McNaught jumped from his seat. “We need a harem.”
Mr. Simon Lennox choked on his brandy. “As if orgies haven’t been enough?”
“It’s been months since we’ve shocked theton,” McNaught argued.
“The idea does have merit,” Clarke agreed.
“Englishmen do not have harems,” Ashford argued.
“On the contrary,” Pickmore argued. “I know of a handful of Englishmen living in India who have embraced the practice.”
Darton snorted. “One wife is bad enough, I can’t imagine wanting more.”
“If it were an English wife, then I am quite in agreement,” Clarke agreed, then grinned. “However, a number of women who have been raised only to care for me, my comfort and pleasure is an entirely different matter.”
Henry rubbed the bridge of his nose. While making Society think that Pickmore had set up a harem could be quite enjoyable, Pickmore did currently reside with him and Henry would need to consider all of the ramifications to his reputation, which was supposed to be distancing himself from this group of men.
Then there was Miss Doyle, who was also in the house and he’d not have her reputation tarnished.
With a groan, he finished the rest of his brandy while he revealed his dilemma. By the time he was finished, they all gaped at him.
“Ward?” McNaught questioned.
“Won on the turn of a card?” Sellers.
Darton laughed. “You mean that Irish whelp was serious? And, you kept her?”
That’s right. Ashford and Keegan had been there when the game was played.
“You wish to make her a spy?” Lennox was the most outraged of all.
“Well, what else am I supposed to do with her? She’s mine for two years.”
“Can’t you send her somewhere?” Keegan demanded.
“Where the blazes am I supposed to send her?”
“Your mother,” McNaught suggested. “She can dress her up, parade her around, maybe find her a husband to take this Miss Doyle off your hands.”
“I’ll give it some thought. Perhaps after Mother’s ball I’ll consider the option.” Though he told them how he’d come by Miss Doyle, he’d not revealed the wager he and Pickmore had made.
“Then we’re agreed.” Pickmore stood. “Miss Doyle gets trained, she attends Ascot then the ball, then Kilsyth will ship the young woman off to his mother, I’ll find a home, then establish a Harem for the Devils.” He finished with a grin.
“You know it’s going to be impossible to establish a harem,” Henry finally said. It was difficult enough to keep up the pretense of their debauched lives, but where would they find enough women to actually live in the house and who were willing to remained veiled whenever they left? Henry saw a number of issues that would not only fail but could cause Society to wonder if anything was true.
Pickmore and McNaught shared a look. They both knew it was impossible
“It was worth consideration,” McNaught admitted. “But an impossibility.”
“Sadly, I must agree,” Pickmore admitted. “But it would have been grand indeed.” He laughed.
“I cannot wait to meet this Miss Doyle,” Darton announced.
This time Henry came to his feet. “None of you are to go near her. Not at my home, not at Ascot and certainly not at my mother’s ball. I’ll not have her name sullied so quickly.”
Most gentlemen would have been insulted to be warned off with such vehemence but as each of them embraced their roguish reputations, none were offended.
“The women are here,” Miles, the butler announced.
