Chapter 23: "Now that is an exciting hunt indeed!"

The wild boar

Journalist Edmund Molloy is visiting the country house of his fellow dinosaur expedition member, Lord Hoxton.  Increasingly concerned about the debauched activities he has heard about, he discovers that one of his fellow guests at dinner, General Horace Wilkinson, is a former lover of his sweetheart, Daisy

After dinner, Lady Caroline stood up and the other ladies and gentlemen rose.

“Ladies we shall retire to have coffee, attend to our needs and disrobe!  Gentlemen we will see you shortly!”  After the ladies had left, Sutton appeared with port and cigars.  I demurred on the cigars but felt that I needed the port.  I had not drunk much in the way of wine at dinner as I was becoming increasingly nervous of what activities might transpire afterwards. Sutton served Stilton to each of us as Hoxton addressed the men.

“Now that the ladies have left to relax, I just wanted to brief you chaps on the girls from the Babylon who will be arriving tomorrow.  We have nineteen girls. I think, and Madame Nathalie will be accompanying them.  She is also bringing the lady who she thinks might be suitable to run the new branch of the Babylon in Berlin.  A German, I suppose.  She would like our opinion on the woman. We also have several new girls compared with my last party, two years ago.  For example, a delightful Japanese called Hoshimi, who Mr Molloy has had the pleasure of.  How d’ya find her, eh?”  I was taken by surprise by the question as I had been gazing at the painting over the chimney piece.  I was both pleased and concerned that Hoshimi was joining the festivities

“Er.  Ah.  Well.  Goodness." I stammered.  What was I supposed to say?  Enticing?  Sweet but assertive?  Lovely smile?  Or would these men expect something jovially crude?  "She was just wonderful, Lord James!” I said, trying to give an impression of a man of the world who had been on the receiving end of a transcendent sexual experience, which, of course, I had. At that point I looked up and caught Sutton’s eye.  She raised one eyebrow at me and made me feel guilty and ashamed.  What was I doing trying to mix with this group of much more sophisticated and experienced men?  I was completely out of my depth.

“Haven’t had the pleasure, meself, but I hear good things!” said Hoxton. "A tad quiet, perhaps."

"She has very expressive eyes," I offered.

“I've heard good things as well, although I don’t get down to the Babylon as often as I would like these days!” said Sir Gerald.

“Next we have a new Spanish girl, Carmen, almost inevitably," continued Hoxton.  "Very enthusiastic.  A screamer!” said Hoxton.

“Sounds like one for Lord Ventnor, your publisher, Molloy.” said Sir Gerald.  “He does like them vocal!”  I didn’t need reminding that Lord Ventnor would be attending.  My heart sank. I was relived to see that Sutton had left the dining room, closing the door quietly behind her.

"There is a new Italian girl called Gina," added Hoxton.

"Ah, I have had her!" said the general.  "Remarkable gamahuching technique.  Soft, gushingly wet and a tongue that goes at it like a basket full of cobras!   Do you enjoy being sucked. Molloy?  Course you must with young Daisy!"  I clenched my fists under the table.  He was deliberately taunting me.  Hoxton frowned at him.

"Yes, of course." I replied.  "She was performing on me only just before dinner."  Hoxton grinned and gave me a slight nod.  Yes, general, I thought.  She is with me not you, now, you odious man.

“Finally, we have the new Turkish twins.  Molloy and Britten have heard about them,” said Hoxton.

“News to me but sounds enticing!” said Sir Jonty.  “Do you think they like being tied up?”

“I am sure that that can be arranged,” said Hoxton.

“We should get your Daisy to do it!” said the General to me.  “An absolute wizard at binding people!  Learnt it from her uncle who was a navy man!  She tied you up, yet, Molloy?”

“Er, yes, actually!” I admitted, although the memory was not exactly a happy one.  I really didn’t want to learn any details of Daisy’s adventures with General Wilkinson.  Bound or not.

“Splendid!” said the general.  

“Nothing like being bound and used by a strong woman once in a while!” said Hoxton.  “Finest feeling on earth!  Apart from hunting wild boar in Sicily!” 

"Wasn't that where you hunted the Contessa di Spagno?" asked Sir Gerald.

"Indeed so! That was fun and games!" said Hoxton.

"Hunted the Contessa or hunted with the Contessa?" asked Britten.

