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

I’ll be here if you want to hear some more,” he told her with a big grin.
    Laurel followed Mora into a large room with a small stage at one end. “This is where you’ll perform.”
    “What should I perform? I don’t know how to dance or sing.”
    “Of course not.” Mora rolled her eyes. “The first thing we are going to have to teach you is how to dance with the gentlemen. You’ll be expected to do that. Then I’ll show you what you’ll do on the stage.”
    For the next hour, Mora showed her how to dance by letting the man lead. When she was satisfied Laurel had the basics, she pointed to the stage.
    “Now get on the stage,” Mora instructed.
    Laurel did as she was asked.
    “You’ll be wearing something different when you perform, but what you’ll do is dance. Make sure you swing your hips to the music …  and then just take off your clothes, one piece at a time.”
    Laurel’s face twisted with horror. “You cannot be serious!”
    “Well of course I’m serious. Don’t worry if they try and touch you. Someone will take care of it.”
    Laurel shook her head. “I don’t think I can do it.”
    This whole thing had been a mistake.
    What would she do, or where would she go if she couldn’t do the things that Madam Arlington wanted?
    The more familiar she became with the nature of life, the more she began to wonder if it would not have been better if she’d joined the sisters at the convent.
    “Laurel.” Mora smiled patiently. “You are no longer a child, and even being a virgin, I’m sure you know what men want from a woman. Even if they can’t actually get it from you … seeing what they can’t have will drive them crazy. The other ladies will make a fortune from their unfulfilled lusts.”
    Laurel’s thoughts turned to St. Claire and what she’d seen in her mind when he’d kissed her.
    What she’d felt during that kiss was more powerful than she would have imagined. She had no doubt that desire could be a powerful thing.
    Suddenly she felt darkness enter the room.
    The shadows in the corners grew longer, as if reaching out to devour them.
    But it had to be her imagination.
    What she fancied as darkness, had to be the afternoon sun fading.
    Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the entire atmosphere of the house had suddenly changed.
    Though Mora was the only other person in the room, she felt as if someone were watching her.
    Pushing the feeling away, she made a conscious decision to banish her gloomy thoughts. Marcos didn’t know where to find her, and night was still a couple hours away.
    “Now get up there and imagine there’s some music … start peeling those clothes off,” Mora instructed.
    When Laurel stepped onto the stage she was overcome with a feeling of wrongness, not to mention the fear of looking ridiculous.
    Moving her body to an imagined melody, she slipped off the gown, and then one stocking at a time. She next slipped off the lacey knickers she’d been wearing beneath the gown. When she was done, she stood completely naked on the stage, glad that the only person in the room was Mora.
    “Well you need some practice, but you’ll do okay,” Mora winked.
    “Will she really make me do this in front of men?” Laurel asked.
    “It won’t kill you. I promise!”
    Mora picked up Laurel’s clothes and handed them to her. “Now get dressed. We have dinner early here, so that we can entertain during the evening.”
     
    * * *
     
    Dinner was a new experience.
    At Saint Michael’s the food had been plain, without much variety. That wasn’t the case at Magnolia Hall. Madam Arlington prided herself on serving her girls only the best.
    The jambalaya with spicy sausage was delectable, and for the first time, Laurel tasted lobster, garnished with lemon butter.
    She ate way too much, but couldn’t help herself. It was all so good, almost as good as sweets.
    Since she wasn’t ready to entertain yet, she was sent up to her room while the other girls worked.
    She