Belles of the Bordello

By Darla K. Kutej

Lily Mason is newly married to Jason Waters when the war between the states begins. Soon she must leave her beloved home of South Carolina and travel to her husband's family plantation in Virginia. She is forced to travel on horse back with her slave, Jo. They meet up and travel with a small caravan and a handsome trapper named Chase. Chase not only comes to hold Lily's trust but carries a secret. One that not only affects him but Lily as well. Will it destroy them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Feb 11, 2008
• ISBN: 9781469764146

Darla K. Kutej

My name is Darla Kutej, I live in Lake Jackson, Texas. I have two grown children and four grand children. I have been married to my husband, Ron, for fifteen years. I like animals and football.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Lily was sitting at the window in her bedroom looking out over the garden in the middle of the circle drive that led to the main house. She was sitting in a high backed chair that was covered in purple plush fabric. Colene had chosen soft colors of lavender and violet for the décor in her daughter’s room. She had chosen the colors to match her daughter’s eyes. Against the main wall sat Lily’s large poster bed, it had lavender curtains with matching tie backs that hung on the tall bed post and frames. The curtains around the windows were purple swags with white lace panels. The wallpaper was a light cream with violet and purple pinstripes. Colene had most of the décor imported from England.

Lily’s room wasn’t large but it was big enough to suit Lily. There were various tables placed about the room with matching chairs. Against one wall was a large oak desk for Lily to write her letters and do her school work. Lily sat trapped in thoughts of her approaching marriage to one of the wealthiest families in Virginia. Jason Thomas Waters was not her only suitor; she had received proposals from many of the local gentlemen. She had also received proposals from as far away as the New York area. Jason Waters was however the only one Lily and her father could both agree on. Lily admired her father for allowing her to have a say as to whom she would marry. Most families would arrange marriages for their children and it was final.

Jason was not an easy man; he had opinions of his own. Lily like some others thought these opinions were too liberal. She felt she could get him to change them, especially the ones he had about slaves earning wages for their labor and slaves being landowners some day. Jason was a handsome man; he stood an easy six feet and had dark brown hair and piercing green eyes. His shoulders were very broad and he was cut in the waist. His legs were muscular and strong. Lily thought he was the most handsome man in Virginia. Colene could be persistent when it came to Lily’s reputation. It was times like this Lily was glad she could escape to the citrus groves on her family’s plantation. It wasn’t as large as the neighboring plantations but it often out produced them. Lily never understood why the house wasn’t located behind the grove. She thought the fragrance from the blooms would float through the house and it would smell wonderful. Lily’s father said it would be too many bees in the house if you had it built to close to the groves.

Lily’s father was named William but everyone called him Bill. He stood six feet seven inches and could be intimidating to those who didn’t know him. He was a handsome man with gray eyes and matching hair with a tint of black from his youth. Bill could be hard handed with Lily’s older brothers but when it came to Lily and her mother. Colene he was always gentle and denied them nothing. Lily’s brothers had stayed on the plantation even though they had said they would leave once they were old enough. Hampton was the oldest he looked just like his father. He was broad across his shoulders and had piercing gray eyes and went by the name of Hamp. Lily always thought the reason Hamp and her father had difficulty getting along was because they were so much alike.

Luke is the youngest and Bills favorite. Luke is smaller than his other brothers and is only five feet eight. He has a tough attitude and a temper to match. Lily supposes this is why he can hold his own with his brothers and anyone else for that matter. Although Lily is not so sure his wife Mary would agree. She says he may act like that with other people but not with me. It is clear that Mary runs their household! After all not even Colene could get him to church every Sunday! Lily was brought back to reality when she heard Jolene’s voice asking her if she wanted to take her breakfast in her room or in the downstairs dinning room.

Jolene had taken care of Lily since she was three years of age. Lily called her Jo. Jo was in her mid forties was tall and had a slender frame. Her hair was short and she often kept it tied up with a handkerchief. Her eyes were so brown Lily sometimes thought they were solid black. Jo was in her mid forties and was tall with a slender frame. Her hair was short and she often kept it up in a handkerchief. Her eyes were brown and Lily often thought they were solid black at times. Jo was a hard woman but she carried softness for Lily.

Jo could read, Lily had taught her when she was little. Jo worked in the house and had never had any children even though she was married in her youth. Her husband had been sold off before she came to live with the Masons. Jo was happy with the Masons; they had always been good to her and treated her fairly. She often thought Lily as her own.

Lily answered in a soft voice and Jo told her to stop that day dreamin. Lily responded with the request to breakfast in her room. It was still too early for her to be social she felt she would need more coffee before she was ready to take on her mother. Colene was sitting at the dinning table when Jo came down the stairs. Upon hearing her daughters request to dine in her room, sent Jo upstairs to retrieve Lily. They had a lot to discuss; there was a wedding to plan and Lily’s last year of education. Lily went downstairs as her mother requested but wasn’t happy about it. Sometimes Colene felt her daughter wasn’t interested in marriage or anything else for that matter.

She could not help to think her daughter was too young to marry. Bill would tell her she was just being overprotective of Lily. And as much as he hated to admit it he wasn’t ready to have Lily leave either. After all Lily was his light. He loved his sons but Lily always held a special place in his heart, right next to Colene. Bill knew the match between Jason Waters and Lily was a good one. He knew his daughter would soon become a woman and no longer the little girl he thought she would always be. He was looking forward to the children Lily would have and deep down hoped she would not outgrow her father.

