"Of course not." She lifted the lid and offered him a cigar.
He rolled it between his fingers, then lifted it to his nose, inhaling the rich tobacco scent. "You buy fine cigars, ma’am," he drawled, leaning closer as she struck a match. "Good taste seems to run in your family."
She waited while he puffed, then crossed his legs and leaned back importantly. Soon, she knew, he would get to the reason for his visit.
"I can make sure all these fine things you like will get here to their proper destination."
Annalisa felt a quick flash of anger and fought to compose her features. "I thought that’s what you were paid by the city to do."
"Well, I am, ma’am." He drew on the cigar and flicked ash in a crystal ash tray. "But with all the activity down at the docks, things sometimes get lost." He gave her a sly look. "I don’t suppose the gentlemen of New Orleans would be very pleased with you if they couldn’t get the best cigars and whiskey. Oh, not that your women aren’t the finest in the South, ma’am. But your clients have learned to expect extra good treatment." When she continued to watch him without comment, he added, "Of course, if someone pays me a bonus to look out for their orders, you can bet I keep a close eye on their things. Down on the wharf, what I say goes. Your mother knew I could be counted on to watch out for her supplies."
"And just how did my mother show her appreciation?"
"Oh, cash and," he winked, "other favors."
"How much, Mr. Soulet?"
She saw his gaze dart to the ledgers, then back to her face. He seemed to take her measure for a moment. A slow smile spread across his features. "A hundred dollars."
She let out a long sigh, then bent to the locked box in the bottom drawer.
His tone hardened. "A month."
She sat up so quickly she nearly dropped the heavy box. "What did you say?"
"I said a hundred dollars a month," he repeated with a lear.
Annalisa’s mind raced. This kind of bribe would quickly eat into their profits. If only she knew what sort of deal her mother had made with this man.
"I can’t possibly afford to pay you that much, Mr. Soulet. I would be left with no funds to operate."
He shrugged. "Can’t blame a man for try in’ to make a livin’. All right, Miss Montgomery. Make it one hundred dollars every other month."
"No, Mr. Soulet," she said firmly, catching him off guard. "I will pay you fifty dollars now. When I’ve had a chance to see how well you protect my shipments, I’ll talk with you again."
Before he could protest, she began counting out bills. A quick glance at his face revealed a greedy little smile. She held out the money and watched the muscle work in the side of his jaw.
"Fifty dollars."
He snatched it quickly, before she had a chance to change her mind.
"Good day, Mr. Soulet."
He stood and pocketed the money. Reaching over, he helped himself to another cigar. "Pleasure doin’ business with you, Miss Montgomery."
As soon as the door closed behind him, Annalisa flipped through the pages of her mother’s ledgers until she found Soulet’s name. Beside it was the number ten inside a circle. She studied it for long minutes. It made no sense. Had her mother been paying Soulet ten dollars every time he came to her office? That would explain the ten. But what did the circle mean?
At a short rap on the door, Hattie Lee entered, looking flustered.
"Charles Montagnet, the governor’s aide, is waiting to see you."
"Did he ever visit my mother?"
"No, child. I never saw the man before last night."
Annalisa breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment she had been afraid his mission was the same as Soulet’s. "Show him in."
As he crossed the room a moment later and brought her hand to his lips, Annalisa again had the fleeting impression that they had met before last night. But that was impossible. A man like Montagnet would not be easily forgotten. With that tall, slightly stooped bearing and elegant attire, he stood out in any crowd.
"Good morning, Miss Montgomery. I’m pleased that you, like me, are an early riser. I had hoped we could conduct our business quickly before I leave for Washington."
"Business?" Annalisa paused as she reached for the box of cigars.
With a shake of his head, he refused her offer. Feeling her fingers tremble slightly, she replaced the cigar box and clasped her hands firmly in her lap.
