Other Colors - Ch. 17 - Sex Stories

Other Colors - Ch. 17

... non. That is the eeriest part of all, Penny,” she leaned closer, and dropped her voice to a gleeful whisper. “It has all been done anonymously. All I have is this strange letter. It was waiting for me in the dressing room,” she spun, dashed back a few paces, and snatched her purse from beneath a blue velvet seat cushion. “Look, I have it right here.” I didn’t look up right away. I didn’t need to. I stared at the floor, barely breathing, as she thrust the missive beneath my nose. I sighed. Sure enough, tucked in an envelope that still bore the crumbling remnants of his sealing wax, was the letter from Marie’s not-so-mysterious benefactor. She slipped herself behind me, reading along again over my shoulder. 'Mlle Godeaux, Please do what you will with this gift. I know nothing of theatre. But I would have a fellow whipped for overdoing Termagant. It out-herods Herod. Pray you, avoid it.’ My hand quivered a little as I turned it over. But that was all. No signature, no initials, not even a pretense of interest or explanation. Out of the blue, he swooped in to save them, and left behind just one stupid line of Shakespeare as his pitiful apologia. I closed my eyes, and blushed. ‘ I would have a fellow whipped…’ I could almost see him smirking, his eyes flashing in my direction. Haven't we heard enough from Hamlet, sir? “Il est très excentrique, no?” she grinned at me slyly. “I think I may have my very own phantom, Penny. Did you see the wax?” “…I saw it.” I tried hard to smile, ...

... and handed it back to her. I suppose I could’ve told her. But I suspect to pull the mask off her phantom would’ve been akin to signing my death warrant. She would have crushed me beneath her questions. And I think it was only by her whimsy and stroke of good luck that she hadn’t recognized his handwriting. Marie was, after all, sitting there with me when I’d opened the clothes and choker he’d sent over before dinner. “Whoever it was,” she ran her fingertip tenderly over the ink, “He is my savior. Vraiment, I would kiss his feet, Penny.” I flushed deeper. Only if he lets you, ma chérie. My mouth was full of sand. “I’m…so happy everything’s worked out for you,” I choked. “I really am.” "Mais oui. I don’t know why I ever doubted," she slipped the letter carefully back into her purse. "I had a tarot reading last week. My new clairvoyant—she told me I would be tested soon, but I must never lose faith. All would be well in the end.” She cocked her head at me, “I must take you with me next time. You will hate me for it, but she is good, no?” I dropped my eyes to the floor. “Yeah. We'll see,” I breathed, summoning up a smirk. But my brow was creased, “It’s been kind of crazy getting all settled in with Dmitri. I really doubt I’ll be able to get away again anytime soon.” She put her hand on my shoulder, and when I glanced up, her face was dark and disconcerted. For one fearful moment, I thought perhaps she’d surmised much more than I intended. “Ah, j'ai une tête de linotte, Penny,” she ...