Free A Reluctant Courtesan (Harem Masters #1) (Harem Masters Series) by Nora Weaving Page B

slyly.
    Her father bristled at the woman.
    “That’s not why I’m here. I want to sell you my
daughter.”
    The woman laughed. “Very funny. Even here, we have age
rules. I’m afraid she’s too young.”
    “She must be worth something,” he wagered, undeterred.
“You must need a cook. A maid? Someone to clean up after your whores.”
    The woman narrowed her eyes.  “Watch your tongue,” she
hissed. “Can you cook?” she asked Kalliope.
    Kalliope knew she could not cook much. “A little,” she
said quietly, embarrassed.
    “Why don’t you want her?” the woman asked.
    “She’s of no use to me. My wife died and I have married
off and sold my other two teenage daughters. This one is too young. I have no
use for her and I want no business in raising a girl.”
    “You are the weaver from across the town.” The woman’s
voice was hard and cold; it reminded Kalliope of an angry snake.
    Her father shrugged. “So what?”
    “Heartless,” she spat.
    The woman bent down and smiled at Kalliope. Her smile was
warm like honey and her eyes crinkled just a little.
    “I’m Gaia,” she said kindly, “what is your name.”
    “Kalliope.”
    “That’s beautiful. Do you sing, Sweet Girl, like your
name implies?”
    Kalliope shook her head. She used to sing with her
mother.
    She didn’t sing any more because the songs only made the
tears come.
    “Well, we shall change that. Why don’t you come inside
with me?” She held her hand out for Kalliope.
    Kalliope looked at her father to see if it was okay.
    Her father gave her a gruff nod.
    Kalliope took Gaia’s hand.
    It was worn and soft. It was strong and Kalliope felt
safe. Gaia pulled her into the building.
    “I will give you nothing for her. Let your payment be
that I have taken her off your hands. And do not ever show your face at my
establishment again.”
    “Baba?” Kalliope asked as Gaia began to lead her away.
But when she turned around to look, her father was already heading down the
road.
    “Baba!” she screamed, “Baba! Come back!”
    She tried to run for the door, but Gaia held her back.
    “It’s alright, Kalliope, I have you.” She hugged her
tight.
    “Baba! Baba!” she cried again and again.
    Her father never turned around.
    “Sweet child. Thea Gaia has you now. Auntie Gaia will
keep you safe.”
     
    Kalliope finished with the kitchen and she hurried off to
the women’s quarters. There were nine women who worked in the brothel and they
shared two rooms’ worth of living quarters. For nearly twelve years, Kalliope
had kept the living quarters clean. She had certainly earned her keep in the
brothel and Gaia had been more than pleased with her. While she had referred to
Gaia as her auntie, Thea Gaia, she had truly been more like a mother.
    When Kalliope had first come to the brothel, Gaia had taken
pity on her. She had been filthy and Gaia had lovingly bathed her and dressed
her in a peplos that was much too big for her. She had braided her hair, and
given her a worn out doll that had been Gaia’s when she was little. Gaia had
allowed her to lie around and cry the first week. Gaia had given her all the
love she could, hugging her and kissing her, bringing her soup and letting her
sleep at all hours of the day.
    But after a week, Gaia came to her and Kalliope knew it was
time for her to earn her keep in the brothel. Gaia began to show Kalliope how
to clean the stone beds where the women took the men. She showed Kalliope how
to sweep the floors and clean the kitchen. She slowly taught Kalliope to cook
and Kalliope learned that it was not so difficult after all. Gaia promised
Kalliope that if she got her work done in time, Gaia would try to spend an hour
a day teaching her.
    Kalliope was eager to learn and she quickly did her chores
so that Gaia could work with her. Running a brothel was busy work, and Gaia
could not work with her every day, but Kalliope understood. The love from Gaia
was more than she could have ever hoped for from her