Montagnet studied her. Close up, in early morning sunlight, she was more beautiful than ever. A smile touched his lips, making him look even more dangerous. When the liveryman had reported back to him, he had felt a crushing desperation. If the girl was a whore, all the fun would be gone. Raping her, killing her, would mean nothing to him. But seeing her last night, he had known. All her innocence, all her uncertain feelings, were there in her eyes. Despite the elegant gown, and the experience of the women in this house, this young woman’s virtue was intact. She would be his. Even as the thought flitted through his mind, he felt his excitement grow. The scheme he had devised was perfect. He would own her. She would be his, to do with as he pleased.
"It was brought to my attention by the governor last night that you operate a very lucrative business in his state, one that could not continue unless he was willing to—look the other way."
With a sinking feeling, Annalisa realized where this was leading. From top to bottom, this city was wallowing in corruption. The money she would be forced to pay to stay in business would never end. But this man caused a feeling of panic unlike anything she had felt toward Soulet.
"What will it cost me for the governor to—look the other way?"
"A thousand-dollar contribution would make the governor very happy."
She caught her breath at the staggering sum. Glancing up, she saw his gaze lock on the prim neckline of her white, high-necked blouse decorated with braid about the stand-up collar and yoke. Even in such modest clothing, she felt soiled by his look, as if he were mentally undressing her.
She swallowed, and hoped her voice wouldn’t betray her fury. "I would truly like to make a contribution to the governor. But I simply can’t manage a thousand dollars. I’m sure the governor wouldn’t like to see me forced out of business."
"That would be most unfortunate, Miss Montgomery." He stood and walked around the desk, dropping his hand to her shoulder. He felt her slight tremor at his touch and thrilled to it. "Perhaps we could find some other way to persuade the governor."
She forced herself not to shrink from his touch while her mind searched for a way to get rid of him until she could think this through. But she couldn’t risk having this man turn against her. He was extremely influential. And dangerous.
She stood, hoping he would back away. "When do you leave for Washington?"
"This afternoon."
He took a step nearer, and she felt her hips pressed against the edge of the desk. Trapped. She felt as trapped as a rabbit in a snare.
Montagnet towered over her. She was small and delicate.
Her bones would break like twigs. He felt himself growing hard.
"How long will you be gone?"
"Two weeks. Perhaps three."
She offered him what she hoped was a sultry smile. "If you could wait until you return, I will be in a better position to know just how much our finances can bear." She looked up to meet his speculative gaze.
Cruel, she thought with alarm. His eyes, his mouth, were hard, unfeeling.
"Two or three weeks?" He seemed to consider for a moment, while his fingers played with the braid at her collar. "I suppose I can wait that long." He dropped his hand and she felt a wave of giddiness. Lifting her hand to his lips, he murmured, "I look forward to our next visit."
"Good day, Mr. Montagnet."
"Charles," he interrupted.
"Yes. Charles. Safe trip."
He glanced down at her desk, and his gaze scanned the open ledger. Something flickered in his eyes. Following the direction of his glance, Annalisa snapped the bo
ok shut. He looked at her with eyes that seemed as bottomless as black pools. There was no light in this man. No heart, no feelings, no life. If she ever gave in to his demands, she would be sucked beneath that dark water until the life was drained from her.
She held her breath until the door closed behind him. Then, clutching her arms tightly around herself, she strode to the window, breathing deeply of the fresh, rose-scented air. A series of shudders passed through her. No matter what it cost, she could never allow that man to touch her again.
Lost in thought, Annalisa didn’t hear the knock on the door. At a second, insistent knock, she turned to see Hattie Lee wreathed in smiles. The woman’s face was flushed, and she giggled like a schoolgirl before saying, "Chase Masters is here to see you, child."
Moving to her desk, Annalisa sat down quickly and smoothed her skirts. When Chase entered, she fixed him with a look of scorn. "To what do I owe the dubious pleasure of your visit?"
"Business," he said matter-of-factly, settling himself comfortably in the chair beside her desk.
"Business, Mr. Masters? So early in the morning?" Her voice trembled with contempt. "How much are you hoping to get from me?"