"Ha Ha!.  Hunted the Contessa!" said Hoxton.  

"I think you need to tell the tale!" said the general.

"I will.  But not without some more port.  You greedy buggers have drunk the whole decanter!"  He rang the bell on the table and Sutton appeared once more.

"Have you got another bottle of port decanted, Sutton?"

"Of course, my lord.  I will bring it immediately!"

"Oh and find some writing paper and a pencil.  Mr Molloy can take notes!"  She nodded and left.  "Now don't think I am treating young Molloy here like a clerk!  He is very much an honoured guest but he is going to be writing up me sexual memoirs!  We will have them published by Johnny Dupont!"

"It will be a bally long book!" said Sir Gerald.

"I envisage many volumes!" said Hoxton, steepling his fingers and looking at the ceiling.

"Like Casanova!" I added.

"Indeed!  Casanova!  That's it exactly!" laughed Hoxton.  "Thought you could jot this one down as a sort of test version!"

"We could circulate it to the members of the Babylon!" said Sir Gerald.

"Do you have a newsletter or magazine?" I asked.

"No, we don't!" replied Sir Gerald.

"Gerald owns one quarter of the Babylon Exploration Society," explained Hoxton.

"It might be worth considering as a service to the members.  You could have news for them, such as new girls joining, for example. Perhaps an in depth profile of a different girl each issue.  What she likes..."

"What her specialties are," added Sir Jonty. 

"Exactly.  Perhaps highlight particular things on the menu," I added.  The others laughed and I remembered the 'menu' of girls from my first visit to the Society.   "New wines in the cellar, perhaps.  Have an erotic story or poem.  Now if you could afford illustrations..."

"I say that is a cracking idea!" said Sir Gerald.  "Just what we need!  A newspaperman behind it.  How would you like to be its editor, eh?  You can write some of these pieces!"

"I could indeed!" I said, wondering if they would pay me.

"Molloy is an excellent artist of the female nude!  He can do some drawings!" said Hoxton.

"I brought my drawing things this weekend!" I said.

"Perfect!" said Hoxton.  "You can be our roving artist.  Smaile, the photographer, cannot take pictures in the dark but you can do drawings of copulating couples in diminished light, I would imagine!"

"I am sure I could!" I said,  wondering whether I could.  I knew I could manage it technically but could I sit there and dispassionately record a couple in the throes of passion?

"Excellent!  An illustrated magazine!" said Sir Jonty.

"Let's do it properly and have some photographs too.  Smaile can do 'em!" said Hoxton.  "Dupont will know where we can get it printed in France!  This is a capital idea, Molloy!"

"You are not a member yet, are you, Molloy?" asked Sir Gerald.

"No, Sir Gerald!" I said.

"Well, who will propose young Molloy for membership!" asked Sir Gerald.

"I will!" said Hoxton,

And I will second him!" said Britten.

"Right!  We'll sort the paperwork out in London!" said Sir Gerald.  "Welcome to the Babylon Exploration Society, Molloy.  All here are now members!"   The others gave me a round of applause.

"But the membership fees?" I said.  I had no idea what the fees would be but I suspected they would be substantial.

"I think the editor of our magazine gets free membership, don't you, Gerald?" said Hoxton.

"I am certain that is right.  Along with a fee for each piece and drawing too.  I gather you know Smaile so you can discuss his fee with him." said Sir Gerald.  I was sure Smaile would be delighted. 

"He still has to pay for the girls' services, though," said the general.

"Of course," I replied.  "Not that I really need them now!"  The general scowled.

"It is always useful to cast your net widely, even if you have a treasure to yourself/  You can learn much," said Sir Gerald.

"We'll talk to Smaile tomorrow, when we chat with Johnny Dupont!"  said Hoxton.

"It will be very expensive to get photographs printed in a magazine," I said.  "What would be more affordable is to have a magazine with pen and ink drawings and enclose a separate photograph or two, like French postcards.  Then you can obtain the best quality!  People will collect them!"  I added, thinking of the dinosaur pictures we published in the Courier.  "Mr Smaile has contacts in the saucy French postcard publishing industry."

"In Paris you get sets of six or eight!" said Sir Jonty.

"We could give away one and members could, perhaps, buy the rest of a set for their collections," I suggested.

"I say, brilliant!" said the general.  "We could make the first set of young Daisy.  I am sure chaps would buy those!"  Oh no, I thought.  Daisy would just love that.

