"Denise, why don't you go on down in the parlor and have a glass of sherry?" Eugenia said, knowing that Denise could understand at least that much. Denise rose and bobbed her head up and down in agreement, then hurried out of the room, taking her small steps that had become so familiar to Eugenia.
Eugenia shut the door behind Denise and slowly began to walk around the room. Her reflection bounced back at her from the many mirrors, making her stand more erect, and straighten her hair. Then she began to pick up the bottles of oil, one at a time, to smell them and even thrust a finger inside one of them to feel the greasiness. When she pulled her finger from it, she inhaled the heady fragrance, remembering the one night Adam had come to her after being in this room with the twins. Tears came to Eugenia's eyes, also remembering how she had finished what the twins had started with him, and the heights of pleasure that he had taken her to. But now she was without a man, and didn't know if she could ever trust one's touch again.
Hearing a noise behind her, Eugenia turned with a start. To her surprise, it was the new girl, Theresa, standing alone, slowly shutting the door behind her.
"Yes?" Eugenia whispered. "What do you want, Theresa?"
"My man left early," Theresa drawled in a soft southern accent. "Is there anything I can help you with, Madam Eugenia?"
Eugenia sat a bottle of oils back down on the floor beside the mat of red satin. "What could you do for me, Theresa?" she asked, wondering why Theresa continued to watch her with her large, dark eyes.
"Alison said that you needed to be made to relax," Theresa continued. "She sent me to you. To give you a massage. I've been with Denise a couple of times, to help with her massages. I know how. Would you like for me to show you?"
Eugenia could feel the heartbeat quicken in the hollow of her throat. Her eyes traveled over this girl, her thin silk attire that revealed the sharpness of her nipples thrusting from beneath the chemise. Eugenia knew that she had always abhored the thought of another woman's fingers touching her body after her experience with Madam Valerie. But with this beautiful girl who appeared so innocent of what it could mean, it surely couldn't matter. And yes, she had always wondered what it would feel like to have the perfumed oils spread all over her body. It could surely have a soothing, cooling effect on this hot night in July.
"I think Alison is quite an intelligent lady, Theresa," she finally answered. She turned her back to the girl. "Please help me to undo my dress." It was strange, but when this girl's fingers touched the flesh of her back, it had the same effect that a man's touch had always had. She knew that it was probably because she had been so starved to be touched, to be loved, and was only having such reactions because of this.
"And now my petticoat," she said, turning to face Theresa. "Please remove it for me." She lifted her arms and let the young girl pull it over her head. Then she removed the rest of her underthings herself and stretched out on the coolness of the satin-covered pad. Her thoughts turned to Denise, wondering…
"Theresa, do you have any idea what's wrong with Denise?" she asked, watching Theresa pull her own chemise over her head, revealing skin of velvet similar to the petals of a freshly opened pink rose.
"Something about a man she's in love with," Theresa drawled, leaning down over Eugenia. "A man named Key, I believe."
Eugenia's eyes widened. "Dammit you say," she said, then turned to face Theresa. "Now, Theresa, show me what you can do with the oils."
Theresa reached over and poured some oil into one of her hands. When her fingers touched Eugenia's skin, Eugenia moaned softly, shut her eyes, and enjoyed, letting Theresa guide her to each position. At first the oil was only spread across her back, then Theresa's fingers moved around and touched the nipple of a breast, very lightly. Then she began to rub the oil in circles until each breast shone beneath the lights like a freshly frozen sheet of ice shines on a walk in winter. The fragrance was a mixture of lilacs, lilies of the valley, and gardenias all in one.
"God, it feels so good," Eugenia sighed. Then she felt the quiver of her stomach muscles when Theresa's fingers began the slow descent downward. Eugenia watched Theresa to see if she would touch her there, but she shut her eyes when Theresa's fingers most skillfully began to oil her love mound, making it swell. It felt as though it might burst into a million warm bubbles onto Theresa's hands.
