Chapter 3 Madame Lou and Mr. Bane

  The low lights in the parlor glowed ember against the velvet couches and swaths of fabric that lay against the doorway. Smoke rose from Andre Banes cigarette as he sat cross-legged  across from Madame Lou. 

"You are looking lovely today, Lou" Mr. Bane's grin was too wide to be believable.

"Don't try to charm me! You know how I feel about it!"

"Oh, come now Lou,  she was so sweet." 

"And I wanted to keep her that way."  He did not expect such a snappy response from Lou. "The girls talk...you have quite an unusual appetite, Andre!"

"Now you're going to embarrass me! I thought I was in the company of friends!" Mr. Bane tried to make lite of what Lou was referring.

"We would say the same to you!" Madame Lou was unrelenting.

"Come now Lou, it's just a bit of play.  A bit of a ruckus never hurt anyone. You of all people should understand that!" He taunted in reference to Lou's own reputation.

She grinned, "Ruckus always hurts...if it's any good!  And with me you would be properly matched!" 

He shuddered at the idea of her over him. "Well, it's not what I like..."

"I don't think you know what you like." He sat uncomfortably at her assertion.  He normally wouldn't tolerate the dominance of women.  But he had to at least let her speak and she continued.   "Do you know the thing about play Andre? Play is about becoming something you are not able to be in your real life. The Judge comes in and plays a dumb fool. The baker comes in and plays the part of a rich man. Even my girls become princess and queens when they are at play here in my castle."

 She allowed for a void of sound just slight past what was socially graceful before she proceeded.  "Then there's you, and for the life of me, you seem to be the only one who doesn't seem to be minding the rules."

"What on earth do you mean, Lou?"

"You are a tyrant in your home life and at work, true?" Mr. Bane laughed uncomfortably. "It's no secret, word gets around and by God you're allowed to do so!  But I'm concerned.  Your work and play look the same Andre.  It isn't healthy! Not for my girls, and not for you!"

He chuckled for the way she sounded so serious. "Healthy! And I suppose you would remedy that for me...are you some kind of nurse?"

"...I would splay you!" She gave him a hard look which he felt like a jolt.  He was curious to know exactly what she meant.  He shuddered at the idea of relinquishing control. "I shall have to take a raincheck...I have made my wishes clear for the afternoon."

Lou exhaled deeply as she rose. "You would do well to learn the difference between an offer and a threat, Andre." She beckoned to the other room with a holler, "Jackie!" Then she spoke lowly to Mr. Bane with a tone of warning. "You will not injure her Andre!"

Titillated at the mere suggestion he nodded, "Only a bit of play..."

Jackie entered the room with her eyes to the floor.   Lou winced for Jackie silently but she would have to toughen up not every man was a warm and generous lover.   Lou remembered some of her own brash experiences in her younger days, many which formed her for what she believed to be better skilled for the long term. Jackie would have to do the same.

"You will take Mr. Bane upstairs wont you Jackie?"  Jackie nodded with an almost completely blank stare.  She was shrouded in the protection of a dissociative state.  Precious numbness that would see her through whatever she would encounter in the next hour.