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Lochlainn was at home, setting off his suit hours before the party, as arranged by the siblings. He walked away towards the bath to start his preparation. Water showers over his head down to his feet, pushing his hands against the wall. Dark pleasure and a wicked smile were etched on his face, burning in desire and lust. A few moments after, he took a mouthful of blood and wine, savoring the taste for a moment with a sideways glance at the mirror.  
 
Outside the cold evening, the air was freckled with drizzle, swirling the curtain from the open window and trees of wind-blown. Since it was their first time hosting an event, the brothel was a bit active, preparing for a great occasion. A pair of men standing guard at the entrance of the building. Inside, at the far end, stood another pair and courtesans on their place, glamming up. Lochlainn was wearing a tieless black suit and formal leather black shoes — showed up downstairs in the middle of their personnel work. He spearheaded the preparation and fixed everything up before the guests arrived. Just an hour later, Salvatore descended from the stairs, in debonair look and striking in tail and tie.  
  
Salvatore strolled down to his sibling, Lochlainn. [color=8882be] "I see you're ready to entertain brother. Ladies."[/color] he grinned at him lasciviously. [color=8882be]"Breakfast or dessert?"[/color] eyes wander around, patting his shoulder in the gesture of inveigling.   
  
He replied nonchalantly, [color=98DCE8]"Take it easy… reserve your greed, brother."[/color] Salvatore shrugged off his hands.  
  
A brisk of cold breeze shrouded the manor; rain is impending, the wind stirring the leaves lining the landscape floor outside. Before the guest arrives, Salvatore pulls Lochlainn at the near side, [color=8882be]"Something is in the air tonight… We must be on our guard for the unexpected."[/color] he looked up at him and raised a questioning eyebrow to him. [color=98DCE8]"I manage everything with what we have. Don't look so worried, I'm sure the rest will go easily enough."[/color] he points out in a gesture of reassurance.  
  
[color=8882be]"It's not that…. it's something else. Something we aren't prepared for. Don't you feel it? The feeling of awakening. It's like a whisper in the air."[/color] Salvatore remarked, urging him to take a moment. He was attentive to the environment around him. Lochlainn was sensing the same thing Salvatore does, but he kept it in instead of spilling out.   
 
Hours passed, guests started to arrive in their luxurious horse-drawn carriages. Cohorts marched out into the growing light in the hallway, dressed in their urbane rig of high-class suits and boots. Salvatore and Lochlainn were observing everyone walking in when Salvatore noticed Earl Harrington from a great distance. [color=8882be]"Oh look, Earl Harrington is here. That will make for some interesting conversation. Is that Diedre Monaghan, I heard scandals about him and her being his mistress. He wasn't on the guestlist unless you invited him?" [/color]  
  
Lochlainn replied contemplatively, [color=98DCE8]"Not that I'm aware of. You can kick him out if you want to."[/color]
  
Salvatore pondered for a moment. [color=8882be]"If we do that, he'll go to the tabloids about us being ungrateful hosts. We shouldn't allow that to slander our reputation. We've worked too hard to get where we are. I want to know why he's here."[/color] It was sometimes frequent for uninvited guests to show, especially if they had underlying motives.   
  
They exchanged glances in a skeptical look, Salvatore responded, [color=8882be]"Well, in that case, it would be rude of us to kick him out. This might work in our favor, after all. Miss Monaghan is looking for a new employer from what the other girls gossip about."[/color] Lochlainn paused significantly, shooting Salvatore a sudden glance before stepping out into space. Harrington and Miss Monaghan made their way to meet the host. Lochlainn walked over to face them and had a little business talk with Harrington until the conversation was disrupted when they saw Lord Delacroix and his fiancé, Lady Ashton, hurled down from the carriage. He was slightly observing the two, as Lady Ashton strolls to the entryway gracefully. 
 
