Bridgette looked down uncomfortably, and Daryl whispered, “It’s okay.
You can do it.
This was the part you wanted to say.
Come on, Bridge.”
Her eyes rose and filled with fiery blue emotion.
“There you go,” he encouraged.
“With as special and unique as we are… with how much we all depend on the non-judgmental support of each other… I am guilty of judging some of our members.”
There were more hushed whispers of surprise from the audience.
“I would like to apologize to Tammy for saying her nose looked like a beak…”
“Shit, Bridgette,” Daryl groaned.
“We agreed.”
He hung his head, and then quickly looked up at her again.
“This is not the time to crusade,” he muttered.
“You were just supposed to apologize.”
“To Patti for making fun of her boob job.”
Nicolette was trying to grab the microphone, but Bridgette was keeping it out of her reach.
“And to Joanne for saying she looked like a raccoon.
If you choose to show your ignorance by gawking and sneering at Calla Venetia, then that is your right.
Calla showed much more sophistication and class than I did, by choosing to ignore your insults.
So, I apologize for lowering myself to your level.”
People were laughing, and the three offending girls were open mouthed and horrified, while their mothers were hissing berating threats to them.
One of them must have been sitting close behind her, because Calla heard a woman say, “…the Venetia’s.
They have three eligible sons, and are one of the founding families of the society.
How dare you embarrass our family by insulting Cynthia’s daughter-in-law?”
Calla smiled and said softly, “You go, Bridge.”
She leaned over and saw Daryl shaking his head and smiling at her.
Nicolette finally got hold of the microphone, though Bridgette did not release it.
“Did it occur to you, Bridgette, that perhaps your little episode has brought more attention to the matter?”
“Did it occur to
you
, that anyone who can’t see that Calla is the most beautiful girl here, is a jealous moron?”
Bridgette shot back.
“Of course she’s beautiful.
That’s the point.
If she wasn’t, the other girls wouldn’t feel threatened by her.”
“But she’s married.
They’re being rude,” Bridgette insisted.
“She’s married, they’re not… Kyle should be available, but because of her, he’s not… they’re
jealous
Bridge.
Their behavior and reaction to her is the biggest sign of envy and flattery they could give her.
Not this simpering, ‘I’ve got to stick up for her,’ nonsense,” Nicolette argued.
All of this was going out over the speakers, and Calla was almost as red as her dress while people craned their necks to look at her.
“God, if I thought I was being stared at before.”
She slipped on her gloves and stood.
“Someone needs to put a stop to this.
They’re supposed to be sadly divesting themselves of their home, not arguing over how a few jerks treat me.”
Murmurs began when Calla rose and made her way to the stage.
“Shit, the lights,” Kyle said, just as Calla pulled a black umbrella out of the pocket of her gown and popped it open.
As soon as Nicolette and Bridgette saw her walking towards them on stage, they froze and slowly turned to stare at the crowd.
“May I?” Calla asked, and she pried the microphone from them.
“I think our poor announcer is still trying to locate where the ‘on-stage therapy’ was supposed to come in on tonight’s festivities.”
Calla smiled, and the audience laughed and applauded.
They stared at her in wonder, as an almost iridescent glow shone from her hair in the light.
Even under the shadow of the umbrella, she was enchanting.
“And no, I do not forecast rain… but I do have to make this quick, or Albert is going to begin to holler at me to put the damn glasses on.
For those of you who are not aware, I have an extreme sensitivity to light.
Although I miss out on the wonderful cruises that Angela loves, I share them through the light in her eyes when she speaks of them.
Thank you, Angela, you are a kind, passionate girl who loves everything about living, and one of these idiots is going to realize that there is just so much life in you, it bursts to the surface.
“Sitting on the sidelines, I hear many interesting things.
For instance, Harvey should tell Tammy he has been crazy about her since he saw her at the Display three years ago, instead of letting his friends distract him.
Honestly, you’re like school kids.
William, Patti thinks you’re cute, too.
You just never let her catch you looking at her, and she’s much too shy to approach you.
The worst has got to be Lawrence Tilbott.
Good grief… ask Joanne to dance.
She took lessons this summer in case you did, and your mother’s feet are going to break if you make her practice with her again next fall.
Sorry, Mrs. Tilbott.”
The crowd was laughing softly and nodding their heads and nudging elbows into the ribs of the affected parties.
“I guess as a final note, I should add that Kyle is
not
available.
He is the playful, creative side of Liam, so I’m sorry, girls.
I lucked out and got two for one,” she rubbed her belly and added, “twice.
Nicolette and Bridgette will be returning to the estate with us so that we can continue to work on their uncharacteristic fixation and phobia to protect me.
I have hopes that this therapy will take a long time, as I’m very fond of them and rather fascinated with this obsessive compulsion that has left the new owner of Hawthorne waiting for the keys.”
Calla turned to Bridgette.
“Are you ready to end the suspense?”
Bridgette took the microphone and leaned over to whisper, “Sorry it got out of hand.
I was just trying to…”
“I know, Bridgette.
Thank you.”
Calla made her way off stage to applause, and Cynthia was beaming.
Daryl looked over at Liam and said, “And you picked her up hitchhiking?
Damn.”
“I… I guess we’re visiting at the Venetia’s,” Bridgette stammered.
“I thought you were a sadist, Bridge.
Getting in that girl’s way sounds a little more masochistic to me,” someone shouted out.
