My feet ached as I slumped down in Daniel's office. For three days straight I'd done nothing but sit in each of the three major locations I'd been regularly visiting and retell my story again, and again. Many had come to talk over how I could have had a husband yet not consummated my marriage. Time and time again I told a tragic tale, Yaru helping me stay just consistent enough to keep it believable, while not telling it perfectly the same every time.

Daniel had barely spoken to me since hearing my confession, but he sat opposite me now, studying me.

"You're exhausted. But Yaru tells me you've done a good job at undoing the damage."

"I've quelled the rumours. They won't go any further, but not everyone's opinion is restored. And some are still avoiding me."

"You'll have to keep trying, then. You'll need six at your unveiling."

"I know."

Silence fell between us.

"How are the others faring? Has their average pay been hit hard by all this?"

"They're struggling, but only outside of the Japanese sector of the city."

I nodded, relieved at that. Some of the courtesans might need to shift their focus and try to find new clients, but if one part of the city didn't hate us, time could undo the rest.

"We're going to need to start planning your unveiling soon. You'll need to send out your invites," Daniel said, still focused on my face.

"I need to find some more people to invite."

"Tomichii appears to still be a good choice."

"Yes, and I will need to send Kioshi an invite. He won't accept."

"You know this for sure?"

I nodded. "He may have been willing to defend me, but it came at a cost."

"So you've lost at least four companions currently." Daniel ran one hand through his hair as he flicked the other, bringing up a new display on his screen. I watched as he added Tomichii to a list. Under that he added James.

"You know about the resurrected then?" I almost laughed.

"Yes. I can see your messages if I wish to. Given the situation we're in, he's worth inviting, but not yet."

"You seem to know a lot."

"Yes. I even know it wasn't really you who caused this, but one of the other courtesans."

"You do?"

"I'm no fool. I messaged Yaru, insisting the eunuch tell me what you wouldn't, but for once he kept his mouth shut. Seemed to think you knew best. I'd be more angry at him, but it turns out he was right."

Daniel got up and came around to my side of the table to sit in front of me. He took both my hands and lifted me to my feet.

"I've never seen my courtesans work together like this. It's like your one cover-up on their behalf snuffed out all the existing conflict. I've even had messages about it. Several other sponsors want to know how I handled it. What I did that made you all band together like this, rather than delight in each other's misery."

"So you're not going to make me tell you either?"

Daniel slipped his arms around my waist. "Could I make you?"

I thought about it for a moment before shaking my head.

"Then, who else might still come to your unveiling? Anyone you think you can still charm?"

I looked at the list and thought about the many men I'd met in the last ten days. Few stood out, and thinking about how Kioshi would never be there made my body feel heavy. A part of me wanted this to all be over, but I had a feeling it was going to take a lot longer for my standing to recover than the other courtesans'. I couldn't afford to be picky anymore.

"There's a guy called Benton. Messaged him a few times too. He seems... immune to gossip."

Daniel pulled up my contacts, searching for him. Less than a second later he also sat on my list.

"Halfway there." I frowned, knowing the second half was not going to be as easy to fill. "I don't want to reward his behaviour, but do you think your banker, Aiden, will still be interested?"

"I didn't plan on letting him anywhere near you ever again after his little stunt, but... yes. If you invited him, he'd come."

"So, I'm at four, then. I cannot be sure of any others tonight." I went to walk away but Daniel reached for my hand, stopping me and pulling me backwards into his arms, until my back was cradled against his torso. The warmth of his body as it pressed against mine had an instant effect on both of us.

"You've handled this well," Daniel whispered in my ear, his hand sliding down my front, reaching for my sex. Behind and beneath me, I felt his cock harden. "Let me give you a little relief."

With no more warning, his fingers stroked across my clit, heating me up and making his intentions clear all in one. I didn't fight it, surprised but eager. As he made slow, steady circles with his thumb, I grew wetter and more aware of his own need, pressed against me.

Reaching back, my fingers sought his zipper, but his hand stopped mine, holding it in place.

"You don't need to," he said, before nibbling on my ear.

"I know. But you want it."

"Of course I want it. You're gorgeous and I've not had any fun for days."

I raised my eyebrows but didn't question his last sentence. It was a sign he cared, or at least knew his courtesans needed some relief. Someone had to be there for him, though.

Leaning back into him a little more, I made it clear I was happy to reciprocate. He let out a deep, satisfied groan as I brushed across his shaft with my fingers. I worked him almost instinctively, my body also eager to be touched, until both of us were breathless, propping each other up.

We fell over the edge together, moaning our pleasure. As I came back down again I felt our other hands, our fingers entwined, and wondered when we'd reached for each other, and if he'd done it or me.

"Get some rest," I said before he could. I watched a smirk spread slowly across his face as our eyes met.

We both paused, something unspoken between us. It wasn't love, nothing that sentimental. Not when he owned me and we both knew it. But it was respect.

Given the world I'd been woken into, I could have been woken by a far worse person.

I walked back to the court, noticing Edward still lingered by the front door. I gave him a nod as I came down the hallway. He came over, making me wonder if he was also going to want some fun before I'd get to sleep, but he held out a box instead.

