Chapter 4
Lois sat in the carriage her heart beating out of her chest. She was undoubtedly nervous, but she couldn't allow those nerves to get the better of her, not tonight. Tonight was her night, and she was going to be the woman she had become over the past weeks. Tonight was her debut, as a courtesan. Moira had insisted that she stay home and allow Lois to go on her own. She had tried to talk Lois into painting her face but Lois would not let her, she wanted to make herself stand out in every way possible. Lois was already a different beauty, at the time women with fair skin and blonde hair caught the eyes of men everywhere. Lois' skin was sun kissed and her hair was chocolate, thick and curled. Lois did however agree to the dress that Moira had suggested and rusted red gown trimmed with beautiful golden lace and one white rose on the plunging neckline.
Just as Lois was about to reach the party her carriage passed a familiar face, her dear cousin Chloe. Chloe looked up into the carriage startled to see Lois, it took Lois a moment to realize that Chloe didn't know anything about Lois' choice to become a courtesan. She gave her newlywed cousin a quick smile before leaning back in the coach and continuing off to her destination.
The coach came to a stop after what seemed like a lifetime. Lois took a calming breath and allowed it to wash over her. This was her moment. Her driver opened the carriage door and Lois took his hand allowing him to assist her out. She thanked him before making her way into the party where a man stopped her. "Your name my lady? So I can announce you."
Lois stood up straight before letting out a breathy, "Lois Lane."
The short older man nodded before signaling her up a flight of stairs. "May I present, Lady Lois Lane."
Lois blushed slightly at the very public announcement of her arrival. Lois ascended the stairs and looked out over the crowd of mostly men. All of them were admiring her. She smiled softly before placing a hand on the railing gracefully and went to join the crowded room. She watched as a man quickly approached her, he looked to be in his thirties his hair was brown and he had such kind eyes. "My Lady." He bowed politely. "I've heard about you from your Aunt Moira."
"So my reputation proceeds me?" Lois smiled flirtatiously. "I hope she had only told you good things."
"I have not heard one thing that hasn't made me want to meet you even more." The man spoke passionately. "And now that the moment is here I am the luckiest man in the room. Would you do me the honor of playing a hand of dice with me. I think your presence will bring me luck."
"I'd love to." Lois smiled as she allowed him to place a hand on her back leading her to the betting tables. At the back of the house a group of religious believers were preaching that gambling was wrong. Lois didn't quite understand why they would attend such an event in the first place if they believed such a thing. Once they reached the table her handsome escort placed three gold coins in Lois' hand.
"And who is this beautiful woman Richard?" A man at the table asked.
"This gorgeous flower is one Lois Lane." Richard smiled.
"You better keep a protective hand on her White, I already see the men buzzing over her entrance."
She smiled feigning innocence turning her attention to the money in her hand, "Oh, this is my first bet."
"Your first?" He leaned into her, her eyes sparkling.
"Yes." Lois gazed up at him. He placed five more coins in the palm of her hand.
"I'm honored." He said in a deep suggestive voice.
Lois fingered the coins in her hand smiling at his willingness to give her money without question. As Lois was about to contemplate her bet one of the religious men approached the table. "Why would such a woman like you gamble with your soul? And a respectable man gamble away his wealth and soul?"
Lois' escort drew his dagger placing it against the mans throat. "What is it that you want sir?"
"Only you and the lovely ladies salvation sir." The preaching man answered.
He rolled his eyes, placed his sword back in it's sheath at his hip and turned to Lois. "Come my lady, this is no company for such a fair woman."
Lois smiled and nodded at the man whisking her away from the man who interrupted their innocent game. Lois decided to take the opportunity to get to know him better. "I'm terribly sorry sir, pardon my rudeness, I've forgot to ask your name."
He let out a jolly laugh. "My name is Richard White my lady. And I must say I'm terribly sorry to hear about your father."
Lois smiled as he placed a hand on her back for comfort. "Thank you Mister White. You knew my father?"
"Yes fairly well he trained my men about two years ago. He told me a lot about you." Richard said, reminding Lois of what he said earlier.
"You seem to know a lot about me Mister White. But I know very little about you." She smiled as he lead her throughout the house.
"I am thirty two years old. I am a senator in Metropolis. I have a wife and two children. I love to gamble. And I am thoroughly enjoying your company tonight, almost as much as I love being the most envied man in the room because I am in your company." Richard said charmingly.