"Ladies too, don't forget!" added Sir Gerald.  "I can see my wife wanting to collect pictures of attractive naked girls!  She has quite a few French postcards!"  

"Mr Smaile takes photographs of couples.  Intimate photographs!" I said, regretting it as soon as I said it.

"Of course he does!  He'll be taking some tomorrow, no doubt!" said Hoxton.  "We must get him to take some of the Babylon girls in sapphic action!  Everyone loves to see two lovely girls getting down to it!"

"What is this exciting magazine going to be called?" asked Sir Jonty.

"Something innocuous, I suggest!" I said.  "In keeping with the Society itself.  How about The Explorers' Journal?"

"Spot on, young man!" said Sir Gerald.  

"Capital!" said Hoxton.  

"We could have Daisy on the cover!" said the general.  I wish he would stop suggesting Daisy appeared in it.

"We'll ask her if she wants to pose for Smaile tomorrow!" said Sir Gerald.  I knew what the answer to that would be!

"Perhaps we could have a picture of her bound with rope," suggested Sir Jonty. 

"She is a modern woman!" I said, firmly. "An independent woman!"

"Well, we would ask her if she wants to be photographed bound!" said Sir Jonty.  "Then it is her independent decision.  I am sure an independent woman like Daisy would not want to be told what to do!"

"Even by you, Molloy!" added the general.

"You could write an accompanying story, Molloy.  The suffragette enslaved!" said Sir Jonty.

"We could have Caroline standing over her wielding a whip!" said Sir Gerald.

"Dressed in just riding boots!" added Hoxton.  "Caroline would love that!"

"Splendid!" said Sir Jonty. 

"My pego is twitching at the thought!" said the general.  Stop thinking about Daisy, you disgusting man, I thought.  I sat there trying to compose some acid put-down to employ on the general when, perhaps fortunately, Sutton returned with another decanter of port.

"Ah Sutton!  Well done!  We have just established a new magazine!" said Hoxton.

"Really, my Lord?  How very exciting!" said Sutton, smiling at me, again, before placing the decanter next to Hoxton.

"It is!  It is!  Young Molloy is going to be the editor!" said Sir Gerald.  "What do you think of that, eh, Sutton?"

"He is well qualified, I should imagine," said Sutton.  "I have found a small notebook and a pencil for your notes, Mr Molloy!"  She produced them from her trouser pocket with a flourish.  I turned and looked her in the eyes.

"Perfect!" I said.  She smiled at me again before leaving the room.

"Don't think I have ever seen Sutton so enamoured of one of me guests before!" laughed Hoxton,  "Very taken with you, Molloy, she seems to be!"

Really?" I asked.

"Oh yes.  Can't stop talking about you!" said Hoxton.  I was extremely pleased at this revelation.  The general muttered something about 'servants' and 'demeaning' under his breath.

"Now we have set up a magazine for the Babylon, perhaps Lord Hoxton should continue with his story of the Sicilian hunt!  Perhaps it could be the very first article!" said Britten, looking at the general and changing the subject, thankfully.  I nodded at him, gratefully.

"Excellent idea, Britten!" said Sir Gerald.

"I am ready to take notes."  I said, pencil poised.  "Once I have done so I will speak to you later for your recollection of other helpful detail to add colour, rather than interrupting your story now!"

"Perfect! Right ho!" said Hoxton.  "Well as Gerald rightly observes, I was in Sicily back in oh six.  Been invited to the Barone di Gabrieli's palazzo there, for a week's boar shooting.  Excellent wild boar in Sicily and the Barone made it more exciting by insisting on muzzle loading flintlocks.  You get one shot and if you miss you're buggered!"

"Good Lord!" said Britten.

"Yes!  Nasty tykes, boar.  Vicious, aggressive and carnivorous. The key is to absolutely keep your nerve  and not panic!" said Hoxton.  I was grateful, once more, that Hoxton would be protecting us in South America. "Well it was something of a glittering array of aristocrats and industrialists from across Europe and even America.  Prince Heinrich, who should be here tomorrow. was there.  In fact that was the first time I met him!  Splendid chap!"

"He is investing, with James and I, in the new Babylon Exploration Society in Berlin," explained Crozier.  "There will be a special room with iron rings on the walls, tables with leather straps and other such accoutrements, which he is designing."

