Page 25 of Dick Stone, Regency Stud
“Well, the first task is unsuitable for a gent of your age,” said Edward. “How old are you, by the by?”
“I reckon about fifteen? Tough to say.”
“Yes, far too young for the first job. But the second…I might need some help. You don’t happen to know the aristocracy on sight, do you?”
“The gents what could kill me dead in the street for looking at ’em wrong and then escape the noose because of their titles? Those ones? Yeah, I know ’em.”
“I suppose it pays to know the enemy,” mused Edward. “I need one of them watched. Charley Mabbot.”
“About this tall, brown hair like that wood on the desk, always swinging a cane?”
“That could be half of the young bucks in theton, Tobias.”
“Naw, but this one is different. Swagger of a rooster, but always looking deep into dark corners as if he’s afraid someone is on to him. Hard one to sneak up on, not that I’ve tried.”
Edward rolled his eyes. “Sure you haven’t. I need to know where he goes, who he sees. I especially want to know if he’s got a ladybird stashed somewhere. You know what I mean, don’t you?”
“A dancing girl, a mistress in a little brick house with two kiddies and lots of servants, that sort of thing?”
“Precisely,” said Edward, shaking his head and chuckling. “I haven’t got any coin yet, but I’ll give you a cut when I get paid. How’s that?”
“Keep the eel pies coming in the meantime,” said Tobias, climbing out of the window, preparing to stalk a future viscount.
Chapter 4
Edward knocked at theMabbot townhouse servant’s entrance at the appointed hour, long after the actual servants had ceased their labors and taken gratefully to their narrow beds.
A well-dressed man opened the door. He wasn’t swinging a cane, but he was about the right height with brown hair like the wood on Edward’s small desk.
The two men stood facing each other in the doorway, at an impasse.
“Mabbot?” asked Edward.
“Dick Stone?” replied Charley with a wry grin.
Oh, he wanted to play games, did he?
“Yes. I’m here for my appointment to fuck your wife,” said Edward, hoping to get a rise out of him.
He was to be disappointed.
“Good man, she’s this way,” said Charley, efficiently leading him through the dark house.
He paused outside a door and scratched before entering.
“Darling, are you decent? Or, rather, indecent?” asked Charley.
Lady Maria seemed to glide in a dressing gown towards the men. Halfway to them, she dropped the wrapper and revealed that she wore nothing underneath.
“Dash, Maria, give a man some warning so he can close the door,” said Charley.
Edward wasn’t thinking about doors or windows aside from the fact that he planned to slam into Maria over and over like a loose shutter in a windstorm. She’d somehow gained confidence in the hours since he’d last seen her, as if having two men regard her naked body made her power grow.
Her power over his cock was unquestioned, he thought, as he cupped himself over his breeches. If he had his way, this bride was getting bred tonight.
But what of the mystery of her husband’s disinterest, the solution to which promised to pay him handsomely? Perhaps he’d settle the issue with no need to run around town after all.
Charley looked at his wife with some curiosity, but there was no evidence of lust or a straining cock. Hmm. Perhaps this would require some effort after all. Still, he had to try to take the easy way out.
