Vauxhall Vixen (2 page)

Vivian nodded her head in the affirmative. “When we talked about the possibility of my joining you in London when you visited in April, you advised me to come up with a scheme to make myself different or unique. We also discussed Vauxhall Gardens as a good place to begin ‘plying my trade’ so to speak. I thought to name myself the Vauxhall Vixen.”

Jane squealed with glee. “That is a wonderful title, Vivian. I remember the story I related to you about Beau Brummell. It was something my brother Clifford had heard. You are aware that I have my own working name?” Vivian shook her head. “I am known as Bountiful Betty.”

The women laughed heartily over their names. “It appears my life is about to undergo some rather drastic changes,” Vivian remarked when she was able to breathe again.

“Madam Page has informed me that the Duke of
Middlecrest
wishes to be your first customer two nights from today if you feel you will be ready to start at that time.”

Vivian blushed rosily and covered her mouth with her hand. “My heart is suddenly pounding wildly, Jane. I had not realized that I was anxious about my debut until I heard you say that my first customer has already come forward.”

“Are you quite certain that you are ready to do this, Vivian?” her friend questioned, frowning slightly.

“Oh, yes, Jane. I am ready. I simply cannot help feeling a trifle saddened by the thought that once I take this step at my age, I will almost certainly never fall in love, never get married and never have children.”

Jane stood up and hastily moved to stand next to Vivian’s chair. She gently rubbed her hand across her friend’s shoulder in a gesture of reassurance. “You are only thirty-four, my dear, and still very beautiful. Life as a courtesan does not condemn you to never knowing love or having a family of your own. The right man will want to spend the rest of his life with you no matter what your past.”

Vivian reached up and lightly squeezed Jane’s hand. “Thank you for saying that, Jane. I assure you that I am quite eager to start my new trade.”

“Do not be concerned about your upcoming enterprise, Vivian. I can assure you that I have taken to this life as a lady of easy virtue very quickly, indeed. And I have learned special techniques that are certain to please even the most toplofty gentleman. I will instruct you how to perform all my different methods and you will most definitely think of your own versions or fantasies. Clifford has the evening free tomorrow night. The three of us will visit Vauxhall Gardens. I will show you the best spots for private seductions and will even reveal some hiding places where I stow various useful items for additional enticements. You will be in fine form two nights from today. Now, tell me more about your scheme.”

* * * * *

Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, two nights later

David Huntley, Viscount Maxton, joined in the general laughter that erupted as his friend Sir Frederick Whitney regaled his companions with details of his recent sojourn to Brighton.

“I must put this statement on the record, gentlemen. Dining directly underneath a large, flying dragon is deuced uncomfortable, even in the exalted company of the King!”

“I say, Frederick, is it true that the rooms are kept so warm that the ladies who attend the King’s concerts and receptions need not dampen their garments because even the most cold-blooded of women will sweat?” Lord Dexter Olton, a boisterous, sandy-haired gentleman sitting next to David, inquired loudly over the other gentlemen’s laughter.

“It is most assuredly true, Dexter,” replied the tall and darkly handsome baronet. “I myself was accompanied by a certain lady, who shall remain nameless, who requested that we leave the gathering immediately after the King retired to his private rooms because of her discomfort.”

Sir Frederick sat back in his seat as two waiters appeared at their box with several bowls of Vauxhall’s famous arrack punch and a plate of shaved ham.

David studied the brimming bowls of punch in surprise. “Are we expecting more company?”

Sir Frederick shared a mischievous look with Lord Olton. “We know this is your first sojourn to ‘the pleasure gardens’, Maxton. To help us celebrate the occasion, Dexter and I have arranged for three ladies to join us. They should be arriving momentarily.”

Lord Olton grinned in wry humor as he observed David’s confused reaction. “You have been without female companionship for too long, my friend. Frederick and I are simply looking to lift your spirits.”

David was not to have a chance to reply to Lord Olton’s statement. At that moment the sound of shrill voices and loud laughter announced the imminent arrival of the three “ladies”. “We are here as promised, my lord,” giggled a buxom, strapping young woman at the front of the pack.