"Sounds exciting.  I think I had better visit as soon as it is open!" said Sir Jonty.

"As you are attached to the War Office I am sure that you can get sent there under the pretext of assessing the German military build up!" said the general.

"An excellent idea!  I'll have a word with Lord Haldane," said Sir Jonty.  "Despite being a Germanophile he is realising that the Germans are pushing us, especially on the naval front."

"Shame he didn't realise that before he cut the army's numbers!" barked the general.

"No politics, this weekend, gentleman," said Sir Gerald, firmly.  

"The Babylon Explorationsgesellschaft will be open for business in the Autumn," said Lord Hoxton. "It will be within a short walk of the Adlon Hotel, you will be pleased to know!"

"Been to Berlin, Molloy?" asked the general.  He would know that of course, I had not, I am sure.

"No general!" I said.

"Splendid city," he said.  "Too good for the damn Germans.  Don't trust the chaps.  Building up their armed forces like there is no tomorrow!"

"Personally, I've always got on with the Germans" said Hoxton.  "Trust 'em much more than the French and they're relations of course."  I knew that the German Kaiser was the eldest grandson of Queen Victoria.  I also knew he had done an interview with The Daily Telegraph a few years before and said that the English were 'mad, mad, mad as March Hares', which hadn't gone down too well in England.  I remember my father reading the piece out to me at home, however, and rather approving of the Kaiser's viewpoint.

"Well we had a splendid week in Sicily.  Great company, great shooting, great food and great wine.  Opened me eyes to Italian wine, I have to say!  Also, the Barone being what he was, lots of pretty girls for the evening.  He died last year, sadly, between the thighs of a fourteen year old gypsy girl.  The way I want to go!" laughed Hoxton.

"Not being eaten by a dinosaur?" asked Sir Jonty.

"Everyone agrees that Molloy is going to be much more delicious for dinosaurs!" laughed Hoxton.  "No, don't want any game to get the better of me at the end.  Women, fair enough!"

"Women are more likely!" said Sir Gerald.

"Anyway, on the third or fourth morning, we were all taken out to the edge of the woods again but it was mid morning, which was odd, as the best time to shoot boar is sunrise or sunset, when they come out of the woods." continued Hoxton.  "Quite a warm day, too, for November.  Sunny, for once. Rains a lot there that time of year.  Over sixty degrees.  Anyway we get out there and there is the usual  camp set up with food and wine but no guns.  We all look at each other, wondering what's going on."   Hoxton took a sip of port and I could see his mind travelling back to that day.

"And...,"  prompted the general.

"Well, the Barone arrives with Countess di Spagno, dressed in a black fur coat a little black cap and fur boots.  Now I didn't know who she was back then, other than a lovely guest of the Barone's but I since learned that she is the most famous and expensive whore in the world.  Although to call her a whore is like calling the Titanic a boat.  It is rumoured that di Spagno women have been whores back to ancient Roman times.  If you want a woman to find out a country's military secrets you pitch a di Spagno woman at a general or a minister or even higher.  Political secrets, industrial secrets, blackmail and even assassination, it is rumoured.  They have started wars and ended them,  Brought down emperors, kings and popes.  Someone once told me, in  all seriousness, that they are descended from Helen of Troy!"

"Helen of Troy was a daughter of Zeus, who came to her mother, Leda, in the form of a swan!" I said.

"Yes, indeed.  Got a painting of 'em coupling in me bedroom.  Didn't know Helen was the daughter, though!" said Hoxton. 

"The sister of Clytemnestra and Castor and Pollux.  All conceived on the same day.  Helen and Clytemnestra by Zeus and the twins by Helen's husband the king of Sparta," I added.

"Busy girl!" said the general.

"It's typical of the Sicilians that they claim to be descended from the Gods.  Met a family there who claimed they were descended from the sun god.  Not modest people, the Sicilian aristos!" said Hoxton.  "Interestingly, whomever the di Spagno women marry they keep the di Spagno name."

"I have never heard the name!" said Sir Jonty.

"They operate in rarified circles, indeed.  They also charge the most fabulous amounts of money,  Caroline boasted that she could get a thousand guineas a night.  You can multiply that by ten for the Contessa Maria-Fernanda di Spagno!" said Hoxton.

"Good Lord!" said Britten.