“Well, I guess Calla made it pretty clear that she can take care of herself,” Bridgette replied.
She smiled and said, “Before Calla decides to come back up and match-make the rest of you, I guess we’ll get on with this.
I was going to tell you how much growing up at Hawthorne meant to us, and how much I hope the new owner comes to love it.
I think we’ve taken up enough time, so just feel the pain in your hearts at the thought of leaving your home.
That is what we are feeling, but what we also need to let go.”
Bridgette opened the envelope and stared.
“Oh my god,” she gasped.
Nicolette grabbed the sheet and took the microphone from her shocked sister.
“The new owner of Hawthorne… is Cynthia Venetia.”
The crowd was as shocked as she was.
Cynthia squeezed Alexander’s hand.
“I knew mama’s money would come in handy some day.”
She rose and walked to the stage while he stared at her in amazement.
He had no idea, though he had always told her that the money was hers to do with as she wished.
Cynthia smiled and took the microphone.
“Thank you, Nicolette.”
She looked out to the crowd and said, “Oh, Albert, don’t look so surprised.
The lands border ours, and I have sons to consider.”
Cynthia winked and added, “And perhaps one of the Miller girls might not be gone from their home as long as they thought they would be.”
“You conspiring witch,” Albert whispered.
No wonder she had asked all the questions about the girls while he was caring for Calla.
Albert decided to ask her if she had originally planned to forego the auction and just
marry
one of her sons into the estate.
Cynthia handed the microphone back to the announcer and held out her arms to bring the shocked sisters back to the table.
“Now, for the good stuff,” Cynthia said.
The first slaves auctioned were the trashy ones, just as Bridgette predicted.
“God, look at her.
Who trained her?” she asked Daryl.
Daryl thumbed through the program.
“The Sorrels.
Jack always whips them to death, and they try to hide the scarring with makeup.”
The girls had off-colored scarring stripes across their bodies that showed total incompetence with the whip.
“You should see Nicky,” Sloan leaned over and whispered.
“She’s amazing.”
“If you think she’s good with a whip, you should see the designs she can create with a cane,” Bridgette replied.
No one even asked to have a further display, and a bidder for a brothel won the two marked girls.
They would be lost in the sweaty bars and cheap hotels in South America.
Slowly, the offers became more enticing and the owners would walk on stage to present their slave’s special abilities.
Everyone was gearing up for the finale… the Venetia Blossoms.
To purchase a girl from the estate was a luxury only the wealthiest families could afford.
The rare treat was when Master Constantine arrived, staying only long enough to collect Pansy for his harem.
Master Julienne was flying back to Six Masters Island with him, and Jackie, aka Ava Puhi, was already caged and ready for transport to the jet.
Constantine studied Pansy’s violet eyes and shapely figure.
“She’s absolutely lovely, Cynthia.”
“Thank you, Constantine.”
She turned to Julienne and kissed his cheek.
“You take care of yourself and call Ethel more often.
She misses you, Julienne.”
“I’m trying to convince her to move down there with me.
The tropical weather would do her arthritis some good.
She says she can’t leave her fae.”
Julienne grinned and looked over to the table where Calla was holding court with her twins.
Daryl led Aster forward, and a man walked on stage to study her.
She was the first Blossom being offered, which meant the price would be lower on her.
He had promised his wife a Venetia Blossom for their anniversary.
“She works well with women?” he confirmed with Cynthia.
“Aster has been trained to be a bedchamber servant,” Cynthia assured him.
“Edith will be pleased with her as a personal slave.”
The next to be brought forward were Cosmos and Jasmine… together.
Sloan was presenting them, because Calla would not be able to work her under the lights.
“We are offering these two as a set,” Cynthia informed the audience.
Cosmos, with her adorable freckles and red curls, was an odd complement to Jasmine’s oriental features.
“Under Sloan’s guidance, Jasmine is Calla’s first presentation.”
No one had predicted the interest when it was learned the snow angel had trained the girl.
Cynthia had actually figured she would need to include Cosmos to increase Jasmine’s value.
Harvey looked out to the crowd and whispered two tables back, “Tammy, would you please come to the stage?”
Tammy’s hand was beginning to tremble in his when she walked up the steps.
After the horrible experience with Bridgette earlier, she hoped she was not facing further embarrassment.
God, if Mrs. Venetia says something to me, I’ll just die.
Harvey cleared his throat and announced, “Tammy, I would like to buy you a Venetia Blossom.”
He looked down at her shocked face with his soft brown adoring eyes.
“I kinda’ like the Jasmine,” he whispered.
“Me too,” Tammy whispered back.
“Oh my god, Harvey.”
Even her mother had never owned a Blossom.
“I can’t get your attention at these things,” Harvey admitted.
“Shit, Tammy, I’m crazy about you.”
“I do too, Harvey.
I just couldn’t get you away from those guys.”
Harvey was afraid of Mrs. Venetia, but he straightened and asked, “Can they be separated?”
“Patti, do you want the other one?”
William called over to the table beside his.
His mother had to badger him to make the commitment.
Her son would continue quietly keeping his intentions private if she left it up to him.
Patti turned scarlet.
“I… um… oh yes, William.”
They rose and walked to the stage, and Calla felt Marigold’s foot stroke her shin when there was a competition over purchasing Jasmine.
Apparently, it was decided to be a bit of a coup to get the snow angel’s first offering, and it was obvious that Sloan had guided her training.