Free With One Look by Jennifer Horsman Page B

motionless in the evening sky and covered the light of a full moon. The air felt oppressive, hot, humid and like potent wine, stirring souls to restlessness. Outside Marie's house, Steffen parted from the rest and headed back to Victor's town mansion with her message. She insisted Victor go to Charmane's. The clairvoyant had dreamt of Victor at the house and Marie Saint did not ignore any warning given in a dream....
    Madame Charmane's house was in full swing when John and Sebastian arrived. Sebastian spent several minutes flirting with two pretty hostesses before John finally managed to pull him away. The gaming room appeared relatively deserted. Everyone seemed to be in the barroom; something was happening there.
    Men packed the large black-and-white marble squares of the space, crowding every table as well as the stools lining the mirrored bar. Comely women, scantily clad, served drinks. Thick smoke and fumes of hard liquor filled the air, already heavy with a near-deafening sound of drunken talk and laughter. Sebastian's gaze flew about the large room, seeking Don Bernardo.
    Just as Victor had suspected. Don Bernardo and his crew were there, occupying the far corner of the room. Sebastian smiled as his gaze settled on the large, corpulent Spaniard. He sat partially turned around, so Sebastian viewed his profile. His long wiry dark hair made a plait down his back. Sebastian's dancing eyes greeted this oddity. It would make such a fine trophy! He would decorate it with red ribbons and hang it on his saddle. The huge man's face, made grotesquely larger by a full beard, showed numerous signs of one too many fights. What bothered Sebastian the most were the man's eyes; they were eyes that flashed with the same emotion whether killing or wenching. As usual, the pirate laughed loudly and boisterously.
    "Madonna," Sebastian whispered to John, "look who's with the bastard."
    None other than one of the two Laffite brothers, perhaps the only men Victor disliked more than Don Bernardo. Pirating normally kept the brothers busy and away on their little island; this was a rare appearance. Leaning back and appearing disinterested, even bored, the tall red-haired
    man's pretense of respectability disgusted Sebastian. The Laffite’s alone were responsible for more rapes, murders and other bloodthirsty cutthroating than most of the other so-called privateers combined.
    "Can you tell which weasel it is?" Sebastian asked, never able to tell the brothers apart.
    John, himself a huge, quiet man, known for his good humor and able fighting, shrugged. "I have trouble with weasels, but I believe it's the lesser of evils. Pierre."
    They made their way across the room, greeting friends as they passed. The sumptuous chamber smacked of the ostentatious. Elegant chandeliers strategically lit the thirty or so tables. A huge marble fireplace dominated the side of the room opposite the bar. Outrageous tapestries depicting naked nymphs in frantic orgy scenes hung on the walls. Sebastian swallowed his good taste as they assumed two seats at the bar, positions that offered a complete view of the room.
    Drinks were ordered.
    "There's about twelve of them. How many do you think you could handle, John? Just in
    case."

    "Ah, well, I feel lucky tonight. Three or four. Just in case."
    Sebastian liked the odds. He then turned to the bartender, an elderly Negro man, and asked
    what was happening, in hopes of discovering why Marie Saint had insisted that Victor be there. "Madame is offering a young lady on the block," he replied, scrutinizing the young man.
    Mercedes had told him of Madame's cruelty upstairs, and while he had worked in the house too long to be surprised, the trick she'd pulled on the new girl seemed particularly wicked. The least he could do was what Mercedes asked, encourage the nicer-looking men to bid. "She is more beautiful than can be believed. You will bid, no?"
    "I'm afraid not, old man. Buying a woman's favors takes half the pleasure out of