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Groveling is what she should be doing, not Will. “What if this does not work?”
“Would you rather not try? Go back to Sophie’s never knowing if you could have made this work?”
The carriage slowed to a stop and as Elizabeth glanced out, she realized they had come to a standstill directly in front of Victoria’s home. Her friend had never spoken of a brothel being next door. Perhaps Victoria did not know about it. This wasn’t an area normally filled with brothels.
“I will continue with this plan,” Elizabeth finally answered.
“Good,” Somerton said, then climbed down. He held out his hand for her. “I will make sure one of the girls tells you the best way to seduce him.”
“Wonderful,” she replied as she walked alongside him. Now she would be getting lessons from a strumpet. How had her life gotten to this point?
She kept her head down as they walked to the servants’ entrance. Hopefully Victoria would not glance outside and notice her. They walked inside a warm building with the sound of voices coming from upstairs.
“Welcome, Lord Somerton.”
Elizabeth turned to look at the woman who had called Somerton’s name in such a seductive voice. Her mouth gaped. The woman’s red gown had a slit up to her mid-thigh that opened wide with every step.
“Good evening, Venus,” Somerton said.
He knew this woman? The man was more depraved than she had ever realized.
“Lady Whitely asked me to assist you in any manner necessary,” the woman said.
“My friend might need some womanly advice on the art of seduction.” Somerton stepped toward Venus with a smile.
“I do not think that will be a problem,” Venus replied with a coy smile. “Come along with me.”
Elizabeth walked toward the woman and then glanced back at Somerton. He gave her an encouraging smile.
“Win him over, Elizabeth,” he said. “Make him grovel.”
She had no idea how to manage that feat. She followed Venus up to the third floor where there were only three rooms. As she walked past one room, she could hear the moans of a man, and a woman urging him on. When they reached the next room, Venus stopped and opened the door.
Elizabeth entered the room expecting to see it covered in gaudy red velvet. Instead, the bed was covered in a white lace coverlet, the two chairs were pale blue velvet, and the rug a collection of blue and green flowers. It did not look much different from any lady’s bedroom.
“This is the virginal room,” Venus said with a laugh.
“Virginal?”
“It is for the young men who come here for their first time, or couples who need to put a little excitement back in their marriage. They can be two different people here.”
“Oh,” Elizabeth answered, trying to sound more worldly than she felt.
“It’s not your first time, is it?” Venus ambled to a linen press and opened the doors.
“No.”
“Good. Do you prefer white, black, or red?”
“For what?” Elizabeth asked as she walked over to the linen press.
“Your gown.” Venus’s gaze roamed from Elizabeth’s head to her toes. “Personally, I think the white would make you fade away. The red is too garish, but the black is perfect.”
“Very well, the black one.”
Venus pulled out a gown much like the one she wore. Elizabeth stared at the fabric, wondering what would be used to make it so sheer.
“Turn around, and let me help you.”
