Read Daughter of the Thirteen: Bourbon Street Witches Book 1 for Free Online Page A

that stupid, girl. You know the gentlemen would be falling all over themselves over a young thing like you. If you were to perform in our shows, it could draw them in. They would think you’d be working before too long, and they’d be clamoring to be the first to pluck you.”
    “I don’t know anything about performing,” Laurel told her.
    “Mora can teach you whatever you need to know,” Madam Arlington told her before turning to Mora.
    “Make sure she has some suitable clothing to wear, and get to showing her the ropes. I intend to put out the word that we have a new girl here for the Saturday night crowd.”
    “Yes ma’am.” Mora turned skeptical eyes toward Laurel. “Well let’s go. You have a lot to learn.”
    “Let her sleep in the attic with you and Arlene,” Madam called after them. “If she isn’t earning money, she belongs with the two of you.”
     

Chapter Six
     
    When they returned to the bedroom they were to share, Mora pulled out a bunch of clothes and loaded Laurel’s arms. “You can try these on. Find something nice and we’ll go downstairs to get started.”
    As far as Laurel was concerned, all the clothes were beautiful, but they wouldn’t all fit. These were Mora’s clothes, and she had a little more meat on her bones than Laurel did.
    “How do you entertain the gentlemen?” Laurel wanted to know.
    “Sing and dance mostly … but we also entice them. When the time comes they want to go upstairs, you make your excuses and hand them over to one of the working ladies.”
    Choosing a pretty pink morning dress, Laurel quickly changed her clothes.
    When leaving the bedroom, her eyes wandered to the other doors in the little hall. She wondered how many girls didn’t participate in the carnal duties of the brothel.
    “The other rooms are for girls who get caught. They stay there until they have their babies,” Mora explained.
    “Oh … what do they do with the babies?” Laurel was curious.
    “Well they stay here with us, mostly. There’s a little nursery in the attic where they are kept a lot of the time.”
    “I can’t wait to get to know the children.” Laurel smiled.
    “They’re a nuisance,” Mora grumbled.
    When they passed by a large mirror, Laurel couldn’t help but stop. She was actually startled by the image she saw staring out at her from the mirror.
    The girl in the vibrant pink dress didn’t look anything like her. She just couldn’t get enough color after wearing gray her entire life.
    The dress was low cut and showed far too much cleavage, but it was so pretty that she was willing to overlook that part. The silk and lace felt wonderful next to her skin.
    Mora cleared her throat. “You gonna stand there and look at yourself all day?”
    Laurel felt the blood rush to her cheeks. She wasn’t looking at her reflection because she was vain, but only because she was surprised at how different a little color made.
    “I’m sorry,” she muttered.
    When they entered the drawing room, Mora went straight to a man at the piano.
    “Well hello Miss Mora May White. How you doing today?” he asked, his mouth spreading into a wide smile.
    “Same as most days,” Mora groused.
    He turned large dark eyes on Laurel. “You must be the new girl.”
    “Hello monsieur .”
    “I’m Jackson. You’ll get to know me real well, on account of me being here so much.”
    Laurel liked him right away. “So you play the piano?” she asked.
    He laughed. “Child, I be one of the best in the city.”
    Laurel smiled. “Can I hear something?”
    “Sure enough.”
    Jackson turned around and placed his fingers on the keys. As soon as his fingers started moving, a lively tune filled the room. Laurel had never heard music quite so exhilarating, but of course she hadn’t heard a lot of music.
    When the song ended, Mora snapped her fingers to get Laurel’s attention. “We have work to do,” she reminded her.
    “Thank you for the wonderful song.”
    “Don’t worry your head, girl.