Free The Gentlemen's Club: Volume One in the 'Noire' series by Emmanuelle de Maupassant Page B

of substance,
refinement and intelligence. I cannot believe it would be otherwise.”

 
    Her words were a comfort.
Certainly, whatever her name or status in society, Mademoiselle Noire lacked
neither wits nor imagination. Her conversation was eloquent, her spirit
admirable and her bearing noble. Perhaps all could be well.   However, MacCaulay remained doubtful that she had any notion of marriage: much less, that she
might wish to accept an overture from him.

 
    MacCaulay took leave of Cecile with his customary kiss upon her
forehead and promised to join her downstairs in good time.

Chapter Thirteen
    Many Hands Make Light Work

 
    MacCaulay returned to the Club the following evening, his mind
now set that he must speak to Mademoiselle Noire alone and apprise her of his
feelings. He would expect her refusal but entreat her to consider his proposal.
That she would have terms of her own, he fully expected. These he would
consider, although her continued exhibition of herself at the Club he felt he
could not countenance. He would relinquish his own membership if necessary.

 
    He found a place upon a side
sofa, away from the main throng.

 
    Mademoiselle’s entrance to
the salon was heralded by the swish of her skirts, as she made her way to the centre of the assembly. She had never looked more regal,
wearing a dress of crimson red velvet, cut low, so that her porcelain shoulders
were fully exposed. Her corset was laced tightly, supporting her cleavage to
utmost advantage, the orbs of her breasts as two ripe peaches. Her coiffure was
pinned with diamante stones, which caught the light, so that her auburn hair
appeared set with stars.

 
    She began her address.
    “Gentlemen, you are familiar
with the delight of watching a fair bottom wriggle upon a manly piston –
your own or that of another!”

 
    Merry agreement rippled
through the room.

 
    “What joy it is to witness
such coupling, spurring on the efforts of others and offering murmurs of
encouragement as you watch appreciatively, waiting your turn.”

 
    She paused, allowing the rosy
image to permeate.

 
    “Some might say that lusts
are best inflamed by watching ladies coax one another, with gentle fondles or
harsher play. Others prefer a girl to be coy, since shy modesty has its own
appeal and men like to hunt. A woman too willing is perhaps no sport. Who among
you has not thrilled to the act of overcoming seeming resistance? To the lifting of a reluctant girl’s skirts? The ladies of
our harem know you well Gentlemen, acting the virgin or the whore, as suits the
occasion.”

 
    Her voice, low and seductive,
continued.

 
    “Tonight, we bid farewell to Evaline , who has been your sporting companion these last 12
months. Her fields have been watered most liberally, and in every manner, by
our honourable host. Sadly, this is her last night
with us, since she is soon to enter the sacred union of marriage and plans to
put aside, with much reluctance, her life of adventure within these walls.”

 
    Mademoiselle here allowed the
Gentlemen to conjure forth their own recollections of the majestic Evaline .

 
    “To mark her departure, she
has requested the honour of your participation in a
special performance: no less than the reenactment of Messalina’s orgy. Being
learned gentlemen, I am sure you know the story well: the Roman Emperor
Claudius’ wife, being insatiable of appetite and immensely competitive, challenged
the well known prostitute Scylla to a contest, to see who might fulfill the
desires and lusts of the most men.   Of course, Messalina demonstrated herself to be
the greater whore, fulfilling the most perverse demands by the greater number
of suitors.   This evening, Evaline will be without challenge, since we humbly acknowledge
her as the foremost lady of this establishment.”

 
    Having received such an
introduction, guaranteed to whet the appetite, the lady herself entered,
dressed fittingly in a Roman toga, her