Love Of Old

Darkest London

Angel Thank you! so much for lending me her 

1800s London was a paradox, both a city thriving with commercial and economic affluence and the stench of decay in the streets.

A dark and morbid sight was that of lovely London in those days. Mud tracked the streets, filth in hidden cesspools clogged and poured from the sewers.

The very air and aesthetics of the city were laced with the imagery of decay.

Yet, beneath the soggy mire of the loathsome pestilence that corroded the city, passion, love, romance, life, excitement, danger, and tragedy still took place. Humanity as it always has done, adapted.

One such place of delights was called The King's Court of Heavenly Flowers. It was run by Madame Steele, a boisterous, no-nonsense speaking, and a feisty small redhead with deep onyx eyes.

One must think that her size would not intimidate men or wrongdoers, seeking to take advantage of robbing the place or hurting its tenants and workers.

But Madam Steele was not one to be trifled with, and neither was her husband.

Captain of the Knight Guard, Peter Steele a tall man, with long silk raven hair and deep green emerald eyes.

He was a man of few words, but every rascal and scoundrel knew better than to incite his rage.

He was protected by the leader of the renegade pirates Alexi Laiho.

Unlike other pirates, they were sworn to the crown and worked to protect the city.

The brothel was a cozy, warm, and quite an elegant place.

It was set in a small chateau near the more prominent side of the colonial regions of good old London.

Madame Steele had worked hard to maintain her brothel and loved and treated each girl as if they were her sisters, and or children. There were strict rules to meeting each girl.

Her main priority was to eventually have them married off to a good man. One that would not only keep them as mistresses or wives but would grant them a better life than that of a harlot.

The family had grown recently, with the addition of more ladies.

Therefore, those with seniority were tasked by Madam Steele to mentor and tutor the girls.

One of them was Angel the "Red Rose" of London.

Her fiery personality and blood-red hair were the delirious desire of many men who came for the warm company of the brothel ladies.

It was rumored that Alexi Laiho was pursuing the "Red Rose". He had been smitten with her at a ball he invited Madame and her girls to.

Diana knew he was a good man but was not sure of Angel's thoughts.

She would never push the girls into arranged marriages.

Though in these times of strife, it was hard to find peace unless one was able to pull themselves by their bootstraps or find a man of good standing.

Another girl who was dear to Madame Steele was Maria. She was the "Withering Blossom" of the district.

Delicate and very soft-spoken she was also very popular. But it seemed she was not able to please a man, as she was always timid. This made most men lose interest and leave.

As a result, she had not yet found someone to take her as a mistress and or his wife. It pained her to see her youth pass by without hopes for a better future.

Diana did all she could to console her and assured her she would have a family with her and Peter, suitor or not. Maria was grateful but scared that she might end up a mere spinster for the rest of her life.

"Oh, when will I find a proper suitor!" Maria cried as another high-ranking official left ranting furiously, paying Diana half the gold he had promised after taking Maria for a dance.

Peter made sure he paid the rest after some talks with his fists. "You mustn't despair!" Angel said, "You will find one, a dashing one at that, proper stock and all. You can't just believe you are going to be here forever, perish the thought!" she said.

"Oh if it were so! But my youth is passing by as the summer leaves in London!" Maria said weeping, as Rose another girl at the brothel held her tenderly. Rose was the quietest of all of them.

While Maria wept in Rose's arms somewhere far off a man was arriving in London, as he sat in his carriage reading a book, he looked up to check his watch.

"Almost midday," he said, he had the deepest green eyes, the color of the forests, and dark brown oak-colored hair that glimmered with traces of gold in the sun.

He was hoping to arrive sooner, Lord Valo the third, was a businessman, and a diplomat as well. His travels took him far, and they were the only thing to keep him far away from his sorrow.

For he had lost his wife, who had not been able to bear any children for him during the plague. His heart still hurt, and he did not know if he would find love ever again.

His parents wanted him to settle down and were desperately looking for suitable prospects. Yet as of now the wealthy baron did not want to think of such matters.

Though it had been five years, and though he would often sigh at how cold his sheets felt at night, and how empty his soul was, he was guarded.

As days passed, Diana tried to garner more prospects for Maria. Though Angel's future seemed to almost be cemented with Sr. Laiho, she was worried for the other girls.

"You work too hard my darling, we will find someone worthy of little Maria, you shall see," Peter said as they lay in bed after making love in the dawn's rays.

Diana had left the tall man spent and leaving her sore and satisfied, as he had done his best to please her. She was so tired and drained. Once more she blessed her fate at having him in her life.

"We will arrange a ball, a magnificent one at the chateau!" Diana said all of a sudden, making him jump a little. She hated seeing Maria so forlorn.

"We have tried..and..still..." Peter said. "Unless, do you have a new prospect?" he added.

"I do not...but if it's worth a try I will send letters, the most exquisite letters out!" Diana added. Peter looked proudly at his woman, she was made of stern stuff.

Alexi slammed Angel on top of his dining hall table and made love like ravenous wolves. "A ball? Will you come?" Angel said as he bit into her pale neck, while he thrust into her making her moan.

"Yes, especially to make it official, for I want you in my bed, and only my bed after that night," Alexi said growling into her ear making her bite his lips as she wrapped her hips harder around him and let him bury himself deeper into her.

"I hope Maria finds someone like you for her," Angel said between cries of ecstasy, "I hope so too she is a good woman," he said, "But now, we celebrate what is to come," he said and to Angel's delight he ripped her dress off biting into her neck.