Colene watched as her daughter sat, not quite ready to take on the day ahead. Colene said," you spend to much time daydreaming and to much daydreaming makes you lazy if not all together crazy. Lily looked at her mother and smiled. She thought to herself she would miss her mother’s quotations for life, as Lily liked to call them. Lily was glad to see her plate placed before her now she had an excuse not to engage in a lot of conversation, at least not until she had another cup of coffee. Colene on the other hand was ready to begin the selections for the wedding invitations. She was not surprised to see Lily had not given the invitations much thought. Colene was determined to have Lily select the invitations before she got up from the table. It was time her daughter had stopped being lazy and started taking on some responsibility for her life. Colene had always blamed Bill for being to light handed with their daughter. Lily realized her mother was loosing her patience and placed her plate to the side to be cleared. She then took the invitations from her mother and began looking through them. It wasn’t long before Lily had picked out her favorite and Colene was pleased she had picked the same one she had chosen.

As Lily returned for her school year the wedding plans were beginning to be fun for her. She liked that she could spare no expense and that she was the center of attention. She and her mother had made all the arrangements, except for the gown and floral. Colene had insisted these be done last because they were the most challenging. Lily was glad to have her mothers help over the past months; it had brought them closer together. Most of the plans were made around her school schedule. After much time and correspondence all was ready except the final fitting for Lily’s gown. The wedding plans had made the school year go by quickly, Lily couldn’t believe this was to be her final year and soon she would be Mrs. Jason Waters.

It was Christmas 1859; Lily was released early her final year of school due to talk of a possible war between the states. There had been previous talk of war but no one knew when or if a war was to take place. Lily was happy to see John had been sent to escort her home. He had taken her to the train station and they left that very morning.

Lily knew the train ride home would be anything but boring with John as her escort. John had always been Lily’s favorite brother. He often took her horseback riding behind the plantation and down by the creek. Sometimes he would even let her ride to town with him. She loved his easy going personality and million dollar smile. Lily often thought nothing fazed John. They had a lot to talk about on the train ride home; while most people talked about the war starting soon, Lily and John talked about school and Christmas.

Christmas had always been Lily’s favorite time of year and she was looking forward to spending it with her family. John didn’t seam to be interested in much and Lily couldn’t understand why. Maybe it was the red head beauty in the adjacent car that held his attention?

Lily was glad to be home, the trip went by fast but she was tired. John had been the perfect escort and had done a good job with keeping her distracted from all the war talk. He didn’t want Lily to get upset at the thought of war and all the trouble it would bring. Lily was tired and went straight to her room to rest; she also wanted to see Jo.

Christmas was always the family’s favorite holiday. Everyone gathered at the main house, realities would double up in the bedrooms and talk into the long hours of the night. This was also Lilies favorite time of year, people seemed to be friendlier and the decorations would be out all through the town. There were church services and carolers and best of all the mistletoe! Lily wasn’t sure how much she could partake in because her engagement dinner was to take place. She hoped her mother had taken care of all the arrangements and all she had to do was show up.

Lily didn’t want to mix her wedding plans with that of Christmas. She wanted to be free to enjoy her holiday without her mother pressing her for wedding plans. Lily wondered if Jason’s mother was the same or if it was different, he being a man and all. Lily’s engagement dinner was to be held at her family’s plantation. Colene would be impossible to get along with until the engagement dinner was over. She would insist everything be perfect and have everyone on a tight schedule.

CHAPTER 2

Guest were arriving at the main hall and all was going to Colene’s plan. She couldn’t be happier or looked lovelier. Lily hadn’t come down and Colene was beginning to wonder what was taking so long? She had sent Jo up almost half an hour ago to check on her. It wasn’t like Lily to be so late. Finally she appeared at the top of the stairs, looking as beautiful as Christmas itself. Everyone had their eyes on her and she knew it. Lily wanted to be the center of attention because this was her night.

Lily noticed Jason as she came down the stairs; he was waiting at the bottom of the stairs waiting to receive her. He was tall and handsome with a smile on his face that made her wonder what he was thinking. He was wearing a pair of black polished boots that rested just below his knees. His suit was also black with long tails that ran down both sides of his jacket. His shirt was cream in color and top off with a black bow tie. Lily noticed his pants fit him tightly and were tucked inside his boots. She could see his strong muscles as he moved. Jason’s green eyes were seductive as he looked upon Lily.

Jason was watching Lily as she descended down the stairway. She looked radiant; her gown was floor length and flowed along her tall slender body as she moved. Her gown was mainly violet with white and purple layers that matched her eyes. She had chosen pearls as her jewelry. Her hair was pulled away from her oval face on both sides and came together on the top of her head. It was held in place by a beautiful ivory comb. Jason thought she looked to be floating down the stairs as she joined him. He took her by the hand and as he kissed it could feel a slight tremble from Lily.

Lily was thankful there was other people in the room, she knew she couldn’t trust herself to be alone with Jason because earlier she had noticed a slight tremble that ran through her body and down into her hand as she placed it in Jason’s. She knew he was aware of it as he placed his warm lips to the back of her hand. Lily knew she should have worn the gloves Jo had picked out for her. Maybe if she had his kiss wouldn’t have the effect it did. As Jason escorted Lily to the main dinning table, he wanted nothing more than