you will remain so for a few more years.
You must be careful."
If I were widowed like Isabel Rycott, I
would be free," Victoria muttered tightly.
Cleo grinned, breaking the tension. Are
you by any chance contemplating marriage
to the earl and then doing him in so that
you can gain the freedom Isabel Rycott
enjoys?"
Victoria's answering grin was reluctant.
stone vale asked me very particularly not
to consider that course of action."
Cleo stared at her in astonishment
and then burst into a gale of delighted
laughter, I am pleased to learn that
stone vale is every bit as quick and
intelligent as I had thought. Obviously
the two of you have arrived at some
sort of mutual understanding. You do
not need my advice, after all, Vicky.
Please forgive my intrusion into your
affairs."
Victoria relaxed slightly. I appreciate
your concern, truly I do. And I will
treat what you have said with the utmost
consideration."
Do that. Society will tolerate a great
deal but there are limits, as we both know,
especially for females. I should hate to see
you ruined socially at such an early age,
my dear. You take far too much pleasure
in your friends to risk losing them," Cleo
warned gently.
That is certainly true enough." A small
jolt of alarm went through Victoria. She
would be heartbroken if she thought she
could never entertain Annabella or some
of her other friends again.
Cleo nodded in satisfaction. Precisely,
my dear. Now, if you will recall, we are
engaged to talk to our man of affairs this
morning. Something to do with that ship
we invested in last year. Apparently it
has returned safely with a lovely cargo
from China. We are several thousand
pounds richer as of this morning. Isn't
that nice?"
Victoria was immediately distracted. She
loved the more exciting sort of business
ventures such as investing in shipping. A
bit of risk always added an element of
interest to the deal.
Marvelous!" Victoria exclaimed. We
must thank Mister Beckford for recommending
that particular ship to us. Oh,
Aunt Cleo, wait, there is something
I wanted to ask you about." Victoria
reached under her chair and picked
up the monogrammed silk scarf she
had found on the conservatory door
the previous night. Do you recognize
this?"
Cleo examined the monogram with a
slight frown and handed it back to her
niece. No. It's obviously not one of mine.
Wherever did you find it?"
In the garden. I asked the servants if
one of them knew anything about it and
they all said they did not recognize it.
Perhaps it belongs to one of the members
of your natural history society?" Victoria
said, running her finger over the elegantly
woven W."
Hmmm. Perhaps. It is a man's scarf.
Let me think. Who do we know who
has a name beginning with W'? There's
Wibberly and Wilkins for starters. I must
remember to ask both of them the next
time I see them if either lost this. Is that
all, Vicky?"
Yes, Aunt Cleo. That is all I wanted to
ask. Let's go talk to Mister Beckford about
our latest business success. Perhaps he will
have something else to recommend."
Victoria hated to admit it but the notion
of going to a brothel had been a serious
mistake.
She clutched her glass of champagne
and sat tensely in the shadows, partially
concealed by a garishly gilded screen. There
were several such discreetly shadowed areas
around this room and the adjoining one.
All the lamps had been turned very low.
Drunken giggles and other sounds of a very
unsettling nature emanated from behind
most of the screens. Victoria shuddered to
think of what was going on upstairs.
It was very late, well after three in
the morning. Lucas had dictated the
time of their arrival. He had said he
wanted to take no chance of running
into anyone who might be sober enough
to recognize Victoria. He had also specified
this particular house because it catered
to those who favored some modicum of
privacy. Hence the screens and subdued
lighting.
Everyone around her except Lucas
appeared to be staggeringly drunk. Some
men, snoring heavily, lay sprawled on
pink velvet sofas. The room was too
loud, too hot, and choked with smoke
from rich cigars. There was another sort
of smoke coming from two or three odd
pipes scattered here and there around the
pink and gold chamber.
Victoria was beginning to feel a little
sick. A moment earlier she had watched
Lucas casually wave off two young women
whose gowns were cut so low as to reveal
the tops of their rouged nipples.
We just came to observe the activities
tonight," he'd explained smoothly when
one of the women had protested being
sent away.
But it's ever so much more fun to join
in the play," the other cooed. Her eyes had
moved over Lucas in a glance that made
Victoria want to dump the contents of a
chamber pot on her head.
