'And I am sure,' mused Torrant to himself, 'that after the conversation I had the other morning with the old boy, he will not think of getting married at all, and Rosa, and two or three natural children of his or my begetting, will not stand in the way of Eliza's succession: so I will not ruin the dear little chit. I will only fuck her dreadfully and send her back to Mrs. Moreen's with a sore cunt, to set her two or three bedroom confidantes longing for prick, by the interesting adventures she will have to relate to them.'
Having come to this virtuous resolution, the young officer relaxed his thoughtful features, calling a playful remonstrance from Rosa as to what he could possibly be thinking of, with so grave a face, and whether he considered it polite to leave a young lady, whom he had been professing so much regard for, all by herself? This produced a playful and affectionate rejoinder, and indeed Rosa was in danger of displaying to the eyes of the outer world the colour of her elastic garters, and other little private matters in those directions, when the carriage drew up at the door of an oldish looking house, but evidently well built and in a state of high preservation.
'This, my sweet little pet,' observed her conductor, 'is one of the houses of the Earl of Longbowles. I think,' he added, laughing, 'that your dear friend, Mrs. Moreen, will be rather puzzled to discover the address of Mr. Bonham's widowed sister by turning up the list of "Smiths'' in either the Court or Trade directory. And if you are cross questioned on the subject, — my beauty, you can mention any jumble of street names that occur to you first (you have such a bad head for streets, you know) and you can mention having met Mrs. Smith, and your guardian, and the Earl of Longbowles. Allow me to assist you to alight.' So saying, with great courtesy, he handed Rosa out of the carriage, saying to the coachman as he did so: 'Half past eleven, sharp-mind Thomas!' So it certainly looked as if he meant to keep his promise to Rosa.
As our friends were uncloaking in the hall, the Earl of Longbowles emerged from his study, which was on the ground floor. He was a fine looking middle-aged man with a bearing about him that showed in some degree the marks of the fast life he had led from an early age. He greeted Torrant cordially, exclaiming: 'Ah, Alfred my boy, how are you? Very glad to see you and your fair friend. And what a pretty girl!' continued he, surveying Rosa with the air of a connoisseur. 'Is she as good as she looks, Alf?' he asked, with an expression that brought the colour into Rosa's face.
'I assure your Lordship that she is a sweet creature in every respect,' was Torrant's reply, as he pressed Rosa's arm to reassure her.
'Well,' said the Earl, 'you had better go upstairs to the drawing room.
You will find a select party of our friends there-fine men and fair women! I will follow you directly.'
And his Lordship was as good as his word, indeed a good deal better, for instead of following them after the delay of a minute or two, as any one might have supposed from his speech, he followed them instantly, being rather curious to have a more intimate inspection of Rosa.
Accordingly, when the young lady was half upstairs, leaning on her protector's arm, she was not a little startled by feeling her clothes gently, but effectually raised from behind, and a hot kiss pressed upon one of the cheeks of her bum. At the same time a half-smothered voice remarked: 'Delicious indeed! Very fine legs, too!' And then his Lordship, emerging from her graceful drapery, remarked in a business way: 'She'll do, Alfred, she'll do very well! She is fit to show up with the finest in the room!'
Rosa was indignant, and disposed to be very angry, but Torrant whispered to her not to mind it, that one must do at Rome as Rome does, and that his Lordship submitted to a similar inspection almost every lady that entered his house-at any rate, this particular house.
His Lordship, he also informed her, had some peculiar tastes and lusts; and she should see some curious scenes, but he told her not to be frightened, but to eat a good dinner, and to enjoy herself as much as she possibly could.
And Rosa, who now felt she was 'in for it', as the saying is, wisely determined to follow his advice and make the best of her situation.
CHAPTER 6
Rosa was of course a little fluttered by the exciting nature of the incident produced by her noble host's behaviour on the staircase, but she still possessed enough presence of mind to walk into the drawing room of the Earl's mansion, hanging on Captain Torrant's arm, with as good a grace, and as cool an aspect, (or nearly so) as if nothing particular had taken place during her transit between the hall door and the top of the staircase. In the drawing room, she was both astonished and delighted, delighted by the brilliant appearance of the room, and astonished at the magnificent display of beautiful women and handsome men; such as the Earl of Longbowles usually invited to join his circle. Indeed his Lordship, who could afford to suit his own fancies, invariably declared that he liked to have good-looking people about him-small blame to him for that! and displayed his taste, not only with regard to his judgement in hiring chambermaids and waiting maids, but also in respect to the young gentlemen and ladies he invited to his entertainments. And on this occasion, Rosa was quite bewitched by the galaxy of beauty exhibited by the women she saw; some of them kept-mistresses; some of them young demoiselles from a fashionable house of a certain repute, and some neglected wives, who in the unpleasant predicament of having married old men for the sake of money and a fine establishment, had found out later in the day, that jewellery and coaches and horses, were not the only luxuries that a young bride required, and were glad to make their appearance at Lord Longbowles' evening parties, to obtain what every young ladyaye and a good many elderly ladies too-consider the indispensable requisite: prick! and a downright good fucking.
And to show how cleverly his Lordship had foreseen the wants of his guests in this particular, there were certain curtained recesses established, furnished with well-cushioned ottomans; wherein gentlemen and ladies, who felt all excited by their delightful proximity in the waltz, or their companionship during the luxurious supper, might relieve the inevitable tendency, which such luxurious proceedings might create in their minds and bodies.
Our readers can understand that Captain Torrant was not very long in making Rosa understand the meaning of these little accommodation recesses, nor did she, on her part, blush more than a charming girl should do, at being made to understand the purpose for which they were intended, and being shown the deliciously licentious pictures that decorated their walls. But she did colour up prettily, when the Earl of Longbowles, who had by this time entered the apartment, begged to be introduced to Captain Torrant's pretty partner, (just as if he had never seen her before) and after making some outrageously complimentary remarks about her beautiful face said: 'I say Alfred, you have such very good taste in girls' shapes and general capabilities, that I have no doubt that Miss Fielding's hidden charms are quite equal to those she openly displays. Permit me the luxury of kissing her thighs and bottom, — you have a right to her other choice delicacies.'
To this announcement, Rosa was going to offer a feeble protest, saying something about so many ladies and gentlemen being present; but instead of the ladies being shocked, a good many of the couples present, who no doubt were pretty well initiated into his Lordship's proceedings, came up and declared, that as a young stranger, she must, of course, 'pay her footing', and that they would like nothing better than to see the charms of a young novice exposed, as they certainly would be during his Lordship's intended proceedings.