"Slowly, slowly," Eugenia whispered, squirming, licking her lips hungrily. Then when she felt a body stretch out over hers, Eugenia automatically began to move against the large breasts crushing against her own, and push her pelvis upward to make contact with another pelvis. Lips suddenly pressed against her own, lips that were so soft and sweet, not hard and demanding like a man's. Her head began to spin of colors as a small tongue entered between the tightness of her lips at the same time as fingers entered where a man's hardness was used to probing. The waves of warmth in Eugenia's brain began to splash, crash, until she felt her body begin to quiver in million ripples along with the one above her. When she opened her eyes, Eugenia found Theresa's large eyes looking warmly into her own, and Theresa's fingers tracing the fullness of her lips.
"Did you really make this happen to me?" Eugenia gasped, not moving, still feeling slight vibrations between her thighs. It had even felt better to her than Drew and Adam.
"Before coming to this house, I only knew the love of another woman," Theresa said calmly. "My sister and I, we only had each other."
"What?" Eugenia gasped, sitting upright.
"Our parents were always in a drunken stupor," Theresa said, also sitting upright, clutching her arms around her legs. "Julie, that's my sister, and I clung to each other nights, afraid to let go, afraid our father might come in and beat us."
"Did your father actually do that?"
"While our mother watched, laughing."
"How sick," Eugenia said, turning on her side, leaning on an elbow. She had only just made her acquaintance with Theresa, but she felt so abnormally close to her.
"At first, Julie and I only exchanged back scratches," Theresa continued. "You know. Typical sister things. I'd count how many scratches I did on her back, then she'd scratch mine for the same number of times."
"I know what you mean," Eugenia said, not wanting to remember Elizabeth and Drew. "My sister and I back scratched a few times. But nothing more. Tell me, what led you and your sister further?"
Theresa stretched out on her back, staring upward into the mirror above her, seeing herself and her madam side by side.
"We began tickling each other's bellies. It felt so good. Then one day, Julie just went down where my hair was, and accidentally rubbed against my already aroused love spot. I told her how good it felt to have her touch it, so we both explored, together, and found out what that love spot could provide for us. Many nights of getting away from our life of hate and fear."
"And you never experimented with any young men your age?" Eugenia asked.
"No. The first man was here."
"You're kidding." Eugenia gasped.
"No. It's true."
"Do you hate it, Theresa?"
"No. I have a place to stay and pretty clothes. And even friends. It's worth it."
"Do you ever enjoy the touch of a man?"
"Not yet I haven't," Theresa drawled.
"For your sake, I hope you don't," Eugenia said darkly.
"Why would you say that, Madam Eugenia?"
"Men have only given me heartaches. That's why," Eugenia said, rising, slowly dressing. Then she turned back in Theresa's direction. "And where is your sister now?" she added.
"We ran off from home several weeks ago. From a small town in Texas. We'd been changing from stagecoach to stagecoach. Then suddenly she was gone. We got separated. I don't know where she is."
"God, how horrible," Eugenia gasped. "How old are you and your sister?"
"I'm seventeen and Julie is sixteen."
"I'm going to help you, Theresa," Eugenia said firmly, reaching back to button up her dress.
"How?"
"Well, first, you're going to move into The Towers. I still have many empty rooms."
Theresa rose, her eyes even more wide. "Do you mean I'll live in your big white house?"
"Yes. Your life has been an unhappy one. I intend to make it one of only leisure for you. Your room will be next to mine. It was Frederick's. Just beautiful furniture and plush green carpeting to sink your feet into."
"You'd do this for me?"
Eugenia went to Theresa and pulled her into her arms. "Yes, now that I've returned, I'm going to make a special effort to use my large home to share with the less fortunate."
"But my job here?"
Eugenia laughed warmly. "Honey, it's easy to find girls to work here. Don't worry about it." Then she added, holding Theresa an arm's length away from her, "And we'll try and find Julie and bring her to you."
"Oh, Madam Eugenia," Theresa sobbed, clutching Eugenia to her. "You are so kind. I love you."
