Lessons of Love (28 page)

“
You can have Lily
’
s. I
’
ll sign the deed over to you.”
This took Gregor aback. He wasn
’
t expecting
Cole
to relinquish t
he title of the whore house in Natchez. The offer definitely had possibilities. He could take over, have his pick of girls, and use Lily
’
s place as a front for selling the women he captured. He would just have to make sure that the kidnaped girls were nev
e
r out in front where the wealthy men of the city might recognize one of them. It would have to be done carefully, but it could work for his advantage. The first thing he would do was teach some manners t
o the bitch who ran the place.

“
That offer has possib
ilities, I
’
ll have to think it over, but before I do, I want to know what is so goddamn special about that little bitch you married? What makes a man like you become a whipped houseboy? You know as well as I do that women can
’
t be trusted,
Cole
. This one w
ill be sweet as molasses until it suits her otherwise, but in the end she
’
ll only use you for your money. Sure she
’
s all soft and loving right now, but look where she
’
d be if she wasn
’
t doing exactly as she
’
s told. She knows damn well she
’
d find hersel
f do
wn in my little playroom.

“
It
’
s a game
Cole
, and she
’
s playing you for a fool. Bitches can
’
t be trusted. Hell, your own mother ran off and left you in that whore house. She didn
’
t love you, she nev
er once gave a damn about you. S
he left you to be raised b
y a bunch of sluts who never gave a damn about you. What makes you think your little wife does? It
’
s all lies,
Cole
.”

Cole
cringed at the mention of his mother and her betrayal. He
’
d been born at Lily
’
s, his mother was a heartless whore who spread her legs
for anyone rich enough to buy her time. His father was one of the many men who came day and night
,
seeking pleasure behind the backs of their wives. All it had taken was one wealthy man, pockets full of cash, words full of promises, to make his mother des
ert him. She left to be the whore of a rich man and didn
’
t think twice about her six year-old son. Why would she? Her rich protector wouldn
’
t want her brat so she didn
’
t either. The pain of her abandonment had stayed with him behind those sordid walls, an
d
his deep hate for women had grown with every teasing word, every slap of abuse, every night he went to bed hungry and scared. He was the bastard son of a whore with nowhere
to go, and nobody to love him.

He had grown up at Lily
’
s because he had nowhere el
se to go. She wasn
’
t the mothering type
,
but she allowed him to do odd jobs to earn his keep. When he was sixteen, Gregor came to work there and they had formed a bond of friendship. It wasn
’
t long before they came up with the idea of using
Cole
’
s good loo
ks to lure young ladies away from
their momma
’
s apron strings.

Cole
would watch the male customers for hours and practice their mannerisms until his approach was smooth as silk. He would charm them into a secret
rendezvous
, and Gregor would be there to ca
pture them and whisk them away until a buyer could be found. It was an amazingly simple plan and it was ext
remely profitable. Rich men pai
d big dollars for an obedient little sex toys w
ith good breeding and manners.

Their customers wanted young, proper gir
ls who would do as they were told, and the young women
Cole
charmed, fell right into their clutches. Pure little southern belles who could be molded into sex slaves.
Cole
’
s hatred for his mother and all women in general made it easy for him to do what was
needed. He
’
d taken out his anger on many a poor girl
’
s behind
,
and felt no remorse when tearing away a girl
’
s virginity to initiate her into the activities her new owner
would expect her to perform.

For ten years he had money, beautiful women, and revenge
, and his heart was cold to the cries of his captives. They were things, mere possessions, and it was easy to overlook Gregor
’
s brutal ways, but that was before
Jolie
;
that was before he found love. Now he looked at the man before him and knew he could nev
er explain his reasons. Gregor couldn
’
t possible understand the rush, the passion, the incredible joy that came over you when you found love. The best he could hope for was to
get him to agree to his deal.

“
Leave
Jolie
out of this, Gregor. I do not wish to
discuss her. Do you accept my deal or not? I
’
ll pay you
$
25,000 and sign Lily
’
s o
ver to you.”

“
I want Celia.”

Cole
’
s eyes flared with impatient rage. Had Gregor gone mad? “
That
’
s insane, Gregor. Celia and my wife are friends. I could no more give her to y
ou than I could give you my wife. D
o you accept my offer or not?”

“
Aye, I
’
ll take it. When do
I get my money and the title?”

