Read Online Silk and Shadows by Mary Jo Putney - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Mary Jo Putney
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"Venus Unveiled," it contained descriptions of women. He skimmed several pages, seeing phrases such as:
a delicate blonde, as elegant in her manner as any lady born, but most robust in her performance;
and
dark-haired, full-figured, an expert in the best French techniques
. "Interesting," he commented. "A catalog of courtesans."
"Exactly. It describes most of the better grade of Covent Garden ware and is updated regularly. There is also a listing of night houses, which are taverns where such women can be met. Common streetwalkers are not allowed in. If you want to try one, the best is Kate Hamilton's in Princes Street, but the places I am taking you tonight provide better quality and service."
"You are too kind." Peregrine leaned back against the velvet upholstery. It promised to be a most intriguing evening.
Their first stop was a conventional brothel, unusual only for the lavishness of its furnishings. They were admitted by a hulking porter who looked like a pugilist past his prime. After accepting a warm welcome, Weldon asked if Madame de Maintenon was available. Immediately they were ushered into the presence of a tall woman of middle years. The madame was heavy, her red hair of a shade not found in nature, and her smooth complexion from a paint pot, but she still had a coarse prettiness. Peregrine guessed that she had been a beauty in her glory years.
After greeting her, Weldon said, "My friend is new to London, so I knew that he could do no better than to meet you."
Madame de Maintenon looked Peregrine over with frank appreciation. In a voice that sounded more of the East End than Paris, she said, "Pleased to meet you, my lord. If you'd like to see my girls, just take a look through here."
She drew aside a brocade drapery and gestured toward several small circles of glass set into the wall at different heights. Peregrine stepped to the highest peephole and looked through into a sumptuously furnished drawing room where half a dozen young women sat or reclined in skimpily cut, translucent dresses that left no doubt as to their profession. The system was like that in certain Asian eateries, where the customer could choose his dinner from fish swimming in a large tank.
"The girls are inspected by a doctor every week," the madame said briskly. "Wine and a fine supper are included in the basic price. Special rates if you want more than one girl at a time, unless it's a busy night. Then they're full price. We also offer the best costume shows in London."
"Costume shows?"
"The girls dress up and do a bit of acting," she explained. "Most clients find the costumes very amusing. Governesses, schoolgirls, dairymaids, harem ladies, duchesses, women dressed to look like your mother… we can provide most anything." She cocked her head to one side thoughtfully. "You're foreign, aren't you? If you're Catholic, you might want to try the nun show—it's particularly popular with papists. We have one gent who likes a shepherdess, complete with sheep, but for something special like that, we need a day or two of notice."
She gave a raucous laugh. "One of my girls can make herself up just like the queen, so if you've a fancy to roger Her Royal Highness, here's your chance. I guarantee that Lisette knows things Victoria never thought of."
"I have no doubt of that." Peregrine wondered how Queen Victoria would react if she knew that her subjects were guilty of such lese-majesté. "Very intriguing, Madame de Maintenon.''
"What would you fancy, my lord?" she asked hopefully.
No doubt being called "my lord" was part of the service, like the wine and the fine supper. Dropping the brocade drapery, he replied, "Tonight I am just acquainting myself with what is available. I shall stay longer on my next visit."
They took their leave and returned to the carriage,
where Peregrine said, "An excellent establishment of the more conventional type, Sir Charles. Now, what of the more exotic delights you mentioned?"
Weldon laughed. "Not easily
a delicate blonde, as elegant in her manner as any lady born, but most robust in her performance;
and
dark-haired, full-figured, an expert in the best French techniques
. "Interesting," he commented. "A catalog of courtesans."
"Exactly. It describes most of the better grade of Covent Garden ware and is updated regularly. There is also a listing of night houses, which are taverns where such women can be met. Common streetwalkers are not allowed in. If you want to try one, the best is Kate Hamilton's in Princes Street, but the places I am taking you tonight provide better quality and service."
"You are too kind." Peregrine leaned back against the velvet upholstery. It promised to be a most intriguing evening.
Their first stop was a conventional brothel, unusual only for the lavishness of its furnishings. They were admitted by a hulking porter who looked like a pugilist past his prime. After accepting a warm welcome, Weldon asked if Madame de Maintenon was available. Immediately they were ushered into the presence of a tall woman of middle years. The madame was heavy, her red hair of a shade not found in nature, and her smooth complexion from a paint pot, but she still had a coarse prettiness. Peregrine guessed that she had been a beauty in her glory years.
After greeting her, Weldon said, "My friend is new to London, so I knew that he could do no better than to meet you."
Madame de Maintenon looked Peregrine over with frank appreciation. In a voice that sounded more of the East End than Paris, she said, "Pleased to meet you, my lord. If you'd like to see my girls, just take a look through here."
She drew aside a brocade drapery and gestured toward several small circles of glass set into the wall at different heights. Peregrine stepped to the highest peephole and looked through into a sumptuously furnished drawing room where half a dozen young women sat or reclined in skimpily cut, translucent dresses that left no doubt as to their profession. The system was like that in certain Asian eateries, where the customer could choose his dinner from fish swimming in a large tank.
"The girls are inspected by a doctor every week," the madame said briskly. "Wine and a fine supper are included in the basic price. Special rates if you want more than one girl at a time, unless it's a busy night. Then they're full price. We also offer the best costume shows in London."
"Costume shows?"
"The girls dress up and do a bit of acting," she explained. "Most clients find the costumes very amusing. Governesses, schoolgirls, dairymaids, harem ladies, duchesses, women dressed to look like your mother… we can provide most anything." She cocked her head to one side thoughtfully. "You're foreign, aren't you? If you're Catholic, you might want to try the nun show—it's particularly popular with papists. We have one gent who likes a shepherdess, complete with sheep, but for something special like that, we need a day or two of notice."
She gave a raucous laugh. "One of my girls can make herself up just like the queen, so if you've a fancy to roger Her Royal Highness, here's your chance. I guarantee that Lisette knows things Victoria never thought of."
"I have no doubt of that." Peregrine wondered how Queen Victoria would react if she knew that her subjects were guilty of such lese-majesté. "Very intriguing, Madame de Maintenon.''
"What would you fancy, my lord?" she asked hopefully.
No doubt being called "my lord" was part of the service, like the wine and the fine supper. Dropping the brocade drapery, he replied, "Tonight I am just acquainting myself with what is available. I shall stay longer on my next visit."
They took their leave and returned to the carriage,
where Peregrine said, "An excellent establishment of the more conventional type, Sir Charles. Now, what of the more exotic delights you mentioned?"
Weldon laughed. "Not easily
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