"You’ve got that wrong, Miss Montgomery," he said casually, taking a paper from his pocket. "You only pay upon delivery. I’m leaving for New York in a few hours. I wondered what you’d like me to bring you."
Glancing up, he saw the look of complete surprise on her face. She was pale and trembling. "What’s wrong?"
"I’m sorry." She clutched and unclutched her hands on the desk top. "I’ve just had two very unpleasant visitors asking for money. I—thought you were about to do the same."
His tone hardened. "Who were these visitors?"
"Emile Soulet and Charles Montagnet."
"The governor’s aide?"
She nodded.
"Vultures. How much did Soulet ask for?"
"A hundred dollars a month. I gave him fifty."
"Are you mad?" He pushed back his chair and began pacing. "The man was fishing. Now that you’ve swallowed the hook, he’ll never let you go."
"What could I do?" In frustration, she stood and stalked to the window. "I had no idea every man in New Orleans would come here with his hand out. My mother didn’t leave me any instructions. I don’t know how to deal with them."
"Sara was very thorough," Chase muttered, walking to the desk. "She would have kept a record of such things."
"She probably did," Annalisa said grimly. "But I can’t understand her records." Moving to his side, she opened the first ledger and showed him the strange markings alongside certain names.
"Here’s Soulet. And here’s a ten with a circle around it. I have no idea what it means."
Chase’s eyes narrowed. These ledgers were invaluable. And she seemed to have no idea of their worth. "What about Montagnet?""Last night, his first impression of the man had been distinctly unpleasant.
"I can’t find his name in the ledger. Apparently he’s never been here before last night."
Thumbing through the book, Chase ran his finger down a page, stopping occasionally to study a notation. Suddenly he snapped his fingers. "Of course. Rousso."
"I don’t understand."
"Before Montagnet took this job, the governor had an aide by the name of Rousso. Poor fool was mysteriously shot while riding alongside a bayou."
"And Montagnet replaced him?"
Chase nodded. Flipping pages, they came to the name Louis Rousso. Beside his name was the number one hundred within a circle.
"What do you think?"
Chase frowned. "I can’t be certain. The one hundred probably means that Sara paid him one hundred dollars."
"A week? A month? A year?" Chase heard the desperation in her voice. "If this keeps up, they’ll bleed us."
"Exactly what they intend." While he studied the ledger, his mind raced. He knew how much Sara had recorded. How many men knew about these ledgers? They would offer mute testimony to the illegal demands of the very men entrusted with the public welfare.
Making a mental note to find out all he could about Montagnet, Chase closed the ledgers. It would be unwise to let Annalisa know just how concerned he was. As always, he kept his tone light and teasing. "Apparently Sara Montgomery learned her lessons well. To stay alive in this community, one must be prepared to pay the price."
Once more Annalisa wrapped her arms about herself, feeling a chill that even the growing warmth of the day could not displace. "What you say makes sense. But we still don’t know if she paid these leeches weekly, monthly, or annually. And I don’t think I’m capable of such duplicity. How can I go on bribing public officials simply to stay in this disreputable business?"
"Disreputable?" Chase’s smile widened. "Miss Montgomery, you do those women an injustice. They serve a great need in the community."
It was like him, she thought, to find humor in her discomfort. An unreasonable anger, at the injustice of it all, and especially at Chase, surfaced. "And I’m sure they’ve served your needs admirably."
"Most admirably."
He was laughing at her.
They both looked up as the door opened and Hattie Lee entered followed by a maid carrying a covered serving tray. Setting it on a small sideboard, she proceeded to set a round table with a linen cloth while Hattie Lee produced two table settings of fine china, crystal, and silver.
Looking up with a smile she said, "I figured since you two were busy with an order, I’d just bring you some breakfast."
"That isn’t necessary," Annalisa said. "Mr. Masters was just leaving."
"Before I have a chance to sample Thelma’s beignets? Not a chance," he said, watching as the blushing maid poured dark coffee and rich cream into two cups.
Holding out a chair Chase said, "Come on, Miss Montgomery. I can write an order better while I’m indulging myself."
