Lincoln House Chapter 2

Lincoln House shivered under its thick blanket of nervous angst ..... the familiar laughter had long since seeped into the cool night air.

Lady Dolores wore her curiously alluring veil of icy serenity as she swept back her long brunette tresses and addressed Sir Flatcher.

"Tell me its not true that my dearest Monica has been kidnapped!"

The riding crop twitched in Sir Flatcher's hand.

"I fear the worst. She was excitedly boarding the carriage from Manchester, then, in a flurry of rustling petticoats and clicking heels, she vanished."

His eyes strayed briefly to Lady Dolores' heaving cleavage.

"I must buy Jodhpurs a size larger" he mused to himself.

With practised insouciance, Delores ignored Sir Flatcher's state of excitement.

"Sir Flatcher, how could you so carelessly lose my beloved sister. How was her disposition before you left?"

"She was .... errr .... scatty ... you know, very Monica-esque .... well dizzy I'd say!"

Dolores chastised herself. How could she have trusted this buffoon to escort her younger sister to her debut ball. However, there was something amiss.

She noted a scratch across Sir Flatcher's neck. She was also of the opinion that this so called gentleman was an incorrigible ladies man. She feared

the worst and pondered if her dearest Monica had come to some unjust harm.

"Of course we will have to inform the local constabulary immediately Sir Flatcher."

"Its been taken care of ... now shall we resume to choir practice my dearest?"

His coiffured moustache curled contentedly as he thought, "Now i have her all to myself".

Dolores gathered her skirts and sat at the piano, but the harmonies lacked their usual jauntiness.

In the darkened interior of a seedy downtown Mancunian saloon bar a sweaty, expectant crowd had gathered awaiting the show. Backstage a tall, willowy auburn haired beauty adjusted her garter belt and seamed stockings.

The music danced from the stage into the wings and beckoned her forward.

"Ladies and most distinguished gentleman, please be upstanding for Miss Lola. "

The showgirl took her first tentative steps on to the stage slowly stripping her clothes to the music.

As tears welled up in her blue eyes she whispered to herself,

"Forgive me Dolores.......i promise ill wash and iron your corset after i finish here!"