Claridge looked up to see Rothby enter the room,‭ “‬They offer the way-leave as dowry Dullard.‭” ‬Claridge suggested.

‭”And which peacock does it endow, ” Asked Rothby, “the delectable Adele or the dazzling Francine?”

“Sophia,‭ ‬actually,‭” ‬said the Major,‭ ‬but I suppose.‭” ‬he stopped as Sophia kicked him forcibly upon the shin.‭ “‬I suppose we had better ascertain whether this business proposition has merit‭!”

“Your mother will choke if she hears of it sir,‭” ‬said Rothby posing as Dullard,‭ “‬I think for that reason alone it is a capital scheme sir,‭ ‬and only query how it is to be done when you are due to return to the Americas next week.‭?”

“Embarkation eh,‭ ‬well I’m still a serving officer,” Claridge explained, “I do believe‭ ‬I can sign the forms and just get a Padre along to do the necessary.‭”

It was settled there and then,‭ ‬and Claridge was offered a guest bed-room and Rothby a place in the servants quarters for the night,‭ ‬and so it was in the small hours of the night Rothby set sail for Sophia’s quarters even as Spohia sought out Rothby.‭ ‬They met on the back stairs.

‭”I will kill you.” Sophia whispered, “For what you did to me, when your master is away, I shall flay every morsel of flesh from your back and chest and watch the flies devour you in the mid day heat.”

“Yes my Lady‭” ‬Rothby agreed,‭ “‬I shall serve you faithfully Madam until that time when I shall pay gladly for my sins,‭” ‬he said as he walked backwards and passing the linen store suddenly he opened the door and pulled Sophia inside.

This time there was no forest of underthings and the night dress rose easily,‭ “‬stay silent madam or your nuptials will be foregone,‭ ‬no Lord may knowingly marry a fallen woman.‭”

Sophia struggled but her night-dress was suddenly cast aside and in naked-ness was she seen at last,‭ ‬her private parts displayed hid only by a mass of dark curls but even yet moisture glistened in anticipation.

And anticipation was short lived as Rothby’s manhood was unleashed from his breeches to plunge un hindered,‭ ‬welcomed even,‭ ‬deep into Sophia’s innards.

Still the tenderness had to be forgone as Rothby lightly pressed a cloth to Sophia’s mouth silencing her as he plunged into her.

This time she could react,‭ ‬and she tortured him by squeezing his manhood with muscles she scarcely knew she had,‭ ‬squeezing crushing,‭ ‬and she knew from his gasps that the pain was intolerable.

Rothby gasped,‭ ‬amazed first by the ease and apparent preparedness of Sophia’s innards to accept him and then the sheer virtuosity of Sophia’s musculature,‭ ‬he would have wagered she was a whore of twenty years whoring from the way she controlled him,‭ ‬squeezing him,‭ ‬exciting him,‭ ‬and than as the release point arrived so resting before starting all over again so that minutes passed with them locked together.

Sophia dreamed of the pain she was inflicting,‭ ‬and her mind drifted to a different place,‭ ‬a warm place,‭ ‬free from life’s cares,‭ ‬she wondered if her husband would fill her so completely,‭ ‬and for a fleeting instant decided that in default then his servant might serve,‭ ‬but the notion passed as in her lapse Rothby had at last secured release and the fluids gushed and spurted forth with such force she thought they might issue from her mouth.

They lay still for the time it took her to regain some composure,‭ “‬You shall hang for this‭!” ‬she said as sternly as she may but when he allowed her up she found she could barely walk and that with the greatest of unsteadiness.

Rothby grasped her and held her steady then as she retrieved her night-gown he lifted her easily and went to carry her away,‭ ‬he marvelled again at her,‭ ‬her slender but firm body standing tall just a few inches shorter than his own,‭ ‬her long slender legs needing no raised heels for elegance yet he imagined the same with red sandals with wine glass heels and his manhood stirred again.

‭”No” she said.

‭”I shall take you to your bed and no more my lady,” he said quietly, “Perhaps I shall serve you further when you are Lady Rothby?”

“Your discomfort at the flogging post will amuse me greatly.‭” ‬she retorted,‭ ‬but she allowed him to carry her aloft,‭ ‬horribly aware of how like her mother she might be and how soon she had cuckolded her husband.

It was morning when Sophia sat down beside Claridge at break-fast,‭ ‬her loins ached with the passion of the night and she winced every time she bent her back.

‭”Lord Rothby, do you love me?” she asked.

‭”Love, yes, I shall love you, indeed I shall.” Claridge replied.

‭”Have you a passion for me only I see none in your eyes?” she asked.

‭”Passion is unseemly,” Claridge commenced his lecture in the manner of one of Mr Shakespeare’s masterpieces, “Passion is for lower orders, take Dullard, Dullard is passionate, but he has not the breeding to deport himself decorously, he will try always to pluck the choicest flower and seduce the most beauteous maiden, heedless that decorum mandates the taking of turns. We of breeding must eschew passion for restrained and lasting pleasures of contentment and companionship, but fear not, I shall perform my duty and you shall have all the children you desire, fear not on that score.”

“Yes,‭ ‬I have no passion‭” ‬Sophia‭ ‬admitted,‭ “‬or desire,‭ ‬but I shall submit to my duty,‭ ‬and in time I hope we may become friends.‭”

“Capital‭!” ‬exclaimed Claridge‭ “‬More toast‭?”

