The white-haired man looked up from his toast and remarked clearly to the man standing near him listening intently as he picked up the empty breakfast dishes.
"Ponsonby I have decided to be a wicked man," he spoke with clarity and that in-built mannerism of an Englishman of the highest quality.
If he had intended to shock the man near him it was not apparent as the man who would have been judged to be in his forties merely continued to tidy the table as the other ate his breakfast. You may have noticed a slight hesitation and gritting of his teeth but very little else, like all good butlers he was imperturbable.
"Indeed my Lord," the man's clear tenor spoke volumes of old men's hobbies easily taken up and easily lost.
"Yes indeed Ponsonby. I have always been the one to help another but I wish to be the one to corrupt and see others in corrupt behaviour. Ponsonby I have been so bored and this will interest me," his voice had taken a plaintive edge as he ended his speech and the other man was silent.
He agreed whole-heartedly that the other man who was in his seventies was bored but he worried that the older man had not considered the implications of what he wanted. Perhaps a little gentle wickedness may give his master and friend some spark of life that he missed after the death of his wife. So he gently decided to guide the other to a generally harmless passion that he would find amusing.
"And how would Sir like be wicked?" the grey haired, long nosed Ponsonby asked
There was a silence as the older man wondered at the question. For it is one thing to decide to be wicked but another to decide how to be wicked. After all the normal wickednesses are so pedestrian, the little and sometimes big lies, the stealing from another, well they are just vulgar. Suddenly his eyes lit up and he spoke with an excitement that he had not felt for a long time.
"I know I will seek sexual perversion and depravity. It will be absolutely topping."
"Do you mean the perversions with children and animals my Lord?" Ponsonby asked gravely and with some worry.
"Of course not," he older man was horrified at the thought and continued hurriedly," They must be adults and willing to do their perversions. Really Ponsonby what sort of man do you think I am?"
Ponsonby allowed himself a slight smile and continued to clean up around the old man who hurried to the library muttering to himself about finding a book about perversions. For the next two days Ponsonby did not hear anything more about this new hobby and was beginning to believe that it may have been like the other hobbies and had vanished into the dim blackness of unmet imagination. So it was with surprise that his Lordship spoke at breakfast that he had decided on his perversion.
"I have decided to be a Voyeur of unnatural sexual acts between consenting adults Ponsonby." He remarked in such a manner that it seemed the most natural thing in the world.
Ponsonby wondered about this and felt that silence was the best answer to this statement. He was further surprised by his instruction to bring a builder to see his Lordship at once. Being the Twenty-first Century it was an effort in getting a quote from any builder in two weeks. Yet within two months the builders and contractors left the house after finishing his Lordship's Voyeuring room.
Even Ponsonby was impressed of the well sized room that was covered with one way glass, cunningly angled mirrors and the latest in cameras and microphones. The comfortable darkened room behind a mirror allowed both his Lordship and Ponsonby unfettered view into the room next to them and the furniture of a most functional and spartan type and to Ponsonby's mind unappealing nature. He tutted to himself as he thought that well they had the Voyeur's lair but where were the acts to be voyeured.
"This will well do Ponsonby now to get our willing collaborators," the older man spoke with obvious satisfaction.
"If I may ask how will you do that your Lordship?"
As though shocked by the question his lordship replied with surprise," Why Lord Grimelthorpe has said he will supply those acts I need. It appears he knows a man of the streets who aids those with a more ....... bent view of the sexual act and finding a place that is safe and almost private is difficult for those poor souls."
Ponsonby smiled grimly. Yes if there was a man for perversions and their parasites it was Lord Grimelthorpe. Well if Grimelthorpe and this man of the streets were involved he would take the appropriate actions to protect his master. He would have to be careful since the old man liked his perverted nephew.
"In fact the boy has our first act coming here this afternoon," his lordship spoke serenely.
