Chapter 19
On the night of the Vauxhall masquerade, with darkness falling over London and the air mild, the Pleasure Garden was already a hive of activity.
Hundreds of masked visitors filled the Chinese Pavilion and supper boxes.
Thousands of lanterns illuminated the maze of pathways, while many secret alcoves and walks remained in deliberate darkness to encourage more discreet assignations.
The masquerade was Colt’s favourite activity of the season by far, and he had enjoyed many romantic trysts here over the years.
Musicians played throughout the garden, so no matter where one strolled, the hum of cheerful music echoed nearby.
Colt and Georgina commissioned one of the many small boats crossing the Thames for their arrival.
It contributed to the overall magic and glamor of the evening, except Colt could not rid himself of the desire to have Sarah with him instead.
Although, given her mood of late, he suspected she would only reproach him.
He glanced over at Georgina. A shadow hung over her dark blue eyes, and her typical playfulness had all but disappeared.
When he asked her if she wished to find herself a light-o’-love for a jaunt down one of the dark walks, she dismissed him out of turn and scolded him for being a reprobate.
He found himself lost for words. Recent matters were obviously playing on her mind.
As vessels ferried patrons over the inky black water, lanterns swayed at their bows to guide the way like fireflies in the night. The echo of music and people in the garden grew louder as they approached. Colt wondered what lay in store for him tonight.
When they arrived, a dazzling array of costumes and masks crowded around them.
The gardens offered entertainment to appeal to many tastes.
There were ample opportunities for dancing should one feel so inclined, and the tightrope performers amused those seeking a little excitement.
Those who stayed late would be treated to a thrilling fireworks display.
Colt often missed this part of the evening.
It was when guardians were most often distracted and did not notice their debutantes slipping away for a quick assignation with a notorious rake.
“Ah, look, it’s the Coombes family. Let us say hello.” Colt could think of nothing better than renewing his acquaintance with the pretty Emily.
Georgina glared at him. “I warned you away from Emily, Colt. She will have you wed by the conclusion of the season.”
Surely, that was a challenge. Georgina may not have been her usual self tonight, but she was no prig.
Colt gave his old friend a wink and sidled his way through the crowd with Georgina close on his heels.
He wore an indistinct black domino and matching mask, but no one could mistake his impressive form.
Colt greeted Mr and Mrs Coombes with a warm smile. “That -orange domino you wear is most striking, Mrs Coombes,” he said, referring to her bright cloak. “You might be the most beautiful woman here.”
Mrs Coombes tried to suffocate a giggle. “What fustian! Good evening, Miss Pace.”
Georgina responded to her politely and turned her attention at once to Arthur, who gushingly introduced her to Lady Maggie Marchwood.
The young couple pulled Georgina aside to engage her in a most earnest conversation, through which Georgina nodded and smiled while keeping one eye on Arthur’s parents.
Colt suspected they were discussing Mr Coombe’s desires to propose, so he did his best to keep both Mr and Mrs Coombes distracted.
And what better way to do this than by launching into an overt flirtation with their daughter?
Had she not, after all, indicated that she wished to get to know him better?
“How lovely you look this evening, Miss Coombes.”
“You cannot see my face, Lord Coulthurst,” Emily pointed out pertly.
“You exude beauty, Miss Coombes.”
Her mother cleared her throat as he teetered on the boundary of respectable dialogue. “And do you seek a bride this season, Lord Coulthurst? You are infamous, are you not, for remaining a bachelor?”
Clearly, Mrs Coombes did not beat about the bush, and of course he understood he had a reputation.
Some young ladies came to him having heard about him at university, or perhaps from older siblings or cousins who had spent some transformative time learning the art of pleasure with Colt during their first season.
When ambitious mothers sought him out on behalf of their daughters, it was for a different set of reasons—he was a single, attractive, wealthy earl.
With Mrs Coombes’s eyes piercing through him, he bestowed what he knew to be one of his most adorable, dimpled smiles upon the matriarch. “One never knows.”
As Georgina, Arthur and Lady Maggie drew near again, Colt decided he had discharged his duty, and it was time to press his luck.
