Vauxhall Vixen

by Cindy Lee

  “I am sorry, my lord. I am not pleasing you. You must forgive me.” Paula abruptly turned in her seat to face David. She raised her hands and hesitantly moved them up across his chest to rest upon his broad shoulders. “What would you like me to do for you, my lord?”

  David glanced across at his companions before answering. Dexter had his arm under Sally’s skirt as she fed him slices of ham from the plate. Frederick was busy pouring punch from his cup into Caroline’s open mouth with one hand as he pinched one of her swollen nipples between his fingers with the other.

  David turned back to face Paula. Doe-like brown eyes stared at him from a slightly rounded face framed by a cluster of golden curls. She was certainly very young and if the tension he felt radiating from her body was any indication, she was also very nervous. He reached up and gently removed her hands from his shoulders to lower them to her lap. “I find I am not in need of sustenance at present. Shall we take a stroll around the gardens, my dear?”

  Paula visibly relaxed as she heard David’s proposition. “I would enjoy that, my lord,” she answered eagerly as she stood and hastily smoothed her rumpled gown.

  David stood up and began to follow Paula from the box. Dexter rose from his seat nearby to effectively block the exit. “Doesn’t she please you, David?” he asked, making no attempt to lower his voice. “We wanted to get you the newest doxy. She calls herself the Vauxhall Vixen. But old Middlecrest was there before us. Madam Page wouldn’t budge even when we informed her it was a special occasion for our friend Viscount Maxton.” Dexter paused to glance over at Paula who was patiently waiting outside the box. “The woman was uncommonly busy tonight. I am sorry to say she handed over the scullery maid for your benefit. Frederick and I have had Sally and Caroline before so you were left with the shy one,” he ended in an apologetic tone.

  David studied his friend as he listened to Dexter going nineteen to the dozen, attempting to explain himself. What was I thinking accompanying these silly fops to Vauxhall Gardens, David thought in sudden annoyance. When Dexter finally stopped talking, he quickly answered back. “I have no idea who the Vauxhall Vixen is, Dexter. I wish the Duke of Middlecrest joy of her. I am very pleased with my scullery maid named Paula.” He sketched a bow toward both of the other gentlemen.

  “You might have the opportunity to meet the Vixen after all, David,” called Frederick to his friend’s retreating figure. “It looks as if Middlecrest is in his cups again. They’ll be carrying him back to his coach within the hour if his past performances are any indication.”

  David did not bother to slow his pace and he gave no indication that he had heard Sir Frederick’s parting words. He joined Paula and then reached for her arm in order to guide her to the South Walk which was a short distance away from the supper boxes. As they entered the pathway, sounds of a scuffle could be heard on the other side of one of the decorated archways which lined the path.

  “Sorry, ma’am, me master is no good with strong drink.”

  “A vast understatement, to be sure,” answered a husky female voice. “Do with him what you will, my purpose here is unmistakably at end.”

  David and his companion halted their progress as the inert form of a man whom David quickly recognized as the Duke of Middlecrest, was carried by four male servants across the path directly in front of them. As this somewhat astounding procession receded toward the Dark Walk, a woman emerged onto the pathway. She was dressed entirely in black. Her hair and face were also covered with a soft black veil. She began to walk in their direction but abruptly halted as their presence on the path became apparent.

  “Vivian, it is Paula,” David’s companion hissed loudly.

  The woman continued walking toward them. As she reached Paula, her black skirts lightly brushed against David’s calf in a caressing manner. The sweet scent of violets enveloped his senses as the woman named Vivian silently studied him without raising her veil. David felt the hairs on his arms begin to tingle with anticipation as he returned her regard. Something about this woman was familiar. He felt as if he had met her before. Sudden realization hit him like a blow to the stomach. This was surely the woman from his dreams!

  It appeared the mystery lady named Vivian claimed no prior acquaintance with him. She certainly suffered no qualms about David’s presence except to make certain she did not remove her disguise. She turned back to address Paula, still keeping the veil over her face. “What brings you here, my dear? Surely you are needed at the house?”