"She had a target amongst our party, it later turned out, but none of us knew that at the time, of course!  I now know who she was pursuing for certain, but not who was employing her, although I have pretty strong suspicions!  Anyway, none of us was suspicious then, as she was from Sicily too, so she was just introduced as a friendly neighbour by the Barone!  The whole week was hosted by him at her request, of course."

"What did she look like?" I asked, already thinking about how to write this tale up properly.

"Well, this was over five years ago so I suppose she would have been in her late thirties or possibly even her early forties.  Didn't look either, to be honest, but from things the Barone said I think she was born around sixty-five.  A tad younger than me.   She looked about twenty eight.  One of the other guests said she bathed in virgin's blood to keep herself looking so young.  Joke of course!  I hope!  Black hair, olive skin.  Tall,  About five six.  Big arse, narrow waist, massive bubbies!"

"Just how you like them," said Sir Gerald.

"Indeed so, Well you've met her, Gerald.  Not too good on the descriptive front, meself."

"Very dark brown, almost black, eyes," added Sir Gerald.  Arched, wicked eyebrows and long double eyelashes.  Full lips, wide mouth.  Dazzling white teeth.  Well defined cheekbones and a strong nose.  She isn't your pretty, pretty woman but she is stunningly beautiful!"

"Thank you!" I said.  "That helps a lot!"

"Well we all had a glass of Marsala or two, and asked the Barone what was the sport that morning,  Well, he told us boar hunting but this time the Contessa was playing the part of the boar!  At this point she slipped out of her fur coat and stood before us dressed in just a black sable jacket which reached to her upper thighs.  She had the black fur boots on but from the knee to the top of her thighs her skin was bare.  She was quite a sight and unabashed in presenting herself to us in such an enticing way.  The Barone explained that the Contessa would disappear into the woods and we would wait half an hour and set off in pursuit on foot too. The first chap to catch her would take her to bed that night,  However, we only had three hours to catch her and if none of us did she would choose a forfeit to impose upon us!"

"Now that is an exciting hunt indeed!" said the general.

"Quite so!  As she left to disappear into the treeline she hiked up her jacket to show us her fantastic arse, wiggled her bottom and plunged into the undergrowth.  Well we congratulated the Barone on his splendid entertainment and there was some discussion about how to find her.  This was a large forest and in half an hour she could cover a mile or more, even in the woods.  He gave us each a length of rope to tie her up with if we caught her!"

"Excellent!" said Sir Jonty. 

"Well, I have to tell you I was feeling damn confident.  The others were typical European shooting types.  Used to game being beaten towards them and then bagging it from stands.  Whereas I had over twenty years tracking and safari experience.  Although there was an American there who I was worried about, as he seemed competent.  Had shot cougars in America.  When the time came, the others charged off into the trees but I waited until last.  I had noted exactly which route the Contessa  had taken into the trees and I got down to following her trail.  After an hour I wasn't so confident, I have to say.  She was damned good at field craft.  I had real trouble following her path and quite often had to go back on meself to double check her trail. Well after nearly two hours I realised that this was going to be touch and go.  I was standing, having a piss, when I heard a twig crack.  I didn't respond, in case she was looking at me, but noted the position and went off in the other direction, taking a long loop to approach from the other side.  I was lucky.  I caught sight of a woodpecker taking off and as my eyes followed it, I just spotted what looked like her hair and jacket in a little depression amongst the bushes.  I did think it might actually be a boar at first but I watched how it moved and soon determined it was a human.  Right, madam, I thought to meself.  I ain't going to charge in but will stalk you and take you by surprise.  I suppose she was a hundred feet away, looking over a little sandy bank into the woods in the other direction.  It took me nigh on twenty minutes to cover the distance, moving silently and taking a very indirect rout to make the most of the cover!"

"I would never have the patience to be a proper hunter like you, Hoxton!" said the general.

