Page 38 of Lady Mariel’s Scandalous Love

Dash watched the mistress go quite green, and quickly swallowed his mouthful of brandy so as not to cough or laugh.

“Indeed, Your Highness, those items are both devilishly clever in their design, and reputed to be most… effective. Apart from the items displayed here, in the Museum, I do happen to have some similar, and in some cases identical, pieces stored away. I will, if you would like it, arrange for a selection of them to be delivered to you, as a gift. It is rare to find another man who truly appreciates the full scope of human erotic ingenuity…”

The Prince Regent looked pleased, and the mistress fixed Dash with a glare of pure venom.

“An excellent idea, Longwood. Do please send me something. I will look forward to the surprise of seeing what you have for me.”

“It will be my pleasure, Your Highness. Might I be most forward, Your Highness, whilst we have this opportunity to converse privately?”

The Prince raised an eyebrow, and Dash was quite certain that he knew what was coming. But he was kind enough to allow Dash the chance to ask.

“No doubt, Longwood, that means that you’d like to ask me for a favour of some kind?”

“Aah… yes, Your Highness. The gossip, as you duly noted, has been running rather rife. Which annoys me, as I created this collection not to titillate society, but to preserve the cultural and artistic history of human eroticism. I do not want my family, or my soon to be wife’s family, tarnished by the pettiness of others.”

“Indeed, I can see that you wouldn’t. So, what do you propose to do about it, and how does that involve me?”

“I was hoping, Your Highness, that you might see your way to being a patron of the Museum of Human Eroticism, and to officially opening it, at the ceremony we have planned for a week’s time? Your approval of the museum would make it socially acceptable to the ton, and ease matters considerably. Of course, you would be welcome to arrange private viewings for your friends, as you wished to. As our major patron, that would be a benefit we could offer you.”

The Prince Regent laughed, and Dash relaxed a little.

“I believe I’ll do it. I can’t wait to see some of those stuffy old termagants swallowing their righteous horror and smiling as they tour the place, because I have approved of it. You may just have provided me the best entertainment I’ve had in quite some time. Wife to be, you said? What does she think of all this, then? Most of the young women out there would faint dead away at the sight of a diletto.”

Dash smiled and shook his head.

“She is made of far sterner stuff than that Your Highness. She is as fascinated by it all as I am. In fact, she has recently translated a very… explicit… book for me, from the Russian.”

The Prince Regent roared with laughter at his words.

“Then you are a lucky man indeed, Longwood. I expect you’ll have a far more interesting time in the bedroom than the average man has with his wife. You must introduce me to this paragon of sense in the near future. I like a woman who is not afraid of her own appetites.”

“I will be sure to introduce you at the official opening celebration, Your Highness.”

The Prince rose, and the mistress and the attendant rose with him. Dash stood, and bowed again, a full deep court bow. The Prince waved a hand at his attendant.

“Give Burrows here all of the details for the opening, and he will ensure that I arrive at the appropriate time.” Then the Prince turned to the mistress, and held out a hand. “Come, my dear, we will send the carriage back for Burrows. I fear that this visit has given me rather an… appetite... for the bedchamber.”

She simpered, cast Dash another venomous look, and the Prince led her away.