I stopped, more than a little confused.

"Don't worry, princess, it's not from me, and I'm not expecting you to give me a hand job for it. Boss has made us all swear to keep it in our pants for a few more days yet."

"What is it?" I asked, bringing the attention back to my gift so he wouldn't pick up on my surprise at his words. Seemed Daniel really did care about the women and how much they could handle at once.

"It's from that James guy. The resurrected. Said you'd appreciate it."

I took the box, not wanting to open it in front of Edward. Thankfully, he didn't seem to care. After leaning forward and placing a kiss on my forehead, my bodyguard left, heading to his own home for the remainder of the night.

The rest of the court seemed quiet, most others already in bed, but I noticed the faint glow of a bedside lamp from the room I now shared with Mhairi. I walked inside to find her sitting up in bed, obviously waiting for me.

"You must be exhausted," she said, getting out and grabbing a dressing gown despite all her skin still being covered up.

"Long day," I replied. "But I'm still making progress."

I put the present aside as she grabbed the lotion that would remove the paint from my skin. We were almost out of that as well. I made a mental note to talk to Yaru about it. The current design was starting to look a little worse for wear. Several times it had flaked and chipped a bit, like nail varnish. So far Mhairi and I had been able to repair it, but I feared my two designs weren't going to survive until my unveiling.

As soon as the paint was off, I clambered onto the bed. Mhairi wasn't far behind me, the present sitting there between us.

"You going to open it tonight?" she asked. I considered not bothering, leaving it until the morning, but I reached out and pulled the ribbon off almost automatically. I spotted the bottle of whiskey first and let out a chuckle. Beside it was a set of very delicate metal cuffs and collar, a neon design painted on the outside. Two very shiny chains connected everything together.

Right in the centre of the collar was a piece of card.

Thought a certain someone wouldn't be able to resist you if he saw you wearing these. Not someone I'll enjoy watching as he screws you, but it can be our little secret this is from me. J

I paused, so many emotions coursing through me after reading the message. Mhairi didn't speak, giving me a moment.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to compose myself. A part of me was elated that James was being so sweet. Of all the companions I'd met he was the one being the most real. The one person who had acknowledged this sucked and was solidly there with me. But his gift made some of what I was going to have to do feel so real. Was I really ready for even a small amount of bondage, and did I really want Keaton as a companion? Did I even have a choice?

Then there was the last part of the message. That raised more than one question.

"What does James mean about watching Keaton screw me?" I asked Mhairi.

"They've not told you what actually happens at an unveiling, have they?" she replied. I gulped before shaking my head. "Although the companions or you are allowed to have more privacy for subsequent couplings, the very first, when your virginity is actually taken, is witnessed by everyone, including Daniel."

"To make sure no one can cry foul."

"And to make sure you are a virgin."

"Great..." I trailed off, more than a little worried I wasn't going to be able to appear like a virgin when I wasn't, not truly. Physically, I would appear to be one, but I wasn't, not by a long shot.

"It isn't as bad as it sounds. If you focus on the companion who won the bid, the rest sort of melt into the background. And you'll be painted so well no one will see if you blush."

"True," I replied, sighing. "It's just another way this whole thing seems so messed up."

Mhairi reached over and took my hand, giving me a small smile. My emotions responded to the genuinely kind gesture and tears stung my eyes. As she pulled me into a hug the first few fell and the dam broke, all the frustration, fear and hurt I'd felt since waking up flooding out in hot salty tears coursing down my face.

Several minutes later I pulled away and wiped the last of the wetness off my face.

"It wouldn't be so bad if some of the companions I like weren't put off coming to the unveiling because of the rumours and I didn't need to replace them with companions I don't like as much."

"Anything I can do to help?" she asked.

"You've already helped so much, especially with the painting thing..." I turned down the help without thinking, instinctively, not used to needing help or accepting it.

Silence fell between us and I found myself thinking about the companions I still needed to re-secure. James had given me a way to begin attracting Keaton again, but it still left Benton.

"Actually, there is something you might be able to do. Do you know anything about current fantasy books?" I asked.

Mhairi broke into a broad grin before getting out of the bed and hurrying away. A minute or so later she reappeared, a thick paperback in her hands, the pages uneven and yellowed and the spine lined from use.

She placed it in my hands, the artwork on the front of a fire-breathing dragon.

"This is one of the biggest authors in the genre at the moment. And one of the few who still does printed books."

I stroked my hands over it before opening it up, grinning from ear to ear as well.

"Sometimes, when I'm curled up in bed reading, I feel like I'm back in my own time and my own room and none of this has happened."

"Can I borrow it and read it?" I asked, grinning at the thought.

"You can keep it. I've got a companion who worked out it was something I loved. He buys me one every now and then."

As I thanked her, I noticed the look on her face. She spoke of the companion with a light in her eyes I didn't usually see. I guessed I wasn't the only courtesan who didn't have her heart under lock and key. Perhaps it wasn't even possible. Not truly. Not for someone who spent all her time trying to connect with men starved of affection and genuine relationships.

Perhaps the heartache of feeling torn between men was something I was going to have to get used to.