Out of the blue, Harrington earnestly spoke to Lochlainn. [color=goldenrod]"Duke Lochlainn… you see, I need to reclaim my fortune."[/color] Earl gazed at him very intently. [color=goldenrod]"I-I'm willing to trade some of my property. I need to retain my wealth - I sense that you and Salvatore will be the answer to this matter. It's unpleasant, living in a luxurious life while business pains me,"[/color] Lochlainn noticed Dierdre moved in. She pulled up her fan and moved closer next to Harrington, trying to look very connected to him.  [color=goldenrod]"I simply don't have the time to run it anymore…"[/color]
 
Lochlainn made a quick glance at Dierdre and stared back at him for a moment. [color=98DCE8]"Let me think about that. Maybe I'll talk to you later in the office."[/color]
 
Lady Ashton aroused in the middle of their conversation. [color=pink]"Pardon me, Duke Lochlainn,"[/color] she said, with a subtle curtsey to show him proper respect, [color=pink]"but I thought this was a party of good taste."[/color]
 
[color=98DCE8]"Lady Ashton! you look splendid tonight. I'm glad you're both here."[/color] Lochlainn replied in a feigned way. 
 
She caught sight of Dierdre and gave a poised appearance to her. [color=pink]"It seems a bit of refuse somehow blew in from the streets."[/color]
 
Deirdre asked wryly. [color=9966cc]"How would you know, having never set one pampered foot into them?"[/color]
 
[color=pink]"I know well enough when something doesn't belong,"[/color] Lady Ashton snapped back, [color=pink]"and a lady of your…station has no business showing her face here."[/color] trying to kill Dierdre in such ignominy. 
 
[color=9966cc]"Of my 'station'?"[/color] Dierdre asked, coyly.
 
Earl butts in, defending Dierdre from Lady Ashton [color=goldenrod]"... Lady Monaghan has earned her place to --"[/color]
 
She refuted in a very haugthy voice. [color=pink]"Earned?... by lying on her back and offering herself to you? You call that earned?"[/color]
 
Lochlainn stared at them, a mixture of pretentious curiosity and smile distorted his face. [color=98DCE8]"Ladies, this is a noble occasion, perhaps it would be better to leave your feud off the occasion and just enjoy the night."[/color] smiling at them with a glint of pretentiousness bliss. He directed an impassive significant look towards Salvatore, making it quite clear that he could guess what he's thinking about from afar. Salvatore stared at him hard in gloom and responded a nod with a quizzical look.
 
[color=9966cc]"I offer the Earl good company and grace on the harpsichord,"[/color] she said pointedly, [color=9966cc]"as opposed to simply preening in front of a mirror."[/color]
 
[color=9966cc]"I've heard it told your fiance also has an ear for music,"[/color] she said. Her smile kept its sweetness. Her eyes, however, narrowed in for the kill. [color=9966cc]"What can you offer him in that regard?"[/color]
 
He looked to Dierdre wryly for a long moment. Lady Ashton spoke to the female in a hushed tone. [color=pink]"He does. Tonight we're here for the great summer party our hosts have yet to grace us."[/color]
 
[color=cornflowerblue]"Darling, I want you to meet some of my business associates..."[/color] The reason why he pulled her away was that he didn't want her stirring trouble. They had managed to fix things when she found out about his scandal with Deirdre, but she didn't trust her one bit.
 
[color=pink]"My love, a low-life like her shouldn't be here. You know how the Dukes prize their acquaintances on purity."[/color]
 
Lady Ashton's voice came to a stop as Delacroix's response sank in, [color=cornflowerblue]"Now, I can spend the time by myself and send you home, or you can be respectful and be civil. You don't want trouble in the headlines tomorrow, do you, dear?"[/color] Delacroix paused for effect, aware that every eye locked on him.
 
They noticed the silence from Lochlainn as he paused again. He observed their reaction, gauging their sudden resentment. 
 
Lady Ashton shook her head and nodded as she hooked her arm with his. She hated being put in place in such social situations. [color=pink]"Let's enjoy tonight."[/color]
 
After a few moments of silence, Lochlainn took a deep breath and spoke. [color=98DCE8]"Very well then… let's get inside."[/color] they marched on side by side.

Time passed - the guest finally settled. Sauvignon Blanc, procured from Southwestern France, was served and more preeminent adult drinks by wine steward. The ambiance was so alluring, and a bit eccentric melded with Salvatore's violin playing a piece of beautiful, eerie music echoing the hallway and the room. Inside, dimly lit by the guttering flames of black candles across the room, while candles cascade a line through its body as it melts. The atmosphere on that very night was so luxurious and lustful, pervading the manor.