“
I
’
ll get the money today, and ride to Natchez for the land title tomorrow. I don
’
t want a new one drawn up here. I wish to keep my
association with Lily a secret. We can go into the city right now and I
’
ll pay you immediately. Then we can meet at Lily
’
s in three da
ys to transfer the title.

“
I don
’
t think so,
Cole
. I
’
m going to wait right here while you head into town so you don
’
t get
any ideas in your head, then we
’
ll set out for Natchez. One word of this, and I bring you right down with me,
Cole
. You go fetch the money and I wi
ll keep an eye on the ladies.”

“
Do you honestly think I
’
d leave them here with you? The women will come to t
own with me. As for you, I want you out of here and off my land, and I have no intention of riding with you to Natchez. Our association is over, Gregor.”
Cole
had thought
Jolie
and Celia would be safer at the plantation but that was before he knew
Gregor w
ould refuse to leave.

“
This is still my home until our business is finished,
Cole
. The way I see it, I
’
m calling the shots until I
’
m satisfied. Sweet
Jolie
stays, or I head to town to see the Marshall and we both hang. What would happen to your little wife
after you
’
ve been branded a kidnapper and sentenced to die? Do you think society or even her father for that matter would take her back, knowing she knew what you had done? They
’
ll cast her into the streets to fend for herself if they don
’
t stone her imm
e
diately, and she
’
ll end up just like the whores at Lily
’
s, spreading her legs to survive. I promise not to touch her, but she will be my insurance that you do just as you
’
ve promised, knowing I
’
m here with her. Now
run along and get my money.”

Cole
glared
at Gregor, and it took every ounce of his self-control not to attack the man. He would do as he asked today, the women would remain in
Jolie
’
s rooms, but his wife and Celia were going to be in that carriage with him tomorrow when he went to Natchez whethe
r Gregor liked it or not. As he stepped from his office, he looked up the stairs towards his wife
’
s quarters, but decided to head out without seeing her.
Jolie
was safely locked away and knowing Gregor would be about
would only frighten her more

Fourte
en

Jolie
sat, hands busied by her needlepoint, as she and Celia waited out the hours until
Cole
’
s return. She had shared what was going on with the other woman, just as she shared everything else. They
were friends, and Celia
’
s well-
being depended
on Gre
gor
’
s continued absence.

“
Oh it
’
s no use Celia! I can
’
t concentrate knowing
Cole
’
s out there with that despicable monster. Gregor could expose him or shoot him or or... I just want him home an
d to have all this over with.”

“
Jolie
, Monsieur
Jameson
will be
fine. He can handle himself, and he was telling the truth when he said Gregor wouldn
’
t risk his own livelihood. H
e is nothing and he knows it.”

“
That is exactly why he is so desperate C
elia. Gregor has nothing now.”

“
He will have the establishment in Natch
ez. It will be enough. You shall see Mistress, Gregor will leave us be.”
Celia hoped her eyes held more conviction than her words, for she was as frightened as
Jolie
was. Men like Gregor never gave up, especially when they felt they
’
d been wronged. Gregor
wouldn
’
t be bought off easily. They would have to be forever watchf
ul of him and his evil tricks.

“
I suppose Celia. I will try to have faith in
Cole
. Let
’
s not speak of it anymore.”
As
Jolie
resumed her needlepoint, she suddenly noticed that her ring finge
r was bare. Her heart stopped as she looked at the empty expanse of skin where her new wedding ring belonged. How could she have lost her beautiful gift from
Cole
? How could she have failed to notice it was gone?
Cole
would be so disappointed in her.
Jolie
bit her lip as her hands shook, knowing what had to be done. Her wedding ring had to be in the fountain, it was the only logical spot, and she was going to get it before
Cole
ever found out she
’
d lost it. Gregor was away after all, so the grounds were per
fectly safe. She
’
d simply dash to the fountain and
dash back in no time at all.

Jolie
suddenly stood, spilling her needlepoint to the floor, causing Celia to look up, startled by her movements.
Jolie
did her best to calm her racing heart, and smiled at her
friend, hoping to make her lie a convincing one. “
Celia, I
’
ve left some new thread in my sewing basket downstairs. I
’
ll just be a moment. Jonathan will be right outside.”
She moved to the door without looking Celia in the eyes, but the other woman rose
qu
ickly and blocked her path.