The Virgin of Greenbrier: The Greenbrier Trilogy, Book One

Chapter Two-1

Chapter Two

She sat alone and fidgeted for close to ten minutes before the door opened again. This must be the doctor with the graying goatee-style beard, his sleeves pushed up to his elbows and his dark hair slightly mussed. Like the outside of the house, an air of wild and slightly dangerous charm exuded from him. She guessed him to be in his mid-30s. The moment he entered, his expression shifted from one of quiet expectation to that of stern disapproval. For what seemed forever, he said nothing to Lucretia. He just stood there, regarding her with a disapproving look.

For a change, Lucretia said nothing. She would wait for him to have the first word. Perhaps it was with some secret wish that in doing so she would get the last.

“Were you not told to undress for me?”

“I was told.”

“Then why do you still sit there completely clothed?”

“I did not feel, sir, that it was appropriate for a lady to meet a gentleman for the first time in nothing but her undergarments.”

His eyebrows arched as he seemed to consider her logic. “Under normal circumstance that would be true, but these are hardly normal circumstances. I need to examine you and in order to do that you must be wearing as little as possible. I would prefer you completely unclothed, of course.”

Lucretia tipped her chin up, “Others have done examinations and I have been dressed just as I am now. Why should you be any different than the rest of them?”

She almost saw him smile. “You refuse to obey then?”

“I refuse to undress for a man I do not even know.”

“Then perhaps we can bring your father in. You know him well enough.”

That brought Lucretia to her feet. Her hand drew back to strike him, but his reaction was quicker than hers and he caught her wrist in his hand and held it tightly. “You can either undress for him or you can undress for me. If you wish to do neither, I shall have someone come in here and undress you for me. Your choice.”

Lucretia yanked her wrist free. “I shall allow nothing of the sort! I wish to leave.”

“You’d not last a day in a sanitarium, Miss Borgia.” He crossed his arms, watching her yank on the locked door. “It’s much nicer here. Trust me. I know.”

“Let me out of here this instant!” She turned to face him, fists clenched at her sides.

“Interesting name your father gave you, Lucretia Borgia. Was there a reason for it?” He ignored her screams of frustration as she turned again to pound on the door and yank at the knob. “I believe the original Lucrezia Borgia was quite fond of men and taking full advantage of them. Are you anything like her?”

Lucretia pressed her back against the door and glared at him as he walked casually over to her. “Stay away from me!”

“You’re getting all hysterical on me, Lucy. You don’t want to do that. I’ll have to call someone in here to help if you don’t.” He reached out, touching her cheek with his fingertips.

With a growl, Lucretia lunged at him; but, once more, Dr. Addams was ready and caught her quickly. He clamped her arms to her sides and held her tight, not allowing her to land one of her kicking feet against his leg. “Cassandra!” he yelled over Lucretia’s pitiful cries. “Cassy, come in here, please!”

The door clicked instantly and the same woman who had led Lucy to the room reentered. Even with her dark hair pulled back, the strands remained rippled with curls. Soft ringlets that had fallen free of the ribbons and combs brushed against the nape of the woman’s slender neck and temples. Her eyes matched Lucy’s in color; a deep, dark brown. Behind the honey-brown skin, only a few shades darker than Lucy’s, must be the blood of a black man or woman. A woman, more likely, Lucy concluded – lest this woman called Cassandra would be free and not enslaved to this repugnant physician.

Cassandra moved swiftly to the closet and flung it open. From inside, she removed a set of wrist and ankle manacles and ran to the doctor’s aid. Despite Lucretia’s most violent efforts, she could not prevent the two of them from locking the devices on her. She was slammed against the one bare wall and found her arms stretched up over her head; the cuffs hooked in place. Still she tried to kick at her captors; again she was subdued.

Cassandra retrieved a wooden bar from the closet and handed it to the doctor who locked it between Lucretia’s ankles, forcing them to stay apart in a two-foot span. She had never been so furious or humiliated in all her life.

“Don’t make me have to gag you, too, because I can and will if I feel it needs to be done.” Lucretia could not believe what was happening. Did her father have any idea the way she was being treated? He certainly could not be authorizing any of this. “Cassandra, get her undressed. If she had cooperated, we could have left on her undergarments; but, being as she chose to disobey, please strip her naked for me.” Dr. Addams took a seat on the fainting sofa to watch.

New howls and screams erupted from Lucretia as Cassandra began to do as she had been told. He was suddenly there, holding Lucretia’s head between his strong hands, “Do you want to be gagged?” He had yet to even raise his voice, but spoke with the quiet calm of any fine Southern gentleman.

