The Scandal of Rose: A Gilded Age Novella by Joanna Shupe

Author:Joanna Shupe [Shupe, Joanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dolcezza Press LLC
Published: 2024-10-02T00:00:00+00:00

Eleven

Rose

The early February winds threatened to take my hat several times as I hurried through Union Square. I regretted not taking a hansom, but I was trying to save my money. The walk helped to clear my head.

It had been a week of late nights with Moore at the town house. Seven nights of sweaty grinding and kissing that never quite satisfied the place inside me that longed for him. True to his word, he hadn’t bedded me—no matter how much I begged. He never entered me, never joined our bodies together. The frustration was driving me out of my skull.

And worst of all? I was developing feelings for him.

These were deep, lasting feelings, the type I’d avoided since Ohio. I was the world's biggest fool. Why was I so self-destructive in my choice of men? Tommy, the mayor’s son, never intended to marry a girl like me, one from a poor family. And now Moore, an unattainable man from the highest social echelon. The world in which the Emersons lived consisted of strict social rules for associating with the “right” types of people. In both cases I was the good time, the woman they lusted for, but would never keep.

Staying with Moore, allowing our arrangement to continue, meant only heartache. Yet I couldn’t keep away. I returned each night to the town house to meet him, where I let him undress me and have his wicked way with me. I was utterly weak when it came to him, powerless to resist the pull between us.

It would be easier to let go if this was purely physical. But we talked late into the night, either in bed or the bath. There was something so calm and steady about Moore. In some ways he was my opposite, but we were alike in many others, too. Like our ambition, our need for financial security. Our love of ice cream and distaste for meringue. I made him laugh and he gave me investment advice.

And the heat between us was an inferno.

“Hey, stranger!”

The nearby voice brought me out of my tangled thoughts. Glancing around, I broke out into a huge smile when I spotted a familiar face. “Flora!” We embraced quickly. “It’s good to see you.”

“Same, Rosie. I’m still disappointed that our show closed last week. We had a lot of fun together.”

“Yes, we did. Are you auditioning already?”

“I am. You know how it is. No rest for the wicked.”

I grinned. “Indeed, such is the life we lead. I’m off to an audition, as well. Are you headed over to Sixth Avenue?”

She nodded once and took my elbow, then we started walking. “It’s a small part for In Gay New York. One of the actresses has throat problems, so they need a replacement quick.” She bumped my shoulder with hers. “You know, it’s in your vocal range and you’re about her size. You should come for an audition.”

“I’ll think about it. Right now, I’m off to see Mr. Martin. He’s looking at leads for The Bathing Girl.

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