hand before he even knew it. “Let’s go. There’s a back staircase that we can take.”
She nodded and he led them off through a door into another that opens up into a black case of stairs descending down an exit.
“I saw a curricle earlier. Was it yours?” she asked him, once they got outside.
“Yes,” he told her. “But we’re not going to ride it. You’ll be exposed. We’ll take my friend’s carriage.”
He pulled her around a corner and behind the inn stood a carriage with a three horses attached, their ears perching up as they approached.
“Get in,” Leon said, helping Rose inside the carriage.
“And you?” she asked.
Disappointingly, “I’ll be driving,” he said. “Get in quick before anyone sees you.”
She nodded and Leon helped her in, shutting the door and jumping up to the driver’s seat with the reign in his hands.
“Go, boy.” He tugged at the horse, getting it to straighten and galloped on down the road.
CHAPTER SIX
“Idon’t understand why you’re taking me to Phillipa’s House of
Pleasure, Your Grace,” said Marcus Lewis Dent, as he and the Duke of Hargate step up to the entrance of the whore house. “I have never expected a duke with a high position in the House of Lords like you to–”
“I do this for every lord that is about to become a newly wedded groom,” the duke answered with a smile. “Once I heard about your upcoming wedding with Lady Caralina Rose–or was it Rose Caralina–I planned this out for you.”
“It’s Rose Caralina Dawson,” the marquess corrected. “Ah, yes. I remember now,” the duke nodded.
Laguna knew he’s making a fool out of himself with his ignorant
replies, but never had he thought to be able to trick such a marquess this easily. Just a few simple words introducing himself and the position he held in society won everything. It took fewer words than he’d expected. It seems to him that this marquess is rather fond of lords in high position, especially dukes, and can’t resist any calls from them.
“So we are to do what here?” asked Lansing as Laguna opens the door and step in.
“Get an unlimited amount of pleasure before you set out to be the most honorable husband to your Lady Caralina,” Laguna replied. “Everything’s on me tonight. Just enjoy yourself.”
“I have been quite a celibate for a while too,” Lansing answered. “I give you my most grateful remark, Your Grace. Thank you for this night.”
“No gratitude needed,” Laguna answered. “And for your information, I hate formality. Just call me Hargate, or better Laguna. Your Grace is totally out of the question.”
Lansing looked a bit dumbstruck but nodded. “I see.”
“Oh, look who are here tonight, girls,” came Phillipa, the owner of the House of Pleasure, as she waves her handkerchief seductively in front of Laguna and Lansing’s face. “It’s been quite a while since you visited, Your Grace. Tell me who of my girls do you want tonight and I shall have her send up to your room.”
“Sorry, Phillipa. The pleasure is not my today but my handsome fellow here,” Laguna said, throwing an arm to pull Lansing in closer. “He’s the Marquess of Lansing, and would like to have a bit of fun before he gets married.”
Phillipa looked disappointed, but flashed a sugary smile at Lansing and scan him down with her eyes. “Handsome indeed. Might break my girls’ heart to know you’re about to get wedded off, but they would love to have you back here at any time. You may take a few as your mistresses, too, if you would like.”
“That pleasure is most honorably mine, Lady Phillipa,” Lansing said, raising her hands to his lips.
Phillipa fan herself nervously and replied swiftly, “Ah, charming. I’m no lady. Just Phillipa. Should we get to the drafting to see which of my girls would suit you?”
“I totally can’t wait,” Lansing exclaimed. “Show me the ladies!”
Hargate smiled delightfully as he watches a group of Phillipa’s girls came crowding around Lansing and brought him upstairs.
His plan was sure to work, and that Gareth Longsword better get here quickly with Lady Rose.
“Lady Rose is not home?” Gareth was rather disappointed when the maid told him so. “Where did she go? It’s late in the night.”
“You shouldn’t be calling upon her this late then,” the maid said rudely. “A proper lord wouldn’t.”
“What are you trying to say? It has matters to do with his lordship, the Marquess of Lansing,” Gareth replied infuriated.
What kind of maids does Viscount Herring hire to watch his daughter?
“His lordship? Did something