'Hear me out, my lords,' The Master said to them. 'In the past you have brought me young women of low birth. I have mastered them for you, and you have had your sport. I have never failed you. This woman, however, is a real lady. While I have mastered her for you, I do not think you should use her publicly before our little club.'
'And why not?' the Marquess of Hargrave wanted to know.
'Do you each still hope that Lady Lucinda will choose you for her husband, my lords?'
'Aye!' the trio exclaimed with one voice.
'And, my lords, will the one she chooses be content knowing the other two have had her publicly before most of their friends, the cream of society? Or does the lucky gentleman intend keeping the lady down in the country forever? And if her first child is born within the first year of the marriage, can the lucky gentleman be certain that the baby is his?'
'You have had her,' the Duke of Rexford said. He sounded a bit irritated.
'That is true, my lord; but you do not know who I am, and the proper precautions were taken. Only one man among you knows who I am. If you met me at White's, or at a ball, you would not recognize me as The Master. None of you would, but for the one gentleman. But you all recognize each other, and know who holds membership in the Devil's Disciples, or the Hellfire. If you three publicly ravish Lady Lucinda tonight before your peers, you cannot stop the gossip that will ensue. The lady's reputation will be ruined, as will that of her husband. I know you do not want that.
'Allow me to suggest another way. The lady has been mastered by me, and you have had your revenge in part. On November fifteenth the Countess of Whitley holds her end of hunting season ball in London. We shall all be there. Lady Lucinda has promised me that at that ball her brother, George, will announce her betrothal. In the meantime she has agreed to receive you all as callers in her home at Number Three Traleigh Square, London. I am willing to accept the lady's word, so I am certain that the rest of you must. No one will be embarrassed by this. No one but the Devil's Disciples will know she has been with me these past three months and not in Ireland with her sister. As for you gentlemen, you will certainly not tell for fear your wives, daughters, sisters, mothers and mistresses learn of your lustful little peccadillos.'
He looked to the duke, the marquess, and Lord Bertram. 'Will you forgo your immediate pleasure, my lords, for all of our sakes?'
'I want to hear the lady agree to this,' Lord Bertram said.
'My pet,' The Master said, 'will you give your suitors your word that you will announce your betrothal at the Countess of Whitley's ball in November?'
'You have my word on it, my lords, and I will indeed welcome you to Traleigh Square when I return to London. It will be my pleasure, I assure you,' she purred seductively, and then she curtsied to them.
'I trust you have arranged suitable entertainment in place of Lady Lucinda?' the Duke of Rexford grumbled. Then he waved his hand. 'I will agree to The Master's proposal. I certainly don't want it said that Bertram got to bugger my wife before I did.'
'I agree as well,' the Marquess of Hargrave said.
'And I,' Lord Bertram responded.
'Very well, my lords, then it is settled. John! Escort Lady Lucinda back to the house at once. As for you, my lords, when did you ever visit me that I did not provide suitable entertainment for you?' He clapped his hands, and at once a troupe of bare-legged gypsy girls ran into the arena and began to dance, flinging their skirts in the air to display rounded brown buttocks and dark-furred quims. 'For starters, my lords,' The Master said with a grin. 'And later we will be auctioning off a most willing young virgin from the village. You all know her sisters quite well. We will auction both of her virginities, her cunt and her arse. And, of course, we have both village lads and lasses available for your pleasure. The wine barrels are filled with the finest of aphrodisiacs. I shall rejoin you as soon as I have ascertained Lady Lucinda is safely within the house and my randy footmen are not fucking her poor young maid, Polly, a final time.'
He hurried off, leaving the Devil's Disciples to their lustful and bacchanalian revels. He reached the house just behind Lucinda and John.
She flung herself into his arms and kissed him most passionately. 'Thank you, my lord,' Lucinda told him happily.
'I must attend to my guests,' he said. 'I shall not see you again, Lucinda. You will leave at first light tomorrow for London. All has been arranged for your journey. I understand that John will go with you. We shall not meet again.' He gently removed her arms from about his neck.
'We shall meet at the Countess of Whitley's ball, sir. You have promised me, and I know you will keep your promise.'
He kissed her hand, smiling almost ruefully. 'I will,' he agreed.
'Then, we shall meet again, for I shall find you there,' she told him.
Chapter Five
Lady Lucinda Harrington's traveling carriage drew up before the well-scrubbed white marble steps of Three Traleigh Square, on a bright September afternoon. The coach had barely drawn to a stop when the door to the house opened, and several footmen, clad in dark blue and silver livery, ran out to greet it. John, seated with the coachman on the box, raised an inquiring eyebrow, for he had been told Lady Lucinda would be hiring new servants herself. The door to the vehicle was opened, the steps pulled down, and a footman's hand steadying hers, Lady Lucinda descended from the coach, shaking her skirts free of wrinkles.
'Who are you?' she demanded of the footman.
'James, m'lady. The bishop and his wife are awaiting you inside.' He led the way.
So, Lucinda thought, George and his better half are here. I certainly hope they are not thinking of remaining. I am hardly ready to receive visitors, and certainly do not want house-guests while I
'Luci, m'dear!' Her brother came forward smiling. 'How was Ireland, and how is darling Julia?' He beamed approvingly at her.
'My summer was quite enlightening, Georgie,' Lucinda responded coolly, moving past her brother to embrace her sister-in-law. 'Caro, you are blooming, dearest. How kind of you to come up from Wellington. Where are you staying? At your sister's? And should you be traveling at this late date in your confinement?'
'Why, Luci, we are staying here,' her sister-in-law said nervously.
'You cannot,' Lucinda said. 'I have not yet hired any servants. I have just my Polly and her intended, John, who acts as my footman.' She turned to her brother again. 'Georgie, can you get a license for Polly and John so they can be married right away? They will be returning to the country after the Whitley ball. John is to take over his father's smithy. Isn't it lovely for our Polly?' She smiled brightly at her brother, who was beginning to look confused.
'But, Luci, m'dear, the duke sent over enough servants for your little house,' he said. 'There is no need for you to be bothered interviewing and employing any others.'
'George, I am shocked at you. I cannot take such a generous gift from Rexford. Why, Hargrave and Bertram would think I had made a decision without giving them a fair hearing. No! No! No! No! Rexford's servants must leave my house this very day and return to their master.' She turned again, and pinned the attending footman with a sharp look. 'James, gather your people up and return to your master's house immediately.'
'Ohh, Lucinda,' her sister-in-law wailed, 'you will insult the duke, I fear.'
'It is he who has insulted me by suggesting I would accept such a gift, generous as it was meant to be,' Lucinda responded. 'I shall make my own decisions as I always have.'
'You do not seem much changed, Luci,' her brother said suspiciously.
'Why on earth would a summer at Julia's change me, Georgie?' she replied innocently. 'I am the same woman as ever.' She smiled wickedly at him, pleased to see him pale.
'Your promise, Luci. You do mean to keep your promise, don't you?' He was definitely distressed now.