"Oh so you're a charmer are you?" Lois smiled as she entered a room where a woman was singing a beautiful song by the fireplace. "She's amazing! Don't you love music?"
"I enjoy the occasional song." Richard shrugged, Lois playfully swatted his arm. "Would you like some wine?"
"Please." Lois smiled as he left her it allowed her to scan the room. She was one of three women in the room, the rest were floating around the grounds. One was singing and the other was topless sitting in a group of men. Lois continued to let her eyes wandered when they fell on a pair of eyes she wasn't expecting.
Clark's mouth was agape when she looked at him. He hadn't seen her since that day in the street and even then it was for merely a moment and she was gone. He hadn't spoken to her since the night he broke her heart. But what confused him is exactly what she was doing there, she knew no one here.
"…brothel." The word shook him from his stupor. He looked toward Lex.
"What did you say Luthor?" Clark asked.
"I said Metropolis has become something of a brothel lately. So many willing women." Lex smiled. "And perhaps they should leave Metropolis and it can go back to the way it was before."
Clark chuckled. "And what had crawled up your ass tonight Luthor?"
"Poverty." Lex answered. "Ever since my father disowned me I'm now acting like a common whore in courts around the world to make my bread."
"So you would damn the fairer sex for partaking in the one profession available to them other than a nuns hood?" Clark asked stealing gazes of Lois.
"Well the common whore makes more in a night than I do in a month. Perhaps they are smarter than we think." Lex took another drink, finishing his umpteenth cup of wine.
"Well I'll allow you to ponder that thought Lex." Clark clapped Lex's chest before he got up and trotted over to Lois.
Lois couldn't believe it was real when he got up and began walking over to her. She had not expected to see him there let alone talk to him. He looked absolutely beautiful in a blue velvet jacket with grey vest and black pants. His hair was perfectly styled and his angular face was even more angelic than Lois remembered.
"Lois?" The sound of his voice alone caused butterflies to flutter in Lois' stomach and her heart rate to once again increase. She smiled softly at him. "What are you doing here?"
Okay Lois, remember, seductress, siren. Lois leaned closer to him stepping on the tips of her toes to create a pulling feeling between them. "Mister Kent I'm here for the party of course."
"But… only men were invited to this party?" Clark's eyes narrowed his confusion taking precedence the pain of her formal greeting. She had to admit she was loving watching the wheels in his head spin trying to connect the dots. Standing in front of him was the new and improved Lois, she understood his confusion it was actually quite cute.
"Not only men Clark. What do you call her?" She pointed to the singer, "And her." Pointing to the topless woman.
"But Lois they're courtesans…" Clark was still not getting it.
"Lois!" She heard Richard's voice behind her before she felt his hand on her back. "Sorry about taking so long. I ran into an old friend. Here's your wine."
"Thank you Richard." Lois smiled batting her eyelashes at him.
"Kent!" Richard smiled at Clark extending his hand. "It's been too long. Do you two know each other?"
"We're old friends. When I was eight I stayed at the Kent estate in Smallville with my father." Lois answered quickly. "But that was another life time ago."
Clark looked at Lois with hurt in his eyes, Richard connected the dots quickly. "Oh Kent, don't tell me you let status ruin your relationship with this beautiful gem of a woman?"
Clark looked down cursing that he was able to be read so well. He never liked Richard he was a man that never worked for anything and was smug at all times. Richard chuckled. "Well I guess that answers my question." Richard raised his hand offering it to Lois who accepted willingly. She held Clark's gaze as she walked past to the center of the room where Lex was reciting a poem.
Sweet noble heart, I am forbidden
to ever see you again
your fair sweet face
which put me on the path of love;
but truly I do not know
how I can expect
not to have to die soon.
And if I must abstain
to give you pleasure,
or else be untrue to you,
then I would rather keep my loyalty
and according to your will
die, if your heart wishes it,
than against your will
to receive complete joy
by viewing your beauty.
As Lex spoke the words Lois locked eyes with Clark, both of them in some way relating the words to them and their relationship. Lois needed to get him alone and inform him of the true nature of what her decision entailed, but she wanted him to panic just for a night, see what he had lost that night at Chloe's wedding.
When Lex finished the poem the room bust into applause as it always did at Lex's words. Lois lifted her head whispering into Richard's ear sending a blaze of jealousy through Clark's veins. Richard laughed at Lois' secret and all Clark could do was clench his fists.
