Page 36 of The Songbird of Wychwood

“Lord Dickey’s brother.”

We shared an amused look and then twirled our way back towards the piano. Suddenly there was an almighty roar of rage and a door upstairs slammed. The piano music stopped, and alarmed by the interruption the other dancing gents halted. Then we heard the inebriated bellowing of a man,

“Damn your eyes, boy, where the devil are you? An hour, you’ve kept me waiting for a bally hour. Joshua, where is he, where did you hide him?” It was the rude man from earlier. George and I hurried through the dining room to a commotion in the foyer to see other members watching the drunken debauchee with distaste writ large in their expressions. Mr. Joshua stepped out of his office.

“Joshua, where is he?” the brute called as he came barreling down the staircase, lost his footing, then slid down the stairs on his arse and slumped at the foot of the stairs in a heap.

“What’s happening? Are we being raided?” an effeminate voice screeched in alarm.

The drunkard was trying to pull himself up to stand by grappling with the balustrade. This kind of behaviour was not acceptable.

Mr. Joshua raised his hands and pacified,

“18, there is no need for alarm, we are quite safe. Gentlemen, apologies for the interruption please continue to enjoy your evening. Mr. Hugo, music please,” the butler added. Then he turned to the fellow who had caused the trouble.

“45, up you get sir,” he said offering his hand to pull the man to his feet. “If you would accompany me to the kitchen, I’ll make you a cup of fine Jamaican coffee, and we’ll have a little chat, aye,” Joshua then guided him down a short flight of stairs and through a doorway to the kitchen.

“Good grief. No wonder his boy never turned up if. I’d bet he was going to get pounded into next week by that drunken pig,” Miss Georgette commented. I shuddered at the thought. How awful it must be to have a disagreeable, brutish lover. I was indeed lucky to have met a gentle man, in every sense of the word, with whom I shared more than my bed preference.

****