“No,” Lucretia whimpered, her face red with tears.

An easy smile played on the doctor’s devilish mouth. “Then be a good girl and be quiet while Cassy removes your clothes.”

“My father…”

His fingertip touched Lucretia’s quivering lips ever so softly. “Shush now. One more sound of protest and you’ll be gagged and blindfolded.” Lucretia’s lips parted again as if to speak, but the seriousness in his eyes drew from her only silence. “Good girl. Now, in the future you will do exactly as you are told, and you will end every statement or question directed to me with the word, Sir. Do you understand?”

Lucretia looked down, more tears trickling from her eyes, “Yes.”

“Yes? Yes, what?”

She loathed to say it, but was too afraid to do otherwise, “Yes, sir.”

His smile was warm and charming, and he even leaned forward and kissed her forehead before releasing her head from between his hands. “Good girl. Obedience has its rewards.” He turned away and motioned to Cassandra to proceed with the undressing of his latest charge. “Don’t move, Lucy. Don’t even think about resisting. It’s quite futile here.” He was back on the sofa again, resting his chin on his knuckles as he leaned forward to watch.

Lucretia closed her eyes but did not fight. She could not open them again. She could not look at that horrible man and that woman and know they looked back at her and saw her vulnerable and shamed. Lucretia would never forgive her father for bringing her here, never. She hated him. She should have run off with Joe. She had money of her own. They could have done just fine without him and she had her own slave, too.

Warm hands began to travel over her bare skin. Down her sides they went and over her hips and around to her ass. These same hands lifted her breasts one at a time, gave them a gentle squeeze, and then her n*****s were rolled between the fingers. Lucretia pressed her lips harder and harder together. The examination continued. He patted the insides of her thighs then caressed the soft fluff of hair between her legs. She so wanted to scream, but would not give him the pleasure of gagging her. Surely he wanted that pleasure. She had been examined before by others. She could endure this no matter how humiliating it was. Lucretia gasped as fingers spread her labia and then slid into her with ease. Do not scream, she told herself. Just hang here and give him nothing.

The hand rotated, feeling everything it could inside her, and then Dr. Addams made a curious sound. He moved his fingers ever so slightly deeper. “Are you still a virgin, my dear?” he asked. If she opened her mouth, she’d scream. If she spoke, she’d start to sob. She couldn’t answer him as he’d told her to so she only nodded, trying to suck in the tears. “Good.” His fingers drew from her. Thank God he wasn’t going to make her talk. “You look and feel quite healthy to me. Cassy, go ahead and let her down. I’ll want to see her in my office when she’s ready.”

“Yes, sir.”

It was over. Praise all the saints, it was over. Lucretia’s wrists and ankles were freed and only then was she able to open her eyes again. Cassandra handed Lucretia her long chemise but that was all. “You can wear this for now but don’t get too used to it.”

Lucretia hugged the garment to herself. “Just this?”

“That or nothing. It’s your choice for now.”

She quickly pulled the chemise over her head as Cassandra put away the manacles and bar. She shut and locked the closet too quickly for Lucretia to see what else was inside. “What is this place? Why am I here?” Lucretia begged. “Do you know?”

“I’m not allowed to say. Master and your father will discuss that when I take you to his office.”

“You are a slave then? You don’t look like a slave.”

“I was a gift to Master Addams when I was just a girl down in Louisiana. He’ll treat you well if you do as he says.”

Lucretia was bewildered. “But I’m not a slave. I have my own slaves. We have a plantation.”

“Come with me.” Cassandra opened the door and Lucretia followed eagerly. “None of my concern what you think you are right now. That’s between Master and your father.” She led her further down the hall to the door at the end.

“What do you mean? I’m white! I’m not a slave like you.”

Cassandra’s features softened. “Listen to me. There be all kinds of slaves in this world. I’m one kind. Maybe you’ll be another kind. You listen to Master Addams and you do as he say, and you’ll never be happier, you hear? You disobey and you’ll never be more miserable.” Cassandra knocked on the door and waited for a reply. “Cassy and Miss Lucretia, sir.” She reached out and gave Lucretia’s hand a friendly squeeze. “Remember what I tell you and it’ll be fine. You’ll see. You’ll learn.” Her hand slipped away and she opened the door to Dr. Addams’ office.

Her father sat in a large wing back chair on the visiting side of an oak desk. Dr. Addams sat behind that same desk, smiling at their entry. “Thank you, Cassy. Go get a hot bath ready for Lucy. I’m sure she’ll be staying with us for a while.” With a small nod, Cassandra backed from the room and shut the door once more. “Have a seat by your father, Miss Borgia.”