"Perhaps the fair lady could do better?" Lex said his eyes locked on Lois. He must have thought Lois whispered words of ridicule, which was not the case at all. Suddenly all eyes were on her, Lois didn't allow the fear to make it to her eyes. Richard gave her an encouraging push towards the center of the room. Clark took a step next to Richard waiting to see what Lois would do. Lois locked eyes between the two men so neither could distinguish who she was truly looking at. She had been writing a poem about her feelings towards Clark, she opened her mouth and began to recite it.
As Hermes once took to his feathers light
When lulled Argus, baffled, swoon'd and slept,
So on a Delphic reed my idle spright
So play'd, so charm'd, so conquer'd, so bereft
The dragon-world of all its hundred eyes,
And, seeing it asleep, so fled away:
Not to pure Ida with its snow-cold skies,
Nor unto Tempe where Jove griev'd a day;
But to that second circle of sad hell,
Where 'mid the gust, the whirlwind, and the flaw
Of rain and hail-stones, lovers need not tell
Their sorrows. Pale were the sweet lips I saw,
Pale were the lips I kiss'd, and fair the form
I floated with, about that melancholy storm.
As Lois finished the entire room bust into a roar and a bigger applause than they did for Lex's poem. Lois smiled as pride filled her heart, she knew their response was genuine. She was new to their crowd and she was a woman, if she made a fool of herself she would have been ostracized immediately. Clark gazed at Lois curiously as she bowed to show her gratitude.
Later that night Lois found herself back in her chamber with Richard White. She was beyond nervous, this was the do or die moment, the moment where she became the talk of the town, or the complete joke among courtesans. Many candles had been lit around her room and her window was open. Richard sat on her bed while Lois circled him, almost doing a dance. "So earlier you told me my aunt told you about me."
"I did." Richard smiled gazing up at her.
"Did she tell you about tonight?" Lois questioned him. She watched as he reached out a hand silently asking to hold hers. Lois gingerly took it.
"What about tonight? The fact that you will make me work before you give yourself to me?" He looked at her teasingly. Lois breathed a sigh, her aunt had put a much softer spin on it as opposed to what Lois was going to say which was You and I are not happening. "She did. I think it is quite endearing and different."
Lois grinned at him. "Well if you know nothing was going to happen then why did you come back with me?"
"I have another request." Richard said boldly.
Ut oh. Lois thought and she took a deep breath. "And I will be happy to consider this request." Lois winked at him as she got down on her knees in front of him.
"There is something my wife never lets me do. I think it's harmless but she refuses." Richard looked away from her. Lois reached up and brought her hand to his face gently turning him to face her.
"Well let me judge your request now." Lois said in a silky flirtatious voice.
"Could I…"
"Could you…"
"Could I rub your feet?" Richard asked looking like a young boy in the process. Lois couldn't help but let out a giggle at the innocent request.
"If that is what you want then I am happy to oblige Mister White." Lois smiled at him.
"Richard." Richard corrected her. "To you I am simply Richard."
He grabbed her hand pulling Lois to her feet, he stood up to join her and swept her off her feet laying Lois down in the bed. It was her first official night as a courtesan and it was ending with a foot rub. Lois was certain of one thing. She could get used to this life.
When Lois awoke the next morning she was greeted by her aunt who sat at the foot of her bed. Lois smiled up at her aunt who brought her a tray of food and drink. "So how was your first night as a courtesan?"
"Amazing." Lois smiled curling into her pillow. "I did what every courtesan should, I did what his wife would not and he left satisfied. And I didn't even give myself to him."
Aunt Moira smiled pulling out a small purse from her dress, she turned it on its head so all the money fell out onto the bed. Lois' eyes widened as she looked at what looked like ten gold coins sprawled out on her bed. It was more money than Lois had ever seen in her life, and all for a nights work. "And I must agree Richard White was quite satisfied with you. But remember Lois they will not all be Richard White."
"Well then…" Lois laid back against her various pillows, "Who's next?"
Courtesan dress: http: / www. Padawansguide. Com / CG / georgiana_big /sk_or2. jpg
Okay there, there is Chapter 4 and Lois' debut as a courtesan! What do you all think of Lois' way of getting around sleeping with the men? What Lois gives her suitors will be more of an emotional connection and things like allowing them to rub her feet. I hope you guys like that, I definitely do! Once again the poems in this chapter are not mine. One is an ancient medieval poem, the other called On A Dream by John Keats.
Loved it? Hated it? Suggestions? Let me know in the reviews! I really truly appreciate them!