"You'll be happy at The Towers. I'll want you to do just as you want once you're there."
"When?" Theresa asked anxiously, looking up into Eugenia's eyes, searching.
"Tonight. Get your things together."
"Tonight?" Theresa gasped.
"Sure. Why not?" Eugenia laughed.
"I just can't believe it," Theresa shouted, running from the room, even forgetting that she was nude.
Eugenia stood smiling, straightening her hair. She picked up Theresa's chemise and put it to her nose. It smelled of Theresa. And yes, she would take Theresa to her house. And not make any demands of her. She would just wait for Theresa to approach her, maybe they could be good for one another, having the same needs.
A loud knocking on the front door drew Eugenia's attention. Knowing that most of the other girls were occupied she checked her appearance once again in the mirror, wiping some excess oil from her partially exposed breasts and shoulders with her handkerchief, then hurried down the stairs.
Swinging the front door open, Eugenia felt a familiar ache beginning in the pit of her stomach. She remembered how often he had come to this door.
"Adam, what do you want?" she snapped, trying to sound irritated, not emotionally unbalanced by his sudden appearance at her house of girls.
"You've got to come, Eugenia," he said, panting hard. It was quite evident that he had been running.
"What's wrong, Adam?" she asked softly, studying the desperation in his dark brown eyes.
"It's Nell. She's had her baby. Just that fast," he blurted, turning his cowboy hat in his hands.
"She's had her baby?" Eugenia gasped, feeling her heart begin to pound against her ribs.
"She's in the hospital now. Come on. Come and see our little Jennifer."
"Jennifer?" Eugenia sighed softly. "You have a little girl?"
"She's just beautiful, Eugenia," he said proudly, shifting nervously from one foot to the other.
"Let me tell Alison I'm leaving," Eugenia said hurriedly. "Will you go on out and get my carriage ready, Adam?"
"Hurry, Eugenia," he said, rushing away from the door.
"A little daughter?" Eugenia sighed loudly as she made her way up the stairs. She was glad when Alison appeared, fully clothed, outside her door.
"What's the commotion all about?" Alison asked, smoothing her skirt down and straightening her hair. "Is there trouble of some sort?"
"No. No trouble," Eugenia shouted, squeezing Alison's hands in hers. "Nell's had her baby. A little girl. Isn't that something?"
"And Nell and the baby, are they all right?"
"Damn. I didn't ask," Eugenia said, frowning.
"But I'm sure they are. Adam would've told me if they weren't. He was too excited. So I know they're fine."
"Are you going to see Nell and the baby now?"
"Yes. That's why I was coming to see you," Eugenia said. "Come on in my room. I have something else to tell you."
Eugenia took Alison by the elbow and guided her hurriedly into the privacy of her own room. She turned and faced her, furrowing an eyebrow.
"I'm taking Theresa with me to my house. To live," she said, watching the look of dismay mask Alison's face.
"You're what?" Alison said softly.
"I'm taking Theresa to live with me at The Towers. You'll have to find another girl to take her place."
"Dammit, Eugenia," Alison snapped, walking away from her, going to a window to stare downward at the darkness of the street. "If you start that crap again, we won't have any girls left here in this house. First there was Nell and Iris." She swung around and faced Eugenia with her arms crossed. "And now you tell me you're taking Iris back and Theresa. Where will it all end? Your heart is bigger than your brains."
Eugenia laughed, amused at the comparison. "And, my dear," she said, going to Alison to hug her affectionately. "Whenever you and your man want to live a life away from here, just feel free to join our clan at The Towers."
"You mean you'd really let us?"
"Alison, I have twenty-six rooms in that house. Why not fill them with love?"
"Eugenia. I can't believe you."
"It's the way I want it," Eugenia said, rearranging her Papa's combs at the sides of her head. "Now, will you take care of everything here while I'm gone?"
"I guess so," Alison said, still in a state of shock.
"And what is this about Key and Denise?" Eugenia continued.
"While Key was working here, he and Denise… met."
"Do you mean they actually fell in love?"