"Learnt me patience with the Gurkhas out in Afghanistan and with the Masai in East Africa," said Hoxton. "Anyway, I was about fifteen feet from her, at the edge of the depression, when she moved back from where she had been kneeling behind the bank.  Thought she had heard me and I froze but, no, she hiked up her jacket, squatted and started to piss.  Now was the time!  I dashed forward and had a loop of rope around her waist before she knew what was happening. Pulled her over, still pissing away.  She squealed exactly like a wild boar and I soon realised she was deliberately imitating one for fun.  In fact, she was grinning away but struggled like a wildcat, scratching and biting like a mad thing.  I pushed her onto her belly and stuck my knee in the small of her back.  'You, Contessa, are caught!' I said.  'I yield, Lord Hoxton!  You have me!' she says.  'Not yet!' I reply unbuttoning me trousers.  Well she sticks her arse up in the air and wiggles it again so I decide to just bugger her there and then and not wait for the night.  Took it like a shell being loaded into a well oiled fifteen pounder. Not a hint of resistance!  She was soon gasping away and thrashing away in the undergrowth. She had her fingers on her parts, frigging herself.  Soon pumped me load into her and helped her up. Her hair was a mess, she was covered in bits of dried grass, had dirt on her knees and her thighs were covered in scratches. She is smiling away all the time and saying what a fine hunter I was.  'The better the game, the better me focus,' I tell her.  I ask her what the forfeit would have been if no-one had caught her.  She said she was going to make us chaps gamahuche each other, the saucy piece!  She said we'd all have to suck away and she'd watch, frig herself and drink Champagne!  Splendid woman!"

"A lucky escape indeed!" I said.

"Could be worse forfeits," said Hoxton, worryingly. "Anyway, I cut off a piece of rope and bind her wrists together behind her back and then tie the remaining rope around her neck and lead her back to the camp.  Get there just inside the time limit, to great acclaim.  She didn't put her coat back on but kept her lovely legs on display.   Pegged her for the rest of the week, shared with Prince Heinrich, and she sometimes comes to me birthday party, if she ain't busy working!"

"Will she be here this weekend?" asked Sir Jonty.

"Sadly no.  Caroline don't like her.  Don't like her one bit!  Doesn't mind Nat and the Babylon girls but Contessa Maria-Fernanda di Spagno?  No."

"Shame," said Sir Jonty.

"She's make mincemeat of you, old fellow!" said Sir Gerald.

"I wouldn't mind!" he replied

"Thank you. Lord Hoxton," I said.  "That will make a very good story.  I will do an illustration of her in her wild boar costume!"  I thought I might get one of the Babylon girls to pose, if I could find one with the right sort of figure."

"Damned good story!" said the general.  "You should have saved it for your confession with the ladies!"

"Yes.  Bugger!  We need to have our stories ready in case Caroline pounces on us.  I know she will get me to go first. I'll have to have another tale ready.  Keep you notebook to hand, Molloy!"

"Indeed I will!" I said.

"Good man!  We’re going to get Molloy’s score up this weekend!” said Hoxton.  "Had a few fillies but need to get him up into double figures!"

"Oh!"  I said.

“Exactly what I wish for my Elizabeth, as well!” said Sir Jonty. "She has a lot to learn!  Only just been broken in for the first time!  Don't want her being a disappointment to her future husband!"

“Well it sounds like we need to get her and Molloy together!” said Hoxton.

“I am certain that Elizabeth will be delighted to have young Molloy up her pretty cunny!” said Sir Jonty.  “Covered in lovely coppery gold curls it is.  Just like her late mother’s!  All you chaps must have a ride!  She is very enthusiastic but needs to learn technique!  You can teach her some of your Indian positions, Gerald!  Sure you can all contribute to her training.  Want her thoroughly debauched by the end of the weekend.  Up for that, Molloy?” 

“I confess that my sexual experiences have all been quite recent!” I said, feeling somewhat like a small boy on the first day of a new school, in the presence of all these experienced hunters of women.   How on earth did Sir Jonty know how his daughter conducted herself during intimate experiences?  Did she tell him?  I thought about Lady Caroline's daughters and realised that they would tell their mother anything.  I vowed to keep well away from both Emily and, especially, Sarah this weekend.  More worryingly was he offering me Elizabeth because he could then claim Daisy in return?

“Ah, of course!  Child with a new toy and what have you!” said the general.  “And what a perfect new toy young Cushions is!”  I decided that, unlike Sir Gerald and even Sir Jonty, I didn’t like the general one bit.

“This weekend will give you all the chance you want to play, although I would ensure that you check your permissions with your lovely young lady. Molloy.  Make sure you know what she thinks your limits should be.  Not everyone is like my wife!” said Sir Gerald.

“Wise advice, Sir Gerald,” I agreed.