  Before Paula could reply, David interceded. “I believe my two friends are at fault for Paula’s presence here tonight. They felt I was in need of a female partner this evening. The gentlemen visited Madam Page’s establishment and requested a woman who apparently was previously spoken for. It left only Paula to become my companion for this evening. She accompanied two other women named Sally and Caroline to our box tonight.”

  As David concluded his explanation, he noticed that Paula had raised one of her hands to cover her mouth. She also appeared to be blushing.

  David covered Paula’s other hand with his own as it rested on his sleeve. “Is something wrong, my dear?” he asked in concern.

  After a quick glance at the veiled woman, Paula turned toward him and lowered her hand from her mouth. “Vivian is the woman Lord Olton attempted to purchase for you tonight.”

  At first, Paula’s words confused David. Then he remembered Frederick’s parting words. You might have the opportunity to meet the Vixen after all, David. It looks as if Middlecrest is in his cups again.

  David studied the veiled figure once more as she stood silently in front of him. “Are you known as the Vixen?”

  The veil rustled slightly as the woman nodded. “Yes, I am, my lord. More formally, I am known as the Vauxhall Vixen.”

  David released Paula’s hand and reached for the quizzing glass that hung at his waistband. He raised the glass to his eye in an attempt to further study the shrouded woman before him as well as to use the opportunity to bring order to his wildly scattered thoughts. Questions were crowding his mind in tumultuous disorder, the most important of them being, who was this woman and why did she so closely resemble the lady from his recent dreams?

  The use of his glass brought no further clues to the woman’s identity but the few moments he spent studying her allowed him to consider questions that were of primary importance to him.

  “May I inquire as to the origins of your name and to the purpose of your costume?”

  A gust of cool night air blew across the pathway as they stood on the edge of the South Walk. The woman’s skirts rustled softly. Before she could reply, a man’s raised voice could be heard over the whispered conversations of couples who occupied the other walkways and boxes around them.

  “Paula, Paula, where are you?” A young man with a crop of tousled red hair emerged from the wooded area a few paces to the right.

  “I’m here, George.” Paula rushed over to the youth.

  The young man enfolded Paula in a quick hug. “I’ve been trying to get away from the house since I heard Madam Page sent you to Vauxhall with them two troublemakers! I came as soon as I could.” He stopped speaking to look pointedly at David. The lad’s hands suddenly clenched into fists held tightly in check at his side. “I am not too late, am I, Paula?”

  Paula reached out and squeezed one of the youth’s hands. “Everything is fine, George. I would like to introduce you to Viscount Maxton. He has been most kind to me. We were just about to take a walk when we encountered Vivian here on this pathway. Lord Maxton, I would like you to meet my brother, George Brown,” Paula concluded breathlessly.

  Paula’s brother managed a sheepish grin before he executed a bow. “My lord, I will be forever grateful for your service to my sister.”

  David reached over with a gloved hand to ruffle the top of George’s bowed head. “I assure you, young man, I did nothing very gallant. I simply kept your sister company for a short time.”

  “Be that as it may be, my l
ord. Your company is well and truly bang up to the mark as compared to what I was afeared I would find my sister accompanyin’!” George turned to his sister. “I will escort you back, Paula.”

  Paula stepped forward in an eager manner but suddenly she stood still. She turned to David with a look of consternation. “I cannot return with you, George. I have been purchased for Lord Maxton’s pleasure this evening.”

  David studied Paula and her brother as they faced him. They both seemed vastly uncomfortable in their surroundings. No doubt Vauxhall Gardens was a place neither of them frequented. “I release you from your obligation to me, Paula.” David smiled wryly as Paula sighed with relief. “George, please escort your sister back. I am certain she is becoming weary.”

  Paula shyly offered her thanks to David. Then she and George hastily said their goodbyes to Vivian. In a matter of moments, David was left alone on the pathway with his mysterious companion.

