Page 39 of Lady Mariel’s Scandalous Love

Chapter Sixteen

The week passed with alarming speed, as everything was put in place. Gilt invitations, which clearly proclaimed the Prince Regent as the Patron of the Museum, were sent out to all of the highest ranked people of the ton, and Dash collapsed into bed each night, so exhausted that he barely dreamed. But when he did, those dreams were of Mariel – of her passionate kisses and of what they might do together, the next time that they managed to actually be alone.

Now, the critical day had arrived, and Dash stared at the list on his desk at the Museum, rather bemused. It was a list of all of those who had formally accepted the invitations – a list featuring the names of some people whom he had never expected to ever deign to go anywhere near his collection. It would be, as the Prince Regent had predicted, remarkably amusing, watching some of them attempt to remain polite and interested, where normally they would have decried the whole thing as immoral. Mariel stood beside him, studying the names.

After a moment, she turned to him, her eyes sparkling.

“Promise me that you will tread firmly upon my toes if I show the slightest sign of giggling hysterically as I watch the reaction of some of these people to the items on display. Especially Lady Phyllida… for I never considered it possible that she and her family would accept the invitation. But then, the Prince Regent’s approval is always enough to draw those who would curry favour with him.”

Dash pulled her to him, seizing this one moment alone before the undoubted chaos of the day began, and kissed her. She responded eagerly, melting into his arms, and kissing him with equal passion. When they drew apart, he stepped back, breathing hard.

“We must stop now – before I am tempted to do far more than would be wise, here and now. But yes – going back to what you asked, I promise faithfully to trample your delicate toes if you show the least sign of laughter. We must, somehow, manage to look respectable, at least until we are married!”

She laughed lightly, then took his hand, and they went out into the Museum together.

Benson was fussing about, directing the horde of footmen and maids hired for the day, who were setting up refreshment tables in the small parlour, and preparing to deal with the onslaught of guests. Through the narrow windows which ran up each side of the wide double doors to the building, Dash could see that a small crowd had already gathered, waiting. Undoubtedly, many out there had not been officially invited, but had come on the strength of gossip, and in the hope of seeing the Prince Regent.

Some, equally certainly, were journalists, there to capture the whole event in lurid prose, to be published in tomorrow’s papers.

As he waited, the clock beside his office door seemed to tick so very slowly, towards the moment when they would open the doors. Selina and Alex slipped into the foyer, followed by his parents, and Mariel’s. Selina and Alex looked happy and at ease, but neither set of parents looked at all comfortable. But at least they were here, supporting him – far better that, than the scandal which would have resulted if they had stayed away.

He drew himself up, and went to stand near the door, just as the sound of carriages began outside. They waited until the street was thronged, and the susurrus of conversation came to them through the doors, and only when the Prince Regent’s carriage made its way through the bustle did Benson move to open the doors.

The crowd, who had been pushing forward, stepped back as the Prince Regent was announced, and he moved through them, trailed by an entourage of toadies, until he reached the door. Everyone bowed and curtseyed, all to the proper degree, and he greeted them in his most regal manner – but his eyes met Dash’s, full of amusement.

“Your Highness – if you would step this way, we have a podium prepared in the first display room. Once you are in place, we will allow the guests into the Museum.”

A footman rushed forward as they moved across the room, offering a drink, which the Prince Regent took with a nod.

“This all looks well planned, Longwood. Theatre for the masses, so to speak.”

“Exactly, Your Highness. Thank you again for your patronage. I trust that the… parcel… arrived in good order?”

The Prince Regent turned a smile upon him, and laughed.

“It did indeed, and I have already… experimented… a little, with some items. Most satisfactory, I must say.”

“Very good, Your Highness, I am pleased to hear that it is so.”

They reached the podium, and the Prince took his place, well used to dominating a room. Dash supposed it was not so different from court – which was also theatre of a kind. The Prince’s entourage found places around the room, and appeared to be torn between looking at the exhibits, and capturing passing footmen to obtain drinks and food.

Dash bowed, and moved back into the foyer.

“Let them in, Benson. Make sure to check the invitations. Anyone else will have to pay an entry fee, and can wait until the opening is officially done.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Dash took his place, not far from the door, with Mariel by his side, and their families behind them, as Benson opened the doors again, and waved people forward. The next half hour disappeared into a whirl of greetings. When that was done, Dash left Benson to deal with the uninvited hopefuls, and moved into the other room.

The Prince Regent appeared at ease, drink in hand, a plate of food on the table beside him, and a cluster of the highest in the land conversing with him. Dash made his way across the room, quietly observing the expressions on the guests, as some of them looked at the exhibits. It was worthy of laughter, indeed.

The Prince Regent saw him coming, and raised an enquiring eyebrow. Dash nodded, and the Prince set down his glass and stepped to the centre of the raised podium. The movement was enough to cause a wave of silence to run through the room. He waved Dash forward to join him, then spoke in a booming voice.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to see you all here today. I have decided to become the Patron of this remarkable new Museum which Lord Longwood,” here he waved at Dash, who bowed to the audience, “…has made possible, through his assiduous collecting during his time overseas. So, without further ado, I declare the Museum of Human Eroticism open, and invite you to explore the rooms and see all of the intriguing exhibits. I fully intend to do so myself, very thoroughly.”

There was quiet applause, and the Prince Regent picked up his drink, then stepped close to Dash.

“Now the fun begins, eh? I can already see some shocked expressions around the room, and the closer they look at things, the more there will be. This Museum of yours is a capital idea, capital. It will provide endless hours of amusement, as well as possibly actually spicing up the lives of some of the most boring people of the ton.”