Chapter twenty five
"Why exactly are we here," Timothy looked at the massive empire of Lord Edward from the distance.
Jason glared at him while nudging his Massidan horse to go forward, "The better question is…why Monica is joining us."
Philip stopped his own beast and faced them all. Cautiously, they stopped riding as well and stared back at him in confusion.
He then turned specifically to Timothy, "For your question, we need important information from a Baron I know. And as for yours," he faced the Earl of Vetcom, "I would say it's because Monica is unfortunately the most stiff-necked and irresistible woman I have ever met. She feels she could go through the doors of a men's party in a lady's skin. Am I right Monica?"
As she smiled, obviously having no answer to that, Earl Robinson helped out, "We trust you on that one darling. Just be careful."
Dusk had fallen a long time ago, making the flickering lights from the empire shine in the highest blossom. Nax was still busy analysing more of the surrounding out of habit, "It's a big one I must say. And obviously guarded. There is absolutely no way you could make it in Monica."
The Scottish saw a painful sense in that. The entrance had numerous guards already. It was a stupid immoral party and not some coronation. Why all the security?!
She needed a disguise. What she sighted next made her day…or night. Either way.
A swarm of half naked women lined up just outside the mansion. Clearly, they were meant to be in the hall as well, for entertainment and of course the only set of women allowed into the party.
At that, she smirked, "Go ahead my Lords. I'll see you inside."
They watched her ride away towards the bend banking the mansion and exchanged confused stares.
"Always getting into trouble," Philip whispered sadly.
Jason waved him off and resumed his ride forward, a nonchalant look on, "We are well aware she is more than capable of taking care of herself. In the meantime, we have fun. Let's go."
Reluctantly, they obeyed and followed silently, completely oblivious that they were being watched.
The eyes on them were unpleasant and sadistic, led by none other but the Duke of Lancaster. Raising his chin, he analysed the seven men stalking away in the distance. The Duke of Anfield was much younger than he thought if he was asked.
Bringing his mind back to the matter at hand, he turned to Nichols and instructed, "Gather all our men. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled upon them until I give the order."
When his brother nodded in obedience, he smirked and rode forward. This party sounded like fun.
***
A soft knock on the door made Mark Roman turn around. With a quizzical frown, he strode towards it and pulled it open.
The young lady that grinned wildly at him was inevitably familiar. Her blonde hair formed curls that dropped down to her shoulders. She seemed prim enough and innocent, with grey eyes studying the man as though she was but a child.
He returned the warm gesture, "Good day my lady. I apologise but I'm afraid Lord Philip or any of his friends is not home at the moment."
The lady raised her arms in the air in a manner of surrender and pushed herself through the doorway into the building, "Oh I am not here for them sire. Lord Philip instructed I live here from now on."
Mark Roman turned to face her with a humorous but polite frown on his face, "I am not very sure. But by God, you are oddly familiar."
The lady looked behind and ordered the Coachman and groom she came with to pull in her belongings. Mark seemed to have a problem. The men he glared at ignored any trace of his presence and carried the luggages through the living room to the spiral stairs.
Turning his attention back to the lady who had now taken a seat before him, he stuttered, "My lady…"
"I am Elizabeth Aflong," she smirked proudly, "Lord Philip's betrothed. Future Duchess of Anfield."
***
The laughter was thunderous around the table. Chatters about money, Brandy, women and estates came one after the other as the men got drunk gradually.
Jason looked around the large hall, wondering if Monica had made it in or not. While at it, a gentle hand landed on his shoulder and clutched it in one seductive grip, one he swore was feminine…out of experience.
Turning slowly, he sighted a woman holding out a drink for him. She looked Philippine, with a small tattoo on her bare stomach. Her outfit was as good as revealing, having a see through piece coming well below her waist.
He eyed her through as he accepted the goblet from her hand. Lord Edward chose his women carefully, that he realized. This one had a figure that intoxicated better than wine. With an extremely bare cleavage, a veil shielded her hair and had its other end dropping down to the marbles on the floor. Still transparent enough.
