1. AT THE HUNT BALL
Unremarked by the ladies in their crinolines or the gentlemen in their frock-coats, the two aristocrats slipped though the French windows onto the balcony. Behind them the music of a gavotte echoed from the ballroom.
While the young, slim man gazed down into the dark evening, attempting to make out the shapes of the knot garden, the older, stout man with the stiff pepper and salt beard took a small silver box from his pocket of his tail coat. He offered it to his companion. 'Snuff, Sir John?'
'I thank thee, My Lord, but 'tis an indulgence that doth not sit well with me.'
'As thou will.' Lord Wray took a pinch and inhaled it up one nostril, sneezed hard, then repeated the performance with the other nostril. After wiping his prominent nose with a large bandanna he continued, 'I would speak plain, Sir John.'
'If that be thy wish, My Lord.'
'Thy cousin, the Mistress Alexandra. She has grown into a fine young woman whom, I am given to believe, retains still her virginity.'
'Such is also my understanding, My Lord.'
'Then if I may be bold. . . I find myself much taken with her and entertain a desire to be possessed of her maidenhead.'
'Hmm. . . I will allow 'tis possible, though I had reserved to myself the pleasure of her deflowering.'
'Perhaps if a sufficient consideration were to be furnished, Sir John? I warrant she would be worthy of a goodly contribution toward her dowry.'
'Nay, My Lord, guineas are not an issue. I incline toward a quid pro quo. Say one cherry for another.'
'In principle. Yet maidenheads are so seldom to be met with at this season.'
'They have indeed became unusual scarce since thy Lordship has so diligently undertaken their harvesting.
'That is but the envenomed tongue of slander. Though I do confess I know of no pleasure equal to the parting of a wench from her cherry.'
'Egad sir, but thou hast the truth of it. Howsoever I am mindful of one that would suit.'
'Speak plainly Sir John, for I know of none within my estates.'
'There is thy ward, the Lady Matilda. Verily she is ripe for plucking.'
'Thou art insolent, sir.'
'And thou, sir, apply thy droit de seigneur to excess. My requital is not for chaffering.'
Lord Wray thought long. 'Thou drive a hard bargain, Sir John. But methinks thee has the right of the matter. Let us not dispute. I will admit of thy design if Mistress Alexandra sojourn with me at Wray Castle.'
'I can foresee no objection. But if I might recommend an alternate proceeding that mayhap will prove propitious.'
'Speak to thy suggestion.'
'Know thee, My Lord, that I was preparing to host a small party at Laydown House come next month. It would present an ideal opportunity to mutually facilitate our desires.'
'Whom dost thou propose to entertain?'
'If thou wilt countenance them, I think just three others. Ye may recall Colonel Browser. He lost his spouse in childbirth some year and a half past and has recently taken to himself a new wife from out of the country. The tattle has it she is hardly got clear of infancy, yet verily I gather he is already strenuously engaged in instructing her as to her rightful duties within the bed chamber.
'Also, I have a well seasoned accord with a distant relative - the Bishop of Meak. On a quondam visit he became so enamored of a certain housemaid that I felt obligated to retain her services solely to satisfy his sporadic desires. Now when the need is upon him to exercise his manhood he avails himself of my hospitality. To the world he avers that he is on retreat and, indeed, ostensibly he spends his hours here contemplating diocesan matters - truly, however, what he mostly contemplates is my housemaid.'
'Ah, yes, one had heard rumour to that effect. But come, we digress. I find thy design most agreeable, Sir John. I look forward to receiving thy bidding. In the meantime I suggest we apprise the ladies of their obligations.'
2. LAYDOWN HOUSE - THE NEXT DAY
'That is barbaric John. You men treat us as objects to be taken and used at thy will. It is intolerable. I shall not comply.' She stamped a delicate foot and tossed her blonde ringlets, nearly dislodging her mob cap.
'Desist, Alex. Berating me will not alter the situation. We are both culpable. Several moons past I beseeched thee to freely attend me in my bed but, despite my importunity, thou declined to service me. So now it is Lord Wray who will first enjoy thy cunni. And my lapse? I should not have accepted thy refusal, but enforced my righteous possession of thy body.'
'It is my right to decide to whom I relinquish my maidenhead.'
'In principle mayhap, but hast thou forgot the proverb - beggars have no right to be choosers. I would that I might grant thee the right, but it would prove impolitic. Lord Wray has many friends at court and I dare not risk his ire.'
'Know thee not that he is notorious amongst gentlewomen for his immoderate appetites and his brutal use of the housemaids in his employ. Droit de seigneur or no, I will not submit. Come, plough my furrow thyself and pre-empt the matter.'
'I would that I could, but the time is past.'
'Then I have no other recourse but to flee to foreign parts.'
'And how wilt thou live? It is my charity that supports thee.'
'I shall seek the post of a governess.'
'In a country of whose language and customs thou art unversed? Nay, 'tis a pipe dream. Thou art certain, as that maid who decamped last autumn, to conclude in a bawdy-house selling for pence what thee so highly prize, and for which thee could parlay a goodly reward.'
'Death before dishonour.'
'A romantic absurdity. What signify a loss that is inevitable, albeit in an unpleasant measure, against the joy of life and hope of an upstanding husband.'
'For a certainty, John, thou art the voice of reason and wisdom. Yet I cannot espouse thy way of thinking.'
'There is yet some days. Reflect upon what I have said and we will discuss it anew.'