What about the young gennelman?" the
first woman asked with a beckoning smile
aimed at Victoria. Wouldn't you like to
come upstairs with me? My, you're a pretty
boy. I have a lovely-looking glass on the
wall o" my room. You can watch everything
in it. And you should see my collection
of rods and whips. Every bit as fine as
the ones they use on young lordlings in
school."
Victoria had shaken her head quickly
and edged a bit deeper into the shadows.
Lucas had shot her a sardonic glance and
sipped his champagne, offering little help.
She could almost hear him saying I told
you so."
In addition to acknowledging that the
brothel idea was a bad one, she was also
fast arriving at the conclusion that men's
clothing was not always very comfortable.
Her flawlessly tied cravat was much too
high and much too tight around her throat
tonight, for example. The top folds were
halfway up her ears and covered her chin.
She was practically drowning in the thing
and it was all Lucas's fault. He had retied
it for her in the carriage because he'd
claimed he wanted her features better
concealed.
He had also insisted she keep her hat on
and pulled down low over her eyes until
she'd found a secluded
spot to sit. As a
further precaution, Lucas had deliberately
chosen a house that was not patronized by
the males of the ton. He had wanted to
take as few risks as possible.
Her stomach grew more queasy. She had
to get out of here. She did not think she
could take much more of the appalling
display.
She was about to lean forward and
inform Lucas that she was bored and
quite ready to leave when a cheer went
up at the far end of the shadowed, crowded
chamber. Then a sudden hush fell over the
throng of drunken men and provocatively
dressed women.
The middle-aged mistress of the brothel,
dressed in a billowing, low-cut gown,
walked into the center of the garishly
decorated room. The bawd's face was a
mask of white face powder and rouge in
the style that had been popular several years
earlier. Her dress was made of expensive
pink velvet that matched the chairs, but
it lacked the elegance of simplicity which
was the hallmark of fashion in polite
circles. The gown was as cheap looking
and overblown as the woman herself.
Gather round, all you fine gentlemen
who are so anxious to prove your mettle
this evening. The house invites you to
inspect the lovely bit of goods we have
on offer tonight. Guaranteed as clean and
virgin as the day she was brought into this
world. Fresh from the country and not yet
thirteen years of age, I present our newest
recruit to our noble profession, little Miss
Molly."
Victoria stared past the edge of the screen
in horror as a dazed-looking young girl
dressed in a thin white shift was pushed
into the center of the room. Molly gazed
around at the leering men and laughing
women and hugged herself tightly. The
laughter increased.
Molly's frightened gaze moved from one
face to another until her eyes somehow
collided with Victoria's. The girl did not
look away. Victoria clutched the arm of
the chair as the sick feeling in her stomach
grew more intense.
Now, then, let us begin the bidding.
Sweet young things such as our Molly do
not come cheap," the madam said.
I think it's time we left," Lucas muttered
as voices rose loudly in the room. He
flicked one last, disgusted glance at the
brothel owner and started to get to his
feet.
No." Victoria shook her head, unable to
look away from the terrified Molly. No,
Lucas, we cannot leave. Not yet."
Damn it, Vicky, you don't want to
see this."
They are bidding on her, Lucas. As if
she were a cow or a horse."
And the winner will take her upstairs
and introduce her to her new profession,"
Lucas concluded roughly. Perhaps he
won't even bother with privacy. Perhaps
he will do the business right here in front
of an audience. Surely you do not wish to
witness such a thing."
Of course not. Lucas, we must save
her."
Lucas stared at her in amazement as he
sank slowly back into his chair. Save her?
How do you propose we do that? It is a
common enough occurrence here in town.
The young women from the country step
off the hay wagons straight into the arms
of ruthless old abbesses such as this one.
The girls are doomed and there is nothing
that can be done."
Well, there is certainly something that
can be done about this one," Victoria
stated. I shall buy her."
Lucas sucked in his breath. You don't
know what you're doing, Vicky."
But Victoria was already watching the
bidding frenzy. She had the advantage of
knowing she was undoubtedly wealthier
than anyone else in the room and she
intended to use that fact.
Thirty pounds," a man on the other side
of the room shouted.
The brothel mistress regarded him with
acute scorn. For a certified virgin, sir?
Come now, you cannot expect me to
listen to such a ridiculous offer. Let us
hear from some more noble sports."
