" He led me up the staircase to the second floor." He led me up the staircase to the second floor. Toward the back of the building, straight ahead from the staircase, was a door, which led to a very beautiful bedroom. There was a queen-sized, white enameled, old-fashioned bed, with a beautiful pink coverlet trimmed in white lace. A dressing table on the side wall was covered in a matching pink cloth, on which were a hairbrush and mirror made from tortise-shell. Next to the dressing table was a door that led into a private bath. On the back wall were four large windows, now covered with drawn shades, and on the left side wall was a door that seemed to lead to a closet. "This will be your bedroom for the weekend, Michelle. You may put your bag on the bed, for now, and follow me." After putting down the bag, I followed him out to the second floor landing. He led me up to the third floor. As I climed the steps, I marvelled at the value of the home we were in! Richard was rich - no doubt about that! A three-story brownstone here in the Village would sell, I was sure, for more than a million dollars - although how much more, I had no idea. On the third floor, directly over my room, was a bedroom clearly furnished for a man. It had two deep arm chairs, a large, king-sized bed, and the colors were all burgandy, brown and black. It was a "handsome" room, I thought - where mine had been pretty and feminine. It seemed that Richard believed in some of the old-fashioned sexual stereotypes - which was in keeping with some of the things we had spoken about together. Richard threw himself down on the bed, propped his head up on his right hand and said, "Stand over there in the middle of the floor, where I can get a good look at you." I did as he asked, my hands down at my sides, my heart, strangely, beating nervously. Perhaps it was the tone in his voice, which was almost flat, with no emotion. "Now raise your skirt and your pettycoat above your waist." I was shocked - although I suppose I shouldn't have been. |