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Adam and Nicoletta
Chapter 2: "A Brick Wall and then a Brick House"
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Wednesday evening, April 3, 1872
Adam approached Painswick's Brothel inside an enclosed carriage, as per the rules of the club. In order to maintain the confidentiality of their membership, clients were not allowed to walk up to the brothel or arrive in an open carriage.
There were no indications on the outside of the building that it was a brothel. It just looked like a hotel with a well manicured lawn and a long driveway. The sign on the front said it was a "private club". The entrance was in the back, out of view from the street.
"Yes, please show him in. Oh, and have Ethel prepared."
Samantha Painswick hoped that Adam Cartwright was asking to talk in her private parlor because he wanted to inquire about Nicoletta Ambrosetti. This was the first time he had visited the brothel in the middle of the week. She took a deep breath and put on her most placid face, the one she used when she played poker for high stakes.
"Thank you, Miss Painswick, for taking the time to see me."
"Please sit. May I get you anything? Tea? Whiskey?"
Adam shook his head. "No, thank you." He fidgeted a bit. There were so many questions flooding his sleep-deprived brain that he was a bit unsure of where to start.
"Mr. Cartwright, what may I do for you?"
He decided to forego chit-chat and get right to the point. "I'm hoping that you could tell me about the woman that I saw you with at Saint Sabina on Sunday. A widow by the name of Mrs. Ambrosetti."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Cartwright. I'll remind you that I am a very discreet woman, and I implore you not to ask me any questions. As I mentioned during your orientation, I do not reveal any information on anyone or anything, inside or outside the club. All I will say is that she is a respectable lady."
"But if she is a 'respectable' lady, then why is she friends ..."
Miss Painswick held up her hand to stop him from continuing and said, "You will find that the members of Saint Sabina are very tolerant of people with alternate lifestyles. There is very little judgment."
Adam pried, "I was told that the two of you attend suffrage meetings. I suppose that I could assume your friendship is centered around those activities?"
Miss Painswick maintained her poker face.
Adam was becoming frustrated with his questions hitting a brick wall. He had worked 16-hour days for the past two days, plus today he feigned sickness in order to cancel an important dinner meeting — all so that he could make the time to visit Painswick's.
He even skipped exercising in the mornings. That especially bothered him because it took Adam almost two years of hard work on the Ponderosa to gain weight and build back his physique after being starved at Andersonville. Plus, since leaving Nevada, his body was becoming a bit soft from working behind a desk too much. He didn't want to go in the opposite direction and get fat.
"Mr. Cartwright, if I tell you anything about the widow's history, her list of activities, her likes or dislikes, or anything else, then we run the risk that she will learn of our business association. It would be unfortunate if you were forced to explain to her where you obtained your information."
Adam let out an aggravated, but resigned, sigh. "I apologize, Miss Painswick, for requesting confidential information."
He then became nervous about what he wanted to say next and, uncharacteristically, started to stammer. "I, I was just hoping to find out if Mrs. Ambrosetti may be interested in ... being courted by me because I heard ... I was told that she might not be available because she is, um, romantically involved ... with ... you."
Her face slightly faltered with surprise, but she quickly regained her steely composure. She made a mental note to have a stern talk with Henry Strallon if she could figure out how to maintain Mr. Cartwright's confidentiality on the matter.
"Mr. Cartwright, Saint Sabina is like most other institutions in that gossip and false rumors run rampant." Miss Painswick paused as she thought about what to say next.
She then decided that she should slightly relax her strict rule of secrecy. "Ok, Mr. Cartwright, I will tell you one more thing about Mrs. Ambrosetti. She is currently not 'seriously' involved romantically with anyone."
As far as Samantha knew, Nicoletta actually hadn't been involved with any man for a couple of years, but she wanted Adam to think that he had some competition. She observed over the years that men seemed to desire those who were harder to obtain.