Lord Olton hastily stood up and gestured for the women to enter their box. “Welcome, welcome and take a seat, ladies. Sally, please introduce us to your friends.”

Sally wedged her large form onto the seat nearest Dexter. Breathing heavily from her exertions, she turned to her two companions. “This here is Paula.” With a languid wave, she indicated the woman closest to her. “And the other is Caroline.”

David covertly studied the other women as they took their seats. Paula sat in the seat between
himself
and Sally. Caroline sat between Frederick and Dexter. Caroline appeared to be the oldest and the most assured of the group. She was also quite buxom but much smaller in stature than Sally. Her dark hair was pulled loosely back away from her face with a scrap of dark material. Without hesitation, she placed her ungloved hand on Frederick’s thigh. “Pour me some of that punch, will you, dear?” Caroline ordered as she leaned over to offer a view of most of her large breasts to Frederick’s admiring gaze.

Paula sat stiffly in her seat to David’s right. David studied her exposed hands, which were tightly clasped in her lap. They were work-worn hands to be sure, David thought as he noted the reddened skin and the broken nails.

“I am sorry, my lord. I am not pleasing you. You must forgive me.” Paula abruptly turned in her seat to face David. She raised her hands and hesitantly moved them up across his chest to rest upon his broad shoulders. “What would you like me to do for you, my lord?”

David glanced across at his companions before answering. Dexter had his arm under Sally’s skirt as she fed him slices of ham from the plate. Frederick was busy pouring punch from his cup into Caroline’s open mouth with one hand as he pinched one of her swollen nipples between his fingers with the other.

David turned back to face Paula. Doe-like brown eyes stared at him from a slightly rounded face framed by a cluster of golden curls. She was certainly very young and if the tension he felt radiating from her body was any indication, she was also very nervous. He reached up and gently removed her hands from his shoulders to lower them to her lap. “I find I am not in need of sustenance at present. Shall we take a stroll around the gardens, my dear?”

Paula visibly relaxed as she heard David’s proposition. “I would enjoy that, my lord,” she answered eagerly as she stood and hastily smoothed her rumpled gown.

David stood up and began to follow Paula from the box. Dexter rose from his seat nearby to effectively block the exit. “Doesn’t she please you, David?” he asked, making no attempt to lower his voice. “We wanted to get you the newest doxy. She calls herself the Vauxhall Vixen. But old
Middlecrest
was there before us. Madam Page wouldn’t budge even when we informed her it was a special occasion for our friend Viscount Maxton.” Dexter paused to glance over at Paula who was patiently waiting outside the box. “The woman was uncommonly busy tonight. I am sorry to say she handed over the scullery maid for your benefit. Frederick and I have had Sally and Caroline before so you were left with the shy one,” he ended in an apologetic tone.

David studied his friend as he listened to Dexter going nineteen to the dozen, attempting to explain himself.
What was I thinking accompanying these silly fops to Vauxhall Gardens
, David thought in sudden annoyance. When Dexter finally stopped talking, he quickly answered back. “I have no idea who the Vauxhall Vixen is, Dexter. I wish the Duke of
Middlecrest
joy of her. I am very pleased with my scullery maid named Paula.” He sketched a bow toward both of the other gentlemen.

“You might have the opportunity to meet the Vixen after all, David,” called Frederick to his friend’s retreating figure. “It looks as if
Middlecrest
is in his cups again. They’ll be carrying him back to his coach within the hour if his past performances are any indication.”

David did not bother to slow his pace and he gave no indication that he had heard Sir Frederick’s parting words. He joined Paula and then reached for her arm in order to guide her to the South Walk which was a short distance away from the supper boxes. As they entered the pathway, sounds of a scuffle could be heard on the other side of one of the decorated archways which lined the path.

“Sorry, ma’am, me master is no good with strong drink.”

“A vast understatement, to be sure,” answered a husky female voice. “Do with him what you
will,
my purpose here is unmistakably at end.”

