Karen.'
Momentarily, Karen was startled. 'You want me to undress?'
'Yes.'
'Everything?'
Minna nodded. 'I want to see you completely naked. I want to see you without camouflage. I want to see what a man might see when he has you alone.'
Somewhat reluctantly, Karen came out of the chair. 'I'll be glad to undress.'
'Go into the bathroom and take off your things. I'll have a maid help you. When you're nude, step out here and let me have another look at you.'
Karen watched Minna Everleigh ring for a maid, then take up a magazine. After a moment, Karen headed for the bathroom.
Inside the bathroom, Karen was soon joined by a young coloured maid. With her assistance, Karen's gown was unfastened in the back. Having dismissed the maid, Karen began to strip slowly, removing her skirt, her white mousseline and Irish lace vest, her frilled bust improver attached to a narrow corset, and the sleeveless silk chemise that came to her knees. She unfastened her silk petticoat and underskirt, and after that her cotton drawers gathered just below her knees. Next, she removed her high-heeled, strapped kid shoes. Finally, she rolled down black silk stockings, patterned with embroidered red roses.
She caught sight of herself naked in the full-length mirror. She thought that she looked rather good. At least, she hoped she did. Her first instinct, before leaving the bathroom, was to cover her pubic hair with one hand. But she realized that an experienced girl would never do that. With effort, she dropped her hands to her sides, sucked in her breath, and stepped out into the bedroom.
Minna was still seated, absorbed in the magazine. When she heard Karen enter the room, she stopped reading and threw the magazine to one side.
Leaden-legged, Karen brought herself to the centre of the bedroom, and then stood still at the foot of the bed.
Minna sat unmoving, peering up at her.
At last, Minna rose. She approached Karen, examining her more closely, from her face to her breasts, to her abdomen, to her pubis, to her thighs and legs.
'Turn around, Karen. Let me see how you look from behind.'
Karen pirouetted as gracefully as possible, and could hear -Minna behind her, clucking softly.
'Nice shoulders and back,' Minna said. 'Very nice ass. All right, you can turn towards me once more.'
'Yes, Miss Everleigh. Uh, are you satisfied?'
'To say the least, you'll do. However, there remains a problem.'
'What's that?'
'I have thirty rooms here and they were all full – until one of my girls left a few days ago. I have no idea where she went. I'm giving her until tomorrow to come back. If she does, we'll be a full house, and I'll have to keep you in mind for another time. If she doesn't, there'll be a slot open, definitely a place for you.'
'How will I know?'
'I'll call you at noon. Will you be at home?'
'Yes, I have a room not far from here. I'll leave you the number of the phone in the hall.'
'If I tell you to come in, it means you have the job, subject to one more formality.'
'What's that?'
'Our house physician examines my girls every week, over a period of two days. I think I can get him here for a third visit. If I hired you, it would be subject to your passing Dr Holmes's examination.'
'Examination? For what?'
'Venereal disease, Karen.'
'Oh, I have nothing like that -'
'How do you know? Let Dr Holmes decide, if I call you in. Now get dressed, and come down to my office and give me that telephone number.' She smiled at Karen. 'You are one beautiful young lady, no question. I'd like to employ you. We'll have to wait and see what tomorrow brings.'
Dr Holmes was excited about his next examination at the Everleigh Club.
He was going to see Avis, the small brunette he had first examined a week ago.
What he had found instantly erotic about Avis was the size of her breasts, huge yet rosy and standing absolutely straight out. Her fleshy hips tapered into smooth shapely legs.
Having seen what he had seen of Avis, and considering what he had heard from her, he knew that she must become his, in more ways than one.
He also sensed that this was a girl who could be pressed. With enough aggression and a fair amount of charm from the doctor, she might be had.
He knocked on her door. 'It's Dr Holmes.'
Muffled, through the door, he heard her voice. 'Come in, Doc, come on in.'
He entered with his bag, hoping that she looked as seductive as she had a week ago.
He saw at once that she looked even better.
She was lying sprawled on her back on the bed, wearing only a loose Japanese kimono. Her knees were raised, and the kimono had fallen aside to reveal her wide thighs and a slither of her backside. She had been reading a novel with a lewd cover, and now she set it aside.
'I have nothing venereal, Doc,' she chirped, 'but I don't mind you poking around in there. You have good hands. I'll confess something – I find it rather stimulating. Does that sound naughty?'
'It sounds very female and I like it.'
Avis possessed hair tightly bunned at the back, almond-shaped grey eyes, pert nose, a slash of red mouth. As Dr Holmes neared her, she sat up, and threw off her kimono. The milky-skinned, outsized breasts stared back at him.
He set down his bag.
'How've you been, Avis?'
'Not too busy, Doc. The sisters have put a clamp on this place. I've had half as many customers as I had before. It's boring, lying around, and I don't like what it's costing me. If something doesn't change soon, I'm thinking of going elsewhere.'
Dr Holmes sought and found his speculum. 'You won't find any house half so generous as this anywhere in the Levee.'
'I know. I was thinking of doing what some of the other girls around have done. Taking a room in a hotel and inviting more action.'
'That's an idea,' Dr Holmes said casually. 'Want to take your position? Let's get on with the examination.'
Avis rolled off the bed, stood straight over the doctor and touched her breasts provocatively. She lay back on the edge of the bed, her feet barely touching the carpet.
'Open your legs wider, dear,' Dr Holmes directed her.
When she did so, he bent down on his knees. With his free hand he touched her soft vaginal lips, rubbing them slightly.
'Hey,' she called, 'let's not have any more of that. You're getting me going.'
'I'm sorry. I'll watch myself.'
'Well, don't overdo that. I don't mind your being friendly.'
With his fingers, he angled the speculum first downwards and then sideways to determine that she was healthy.
He extended the examination beyond what was necessary because he was enjoying himself.
Finally, he raised his head. 'You're fine, Avis.'
She sat up on the bed, lifted her knees, and wrapped her arms around them. 'I knew I was. You're not leaving right away, are you?'
'Not yet,' said Dr Holmes, sitting down beside her and wiping the mirror of his speculum with a handkerchief he had dipped in alcohol.
'You seem like maybe you have something on your mind.'
'I do, Avis, if you feel like talking.'
