Free Not Less Than Gods by Kage Baker Page A

heard the swish and smack of the birch, and a small yelp.
    “And that leaves this one.” Lady Beatrice, the one gowned in scarlet, circled Edward consideringly. “Dear me! How perfectly immense he is. I shouldn’t wonder if it will take several of us to subdue him. What do you think, ladies?”
    “Four or five of us at least!” cried the Misses Devere.
    “Oh, certainly,” said Herbertina Lovelock.
    “Your servant, dear ladies,” said Edward with a grin. “Entirely at your disposal, and I do hope I won’t disappoint. But surely one of you can be spared for our poor mentor Ludbridge?”
    “No, I’m remaining here,” said Ludbridge placidly. He blew a smoke ring and put his hand upon Mrs. Corvey’s. “Mine hostess is renowned for her excellent conversation.” She gave him a fond look.
     
    “I believe I may truly say that I am happy in my chosen employment,” said Pengrove, where he sprawled on a divan in the inner parlor.
    “I, too,” said Bell-Fairfax, from the mound of cushions beside the fire. Hobson, who still wore a bit in his mouth, made a sound of contented agreement. Lady Beatrice rose on her elbow from where she reclined beside Bell-Fairfax and took a thoughtful pull from the mouthpiece of a hookah.
    “Let’s play a game, shall we?” she said, through clouds of smoke.
    “Oh, do let’s,” said the blonde Miss Devere, clapping her hands.
    “What shall we play?” said Herbertina, sitting pertly upright.
    “I have a suggestion,” said Pengrove. Miss Rendlesham swatted him lightly with her birch.
    “
You
don’t choose, silly. We shall choose. I propose . . . Utter Truth!”
    “Utter Truth! Yes!” Mrs. Otley stroked Hobson between the eyes with the butt of her riding crop. Pengrove snickered.
    “I don’t believe I know the rules.”
    “They are quite simple,” said Lady Beatrice. “We shall appoint a topic. Each one of you gentlemen must, in turn, speak on the chosensubject for a full minute. You must be utterly truthful, and if we suspect that you are not, we ladies have full license to punish you severely.”
    “But I’m an inveterate liar,” cried Pengrove. Hobson made a sound eloquently affirming that he was an inveterate liar too. Bell-Fairfax narrowed his eyes, but smiled and slipped his arm around the waist of the red-haired Miss Devere.
    “No gentleman would refuse a lady’s challenge. Utter Truth it is! Let’s play to win, shall we? Delightful as severe punishment may be, in this paradise.”
    “And we shall start with my Hobby-horse,” said Mrs. Otley, unfastening the bit and removing it from between Hobson’s teeth.
    “Give him some champagne!” Herbertina went across the carpet on her knees and set a full glass to Hobson’s lips. He drank thirstily.
    “Ahh! Thank you. Ready and willing, ladies!”
    “The topic is ‘Kisses,’ ” said Lady Beatrice. “You are to give us the name of each lady you have ever kissed, in chronological order, and the reason you did so.”
    Pengrove and Bell-Fairfax chortled. Hobson scratched his head.
    “Mothers, grandmothers, sisters and aunts don’t count, I hope?”
    “I think not,” said Lady Beatrice. “Cousins, however, do.”
    “Here we go—” Herbertina sorted through the heap of her clothing and withdrew a pocket watch. Gazing at its face intently, she raised one finger in the air. “Aannd—go!”
    “Alice Abbott,” said Hobson promptly. “Barmaid at the Three Crowns, in the village outside my school. I’d been drinking lemonade and gin and gotten squiffy. She told me I was sweet and put out her lips for me to kiss. Charlotte Engadine, daughter of my mother’s friend, because we were briefly engaged. Louise—Louise somebody, don’t know her surname, but she was French and I was in France drinking champagne and that was all the reason I needed. Her gown was striped red and white, just like cherries and cream. Mary Holborn. She lived across the landing and mended my waistcoat when I tore it coming home