“Gerald is far too concerned for his wife’s desires!” said Sir Jonty.  “Do what you want and if your lady objects, beat her!   They all need a good beating once in a while.  Reminds’em of who is in charge and who pays for ‘em!”  I couldn’t see Edith agreeing with that but what about Daisy?  Surely she was too much of a modern women to play such games but then I knew hardly anything about her and her past, I now realised.

As we drank more port, and most of the other men set rather disgraceful 'targets' for their weekend activities, Sir Gerald explained that he had bought a consignment of his rubber prophylactics down, to be used over the weekend.

“Excellent idea.  Most chaps are gentleman enough to pull out before the crucial moment but with such a lot of female pulchritude on display and the relaxing effect of Champagne, we don’t want any more embarrassing accidents do we?” said Hoxton. 

“Indeed not,” agreed Britten.  “Our rubber products are the very finest!”

“You are a good company man, Britten,” said Crozier.  “Time for a directorship soon, I think!"

“Thank you, sir,” said Britten looking genuinely surprised.

“Of course, Nat’s girls will have access to douches if you do accidentally spurt up a woman who ain’t one of the Babylon girls!  Don’t delay.  If you have an accident, talk to one of them straight away and they will take the lady aside and get her cunny flushed!” said Hoxton, looking at Britten and I.  

"Get them flushed!" said Britten.  "Indeed so!"  I wondered what on earth that involved.

“Don’t want any more enceinte maids, either!” added Hoxton. looking directly at me.  "Need young Ruby to keep doing her duties and entertaining me visitors not popping out a baby!"  I blushed.

"Of course, Lord Hoxton!" I said. "Such a thing never occurred to me!" I declared, wondering what Ruby's intimate hair looked like.

“Nothing like having a girl who is eight months gone, though!” said Sir Jonty.  “When poor Marjorie was that far gone with Elizabeth I took her twice a day.  Such swollen bubbies, such engorged teats and that big round belly.  On her side from the rear so I could caress that big round belly!  Or her on top, everything bouncing away!”

“And of course you can pump any amount of spunk up their cunnies!” added the general.

“One of the Babylon girls ended up like that a couple of years ago,” said Hoxton.  “Just before you came back from India, Horace.  Told Nat she should let her keep working up until the end and charge twice the price!”

“Did she?  I would certainly pay for the experience again!” said Sir Jonty.  “Haven’t had a woman in full bloom like that since that opera singer in Paris three years ago.   She was huge!”

“Excellent!  Of course old Johnny Dupont is the one for pegging pregnant ladies!” said Sir Gerald. laughing.

“And getting 'em that way! He’ll be here tomorrow, of course.” said Hoxton.  The other men all agreed that Dupont was a ‘right card’ and it was all down to his ‘garlic flavoured French blood’, of course.    The clock struck ten.

“When will the ladies be back?” I asked. I was finding the other men’s conversations about women rather disrespectful.  I was glad that Britten, like me, was not joining in the stories about women they had ravished and intended to.  I wondered, again, whether, even at this late stage, I could excuse myself and return to London.

“Well, it takes’em so long to remove their clothes of course!” answered Hoxton.

“Lord Hoxton, to what extent are the ladies disrobing?  Is this something we have to do as well?” I asked, remembering what Sutton had said earlier and that neither Daisy of Edith had drawers on.

“Good question, Molloy!  The ladies usually remove their shoes, corsets and outer clothes and present themselves in their underthings which, I am sure you will agree, will be most pleasant!” said Hoxton. “The gentlemen will also undress and wear silk robes which will be provided by my maids, shortly.  There are no rules as such but I would suggest removing everything.  Ah, here they are right on cue!”  Hoxton’s four pretty maids, who had helped serve the dinner, had appeared, led by Sutton, the butler.  The lovely redhead, Ruby, was holding a stack of folded silk, paisley robes.  I watched as Ruby carefully unfolded each robe and hung them over a chair.  When I turned back to look at the others Sutton was already removing Hoxton’s jacket and tie.  I felt a pang of jealousy as she undid the bow at his neck. One of the maids, a pretty,  petite blonde, was assisting Sir Gerald Crozier to disrobe.  Two of the others attended to Sir Jonty and General Wilkinson.  Britten and I stood, somewhat dumbfounded, as it became clear that the women were dextrously removing all of the men’s clothes. “Two of the girls used to work in the Babylon Exploration Society and I was so taken with ‘em that I hired them to work here.  Madeleine, who is attending to Jonty, is from France.”  The girl smiled at us. “And Ingrid is from Belgium and is attending Sir Gerald. The Belgian girl was already unbuttoning his shirt. “Jenny, here,” he pointed to the girl removing the general’s shoes, is a local girl from Winchester.  I thought I would leave our Irish colleen to attend to you and Britten, if you don’t mind sharing, Molloy!”  

