in the mirror attached to her scarred dressing table and clutched the oak surface. Tonight, she was to be bartered to the highest bidder, her virtue a sacrifice that would start her down the path of unrighteousness.
She slowly exhaled and tried to gain control of her nerves. As long as she’d lived she’d known this was theroadshe would take, and while some girls started out in the world of pleasure much younger, her mother had granted her a reprieve until she’d turned seventeen. Some would claim she was spoiled to be given such an extension of her innocence, but Sephy wouldn’t have traded a single moment of that freedom, for it was soon to be stripped away.
“Coming, Mama.” She took one last look at her powdered face and the heart-shaped patch on her left cheek. Both of which were quickly going out of fashion, but still remained a lark to the men when it came to such a prized event as the purchase of a virgin.
Her hair had been leftdownto shine in all its glory, the rich golden amber shades something her mother said the men would covet highly for it was an unusual color. But it was her blue eyes, stark and wide and slightly fearful that Sephy must control. She had been trained, not only in the art of proper speech and deportment like any other lady of society, but also in the mystique of seduction. Walking out into the crowded assemblage like a frightened doe ready to bolt would not endear her to the gentleman anxious to bow over her hand.
Gathering her courage, Sephy opened the door and faced her mother,MadamPhryneWelton, named after an ancient Greek courtesan,on the other side. The middle-agedwomanhad unassuming brown hair and eyes, but she was dressed like a duchess in her red silk sack-back gown. Sephy was a bit more modest in her whiterobe de gaullewith a light pink ribbon about her waist, but then, her mother claimed theinnocentstyle would add to her allure.
The lady smiled broadly. “You are a vision, Persephone. The gentlemen will be fawning over you this evening.”
Sephy worried her lower lip. “Do you think so?”
Her mother laid a hand on each of her shoulders. “Men are feeble-minded creatures who are led only by their prick or a bit of coin.Never doubt your ability as a woman to attract attention. News has already spread of your purity and the room is filled with eager spectators hoping for a glimpse of the paragon of this house.” She touched her cheek. “And youarea paragon, my dear. After tonight, you shall be the toast of London. I have no doubt you will soon have a protector.”
Sephy inhaled a deep breath and nodded. Thiswasher moment. She had been trained to be a courtesan, and while some of the teachings she had yet to fully understand, tonight would be the start of a brand new journey.
There was no turning back.
Her mother opened the door into the main receiving room of their house in Covent Garden and instantly the laughter and raucous conversation ceased as Sephy walked forward. There was a dais set up like a stage in one corner of the room where her fellow ‘nymphs’ were dressed inwhite Grecian robesthat held little to the imagination.
Sephy glided across the room and took a seat in the upholstered chair in the middle, which had been held for the guest of honor. Candles lit up the expanse,gleaming off the marble floor and adding a decadent glowas fragrant blossoms of varying flowers in tall vases made a lavish display.It was anextravagancethat her mother had gladly spared,for the cost of Sephy’s purity would exceed even the smallest bit of luxury this evening. After tonight, her mother wouldlikelybe set for years to come.
She tamped down her nerves and began to greet her loyal subjects. Men of varying ages, social status,and wealth, wearingexcessive breeches and stockings came forward to bow over her hand and offer their most humble addresses. By the time the line had finished, her head was spinning from all the compliments and lewd stares that promised an evening filled with debauchery.
As usual, her mother was eager to extol her daughter’s outstanding qualities, flitting about the room, her laugh carrying over the expanse. Finally, she nodded toward one of the men from a fellow Molly house who had offered their services as theeunuchof ceremonies.
In grand flourish, the dark-skinned man stood in the middle of the room in his silver brocade attire and clapped his hands together to gain everyone’s attention. “Thank you all for coming this evening as we celebrate our own Queen of the Underworld and her journey to Paradise with one lucky gentleman. But who will be crowned her Hades?”
As laughter swept about the room, Sephy put a hand to her stomach where the butterflies were starting to flutter their wings once more.
“There isn’t nufin’ t’ losin’ yer maidenhead.” One ofthegirls bent down from behind Sephy and whispered in her ear. “There’s just a pinch an’ then it’s over. After tha’, it’s nufin’ but good times.”
“Thank you,Jade.”
Sephy had always liked the dark-haired girl. She was one of her mother’s best doxies, even though she was the only one who spoke with a cockney accent. Her mother might be a bawd, but she had saved the girl from a worse fate than she might have experienced living down by the docks. At least in her mother’s house she was fed and clothed and surrounded by opulence with the chance to earnextracoin. There was no threat of harmin this housefor her mother’s lackey, Abraham, dealt with anyone that got out of place.
“Shall we start the bidding at fifty pounds for this goddess of delight?”
Sephy snapped back to attention when she saw the hands begin to lift in offering. Her mother continued her observation, whispering a few words in one gentleman’s ear or another, causing the price to continually rise.
It wasn’t until she saw one particular man distance himself from the rest that she felt a fission of fear crawl up her spine.He held himself as regally as the king, his powdered wig firmly in place, and yet, there was a cruel set to his lips that was unmistakable.But then, most of the ladies’ knew of LordAlabasterGregory’s perversions.He might have been a gentleman as the younger son of a marquess, but the deviant acts that he requested behind closed doors were legendary among all the bawdy houses.
“Two hundred pounds.” His firm, commanding voice rippled through the crowd.
“Bloody ‘ell.” Jade muttered from behind her.
Sephy glanced to her mother for assistance. Surely she wouldn’t have to face Lord Gregory on her first night as a woman? The horrorsshe could only imaginehe might requestcaused the bile to rise in her throat.She knew she would likely have to service him at some point, but she just didn’t think it would be so soon.