"Something I’m sure you do often," she muttered, taking the proffered seat.
"As often as I can." With a wink at Hattie Lee, Chase settled himself comfortably across from Annalisa and proceeded to bite into the deep-fried doughnut sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Annalisa sipped the coffee and looked up in surprise. "This is wonderful."
"Café au lait," Chase said, watching her. "Half coffee, half thick cream. Thelma makes it the way I like it. Personally, I think we make the best coffee in the world right here in New Orleans."
While she drank, she watched Chase devour several beignets before tackling a meal of slabs of beef, potatoes, and eggs poached in heavy cream.
"Does our cook know all your favorite foods?" Annalisa didn’t even try to mask the sarcasm in her voice.
"Of course. And I bribe her into making them by bringing her French perfume and Belgian lace."
"Bribing again. Can no one escape it?"
He shrugged and reached for a thick slice of bread spread with peach marmalade. "For Thelma’s cooking, I would pay any price. I’d even be willing to sacrifice my virtue for just one loaf of her bread."
"Virtue." Annalisa bit into an egg and nearly forgot what she was saying. It was rich and creamy. Not at all like the greasy things she’d been forced to consume in the convent.
Chase watched her eyes soften as she took a second bite. "You were saying, Miss Montgomery?"
The beginnings of a smile touched the corners of her mouth. "It really is excellent food."
"Worth sacrificing my virtue for?"
The smile became laughter. "You? Virtue? I don’t believe it."
At his look of mock pain, she added, "I met you on a riverboat, remember? I know how you cheat to get what you want."
"You wound me, Miss Montgomery. All I did was change my luck."
"Yes. And the luck of all the other poor unsuspecting gamblers at the table. I would have to search long and hard to find any virtue in you."
Lifting his hands in a gesture of surrender, he said, "Go ahead, then, Miss Montgomery. You may search me." Laughter lurked in his eyes. "Take as long
as you wish."
"Oh." Throwing down her napkin, she pushed from the table. "Must everything I say be twisted to mean something indecent?"
"Miss Montgomery." He caught her arm and turned her about. Instantly he felt the jolt. One minute he enjoyed teasing her like a young girl. The next, he wanted to crush her in his arms. He shook off the conflicting feelings and fought to keep it light. "Believe me, there is nothing indecent about searching my body. Pleasurable, maybe. Exciting, certainly. But never indecent."
For one brief moment she felt a tiny thrill of excitement curl along her spine as his warm breath feathered the hair at her temple. His eyes, though still laughing, held the promise of knowledge and something deeper—something mysterious.
She pulled herself from his grasp and circled the desk, needing to put something solid between them. She refused to acknowledge that she was trembling. "If you’re ready, Mr. Masters, I’d like to give you my order now."
He sat down at the table and poured himself another cup of coffee, absently munching a beignet. How could any woman be that beautiful and still manage to give the impression of a cloistered virgin? Powdered sugar covered his lower lip and he licked it away, then looked up to find Annalisa watching him. "Want to share?"
Before she could refuse, Chase came around the desk and offered her a taste of his beignet. Taking a bite, she closed her eyes and savored the rich confection.
"Heavenly. You have good taste."
He leaned forward and touched his tongue to the powdered sugar that dusted her upper lip. "Very good taste," he murmured.
Her eyes flew open. She stiffened. Shock, surprise jolted her.
"Yes. Very good taste." Grasping her shoulders, he lifted her to her feet and drew her firmly against him before covering her mouth with his.
Her protest died in her throat as she felt the warmth of his touch seep into her.
Her lips were sweeter than any confection. He was achingly aware of her soft, womanly body melting into his. As her resistance faded, he felt her mouth soften under his. Pressing his advantage, he changed the angle of his head and drew her even closer.
When at last he lifted his head, Annalisa was surprised to find her arms locked around Chase’s neck. Her heart was tripping over itself. A tiny pulse fluttered in the pit of her stomach. She felt strangely lightheaded. And her legs were none too steady.
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