“Miss Coombes, do you like mimes? I spotted a most amusing one over there. Allow me to escort you to look at her,” he urged.
Emily glanced at her mother, with both dire threat and appeal in her expression. Colt recognised this mute exchange. It signalled that any objection from the parent would lead to a tantrum of epic proportions.
“I shall ensure her safety, of course,” Colt added.
Mrs Coombes was guarded in her response, remarking her daughter’s eagerness, but agreed, insisting they stay within eyesight.
Colt promised he would take excellent care and vowed to meet Georgina at their box later in the evening. For a moment, he had thought Mrs Coombes would not agree, so he had a little extra spring in his step as he escorted Miss Coombes along the path.
“It is so charming here,” Emily chatted, wide eyes peeping out from behind her handheld mask of pale blue silk, silver thread and diamantés, which matched her evening gown. “I have never seen so many people in one place. And everyone is wearing such bright, colour-ful masks!”
Colt smiled and created a space for her in the crowd that gathered around a gold- and red-painted mime.
The mime enacted an elaborate tea party with a blushing fellow she selected from the onlookers.
She seated him at an imaginary table with her and served him invisible tea and cake in complete silence.
The crowds laughed as she prompted him to reciprocate, and he complied ineptly.
The mime caught some non-existent cups that he ‘dropped’ and gave him a stern look, waggling her finger at him, causing more uproarious laughter from the growing audience.
Colt took the opportunity of the crowd thickening around them to step closer behind Emily. He slid his hands onto her waist.
Emily gasped. Her alabaster skin reddened, and she glanced over her shoulder at him before returning her eyes to the mime.
“Shall I stop?” he asked beside her ear.
“No,” she whispered, leaning back against his body, inviting him to touch her further.
Colt smiled and slid one hand from her waist, down over the front of her hip. He trusted that the crush of people would shield them from the prying eyes of her mother. “Is this what you want from me? To help you discover what you need?”
“Yes.” Emily’s voice was breathless, and she squirmed as his hand slid between her legs.
Her body tensed in anticipation. A tiny sound escaped her lips, and she gasped in pleasure.
His hand clasped over a most sensitive spot for a long moment, then rubbed back and forward between her legs, his fingers quickening.
She made frantic movements against him as she enjoyed the sensation of his hand between her thighs. He stilled his movements and withdrew.
She stared at him over her shoulder, her eyes dark with hunger behind her mask.
“Did you like that, Miss Coombes?”
She panted. “Indeed, your hands are quite magical. They create the most agreeable feelings.”
“Would you like more?” he asked, his voice low and husky. “I can offer you a wealth of exquisite fulfilment, Miss Coombes, but it is rather scandalous for a young, unwed lady.”
She swallowed. “I would like more.”
“Even without an offer of marriage?” he asked in a deliberate tone.
Emily hesitated, her eyes flicking to the side where her mother stood in the distance. “Yes,” she breathed.
Colt wondered, given the mischievous spark in her eye, if Emily might envisage him as someone she could wrap around her finger.
Perhaps she had indeed convinced herself that she could make him fall in love with her.
Surely, she might blame her own vanity for that.
He had done his part to narrow her expectations.
“If you are sure, then you should escape from your family and meet me in a little while.”
“Where should I meet you?”
“Down there.” He gestured towards a pathway that branched off into the darkness. “In half an hour? I’ll find you,” he promised.
Once she agreed, he led her back to her family, satisfying Mrs Coombes that no harm came to Emily during their little walk.
***
After returning Emily, Colt bought himself a large drink and took a slow sip from it.
He looked forward to dallying further with her.
She was ready and receptive. And though he did not offer marriage, Colt believed his unique part in Emily’s journey to be rather noble.
He sincerely hoped his service would lead to more contented lives, each lady’s eyes newly open to pleasure.
He checked his watch for the time and, as he began towards the designated pathway, he became distracted by a figure slicing her way through the crowd towards him.
A gown of deep scarlet with a low-cut bodice revealed a significant amount of her impressive bosom. Her black hair was pinned up, and she wore a mask of black lace over her bright eyes.
He would know Sarah anywhere, and she had never looked so ravishing.