Who's to say she's still virgin?" hooted
another. I'll risk fifty pounds and no
more."
Interesting" the bawd approved, but
not nearly good enough. Come now, I
expected better from this crowd. You
spend more on a horse."
You can ride a horse longer than you can
a virgin," someone called out, snickering.
Nonsense. Our Molly will give you a
fine ride, won't you, Molly, dear?" The
madam stroked Molly's blond hair in a
mockingly affectionate gesture. The girl
shuddered.
Not pretty enough to go for more than
eighty pounds. And I'll want my money
back if you've lied about her condition."
Molly started to weep and the laughter
in the room grew even more raucous.
Victoria looked straight at the girl, willing
her to stay strong as she bided her time.
The bidding crept higher but not at
a very great rate after the initial rush.
The miserliness of the bids verified
what Victoria had already concluded.
Not everyone in the room was convinced
that poor Molly was worth a huge sum
nor were there any men of great wealth
here tonight. Men of vast wealth preferred
to keep fashionable mistresses and only
ventured into brothels such as this one
for casual entertainment.
Victoria waited a few more minutes until
the bidding stopped at ninety pounds.
Then she casually raised her hand from
behind the screen. Three hundred pounds."
Lucas groaned.
The middle-aged woman turned a beam
ing countenance toward the shadowed
screen. Why, sir, you have excellent
taste, whoever you be. Excellent, indeed.
I do believe little Molly is yours to do
with as you please this evening." She
patted the young girl's hand. What a
lucky girl you are, my dear. Such a nice,
discreet gentleman he is. Run along now
and mind you don't make a fuss or it'll
be the worse for you."
You do not have three hundred pounds
on you," Lucas reminded Victoria between
set teeth. You can hardly give the old
bawd your personal marker, can you?
She'll realize who you are."
Victoria blinked. You are quite right.
Very well, you will have to pay the woman.
Say it is on my behalf as I am rather shy.
Hurry, Lucas."
Bloody, hell," Lucas murmured as he
got slowly to his feet. Don't think I won't
collect from you for this."
I assure you, I'm good for the blunt,"
Victoria said sharply.
; He stood up and strode toward the bawd,
ignoring the shouts and ribald comments.
When he reached the center of the room,
he gave Molly a small push toward the
screen where Victoria hovered. Go on,
girl. Move."
Molly looked up at him in terror and
then responded automatically to the tone of
command. She made her way through the
laughing crowd to where Victoria waited.
Hush, now, and all will be well,"
Victoria murmured as she took the girl's
shaking hand and led her toward the door,
cramming her hat down low over her eyes
as she tugged the girl out into the hall.
Molly was too frightened to even protest.
Perhaps being led out into the night
appeared a better alternative to being taken
up the stairs. The girl staggered a bit and
Victoria realized she had undoubtedly been
given several glasses of wine or perhaps an
opium concoction to keep her dazed.
Well, well, and just where d'ye think
ye be goin" with the new piece? Ye ain't
allowed t" take the merchandise off the
premises." A very big, coarse-faced man
loomed in Victoria's path. He was supposed
to be the brothel's butler, but Victoria
could see he had another job as well.
My walking stick, if you please," she
said imperiously.
I just told ye, ye cannot be takin" the
girl off the premises," the man boomed.
I'm not going to take her off the
premises," Victoria said in an utterly
bored tone. She remembered what one
of the prostitutes had said about rods
and whips. But I do have certain tastes
I like to indulge. And I have found that
my walking stick makes a very fine rod for
my purposes. It has just the right heft and
balance, if you take my meaning."
Little Molly stifled a scream but the
big man looked somewhat mollified. It
was obvious he was accustomed to such
bizarre things.
So that's the way of it, is it?" He leered
at Molly. Yer in for a fine time tonight,
Molly, my girl."
Victoria waited tensely, glancing back
over her shoulder once more for Lucas.
He was still nowhere in sight. When the
butler appeared with her walking stick, she
decided she had to act on her own and
find a way to the door directly behind the
big man.
Now, I believe I would prefer the
comfort of my own carriage for what I
have in mind," she said coolly. She started
forward, yanking Molly with her.
The man narrowed his eyes and crossed
his beefy arms across his chest. I told
ye, ye ain't takin" the little piece off the
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