a few of my colleagues and acquaintances in my own profession, if you agree.’
Duggie began to see where this was leading. ‘Thank you, Mr Cardew. That is an excellent idea. And once we are up and running, I would be delighted if you would honour us with your company. That way you can experience the services we offer for yourself. My treat, of course.’
The older man flushed expectantly. A hint of perspiration appeared above his upper lip. He would be pleased to accept the kind invitation. Both men studiously avoided looking at the photograph of the family group on the wall. Duggie shook the solicitor’s slightly clammy hand and left the warmth of his office for the chill autumnal winds outside.
Chapter 16
Tina was on her knees by the sofa, petting the dog. Jasper was stretched out blissfully on the rug, belly up, all four legs in the air. To Duggie, once he could drag his eyes off the perfection of Tina’s wonderful body, it was pretty clear that the dog was not pining for Roger. It was, however, unlikely the same could be said for Linda. He had related to Tina the little that he knew of the abortive seduction, mainly the gelid aftermath. Tina, with her usual feminine insight, had immediately decided that Roger must have ‘blotted his copy book’.
Her enquiring glance at the dog for any fuller information resulted in no more than a slobbery lick, so she got up. After washing Jasper’s kiss off her hands, she filled the kettle. She cast an enquiring glace back across to Duggie on the sofa. He nodded absently, his mind miles away.
In fact his mind was still focused on the second floor, as it had been for a few days now. And, in particular, whether he should go ahead with his idea of returning the manor to its former function. If so, how should he go about it? Since his meeting with Mr Cardew, he had reflected upon the fact that he was one of the 91.5% of men in Britain not to have availed himself of the services of a prostitute. He found himself in a cleft stick. On the one hand he felt this lack of familiarity with sex for money was something of which he should be proud. Now, on the other hand, he rather wished he had a bit more knowledge of just exactly what went on inside such a place.
All he knew about brothels had been furnished by various television programmes, the cinema and newspaper articles. Plus, of course, the usual run of porn movies that he had seen in his time. Saucy lingerie, pretty girls and beds. That was about it really. The sum total. Up till that moment he had always considered himself to be a man of the world, for whom life held few secrets or surprises. And now, he realised, he didn’t know any more about what went on inside a brothel than the next man. Or woman. Now that was a thought.
‘Tina, I don’t suppose you know anything about the workings of a brothel, by any chance, do you?’ As he said it, he realised this had not quite come out as he had wanted. He saw her eyebrows raise and hastened to explain, ‘Not that I’m trying to imply anything here, you understand. Just in general terms, how do they work and what goes on there? Ever read anything, seen anything, met anybody?’
She came across to the sofa with two mugs of tea. She set them down on the table by his hand and then sat down on the other side of him.
‘Still thinking about that, are you, Douglas? I really don’t think it’s a very good idea, you know. What if Roger ever found out? Or rather, what will happen
when
Roger finds out, because I just can’t see how he won’t. Pass me my tea, babe.’
He passed the mug to her and nodded. She was right, really. In his heart of hearts, he knew that. But still, in spite of her starting to call him Douglas and others following suit, in spite of his new position of responsibility at the manor, in spite of his executive salary, there was still enough of the naughty boy left. The old Duggie knew that he wanted to do it, just because he shouldn’t. In a rare moment of
Duggie began to see where this was leading. ‘Thank you, Mr Cardew. That is an excellent idea. And once we are up and running, I would be delighted if you would honour us with your company. That way you can experience the services we offer for yourself. My treat, of course.’
The older man flushed expectantly. A hint of perspiration appeared above his upper lip. He would be pleased to accept the kind invitation. Both men studiously avoided looking at the photograph of the family group on the wall. Duggie shook the solicitor’s slightly clammy hand and left the warmth of his office for the chill autumnal winds outside.
Chapter 16
Tina was on her knees by the sofa, petting the dog. Jasper was stretched out blissfully on the rug, belly up, all four legs in the air. To Duggie, once he could drag his eyes off the perfection of Tina’s wonderful body, it was pretty clear that the dog was not pining for Roger. It was, however, unlikely the same could be said for Linda. He had related to Tina the little that he knew of the abortive seduction, mainly the gelid aftermath. Tina, with her usual feminine insight, had immediately decided that Roger must have ‘blotted his copy book’.
Her enquiring glance at the dog for any fuller information resulted in no more than a slobbery lick, so she got up. After washing Jasper’s kiss off her hands, she filled the kettle. She cast an enquiring glace back across to Duggie on the sofa. He nodded absently, his mind miles away.
In fact his mind was still focused on the second floor, as it had been for a few days now. And, in particular, whether he should go ahead with his idea of returning the manor to its former function. If so, how should he go about it? Since his meeting with Mr Cardew, he had reflected upon the fact that he was one of the 91.5% of men in Britain not to have availed himself of the services of a prostitute. He found himself in a cleft stick. On the one hand he felt this lack of familiarity with sex for money was something of which he should be proud. Now, on the other hand, he rather wished he had a bit more knowledge of just exactly what went on inside such a place.
All he knew about brothels had been furnished by various television programmes, the cinema and newspaper articles. Plus, of course, the usual run of porn movies that he had seen in his time. Saucy lingerie, pretty girls and beds. That was about it really. The sum total. Up till that moment he had always considered himself to be a man of the world, for whom life held few secrets or surprises. And now, he realised, he didn’t know any more about what went on inside a brothel than the next man. Or woman. Now that was a thought.
‘Tina, I don’t suppose you know anything about the workings of a brothel, by any chance, do you?’ As he said it, he realised this had not quite come out as he had wanted. He saw her eyebrows raise and hastened to explain, ‘Not that I’m trying to imply anything here, you understand. Just in general terms, how do they work and what goes on there? Ever read anything, seen anything, met anybody?’
She came across to the sofa with two mugs of tea. She set them down on the table by his hand and then sat down on the other side of him.
‘Still thinking about that, are you, Douglas? I really don’t think it’s a very good idea, you know. What if Roger ever found out? Or rather, what will happen
when
Roger finds out, because I just can’t see how he won’t. Pass me my tea, babe.’
He passed the mug to her and nodded. She was right, really. In his heart of hearts, he knew that. But still, in spite of her starting to call him Douglas and others following suit, in spite of his new position of responsibility at the manor, in spite of his executive salary, there was still enough of the naughty boy left. The old Duggie knew that he wanted to do it, just because he shouldn’t. In a rare moment of
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