The Story

One of the best established bordellos in antebellum Washington, D.C. is Miss Daphne Divinity's "Hotel of Heaven." Run by an enterprising woman, whose real name remains a mystery, the Hotel of Heaven caters only to "discreet and discriminating gentlemen," providing rooms for private parties, a well-stocked bar, and a parlor of any fine home. Upstairs in the comfortably furnished bedrooms the hotel staff provide sexual entertainment -- erotic, exotic and unusual -- to fulfill every appetite. These women are in no way common street walkers. Educated, refined and independent, they are the perfect female companions for high ranking military officers and politicians.

Not all the requested services are sexual. Sometimes a gentlemen requires an escort to the theatre, a dance, or to a public function. Heaven's women can be rented for the evening. Exquisitely dressed and intellectually astute, these ladies compare well to the "respectable" women in manners, and make their companions the envy of the other gentlemen.

And then upon return to the Hotel, that same lady can provide her companion with satisfaction of all his needs -- physical, emotional, sexual. Over time the staff at the hotel change regularly with many of the young ladies marrying clients. In fact, it has been suggested that the original Miss Daphne has passed the business on to her protege, after marrying a U.S. Senator (it would be indiscreet to identify the gentleman).

And now with the coming of war between the states, the hotel is under new management. Miss Sallie Port is fiercely loyal to the Union and has renamed her establishment "The Fortress of Freedom." The ladies remain as refined and talented as ever and Miss Sallie has ensured that standards remain high. None of "her girls" work the camps -- no mats, no tents. Gentlemen seeking the hospitality of the Fortress of Freedom will find it in Marble Alley in Washington.

House Rules
Menu of Rates and Services
If you have something special in mind, you have but to ask and we'll see what can be arranged.

Upon taking over the business, Miss Sallie's assistant -- known to gentlemen everywhere as La Petite Generale -- has found the books in disarray. There remain unpaid accounts from officers both Union and Confederate. Besides being the hotel's bookkeeper, she primarily serves as the house disciplinarian. For some gentlemen, it is the custom they seek. For others who have run afoul of the house rules, one hour with Petite -- in which they must submit without complaint to her every demand and device -- is usually sufficient to regain the house's trust.

To facilitate payment, the ladies sell exquisitely embroidered handkerchiefs. Some gentlemen have found it prudent to purchase pocket linen in the guise of paying off debts in front of wives, superior officers and enlisted men. Pocket linen may be for a lady or for a gentleman -- although we have no samples of the latter on hand since each is individually monogrammed.

Gentlemen, while our discretion is your freedom, remember that such discretion is purchased, not promised. Those clients who remain in good repute with the hotel can trust that their names will never be mentioned. Clients who leave unpaid bills or disobey house rules will find their names used in conversations with outsiders. Hence, it should come as no surprise that Sallie Port is the first RTL character to create an online journal.