But Jason's ego surpassed every other feeling, even lust. Besides, to him, faithfulness in marital bond was something he held dear to his soul. Her action was meant to be some sort of invitation, something most other men had begun dancing to obediently. But he!
He looked away and continued his search for Monica.
Every other foreign woman was dressed similarly, half naked and luring, some even more revealing than his own predator. While he easily let his gaze roll by all of them without any improper thoughts, he turned to Philip who was three seats to his right, shaking his head to show he hadn't found their own damsel as well.
Philip rubbed his head wearily…where was she?
Earl was not part of the round table chatter. He was up standing, surrounded by quarter a dozen women dancing around him. With his irresistible charm, he grinned and flirted, but showing no obvious interest to bed any of them, however beautiful they appeared.
Peter was the only one not sticking to the plan. He had two women in either arm already, smiling and cautiously getting intimate, still ruthlessly making sure he had his eyes and concentration around him.
Nax sharpened daggers secretly, eyes on the doorway. He wasn't sure what they were up to that night. However, he was more than certain the weapons would come in handy.
But then…the mood was about to change.
Timothy Louis lifted himself from the far end of the table and made his way to Philip. Tapping the latter gently, he tipped his head forward as their target guest made his way in.
"Lord Roothwell Henchele, Baron of Neverland hills," Raymond said with a nod. He opened his mouth to receive the piece of ham a dancer fed to him, the most beautiful he'd seen that night. Turning to the Duke of Anfield, he nodded and let go of the woman, pushing himself up from his seat.
Philip Forland, although strikingly attractive, was in a mood that seemed to repel every woman from him. The Baron was here alright, but they were still one man less. And Monica was still nowhere to be found.
He tried to take his mind to something else as his eyes for once left the doorway. Many seats around the table had been left empty, as more and more men got drunk and easily vulnerable. It didn't take much to be pulled by a woman or two into sinful corners of the large empire.
Soon after, a new draw of attention stole the show while she stepped through the doors.
Her red garment made a loose wrap round her hips, fully exposing the arch of her lower body. It had a slit up to where it began. Her upper garment was a touch of gold on deep red pieces carelessly hanging low from the breasts to the top of her ribs.
Her veil covered part of her matching red hair, having its other end over her nose. The lady's steps were slow, inviting stalks, swirling her hips and making the ornament around it jingle.
Hungry eyes glared at her body, determined to see what was underneath the already revealing outfit. She seemed to know what she was doing. This woman smiled knowingly, jerking her waist to tease the men even more.
While Philip's bad mood repelled the others, this one walked up to him and sat upon him.
From Jason, through Nax, to Raymond, and all other men in the hall, surprise crossed the entire party.
The Duke watched in innocence and a little dose of shock as he recognized the pair of eyes immediately.
Meanwhile, the damsel still twitched her lips in a teasing smirk, and with a twirl of her hand, she clutched his goblet of whisky from the table, taking it up to his mouth.
Philip opened automatically, realising that the liquid had never tasted any better. While he still gulped that one in, she had something more intoxicating coming up. Taking his hand in a slow, practiced motion, she placed it upon her lower hip.
That made Jason smile and shake his head. Monica always had a way in. So she had to dress like a harlot aye?
Earl smirked amusingly instead and walked away from the women around him without a word, heading towards the table.
The Duke's dark mood had changed and he prayed the lust he felt was not obvious in the look he gave her.
Monica leaned closer and whispered into his ear, a gesture she knew was too tempting for the young Duke, "I need your permission to take the Baron out of the hall." She remained in that position for a while, supposedly waiting for an answer. But then she realized, it seems she affected the lad more than she thought she did. He even lost his speech.
Duke of Anfield swallowed hard and gasped as the lady raised herself from his crotch. And with the same swirl of hips, she moved so daringly that this time, even Jason kept looking.
That was one beautiful woman, in every sense of the word. As he realized his thoughts drifted to something far from proper, he shook his head and looked away, forcing himself to remember she was still the pesky, Scottish damsel .