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“God, no. I hate those blasted balls. There really is only one reason to attend.”
“Oh?” Will asked.
“Marriage, man. The mamas are there, proudly displaying their babies for you to fawn over. Their only goal is to get those daughters off their hands as quickly as possible.”
Will considered this for a moment. Perhaps he should decline, since he had no desire to marry an English lady who could barely think for herself. Except Elizabeth. She certainly had a mind of her own.
“Ahh, we have arrived,” Somerton drawled. He climbed down and waited for Will.
“So where exactly are we?”
“Lady Whitely’s.” Somerton walked up the steps. “Come along, Kendal.”
Kendal. He would never get used to that name. The door opened and the sound of voices carried out. “Is Lady Whitely having a party?”
“Every night,” Somerton replied before entering the house.
Will walked inside and stopped. The room blazed with candlelight and scantily clad women. While he had been in a brothel before, he’d never seen one this luxurious. Red velvet chairs and sofas created intimate nooks for conversation—and other things.
A few men glanced their way and inclined their heads toward Somerton. Several of the women looked at both of them and smiled. He could hear the whispered tones debating about which girl Somerton might pick tonight.
“Somerton, this really isn’t my type of place,” Will said.
“Come along to the back room. We’re only here for a drink and to talk. If you choose to do something else when we are done, that’s your business.”
With a sigh, Will followed Somerton to the back room. The noise from the front room didn’t carry this far, and the women in here lifted trays heavy with drinks for the gentlemen. Somerton and Will took a seat that overlooked the torch-lit gardens. Will looked around and realized that even this house of sin would have put his home in York to shame.
“Can I get you a drink, Lord Somerton?”
Will looked up to see a tall woman with flowing blond hair standing next to him. The dress she wore was nothing but red sheer fabric with embroidered flowers covering her most private parts. Not that the embroidery covered all that much.
“We shall have a bottle of your best whisky, Venus.”
She nodded but glanced over at him with a wink. “Are you going to introduce me to your friend, Lord Somerton?”
“I’m not sure he would like his presence known yet, darling.”
Her full painted lips pouted slightly. “All right, then,” she replied and turned around to walk to the bar.
Will couldn’t help but watch her all but bare hips swaying under the sheer gown. “Nice place, Somerton.”
“I thought you might need somewhere you could relax for awhile.”
Venus returned with a bottle of whisky and two glasses. She leaned over Will’s shoulder to place the bottle and glass in front of him. Her full breasts rubbed against his back.
“If you need anything,” she whispered in his ear, “just let me know.” As Venus backed away, the overpowering bouquet of her perfume lingered.
Somerton reached over and grabbed the whisky bottle. After pouring them both a glass, he leaned back and said, “To titled gentlemen who can get anything they want.”
Will wasn’t sure that was a good thing or not. His parents had taught him that hard work brought success to people. And he had believed them…until he returned to England. Regardless, he lifted his glass in agreement and then swallowed a large amount.
The sound of heels clicking on wood drew his attention to the door. An older woman who looked to be in her mid-forties walked straight toward them, ignoring all the other men who greeted her. While the girls were dressed in sheer fabrics, this woman wore an elegant blue-striped silk dress. She looked far more like a woman he would meet at a ball than a strumpet.
Somerton looked back, shook his head, and muttered a curse under his breath.
“Good evening, Anthony.” The “lady” put her hand on the back of Somerton’s chair. “So now you come to my establishment and don’t greet me before entertaining yourself?”
“Good evening, Lady Whitely,” he said, taking her hand to his lips.