“I am delighted to meet you, properly!”I said as she undid my bow-tie with a practised hand.  Although I realised I shouldn’t have addressed her and there was nothing proper about our situation but I was so nervous that normal behaviour seemed ever distant.  None of the others were talking to the girls, I noticed.

“It’s me who is right pleased to meet you, Mr Molloy, sir,” said Ruby.  “I does enjoy your articles, so I do!  So interesting already, let alone when you set off next week.  I do hopes you don’t get eaten by a dinosaur, though, sir!”  she said, in her Ulster accent. “Sorry, my Lord!” she said, catching Hoxton’s eye.

“Oh I wouldn’t describe Daphne as a dinosaur!” laughed Sir Gerald, stepping out of his trousers. “But she does seem very interested in gobbling you up, Molloy!”

“Oh!” I said, looking at Britten. Ruby had moved across to help Britten off with his jacket, waistcoat, shirt and tie.  Then she returned to me and started to undo my shoes.

“I can do those myself!”  I said.

“You mustn’t sir!” she said, looking up at me and smiling. I looked to one side and was presented with the disturbing sight of Madeleine pulling Sir Jonty’s drawers down to reveal a slightly engorged manhood, I thought, before averting my eyes.  I avoided looking at Sir Gerald as he stepped out of his drawers and Ingrid helped him on with his dressing gown.  Hoxton was next and, rather disturbingly, watched both Britten and I being undressed.

“I am concerned about the protocol of being naked in front of the girls,” said Britten, frowning, standing there now in just his combinations.

“Sir has a lovely stiffie.  Sir should not be ashamed of it. so he shouldn't!” said Ruby, patting his crotch.

“I know it hasn’t been that sensuous but the girl has such a lovely touch!” said Britten, shamefacedly.

“Good for you Britten.  The ladies like a virile chap!” said Sir Gerald. 

“Rejoice in your cock.  Strut around and display it!” said Hoxton.

“Exactement!” said Madeleine, who having helped Sir Jonty on with his silk robe took over from Ruby and started to remove Britten’s last veil.

“Oh yes,” agreed Ruby as she started to unbutton my trousers. Unlike the others,Ruby was taking the opportunity to gently caress me as she stripped me. By the time she had pulled down my drawers, while not fully erect, I was well on the way.

“Ooh, Sir!” she said, leaning forward to kiss my knob as I stepped out of the last of my clothes.

“You cheeky girl, Ruby!” laughed Hoxton.

“Bugger me, Molloy!” said the general.  “As a military man I know when to admit defeat!  I am comprehensibly outgunned!”   I didn’t say anything but was secretly delighted.

“Well done you two!” said Sir Gerald, as Britten and I pulled on our silk dressing gowns to, thankfully, cover our embarrassment.  “Apart from my nephew, you will be very much the youngest chaps here tomorrow, so we rely on you to give the ladies a good time!”

"Yes, fire and reload as often as possible!" said the general.  "Us older chaps need a little more time!"

“Now take the gentlemen’s clothes to their rooms and off to bed with you,” said Hoxton to the maids. “We can manage on our own from now on!   Sutton you may remain to serve us!”

“I will just assist the maids to take your clothes up, your Lordship!” said Sutton.

“Good night, your Lordship.  Gentlemen,” said the other girls, together. 

“Goodnight Mr Molloy,” Ruby added, picking up my clothes and shoes. I noticed.  

“What lovely young ladies!” said Britten, after they had gone.

“They are rather spiffing, aren’t they?” said Hoxton.  “Once a month I have maid’s bath day down in the scullery and watch ‘em soap each other up for an hour.  Harmless fun, eh?” said Hoxton.

“And you aren’t tempted to ever...?” asked Britten.

“Certainly not!  Don’t want to engender staff jealousies.  They can be bitchy enough as it is!  The reason I hired Ingrid and Madeline was because I had never touched ‘em at the Babylon Exploration Society!” said Hoxton.  “Now let’s go and have a piss and then we can enter the Turkish Salon and wait for the ladies!”