  “Thank you for caring so much about Paula’s welfare, Lord Maxton. She is assuredly out of her element in these surroundings. But at present, it appears that you have become my escort after all, my lord,” she stated in a low voice as the filmy veil lifted slightly in response to her body’s movement.

  “I will gladly escort you wherever you wish to go after you have answered my questions,” answered David in a voice that brooked no argument.

  The veil lifted higher still as David heard Vivian sigh in exasperation. “I suppose I should have expected that response from you, Lord Maxton.”

  David raised his curved black brows in mock consternation as he heard her reply. “Dare I hope your statement is marginally complimentary to me, my dear?”

  “I rarely give gentlemen compliments, my lord,” she answered sardonically. “Let me simply state that there is something quite unique in your mannerisms.”

  David studied her concealed face for a moment before answering. “I am honored to receive such a reply from a woman who must certainly be described as unique herself.” He offered Vivian his arm. “Come, let us find a secluded spot where we will not be disturbed.

  Chapter Two

  David and his companion strolled farther along the South Walk. They had not taken many steps before they came to a fountain centered under one of the painted archways. David slowed his pace and stared intently at the fountain.

  “It is just as I remember it.”

  Vivian came to a stop beside him and lightly squeezed his forearm with her gloved hand. “What are you referring to, my lord?”

  David turned to gaze down upon her shrouded face. “Something I intend to discuss with you as soon as we have reached our destination, my dear.”

  Vivian offered him no reply but allowed herself to be led farther down the South Walk. Presently, they came upon a walkway known as the Grand Crosswalk. David paused and studied the various couples sauntering slowly back and forth on the main path.

  “Tell me, in which direction may I find a secluded area?”

  His companion’s free arm rose slightly from underneath the filmy veil. “The Dark Walk or Lover’s Walk is to your right, my lord. You will discover there are many private spots to choose from.”

  David followed her instructions and soon found himself strolling on a dark, narrow pathway thickly lined with tall shrubs. Every few paces, a small break occurred in the shrubbery where the sounds of deep, male voices and answering feminine giggles could be heard.

  Because of the narrowness of the path, David and Vivian were obliged to walk single file. David took the lead. As he paused to study an empty bench a short distance from the pathway, Vivian’s gloved palm came to rest on his right shoulder. Her thumb lightly caressed the hard line of his jaw, and the faint smell of violets assailed his nostrils before she lowered her hand down across his back and then farther down to clasp his hand within her own. “Walk about ten paces farther on, my lord and I believe you will find the privacy you are seeking.”

  At the touch of her thumb on the side of his face, her warm palm on his back then upon his hand, David felt a sudden rush of heat in his nether region. The intensity of feeling surprised him and he glanced over his shoulder at his companion. The allure of her disguise upon his heightened senses was unmistakable if his stiff erection was any indication. He was certainly in no mood for further delays. David quickly guided Vivian forward to the suggested destination.

  “Turn in here, my lord.” David followed her directions and found himself in a small, enclosed meadow. The ground was covered with a thick carpet of leaves. Vivian dropped his hand and walked toward one of the stately elm trees. She abruptly disappeared behind some shrubs to one side of the large tree. She returned moments later carrying what appeared to be a large pillow.

  Vivian placed this item against the trunk of a fallen tree and then indicated with a sweep of her hand that he should sit down. “I trust this spot aptly meets your needs of seclusion as well as comfort, my lord.”

  David remained standing and reached for his quizzing glass. He was painfully aroused and he trusted that a diversion would have the desired effect of dampening the evidence of his need. With this in mind, he spent a few moments studying, as best he could in the darkness, the surrounding trees.

  “I believe at this time of night the only object of interest will be an incidental owl, my lord.” Vivian lowered herself onto the thick carpet of leaves. She leaned back across the pillow and arranged her veil in soft folds in front of her face. “I have a proposal for you, Lord Maxton. My services have been paid for this evening. But alas, as you yourself have observed, my original escort has been removed from the scene. Therefore, I have chosen you, my lord, as my protector for this evening.

