“I feel fine. Really fine,” she smiled. “Though it did taste a bit odd,” she admitted.
“That’s the anise,” he told her.
“Ah-neece,” she said it phonetically and smiled at him.
He placed several coins on the table and took her about the waist. “I have another place in mind to take you. You’ll love it.” He said softly in her ear.
Irene allowed herself to be led into the carriage and as it bumped along the road she smiled at her companion.
“Where are we going?” She asked him.
“It’s a surprise,” he smiled back at her. “Do you like surprises?” He asked her.
She nodded and smiled as the carriage took them along familiar London streets and beyond.
When the carriage stopped again, he helped her out and they entered a dark street and then a small establishment that appeared empty until Irene’s eyes adjusted to the darkness. It was dimly lit with red lanterns littered throughout. There were people lying about doing nothing, which Irene thought very odd. But then, as he caught her arm and moved her along through the rooms, she saw the people were doing something.
Many of the people were lounging about on couches and sofas with long pipes between their teeth. It was then that Irene caught the sweet smell in the air. Her hands suddenly felt sticky and warm inside her evening gloves.
“What is this place?” She whispered.
“Heaven,” her companion said, “or hell. Depending upon how you view it.”
Irene felt a little dizzy from the absinthe she had drunk and she allowed herself to be led further back into the building until he settled on one room. The room was decorated in vibrant red and gold with a large sofa in the middle of the room.
“It-it’s getting late,” she said suddenly. “I should be home,” she told him.
“They won’t worry. They think you are with your friend, remember?” He said smiling.
She nodded. “Yes, but I should go soon. I should,” she said.
“Soon, my darling. After all, we haven’t yet sampled the goods,” he told her.
Leading her to the red sofa, she sat down upon it just as a small Asian man stood nearby with a long pipe in his hand, preparing it for them. He handed her the pipe bowing before her but she shook her head.
“No thank you,” she waved him away.
Her companion smiled. “One puff. See if you don’t enjoy it. Then I’ll return you home.”
Irene remembered the absinthe which had been delightful and she nodded. “One puff. Just one.”
“Just one,” he agreed.
Irene took one puff and closed her eyes. She felt as if she was floating and everything had a dream-like quality. She took another puff of the pipe.
“You see?” He told her, touching her hair.
Irene nodded. “Here,” she handed him the pipe.
He took the pipe from her but did not take the drug. He handed the pipe back to her even as Irene gazed about the room. The red lanterns gave the room a dark and mysterious quality and she felt as if she was in another world.
She heard the moans of a woman somewhere far away and took another long drag of the pipe. She leaned back against the sofa and smiled. She shouldn’t be here. It was deliciously naughty. She could never tell her friends she had been here, and her family must never know, especially Caroline. She would never be allowed out of her room again. She giggled lightly.
She felt as if in a haze as she watched the Asian man leave the room, leaving her alone with her companion.
“Do you like it Irene? The opium,” he asked.
She nodded. “I do.” She looked around smiling and then his words seemed to penetrate into her brain.