Free Reads!! Wednesday Briefs – Innocence & Carnality Part 27
Welcome to the next part in my Wednesday Briefs flash fiction serial, Innocence & Carnality! Each chapter has to be between 500 and 1,000 words and this week I skipped using a prompt. I couldn’t figure out how to fit it in and this chapter had to be specific.
Nathan learns of Rother’s history.
Click here to start from the beginning
Part 27
“How in the world could that happen?” As soon as the words left my lips, I knew I’d offended Rother as greatly as his profession had offended me. His visage darkened and he edged towards the door.
I had to stop him. This evening’s ordeal was a mixture of ignorance and shocking discovery. Whether I was prepared or not, I couldn’t go on in the dark.
“If you expect me to adapt and accept my new life, you’ll have to start explaining a few things so I can start to understand. If I’ve made mistakes, it’s only because no one has told me anything.” Rother paused, and I decided to use a different tactic no matter how conflicted were my feelings. I sweetened my voice as best I knew how.
“Rother, please…”
With an audible exhale, Rother deflated. He turned and faced me, his gaze elsewhere. I could see his silent discussion as he debated what he might share. I didn’t say a word. I wanted—no, needed—to hear something, to comprehend. All of this was so far outside of my experience. The air in my lungs stalled until he began to speak.
“By the time I was ten years old, I was orphaned and living on the streets. When you’re hungry and have no money, you’d be surprised how inventive you can be. Thievery never sat well with me, and I was too young and dirty to work in a shop, even if I’d been willing. Some of the other street rats explained prostitution to me. How it was done, how much money could be made in a short time. I was hungry and penniless. It didn’t take long to decide.
“My first client was a Victorian lord who took a fancy to me. He was clumsy and reeked of opiates. I suppose I should be thankful his excitement made the whole experience a short one. But as unpleasant as the experience was, I learned desire can override even the staunchest moral code if it’s tempting enough.”
Rother walked back to the side table and poured himself a fresh drink. Closing his eyes, he downed it in one swallow.
“It didn’t take long to find older men with questionable tastes who would pay well to keep their secrets.”
The new images his revelation conjured in my head were awful, but I couldn’t stay quiet. “Weren’t you worried for your safety?”
“In the early days, I let an evening get out of control and was beaten half to death. I acquired a pistol afterwards. It evened out the odds.” Opening his eyes, Rother sighed and set his glass down. “It wasn’t the safest existence, but after long, I met Mrs. Marple, a local madam who took me under her wing and into her home, along with a number of others. We earned our keep and learned our trade. I lived there for several years. I met Samantha in the house. We didn’t get along very well. Neither one of us liked the competition. One night I heard her screaming for help. Her client was beating the living hell out of her. Shot the man dead without thinking twice. Mrs. Marple evicted me at once. Samantha left with me and she’s been by my side ever since.”
“That’s awful. I can’t imagine what it would take for any man to get the best of Samantha.”
Rother’s brow arched. “It never happened again.”
“Is that how you met Blythe?”
My husband shook his head. “No. Blythe has been many things and may appreciate the whores’ skills, but he has never been one of them.”
If it was possible, I was more stunned now than when Mr. Lorings attacked me. My mouth opened and closed without saying a word. But really, what could I say? I asked for the whole ugly picture and now I feared it might stain me. And what had such an existence done to my husband? How does one live such a life and come out of it whole? How does anyone?
My inability to respond must have insulted him, because Rother’s tone became cold and harsh, reminding me of my father.
“You may find this whole enterprise repulsive, but I built a fortune by it large enough to convince your father to accept my marriage contract. It is not illegal in any shape of the word. You need to stop applying your damned Victorian principles to everything. You’re a Francinian now.”
I gasped as replaying Rother’s history in my head made a frightful connection. “Your first client. The Victorian lord… he wasn’t my father, was he? Is that why he agreed?”
If it was possible to roll your eyes in anger, Rother succeeded. “Oh please, Nathan. This isn’t some dubious fiction. Your father agreed because I could well afford the dowry. It was strictly business. Just like everything, no matter how decadent, that goes on in Delaga House.”
Humiliated didn’t even begin to describe how I felt. It was a far fetched idea and I wished I’d never uttered it.
“Do you need more details at this point?” he snarled.
I shook my head. I’d had more than enough for now and I didn’t know what to do with my newfound knowledge.
“I need to go,” he said. “Delaga House is still open. You were fortunate to be born into your wealth and privilege. Some of us had to earn it. I have work to do and as the proprietor, I’m not accustomed to explaining myself.” Rother stepped in close and lowered his voice. “I expect the people under me—all of them—to do what they’re told.”
I nodded with full understanding for the first time since I arrived. “All right. I’ll be staying up here for the rest of the evening.”
“An excellent idea.” As he strode out of the room he waved to remnants of my escape. “If you get bored, you can put the door and lock to rights before I get back.”
Check back next Wednesday for the next installation… Be sure to take a read at the other briefers free reads this week here: Wednesday Briefs
