beau–brummell:

characters from “the mermaid and mrs hancock” by imogen hermes gowar

Polly Campbell

He colours deeply and still will not look her in the eye. “Only that one never sees ladies of your complexion about the town.” 

“You do not go to the right places,” she rejoins.

“We were very glad to have secured you for this party,” he says, taking her hand, “for not one of us have ever tried it with a negro before now.”

All of a sudden her mouth is a stopped bottle ready to pop. To restrain herself, she looks about for Elinor, nods towards her and says “And why did you order Miss Bewlay?”

“The sorrel-pated one?” he leans in confidingly. “We hear they are most unnatural in their appetites.”

She laughs aloud but the pressure in her head is not relieved. “Rarities, are we? To add to your collection?”

And he grins with relief, not seeing her anger. “Yes,” he says, “oh, yes, that is exactly it. You are a woman entirely out of the common water; we all desire to sample every sort of woman there is in the world!”

“What an education it will be,” she says, and rises.