David and his companion halted their progress as the inert form of a man whom David quickly recognized as the Duke of
Middlecrest
, was carried by four male servants across the path directly in front of them. As this somewhat astounding procession receded toward the Dark Walk, a woman emerged onto the pathway. She was dressed entirely in black. Her hair and face were also covered with a soft black veil. She began to walk in their direction but abruptly halted as their presence on the path became apparent.

“Vivian, it is Paula,” David’s companion hissed loudly.

The woman continued walking toward them. As she reached Paula, her black skirts lightly brushed against David’s calf in a caressing manner. The sweet scent of violets enveloped his senses as the woman named Vivian silently studied him without raising her veil. David felt the hairs on his arms begin to tingle with anticipation as he returned her regard. Something about this woman was familiar. He felt as if he had met her before. Sudden realization hit him like a blow to the stomach. This was surely the woman from his dreams!

It appeared the mystery lady named Vivian claimed no prior acquaintance with him. She certainly suffered no qualms about David’s presence except to make certain she did not remove her disguise. She turned back to address Paula, still keeping the veil over her face. “What brings you here, my dear? Surely you are needed at the house?”

Before Paula could reply, David interceded. “I believe my two friends are at fault for Paula’s presence here tonight. They felt I was in need of a female partner this evening. The gentlemen visited Madam Page’s establishment and requested a woman who apparently was previously spoken for. It left only Paula to become my companion for this evening. She accompanied two other women named Sally and Caroline to our box tonight.”

As David concluded his explanation, he noticed that Paula had raised one of her hands to cover her mouth. She also appeared to be blushing.

David covered Paula’s other hand with his own as it rested on his sleeve. “Is something wrong, my dear?” he asked in concern.

After a quick glance at the veiled woman, Paula turned toward him and lowered her hand from her mouth. “Vivian is the woman Lord Olton attempted to purchase for you tonight.”

At first, Paula’s words confused David. Then he remembered Frederick’s parting words.
You might have the opportunity to meet the Vixen after all, David. It looks as if
Middlecrest
is in his cups again.

David studied the veiled figure once more as she stood silently in front of him. “Are you known as the Vixen?”

The veil rustled slightly as the woman nodded. “Yes, I am, my lord. More formally, I am known as the Vauxhall Vixen.”

David released Paula’s hand and reached for the quizzing glass that hung at his waistband. He raised the glass to his eye in an attempt to further study the shrouded woman before him as well as to use the opportunity to bring order to his wildly scattered thoughts. Questions were crowding his mind in tumultuous disorder, the most important of them being, who was this woman and why did she so closely resemble the lady from his recent dreams?

The use of his glass brought no further clues to the woman’s identity but the few moments he spent studying her allowed him to consider questions that were of primary importance to him.

“May I inquire as to the origins of your name and to the purpose of your costume?”

A gust of cool night air blew across the pathway as they stood on the edge of the South Walk. The woman’s skirts rustled softly. Before she could reply, a man’s raised voice could be heard over the whispered conversations of couples who occupied the other walkways and boxes around them.

“Paula, Paula, where are you?” A young man with a crop of tousled red hair emerged from the wooded area a few paces to the right.

“I’m here, George.” Paula rushed over to the youth.

The young man enfolded Paula in a quick hug. “I’ve been trying to get away from the house since I heard Madam Page sent you to Vauxhall with them two troublemakers! I came as soon as I could.” He stopped speaking to look pointedly at David. The lad’s hands suddenly clenched into fists held tightly in check at his side. “I am not too late, am I, Paula?”

Paula reached out and squeezed one of the youth’s hands. “Everything is fine, George. I would like to introduce you to Viscount Maxton. He has been most kind to me. We were just about to take a walk when we encountered Vivian here on this pathway. Lord Maxton, I would like you to meet my brother, George Brown,” Paula concluded breathlessly.

Paula’s brother managed a sheepish grin before he executed a bow. “My lord, I will be forever grateful for your service to my sister.”

David reached over with a gloved hand to ruffle the top of George’s bowed head. “I assure you, young man, I did nothing very gallant. I simply kept your sister company for a short time.”