The Traveling Cabaret

By Lin Clements

Cabarets are known for their unique performances, but this particular nomadic troupe offers much more than song and dance as part of their repertoire. Led by Madame Gwenivere Bordeaux, the women of The Traveling Cabaret are sometimes asked to quietly handle assassinations. One contract becomes more complicated than it may seem when vengeance, lust, and political maneuvers are involved.

Excerpt:

“You also enjoy my fine scotch and a romp in my bed before services on Sunday, but tonight you had other purposes. So.” Madame Bordeaux moved her hands to her hips and let out a soft sigh. “Out with it. What is this business?”

He didn’t enjoy the bitter taste of the disappointment now souring his mood, the corners of his mouth turning downward. She’d asked favors of him plenty of times before this, yet here he was asking for one of his own, and the Madame couldn’t manage to be civil. He kept his eyes fixed on the caravan, eyes darting toward the communal fire as a burst of laughter drifted over the air.

“I have an accountant who’s proving to be a bit of a problem. And I would like your assistance with him.” Amos shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He wasn’t sure how this would go and the last thing he wanted to do was to make the Madame angry. Irritated though he was at her hesitancy, the wrath of Madame Bordeaux was a thing oft whispered about like a demon.

“Your problems are your own, Amos. I can’t involve myself in them in that regard. You know that.” She finally looked at him, taking in his pale face and rather unremarkable features. It was his laughter that had initially drawn her to the man. Except he didn’t do much laughing these days. Madame Bordeaux suspected this largely had to do with this accountant. She still wanted no part in the matter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lin Clements
• Release date: May 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301749133

Lin Clements

Lin resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with her husband, two beautiful daughters, their Rottweiler named after a beloved Firefly character and one bossy feline named Boots. When she’s not writing and preparing for the inevitable zombie takeover, she enjoys crocheting, yoga, cooking in her Kosher, gluten-free kitchen, and adding to her gun collection.

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The Traveling Cabaret

A Short Story By Lin Clements

Copyright 2013 Lin Clements

All Rights Reserved

Cover design by Eric Hubbel

Smashwords Edition May 2013

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, trademarked products, events, and locastions are fictitious or are used ficitiously. Any resemblances to actual events or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Dedication

The Traveling Cabaret

About the Author

Also by Lin Clements

The Traveling Cabaret

by Lin Clements

For The Duchess!

One

Doesn't look right, really. Amos stood outside the back exit of Saint Augustine's Auditorium, a female companion by his side. The leader of the Trade Guild was unashamed of his relationship with the woman, though many whispered behind his back. He enjoyed her straightforwardness, something lacking in many people these days. Or, perhaps, since the beginning of time.

Madame Gwenivere Bordeaux, the female companion, folded her arms beneath her ample bosom, surveying the acreage behind the auditorium. Winter had begun loosening its firm grip on the land, snow finally receding from the wagons lined up in neat little rows. Normally, the wildly varying paint schemes and motifs would have been an eyesore according to the town's codes. However, they appreciated the tax income from the girls, thus Madame Bordeaux's Traveling Cabaret was given their permit to winter there.

Such an isolated location provided the kind of low profile Madame Bordeaux preferred to keep when staying in one place. It was a boon in more than one aspect, but was of particular help in dealing with the town religious zealots. Cabarets were, of course, known for their risqué performances, but the shows they put on weren't what Madame Bordeaux would have considered inappropriate. They did, however, perform in various stages of undress, and extra services were discreetly negotiated, with the Madame acting as a broker.

These extra services didn't sit well with the priests, though Madame Bordeaux had to credit them for not harassing the women during performances. In other areas, they'd run into Believers of the type that would organize protests in front of the venues, often attempting to block off access to the show. The priests of this town were more akin to monks, though, by decree of their Bishop. If any felt so moved to make a show of animosity toward the Traveling Cabaret, or anything else for that matter, they simply sat silently outside the Auditorium.

No, it doesn't look right. Nothing's more wrong than a caravan that isn't moving. But it has to do for now. Damn rutted roads would cost us more in wheels and horse than any coin we'd make. Madame Bordeaux preferred the time spent on the road, but she was also a smart businesswoman. If the girls weren't making money, she wasn't making money, and coin was about the only thing with power these days.

"We need to