“Now, just because homosexuality was a crime, that didn’t mean it wasn’t around. There was always an undercurrent in every city we visited, a secret society hiding in the shadows, and Max was tremendously adept at finding that undercurrent. We were in Amsterdam for a little over a month when one night at the inn, there was a knock on my door, and when I opened it, there stood one Frederika Van de Berg. She introduced herself, sashayed into my room, told me to close the door, and once I did, she explained that Max had hired her to service my needs.”

Ruby’s eyes popped. “He did what?”

“Yes, I was as shocked as you, even more so because she looked like no whore I’d ever seen. Her hair was clean, and instead of clove-heavy perfume, hers was light and pleasant. And unlike the garish coloring most prostitutes painted their faces with, Frederika had just a hint on her lips and over her eyes. Her cheeks were naturally rosy, and her voice was cultured, yet not to the point of a formal education.”

“So what happened?”

“Well, since I’d only been with two women up to that point, I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to bed a complete stranger, so I told her that. That’s when she explained Max didn’t buy her body for me. He bought her services.”

“Okay, I’m confused.”

Bennett chuckled. “So was I until Frederika filled in the blanks. Years before, she’d been a handmaiden to a noblewoman, and one afternoon whilst bringing clean linens into the bedchamber, she found the lady pleasuring herself. The woman was young, early twenties, and terribly embarrassed, and while she threatened to take Frederika’s life if she ever spoke of what she saw, Frederika knew the woman was timid and would never do such a thing. Instead, Frederika calmed the young lady’s nerves, assuring her that God wouldn’t have given us pleasure centers if we weren’t supposed to use them. One thing led to another, and Frederika ended up…well, I suppose you could say she ended up deserved of her title.”

Ruby squinted, and then her eyes widened. “Oh, my God. A handmaiden.”

“Yes,” Bennett said, her eyes gleaming. “After that, Frederika visited the young woman’s room twice a week to help the woman, shall we say, relax. Then a few months later, when Frederika showed up to provide her services, the young lady introduced Frederika to one of her friends who also wanted to relax.”

“Wow.”

“Within five years of that afternoon, Frederick was no longer a handmaiden in the traditional sense. She’d purchased a home, expanded her client list, and even had a few ladies she visited in Germany and France occasionally. Now, mind you, I was still on the fence about all of this, and I suppose it showed on my face, so she came over and grabbed my crotch.”