"Something like that."
"Why was Denise crying this evening?" Eugenia asked, wondering.
"She saw that you had returned and I'm sure was afraid that Key would be too embarrassed to come here to visit her while you're around."
"Dammit you say." Eugenia gasped. "I'll have to see what I can do about that."
"Oh, no, Eugenia," Alison groaned. "Not Denise, too."
"Sure. Why not?" Eugenia laughed. "If Key needs Denise, he shall have her. You'll just have to search a little harder and find someone as talented as her."
"Damned sure will," Alison grumbled.
"I must go, love," Eugenia said, placing a small feather-covered hat on her head. When she had white gloves pulled up to her elbows, she turned and flew down the stairs, feeling better about life than she had in years. She had much going for her now. She would make life not only good for herself, but for everything that needed love and companionship.
* * *
Chapter Twenty-five
The sound of a baby's cries in the middle of the night had been welcomed at The Towers. And now, at six months old, when Jennifer was sleeping through the entire night, Eugenia missed the night noises of feet scuffling, and the giggling of Nell and soft laughter of Adam as they shared in their parental responsibilities.
Eugenia went to her bedroom window and stared toward her mountain. Her thoughts were filled with Mama and Papa so often lately since it had just become so unbearably cold in the evenings. Even now, as the mist swirled at the mountain's peak, Eugenia was worrying about having left her Mama and Papa in the ground so far away from her. It just hadn't seemed right to her, but she knew that it was done and couldn't ever be changed.
Adam's laughter from somewhere in the house brought Eugenia's mind back to the present. He had changed entirely after having become a father. He was a devoted husband, as well as a father. The house was only filled with happiness. Almost bursting at the seams. And also now that Key had his Denise with him, his cooking had even improved, something that Eugenia had never thought was possible. She was always delighted to find what was awaiting for her at the evening's meal.
Yes, things were quite peaceful at The Towers now. But she couldn't help but wonder, now, how things would change when Iris had her baby. Only one more month and Eugenia would know.
Adam and Nell had at first shunned Iris's presence. But Nell's and Iris's love of poetry and the arts had brought them together once again. Nell had even accepted Iris's swollen abdomen, realizing th
at inside that ball of brown was a part of Adam, a small baby, an innocent person who would need much love. A child who would be a brother, or sister, to her own Jennifer.
Eugenia went to a mirror and stood sideways, frowning, noticing the small bulge above her waistline. She was slowly putting weight back on. Something she had never wanted to do. But a peaceful existence with the ones she loved, plus Key's abilities in the kitchen, made her unable to quit eating. Her happiness seemed so complete she didn't think anything could stand in her way. Ever again. But she did have one problem to solve; for her sweet Theresa. She had to keep efforts going to find Theresa's sister. Up to this point, the private detectives hadn't been able to come up with one minute clue. But, Eugenia felt strong about this, and would continue until no hope was left. A light tapping on the door brought a warm smile to Eugenia's face. She went to the door and opened it to find Theresa standing there. Eugenia was glad that Theresa had taken her advice and had let her hair grow. It was so much more lovely hanging in long, black curls around her shoulders. And the soft makeup of pink accentuated the rosy complexion that Theresa already had. Theresa glided on into the room, donning her new winter apparel of black velvet. It dipped in snugly at the waistline, then flared out over petticoats of Valenciennes lace. And the bosom didn't leave much to the imagination.
"Like it?" Theresa asked, twirling around in a circle, giggling:
"Just lovely, Theresa," Eugenia said, clasping her hands together in front of her.
"This is my favorite of all you chose for me," Theresa said, standing in front of the mirror, running her fingers over the softness.
"You are happy here, aren't you?" Eugenia asked, sitting down on the edge of her bed, admiring Theresa even more each day. They had been good for one another. Even though it had made eyebrows raise in the household, knowing of their intimacy. But Eugenia hadn't minded. She felt that love was to be shared, whether it be with a man or woman. If that love was sincere, there could be nothing wrong about it.
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