Page 8 of Master of Paradise
He rode about the city, thinking, forming aplan, and deciding his future. As November's cold dampness seepedinto his bones, he remembered his tailor on Bond Street wasfashioning a new greatcoat for him. He entered the establishmentknown as Henley's and as usual the obsequious owner came forward todo his bidding.
"Your lordship, please accept our heartfeltcondolences at the loss of your father. We hope that your new titlewon't prevent you from still doing business with our humbleestablishment."
"Thank you, but I'm afraid it's my brotherwho is now Lord Peacock, not I. I came to see if my greatcoat wasready, the one with the shoulder capes? Oh, and I wonder if youcould affix a black mourning band to the coat I'm wearing? I couldwait."
The man seemed suddenly in a dilemma. He tookthe well-cut blue broadcloth from Nicholas and brought thegreatcoat that fit to perfection, but all the while Nick noticed hecast furtive little glances and made funny, nervous noises in histhroat. The man left Nicholas to admire himself in a three-waymirror and retreated to a high desk in the rear of the shop.
Nick watched the man from the tail of hiseye. He could scarcely credit it when he saw him open a largeledger that looked suspiciously like an accounts book. Nicholas,who had always had an open, somewhat trusting personality withoutbeing naive, was rapidly becoming cynical at the way the world andits inhabitants had begun to treat him.It's unbelievable thatafter all the business this smarmy gentleman's outfitters hasreceived from Lord Peacock and myself, I am actually going to beasked to settle my account because I have not been namedheir.
One side of Nick's mouth went up with ironicamusement. He hailed the man with a smooth request. "Would you bekind enough to make up my bill? I'd like to settle it today."
The man bustled forward with the billactually in his hand, but tried to hide it behind his back as hebegan to have second thoughts. After all, if he were willing andable to pay, where was the necessity? "Ah, Peacock, no need forhaste."
The smile left Nick's face. "My bill sir, ifyou please."
It was for three hundred guineas and Nicholaspeeled off the notes as if he had an unending supply.
As he mounted his horse, glad to have thegreatcoat over top of his broadcloth jacket, he laughed at himselffor a fool. A few nights back his pockets had boasted a thousandguineas, and now he was down to less than two hundred. His bill atthe inn for food and lodging would swallow the rest. Of course, hecould always go to one of the clubs and get into a friendly game.Lady Luck had ever smiled upon him, but somehow he could not bringhimself to disport in heavy gambling while he was in mourning forhis father.Bad enough I wasn't allowed to attend the funeral.Sometimes having pride is a handicap, and at other times it is adownright burden, but it allows me to thumb my nose at the worldand tell it to go to hell.
Nick rode along the London docks, delightingin the sights and smells. He wandered from St. Katherine's Docks toLondon Docks, Commercial Docks, and on to India and Victoria Docks.Some were black with coal or white with flour. Others were stainedpurple with wine, or blue with indigo, or brown from tobacco. Athought stirred as he watched cured tobacco leaves being unloadedoff a merchant vessel from the Carolinas.
On impulse he boarded her and spoke to thecaptain. He learned that the passage would cost him a hundredpounds, or he could work his way across the Atlantic. Before hewalked back down the gangplank, Nick had secured a berth as secondmate on her return voyage to Charleston in the United States ofAmerica.
He had his greatcoat, but he would need a seachest, a hammock, and some blankets for the voyage that embarked inthree day's time.
At the chandler's store the first thing hebought was a can of dull black paint. He carefully painted the pairof gold peacocks so they looked as if they were wrought from iron.Their heavy weight lent believability, and when the paint was dryhe carefully wrapped them in a shirt and stowed them in the seachest with the rest of his belongings.
He decided to take his supper in the inn'scommon room, and enjoy the busy scene that unfolded on a Fridaynight in a London public house. He was served a copious helping ofsteak and kidney pie and washed it down with several pints ofbitter. The large, low-ceilinged room filled with men was beingworked, table by table, by half-a-dozen prostitutes.
Nicholas had his eyes on a trim littlebarmaid, who by one means or another, evaded the men's hands asthey reached unerringly for her more privy parts. She had a mop ofbright orange curls and a pert little nose. Her asides to the menwere so saucy and amusing, they laughed rather than growled whenshe denied them.
She paid special attention to Nick's wants,not only because she could see he was well-heeled and would giveher a nice tip, but because he was the handsomest bloke she'd everseen in these parts."Another pint, darlin'?" she asked with awink.
He smiled. "What's your name,sweetheart?"
She cocked her head on one side and saidprettily, "Nell, sir."
"What time do you get off, Nell?"
"Not until two o'clock in the morning,sir."
He pushed a half-crown toward her across thewet tabletop. "I bet you're worth waiting for."
"I'm not a whore, but if yer in need milord,the room's full of 'em."
His eyes gave her an amused look that took inthe round high breasts, very prominent and tempting. "If I wanted awhore, I'd buy one. I fancy you, Nell. Will you come? I'm in roomnumber five."
She dimpled and pocketed the half-crown."I'll come, but not because I'm a whore, mind! Truth to tell, Ifancy you too. It'll make a change to have a gent with a bit o'class."
The candle's glow showed Nell's eyes to beround with wonder as she curled against the strong body in the bedbeside her. She whispered, "I never experienced noffink like thatin me' 'ole life."
Nicholas lifted his arms behind his head andsmiled into the wench's face as she gazed down at him. "Well,that's most flattering Nell, but aren't you overstating it just alittle?"
"Oh no, Nick. All men want the same thingfrom you, but you were different. It was like gettin' a present. Arare treat. Will you kiss me again?" she asked, almost shyly.
He pulled her down and complied.
She sighed. "Most men don't have time fer thepreliminaries. It's on with the main event, then shovin' you out o'bed to sleep on the floor. I liked bein' talked to, as well. Ididn't understand everything you said, but that didn't matter. Youtreated me like I was equal to you-- like another human bein'."
