Page 24 of Molly Boys
Ev chuckled. “I’m pretty sure he’d have been in his element at the height of the Roman Empire.”
“I heard that.” Louie led them to a large ornate chaise lounge surrounded by deeply cushioned chairs. “Shoo shoo.” He ushered away the men already seated there before artfully draping himself across the chaise and indicating for the three of them to settle in the chairs surrounding it as if he were holding court. “And you’re quite right, of course. I believe I was born a dozen centuries too late. I belong in this era, darlings. At least the Romans didn’t care who they bedded, they slept with anyone and everyone. It’s all the stupid puritanical British monarchs’ fault with their bloody buggery laws.”
“It’s never stopped us,” Francis pointed out.
“Hmm,” Louie hummed noncommittally. “So, what brings you to my party? Ever since you opened the house at Islington, I never see either of you,” he pouted.
A short, stocky man approached with a tray holding a jug of wine and three heavy-looking jewelled goblets. He wore a white sheet wrapped around his groin like a loin cloth, his feet were bare, and strapped to his shoulders were a pair of small golden wings. His dark hair was artfully styled into tight curls topped with a jewelled circlet, and his cherubic cheeks were heavily rouged, his lips painted a deep berry colour. Leaning forward, he handed Everett, Dickie, and Francis a goblet each, which he proceeded to fill with wine.
Everything about the man gave the feel of lush over-ripeness. His big belly, smooth and pale, hung over his loincloth, his arms and chest had a voluptuous softness to them, and when he opened his mouth to speak, his voice was higher than would be expected of a man and yet soft and musical at the same time, almost like one would imagine a eunuch to sound. Although, given the soft outline of his cock through the thin material of his loin cloth, it was evident he was very much not a eunuch.
He smiled sweetly. “Is there anything else, Louie?”
Louie ran his hand up the cherub’s thick thigh and slid his palm under the cloth to massage his buttock slowly and suggestively.
“I’m just entertaining my guests right now, pet, but why don’t you come and find me later.” He gave a salacious wink and the larger man giggled like a giddy maiden.
Louie watched him disappear back into the crowd of revellers and gave a lusty and appreciative sigh.
“God, I do love the chubby ones.” He smiled slowly, his mind already drifting off to much more pleasurable pursuits.
“I need some information,” Francis said, drawing Louie’s attention back to them as he sipped from the heavy goblet.
“You’ve come for gossip?” Louie rolled his eyes and sulked. “And why should I indulge you? You didn’t even bring me a present.”
Francis set his goblet down, an amused smile tugging his lips as he reached for a heavy ruby ring on his little finger and tugged it free, handing it to Louie.
“There you go, many happy wishes.”
Louie stared down at the three fat rubies lined up in a heavy setting.
“It looks old,” he murmured.
“It is.” Francis shrugged. “Been in the family for generations and was my father’s favourite.” Louie glanced at him, his brow raised in silent question. “My father was a miserable old bastard who hated me as much as I hated him,” Francis continued. “And you, my precious, are even more of a libertine than I. It amuses me to think of you wearing his most treasured ring while your hand is wrapped around someone’s cock.”
“You’re a very bad man,” Louie giggled.
“Also because it’s obnoxious and gaudy, just like you, darling,” Francis added affectionately.
Louie belted out a laugh of sheer and utter delight.
“Oh how I have missed you, Francis.” He wiped a tear from his eye and sipped his wine. “Go ahead and ask what you want, but I’m guessing it’s to do with the pretty red-haired boy who frequented your establishment. I hear he turned up dead this morning on the banks of the Thames.”
“How do you know about that?” Dickie burst out, momentarily forgetting himself. Ev placed a quiet hand on his arm. He flushed under Ev’s gaze. “That was rude of me. My apologies.”
“No harm done, sweet boy, and in answer to your question, when you have your fingers in as many pies as I do, there’s very little that escapes my notice.”
“What have you heard?” Francis asked.
“Admittedly, not much.” Louie pursed his lips thoughtfully. “Your pretty little bonbon was discovered naked along the banks of the Thames and from what I hear, was dispatched in a most alarming fashion. Because the discovery of his body was very public, they have no choice but to launch a full investigation. People are demanding answers. The London Herald is already running with the story. They weren’t overly enamoured of the erstwhile Inspector Bridgewall, the former lead at H Division. He and the head reporter at the Herald had a very adversarial relationship. Now Bridgewall has retired, his replacement, Inspector Franklin, is going to feel the full weight of the paper scrutinising his every move.”
“Charlie was last seen at the house in Islington,” Francis said quietly. “It’s most likely he was abducted somewhere between Islington and his lodgings on Limehouse Street.”
“If that’s true, then you could be in very real danger if the investigation leads back to your establishment.” Louie frowned in concern. “I’ll send my little birds out to gather more information.”
Francis nodded. “Thank you, my friend.”
“Anything for you, darling, you know that,” Louie replied, once again pursing his lips as he mulled over his thoughts. “It’s a shame we can’t buy the good inspector, but from what I hear the man is maddeningly principled. If Bridgewall was still in change, we might have been able to compensate him into looking in another direction.”