said. “Th at and a
switch with ribbons and tails, and you can play Daddy’s
Despair.”
I shuddered. “I’ll wear the black and gray.”
“Coward.” A knock sounded on the door, making
Rina glance at her pin watch. “It’s past time I got
downstairs to manage the gels. Finish dressing and then
go to the Amber Room on two. And unless you want to
earn your keep the hard way, Kit, keep the damned door
locked.”
Draping myself in the black and gray gown didn’t
make me feel any less naked, but I didn’t see anything
showing through when I checked the full-length glass.
Wearing the garments of a working strumpet had to be
my most scandalous disguise yet, but after I made a few
rounds of the room I began to appreciate the lightness of
the nudie and the unrestricted movements I could make
in the loose gown.
Comfortable as I was, it still required a fair amount of
nerve to step out into the hall and make my way to the
stairs. Th ere I froze halfway to the second fl oor as a blond gel with an older gent passed by me.
“You’ve a decent fi re built?” the man was asking her.
53
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LYNN VIEHL
“My feet are ice blocks.”
“No worries, dearie.” Th e strumpet dropped me a
wink. “I’ll have you thawed in no time.”
Th e man hadn’t even glanced at me, I realized, and I
chuckled as I continued down. My costume was as good
as a cloak of invisibility.
A few gels had already brought up their fi rst clients
of the night, judging by the noise coming from behind
the closed entries I passed. I heard one shrill voice
demanding to be spanked harder, and cringed as the gel
in the room obliged, making him shriek all the louder.
“Hey, Birdie’s been holding out on us,” a sodden
voice said behind me, and a damp hand turned me round
to face three gents and the gels they’d hired. Th e one
holding my arm grinned and stepped closer. “Oh, I do
like gingers, I do. What’s your name, ducks?”
“‘At’s Prudence.” Th e busty blonde clinging to his arm
tried to pull him back and gave me a hard look. “Her’s
been hired out for an all-nighter, ‘aven’t you, dearie?”
I nodded and tried to hurry off , but the blonde’s gent
wouldn’t release me.
“Must be good,” the drunk told his mates. To me
he said, “Whatever he’s paid, I’ll double it.” He tried to
shove me into the blonde. “I want to see the two of you
have a go at it.”
“I don’t entertain ladies,” I said without thinking,
which made all three men burst into laughter.
“Gel’s got a sense of humor, too. Capital.” Th e drunk
cuff ed my shoulder. “Tell you what, Pru. Since you’re so
54
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Disench anted & Co., Part 1
shy, you can play the maid.”
“No,” a voice I had never wanted to hear again said.
“She cannot.”
I looked between the drunk and the blonde and saw
the dark fi gure standing just beyond the group. He’d
donned a heavier cloak and a mask that covered every
feature above his mouth, but the voice was unmistakable.
I glanced at the blonde. If I went with her and her
client, I’d have to perform an illegal sexual act with
another woman for which the Church said I would be
damned for all eternity. Or I could go to Dredmore.
I really had to think about it.
“Milord.” I didn’t smile or natter on about how
happy I was to see him; I had a few shreds of pride left. I
gestured in the direction of the Amber Room. “Th is way.”
“Oh, don’t go running off to do the dirty right away,
ducks,” the drunk said, and wheeled round to give
Dredmore a foolish grin. “Come and have a drink with
us fi rst.”
I waited for Dredmore to refuse the off er. Instead he
came and put an arm round me.
“We’d be delighted,” he told the drunk.
I felt no shame in playacting the strumpet. My garms may
not have been to my personal taste, but I didn’t
switch with ribbons and tails, and you can play Daddy’s
Despair.”
I shuddered. “I’ll wear the black and gray.”
“Coward.” A knock sounded on the door, making
Rina glance at her pin watch. “It’s past time I got
downstairs to manage the gels. Finish dressing and then
go to the Amber Room on two. And unless you want to
earn your keep the hard way, Kit, keep the damned door
locked.”
Draping myself in the black and gray gown didn’t
make me feel any less naked, but I didn’t see anything
showing through when I checked the full-length glass.
Wearing the garments of a working strumpet had to be
my most scandalous disguise yet, but after I made a few
rounds of the room I began to appreciate the lightness of
the nudie and the unrestricted movements I could make
in the loose gown.
Comfortable as I was, it still required a fair amount of
nerve to step out into the hall and make my way to the
stairs. Th ere I froze halfway to the second fl oor as a blond gel with an older gent passed by me.
“You’ve a decent fi re built?” the man was asking her.
53
Viehl_DisenchantedP2_EG.indd 53
7/15/13 10:25 AM
LYNN VIEHL
“My feet are ice blocks.”
“No worries, dearie.” Th e strumpet dropped me a
wink. “I’ll have you thawed in no time.”
Th e man hadn’t even glanced at me, I realized, and I
chuckled as I continued down. My costume was as good
as a cloak of invisibility.
A few gels had already brought up their fi rst clients
of the night, judging by the noise coming from behind
the closed entries I passed. I heard one shrill voice
demanding to be spanked harder, and cringed as the gel
in the room obliged, making him shriek all the louder.
“Hey, Birdie’s been holding out on us,” a sodden
voice said behind me, and a damp hand turned me round
to face three gents and the gels they’d hired. Th e one
holding my arm grinned and stepped closer. “Oh, I do
like gingers, I do. What’s your name, ducks?”
“‘At’s Prudence.” Th e busty blonde clinging to his arm
tried to pull him back and gave me a hard look. “Her’s
been hired out for an all-nighter, ‘aven’t you, dearie?”
I nodded and tried to hurry off , but the blonde’s gent
wouldn’t release me.
“Must be good,” the drunk told his mates. To me
he said, “Whatever he’s paid, I’ll double it.” He tried to
shove me into the blonde. “I want to see the two of you
have a go at it.”
“I don’t entertain ladies,” I said without thinking,
which made all three men burst into laughter.
“Gel’s got a sense of humor, too. Capital.” Th e drunk
cuff ed my shoulder. “Tell you what, Pru. Since you’re so
54
Viehl_DisenchantedP2_EG.indd 54
7/15/13 10:25 AM
Disench anted & Co., Part 1
shy, you can play the maid.”
“No,” a voice I had never wanted to hear again said.
“She cannot.”
I looked between the drunk and the blonde and saw
the dark fi gure standing just beyond the group. He’d
donned a heavier cloak and a mask that covered every
feature above his mouth, but the voice was unmistakable.
I glanced at the blonde. If I went with her and her
client, I’d have to perform an illegal sexual act with
another woman for which the Church said I would be
damned for all eternity. Or I could go to Dredmore.
I really had to think about it.
“Milord.” I didn’t smile or natter on about how
happy I was to see him; I had a few shreds of pride left. I
gestured in the direction of the Amber Room. “Th is way.”
“Oh, don’t go running off to do the dirty right away,
ducks,” the drunk said, and wheeled round to give
Dredmore a foolish grin. “Come and have a drink with
us fi rst.”
I waited for Dredmore to refuse the off er. Instead he
came and put an arm round me.
“We’d be delighted,” he told the drunk.
I felt no shame in playacting the strumpet. My garms may
not have been to my personal taste, but I didn’t
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