Melissa Reviews the Diary With Charles & Shelby

I relented, and reviewed the pages with Charles and Professor Shelby Davis. The two gentlemen spent a good five minutes looking over the five pages that I had copied, including the one with the sketch if Bianca naked and on her knees.

"The diary looks authentic to me," Professor Shelby Davis said. "I can't confirm without seeing the original, of course, but the ink and paper look about how I would expect. It's in pretty fair condition - somebody must have taken care of this."

"As for the contents, I don't see any red flags that would identify it as a forgery. As you requested, I looked into any record of Bianca DiFlorentini and found a couple. The dates match up with what I see in the diary. I also reached out to the Holland, Scharz and Jacobs's law firm she mentioned. They were pretty tight-lipped, but I could confirm off the record that they have recently handled a case like this. It looks good, Charles, even if she has not yet shown us the more... colorful parts."

"I find this picture very colorful," Charles said, tapping his finger on the picture of Bianca kneeling before the white men on the auction block. This is definitely the block at Havenhall. You can even see where the steps are uneven. Whoever drew this did a splendid job of capturing a moment in time."

"So, you think it's valuable?" Selling the diary isn't my first priority, but I am curious about what it's worth.

"Very valuable, particularly to me," he said, running his finger over the naked woman on the page. "I'll be candid with you, Melissa. You have piqued my interest. And I am a man who always gets what he wants."

"I'm still not sure I want to sell it." I remind him, trying not to sound too eager.

"It would be worth a good amount," Charles said. "I'd probably end up overpaying, these kinds of rarities are a weakness of mine."

I squirmed in my chair as once again he looked me up and down.

"To get a true market price, you'd need to put it up for auction," Shelby observed. "A private one, but with a fair number of reputable collectors." If Manton is annoyed by his expert's advice to invite competition, he makes no sign of it.

"Yes, auctions are the best way," Charles said. "Capitalism at its finest. Charleston is renowned for its historic auctions and bustling marketplaces." Charles looked at me and smiled. Along with New Orleans, Charleston had the largest **** markets in the country, did he think I didn't know that?

Ignoring him, I pressed on. "So, if I auctioned the book, like Professor Shelby said, how much do you think I'd get?"

Charles Martin leaned back in his chair, and turned his head, so he could see me in full profile. I felt a chill as his eyes ran from my feet to the top of my head.

"Hard to say, really, it depends on the prevailing market at the time." Professor Davis' eyes shift from the copied pages to me. "Of course, those collectors would have to see everything. And I do mean everything, Miss Gordon. Not just a sample and not just photos. Buyers insist on examining the goods with their own hands. Check the spine, feel the condition of the leather, run their fingers along each little crease and dimple, and make sure all the bindings are good and tight and not all worn out from years of rough handling." I'm not sure if he is being deliberately suggestive or it is simply my hyperactive imagination, but it no longer sounds like Davis is talking about the diary.

"How much do you think something like this would bring, Shelby?" Charles asked.

Shelby took the picture of the naked Bianca kneeling on the auction block from Charles. "Hmmm, a fine item. Excellent condition. Any man would like to own a prize like this."

I blushed as I nervously stroked my newly straightened hair. Did white patricians like these two examine my ancestor like this when she was sold into a life of slavery? Judging from Dr. Davis' careful research, I have no doubt that if a light-skinned young woman like Bianca was bought, that she'd be trained and used to warm her master's bed. The fact that she was from the North, full of spirit and raised in freedom might only add to her desirability.

"I think I've heard enough." No longer comfortable even sharing a table with these gentlemen, I push my chair back and start to rise.

"We're just talking about your diary, sugar," Charles said, smiling innocently. "I'm sorry if I gave offense."

"I've had enough of this, Mr. Manton. We're done for this evening."

"If you insist. But before you go, I did want to give you a small honorarium, for bringing me these sample pages, and this piece to my attention." I watched in shock as he reached into his pocket and extracted a thick wad of crisp $100 bills. "A sort of finder's fee, for your troubles. Would $1,000 be sufficient?" To my astonishment he then counted out nine more identical piles until a total of $10,000 was sitting in front of me on the crisp white tablecloth. "I'm sure that Shelby is correct and that you'd get the best price if your diary was sold at an auction, but if you want to avoid the hassle and attention of an auction think of this as a down payment for a private sale." Manton saw the hesitation in my eyes. "If you decide in the end not to sell the book you can always give it back to me."

I didn't want to take the money. Truly, I did not. Charles Manton was a pig, but $10,000 was $10,000.

"There's plenty more where that came from, Sugar," he said pressing the money into my palm. "We'll talk again, soon, my dear," squeezing my hand with his before releasing me.

I bid the two men goodnight, and headed back outside, exiting through the patio doors to avoid waking through the restaurant. I arranged for an uber as I walked all too aware of the money in my clutch. I really wanted to get back to the safety of my hotel, away from Charles Manton and to a place where I could think.