The Virgin at Goodrich Hall Read Free

past month. He, however, did not care for idle gossip. He came here for two simple reasons—frivolity and anonymity. Even without the use of a mask to shield his identity, Victor knew his name would never be whispered in association with Goodrich Hall.
    Impatient for things to move along, he glanced around the room for Lady Anna. She and her husband were always sure to get the small crowd focused, though tonight Anna appeared to be frustratingly absent. He knew that not to be the case—she had received him when he had arrived—yet her presence was now unknown.
    Victor glanced towards her husband, Lord Richard, or Dicky, as he preferred to be known to his peers. He chatted with several of the couples around him, laughing and appearing in his usual high spirits. Victor had to admit, he held some envy towards the man. Dicky had married a woman whom he appeared to love with his whole heart, and, like Dicky, Anna had a taste for experiencing as many of life’s pleasures as she could, namely of a sexual nature. Those women were rare indeed.
    Victor did not love Anna—or any woman, for that matter—but it would be nice to be truly oneself with a wife. Not that he had one, but, as his three-and-thirtieth birthday approached, he knew it was time to acknowledge the need for an heir. It was his duty, after all. He sighed as he nursed his drink. It was something his mother reminded him of daily. Why she could not be content with her teas and shopping was beyond him. He would never choose a woman as demanding as his father had. No, his wife would be chosen for her ability to bring him pleasure, though that would be a trifle difficult, as he had no desire to wed any woman who was not still a maiden. Truly a quandary.
    Glancing around the room, Victor noted many women he had bedded before. In truth, he had bedded them all at least once, and all preferred different things. Lady Ashley liked a man who would dominate her—understandable, considering her old, serene husband. She grinned at him once she noticed his perusal, turning to face him, her delicate figure displayed favourably in the soft candlelight. He nodded his head once in acknowledgement and moved on. No, she was not what he sought tonight. Not even close.
    Lady Siebel stood on the other side of the room, laughing lightly at something one of the men had said. She was a different minx altogether. She was a woman who, while appearing frail and genteel, was nothing of the sort. Pain was this woman’s pleasure—inflicting it as well as receiving it. Victor moved past her with haste.
    Several other women had graced Goodrich Hall with their presence tonight. A good twenty souls of both sexes filled the grand room, chatting, smoking and drinking with their peers. Victor loved the idea of this club or society, if one wished to call it as such. All in attendance were loyal and relished the secrecy. The pleasure to be had was certainly worth the risk of attending.
    Movement by the door caught his eye and Victor glanced over, pleased to see Anna had finally graced them with her presence. She would be sure to move things along soon. Victor had never found her to be a woman who liked to draw things out for long.
    As Anna turned and spoke, he realised she was not alone. A woman, masked and dressed in deep red silks, silks Victor knew to be Anna’s, listened intently.
    Victor allowed his gaze to wander over the new arrival. She was young, but not so young he would have thought her a child. Sophisticated, was his first thought. A rarity for the girls who had been turned out of late or so it had seemed. He noted how she wrung her hands together in front of herself. She was nervous. His lips lifted in an amused smile. Of course she was. This was not a place for a delicate or easily frightened woman to roam. It was a place of carnal delight.
    Newcomers were rarely introduced. Those who attended Goodrich Hall were forbidden from talking about the dealings that transpired within its walls,