  “You have questioned me about the purpose of my costume and the origins of my name. You would best discover the answers to these queries by a firsthand display of my talents.”

  David dropped his quizzing glass and turned to face his mysterious companion. Her suggestive words made his erection even harder. He made no effort to hide the fact from Vivian. “You are certainly not lacking in effrontery, my dear.”

  “So perhaps it is the basis of the name Vixen, my lord.”

  “A very apt observation to be sure.” David stared down at the dark veil. “You mentioned a display of your talents…”

  “Pray, sit here beside me. Nothing whatsoever can be accomplished while you remain standing.”

  David removed his gloves, then shrugged off his coat and placed these items on top of the tree trunk behind Vivian. He slowly and deliberately released the buttons on his waistcoat. Setting the waistcoat on top of his other clothing, he lowered himself to the ground. He leaned against the pillow and turned toward Vivian. David raised his hand to the front of her veil. “May I see your face?”

  The words were no sooner out of his mouth when Vivian reached up to stop his movement. She clasped his hand in her gloved one and placed it upon her lap. “My lord, you must understand that an important part of my mystique is from the fact that I never show my face while inside Vauxhall Gardens.”

  “You never remove your veil when you are with your clients?” David questioned her in surprise.

  “It might be of interest to you, my lord, to know that you are my first client. I have only recently arrived here in London intent on making a great success of my career as a courtesan, offering unique services while wearing a costume that hides my true identity.” She paused as she heard her companion chuckle softly and then began her explanation again. “You might believe I am nothing more than a chattering magpie when I tell you this, but I am a romantic woman. I feel that our senses become most sensitive to what is happening around us when we are challenged to use our imaginations.”

  Vivian released his hand and slowly loosened the soft, dark material of her gloves away from each of her fingers. She gently pulled the gloves off and dropped them to the ground. Then she leaned forward across his lap. Her warm palm curled lightly around his hard cock. She squeezed it and then released it as if assessing his size.
“May I have your handkerchief? I intend to demonstrate how effective my disguise can be, Lord Maxton.”

  Vivian’s husky voice, coupled with her words of promise, seemed to cause his conscious mind to go numb. He managed to turn around and locate his discarded clothing, reach inside his coat pocket, draw out his monogrammed handkerchief and hand it to Vivian. Then David reclined against the soft pillow and prepared to enjoy the erotic sensations that were beginning to course through his body. He felt her release the buttons on the falls of his trousers. She continued to lightly rub his cock through his drawers and he felt it expand in response to the intoxicating motion. Then he felt the cool rush of night air as Vivian pulled the silk cord loose on his drawers and exposed his penis to what he hoped was her appreciative gaze.

  Vivian seemed to relish what she had revealed because she continued to arouse him even further with suggestive comments whispered in his ear. “Use your imagination, my lord. My hand is caressing your cock. I can feel it swell with need. I can look upon you and appreciate all you have to offer. Yet you cannot see me. You know little of my face and the shape of body but still your penis grows hard as my warm palm wraps itself around you. Why is this happening? What is causing you to become so aroused?

  “The answer, Lord Maxton, is in the power of imagination and the erotic lure of the unknown. I feel your cock pulsing with need.” She slipped her other hand under his shirt where it came to rest on his chest. “Your heart is pounding and your skin is on fire.”

  David felt his penis stiffen with every murmured word. When Vivian moved her hand gently across the coarse hairs on his chest and down over his taut belly to join with her other hand on his cock, he was certain he had never felt so aroused. “I can definitely attest to the worthiness of your methods, my dear,” he murmured, somewhat breathlessly as he tilted his head slightly upward to gaze at the shrouded figure kneeling in front of him.

  “Admit to me, my lord, had I come to you dressed as the other ‘ladies’ who frequent these gardens, the experience would never have been so stimulating or exciting as the sensations that are surging through your body at this moment!” With that declaration, Vivian lowered her veiled head and placed her warm, moist mouth over the head of his cock.