She added, "I don't need to tell you that you are a very attractive man, and I'm sure that you have charmed every woman that you have ever met. I know that you are a man of integrity from our conversations and also from the feedback that I received from the girls who have given you companionship. They all have high praise for you because you treat them like ladies and not like courtesans, including being attentive to their needs."
Miss Painswick could tell that he needed some reassurance and encouragement. "Just be yourself with the widow. Be gallant, be a gentleman, be observant, be thoughtful, but also be very patient."
Adam's confidence started to return. Miss Painswick hadn't outright denied the rumor he heard, so he was still intrigued as to the exact nature of their friendship. But on the other hand, it sounded like she was encouraging him to court Mrs. Ambrosetti.
He decided to lighten the mood a bit and said with a charming, lopsided grin, "'Be patient? I thought you said to be myself?"
She didn't want to elaborate too much, so she responded, "Patience is a virtue that will pay off with high rewards."
Adam took that to mean that he shouldn't rush through the courtship. That was fine with him because he was hesitant to risk heartbreak again.
He stood up and said, "I've taken too much of your time. I should leave you be. Thank you for your candor, Miss Painswick."
"Not a problem at all. It is always a pleasure to talk with you, Mr. Cartwright."
"Just one more thing, Miss Painswick. I want you to know that I only have the best intentions for Mrs. Ambrosetti. If I am lucky enough to win her heart, then I will need to cancel my membership to your club."
Miss Painswick allowed herself to smile. "We would be sorry to lose a valued client such as yourself. But I am pleased to hear you say that, Mr. Cartwright. I do hope it turns out well. But in the meantime, please stay. I have someone who I think you would enjoy."
Even though he had yet to formally meet Mrs. Ambrosetti, Adam felt a little bit guilty for being in a brothel. But he decided to sow his oats while he could. "Ok, yes, if you think it would be appropriate."
"You are still a man with needs. I appreciate you wanting to show restraint," Miss Painswick responded. "Now, come with me upstairs."
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As they went up the grand staircase, Adam asked, "Miss Painswick, what is the widow's first name?"
"Sorry to be a stickler for the rules again, but please, no questions. There is a church directory of parishioners. And please, call me 'Miss Samantha'." There were only three other clients that had the privilege of calling her that, and they had been members for over 15 years.
Once they got to the second floor foyer, she said, "Please sit here, Mr. Cartwright, while I make sure that your room is prepared." Then talking to the attendant, "Fetch him a bottle of whatever he wants, on my account."
After about 15 minutes, Samantha returned and led Adam into one of the bedchambers. Standing there was a young whore wearing a lace mask around her eyes, a royal blue corset with white lace trim, and snug pantalettes. Samantha instructed her, "Turn around for him, dear."
Adam noticed right away that the whore's dark hair was styled exactly like Mrs. Ambrosetti's. Even the hair combs and necklace looked to be the same.
The whore's body also seemed to be similar to what Adam imagined the widow's to be under her billowy skirts: an hourglass with large breasts, thick thighs, an ample bottom, and a small waist — physically fit, but soft. He was amazed at the resemblance and had a disturbing realization: "Miss Painswick already had me targeted as a mark!"
"Mr. Cartwright, this is Ethel. I have her wearing a mask so that you can use your imagination and pretend that she is the lady that you desire. Do with Ethel everything that you want to do with the widow."
As Miss Samantha continued talking, she walked behind Adam, running her fingers across his shoulder blades, and then walked towards Ethel. "In the time that you have been a club member, I know that you haven't indulged in anything depraved. But please also do with Ethel anything that you would not do with a respectable lady so that you can get it out of your system.
"There is no one else besides you that Ethel will be seeing upstairs. She will be working in the first floor lounge from now on and is available just for you, every day, at a moment's notice to take upstairs."
Adam started to feel flush with anticipation but also thought, "That bottle she gave me wasn't so free after all. I should have requested a more expensive liquor because having a whore on-call is going to be mighty expensive!"
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