Lucretia clutched her flimsy garment and went to her father, practically throwing herself at his feet. “Father, please! Don’t make me stay here. You don’t know what they did to me! Please don’t leave me here! Please. I’ll do whatever you say, but don’t leave me here with him.” Her anger and hatred was gone. All she wanted now was to go home and get away from this wretched place.

Her father remained unmoved. “Sit down, Lucy, and listen to what we’ve decided.” He was as cold as ever. “You have no say in these matters now, but you should know the decisions we’re going to make for you.”

“No say? About what?” She pulled herself from her knees.

“Sit down, be quiet and you’ll find out.”

Lucretia looked at Dr. Addams for a clue, but he only smiled and offered nothing. She sat on the edge of the seat offered her, eyes darting between the two men, still trying to cover herself with her arms. Listen, she would. But remain quiet about decisions made for her? Lucretia wasn’t so sure.

“Mr. Borgia,” Dr. Addams began, turning all his attention away from Lucretia once more. “As I was saying, I don’t find anything physically wrong with your daughter and I can assure you that she is still a virgin contrary to what you may have heard.”

“What?!” Lucretia was aghast.

“Be quiet and listen only, Lucy.”

“I’m quite sure she remains a virgin. She does have the symptoms we discussed in our first meeting and I do see how you would want those conditions taken care of as soon as possible. With all these threats by those damned, Northern abolitionists, I wasn’t going to take on any new patients, but I will make this one exception. She is a lovely young woman.” He glanced at Lucretia.

“How long do you think it will take to cure her?”

Dr. Addams frowned thoughtfully. “Three to six months, I think. Certainly not much longer than that.”

Three to six months? It was all Lucretia could do to hold still.

Her father nodded. “That’s reasonable. She’ll remain here at all times?”

“At all times, yes.”

“Also quite acceptable. Her mother was this same way I am told. It took a man such as yourself to get her in line before anyone would even think of marrying her.”

Dr. Addams chuckled. “We do what we have to do to keep our women under control, don’t we?”

Under control? Okay, that was enough! “Father, I do not need to be kept under control.”

For a moment, she thought he was going to lash out and strike her, but his hand merely curled into a fist on his lap. He looked back at the doctor. “I believe your point and mine has just been made. She refuses to remain silent even under orders to do so.”

Lucretia stood up again. “Father, why are you doing this? What have I done?”

Her father stood, completely ignoring her questions and accepted Dr. Addams’ hand as they sealed the arrangement. “I shall leave her in your good hands, doctor.”

“Daddy?” Lucretia reached out, taking hold of his coat sleeve.

He finally looked at her. “You belong to Dr. Addams. I’ve sold you to him for no less than six months. If you don’t learn to obey and submit within that time, I may just let him keep you indefinitely as his slave.” He yanked his sleeve from her grasp.

Lucretia felt all the blood drain from her face, followed by a wave of dizziness. “You’re selling me!? You’re making me a slave? But why? Why?”

Dr. Addams was walking around to the other side of the desk. “I’m sure you’ll enjoy it here once you get used to how things work.”

She was ready to strike both of them. This was crazy! She wasn’t some stupid, black slave. She was a white, educated, southern lady! If she’d had venom to spit in their eyes, she would have. She glared at her father. “I hate you. I never want to see you again! Do you hear me? I hate you!”

Dr. Addams pulled Lucy’s arms behind her back suddenly and pushed a hard leather bit between her teeth. Somehow, he even got her hands in cuffs before she realized it and the bit tied behind her head. “I told you I’d gag you if you didn’t stop, didn’t I? You are mine now, for no less than six months. Get used to it.” Lucretia was too shocked to react. “Now, Mr. Borgia, you are welcome to send letters to your daughter after the first month and any letters she may get from friends or family after the second month. I know you told me she’s rather close to her cousin in Pennsylvania; and, with times being what they are, they should be allowed to keep in touch. I will, of course, be the first to read all letters coming and going out.”

They shook hands again and without even looking at her or saying good-bye, Lucretia’s father left out the front door.

Dr, Addams turned to her. “As for you, I believe Cassandra should have your bath ready by now. Shall we go see? Of course, we shall.” He took her by the elbow and together they left his office.

Lucretia slipped further away from reality. He was talking to her, but it sounded so far away now. Only some of it registered.

“…start over with a clean slate…”

“…shave you…”

“…solitude…”

“…obey…”

“…submit…”