Rothby had caused a stir,‭ ‬he could find nowhere private for his morning exercise so he used the yard by the servants quarters and a solid mass of young maids peered approvingly as he exercised.‭ ‬laying flat then raising himself with his arms till they were straight then dropping and repeating a full one hundred times and then stepping on and off a step on hundred and then he announced he would run to Langley and be back in the hour,‭ ‬he set off running in just his shorts and light boots,‭ ‬his bare chest glistening already with sweat as he ran past the break-fast room window.

Poor Sophia saw Rothby running by,‭ ‬looking like a greek god personified,‭ ‬though she thanked providence he wore short breeches and not a simple fig leaf,‭ ‬and her poor knees buckled,‭ ‬she agonised between hatred and lust and decided that she would have her revenge at some time and place and despaired of knowing when,‭ ‬or how.

It was within the hour that Rothby returned,‭ ‬clutching a note,‭ ‬he rushed half naked into the sitting room where Sophia and her sisters entertained Claridge.‭ “‬Sir we are recalled to the Carribean‭!” ‬he shouted,‭ “‬We must depart forthwith.‭” ‬Poor Adele fainted at the display of overt manliness,‭ ‬the sweet smell of fresh sweat glistening over his muscled chest,‭ ‬and Sophia too had great difficulty hiding her emotions as blood rushed to her breasts and her private parts moistened in anticipation that they might once again be invaded.

‭”Get out and get dressed you beast.” Sophia railed against Rothby,

“Then sadly my nuptials must wait,‭” ‬said Claridge.

But Rothby in his‭ ‬Dullard manner added,‭ “‬No,‭ ‬I seen the Pastor and he’ll do the service in the Langley Wharf warehouse this noon so we can catch the One o’clock fly boat,‭”

“I say Dullard you are a fast mover.‭” ‬Claridge noted.

‭”Yes sir, three miles there and three back in.” Rothby said.

‭”He was being ironic” said Sophia, “Now get dressed before another sister faints.”

And so it was in her ordinary clothes that Miss Brabbinger met her fate at Langley Wharf warehouse with a congregation of bargees and wharfingers,‭ ‬and in a service which featured‭ ‬the most tuneless hymn singing, led by a one legged one eyed squeezebox player,‭ ‬and little solemnity so did Miss Brabbinger become Lady Rothby.

It was contrived excellently,‭ ‬when the Reverend Peasbody asked‭ “‬Do you Charles‭ ‬Esmonde,‭ ‬Balfour,‭ ‬Beattie,‭ ‬4th Baron Rothby take Sophia May Brabbinger for your awful wedded wife,‭ ‬the yokels bellowed in outrageous laughter and Claridge paused,‭ ‬so Rothby posing as Dullard said‭ “‬I do,‭ ‬say I do sir,‭” ‬and that in law was that.

‭”Does anyone have a ring?” the Vicar asked.

‭”Here but we must catch the “Fly” Rothby said handing the ring direct to Sophia, but we must away, sign the book man and quick.” but it was Rothby that signed not Claridge, and if any saw they held their tongues, perhaps the Lord did not write or maybe the servant had dainty and neat writing, but that the servant was the Lord no one guessed.

The Horn sounded and the Fly shot away from the berth and stopping only to sample a particularly juicy raspberry‭ “‬Akillies‭” ‬the grey retired steeple chase horse which the‭ “‬Fly‭” ‬boat sped it away at a rate approaching three and one half miles each hour‭

The Fly was barely in sight around Langley point as Rothby and Claridge escaped the melee,‭ and ran to catch it up, pushing a way through ‬the throng busily dispatching the tankards and jars of locally distilled liquor procured by Rothby’s servant as if they were dying of thirst,‭ and later and decorously ‬through the Melee the Brabbingers emerged.

‭”I don’t believe I’m married.” Sophia sobbed, “I wanted my love there by the altar and Father by my side and.”

“Hush sister,‭ ‬you are a Lady now,‭ ‬it is Francine and I you must think of now,‭ ‬how we might attain similar rank‭” ‬said Adele heartlessly.

‭”You selfish little bitch!” said Sophia!”

“Sophia language!” said the Major.

‭”I am Lady Rothby now, and don’t you forget it,” said Sophia, and realised it was true.

‭”Then away with you to Rothby Hall, come let us pack you traps and be done with you.” her father said as in an instant she had become the epitome of her mother.

‭”I save you the expense of a Dowry and you cast me aside but in truth Father I should go,” Sophia replied haughtily.

The Fly was at Dancaster Lock,‭ ‬its back broken by gross mismanagement the bow rope left taut as the waters subsided and the canal stopped up by the wreck.

‭”Seaman, you are noting but a fool!” Claridge berated Rothby, ” Pray of what were you thinking?”

Rothby grinned sheepishly,‭ “‬Perhaps we are unavoidably delayed,‭ ‬and the true message shall shortly be conveyed to us‭?”

“And what was the message,‭?” ‬Claridge enquired.

‭”Apparently Monsieur Le Carr has been to see mother to offer his services with a view to ending Brabbingers intransigence.” Rothby explained, “Le Carr has been, Caribbean, easy mistake to make.”

“And did the fornicator escape your mother’s rage,‭” ‬Claridge asked.

‭”If he did it would be the first one ever.” he chortled, “she will be so cross when we show her Sophia.”

“And what about Sophia,‭ ‬she thinks she married me‭!” ‬said Claridge.

‭”We shall reconcile our differences between the bed sheets,” Rothby avowed.