Warren entered the lively establishment located in the midst of the red light district. It was lively despite it being noon.
Warren was out of place since this wasn’t a business he had visited before. His mother wouldn’t be thrilled if she knew that he was here and would speak of him never finding a wife.
Upon entering, Warren looked around for someone to make his offer to. He thought it shouldn’t be hard to find out who was in charge and speak of his plans to sell Penelope to do business like the women present.
"Need something to drink?"
Warren looked to his right at a woman who didn’t leave much to his imagination. She placed her hand on his shoulder, leaning forward to seduce him.
These were the kind of women his mother said he would marry because he was of low birth. He would prove his mother wrong.
"Get the best drink you have for me and then leave me alone. I don’t need your company," said Warren.
He needed to remain focused.
"Why are you here at this hour if all you need is a drink? There are other places you could have visited, but a drink it is," the woman replied.
"Wait," Warren said, grabbing the woman’s arm. "Who is in charge here?"
Misty, the woman standing with Warren, was reluctant to speak. She looked around to see if the owner was around to see her with the odd man. "He is not a man you can just meet with. Enjoy your drink and be on your way if you know what is good for you."
"I want to see him. Find him and tell him that there is a customer with a good offer. It will benefit his business more than anything he has to offer now. Do it now," Warren said, letting go of her arm.
Misty was certain this wouldn’t end well. This man wasn’t the first person who tried to make her boss an offer. If time was wasted, this man was going to die, and Misty might be punished for bringing him if her boss wasn’t in a good mood.
Still, Misty left in search of her boss since she could not ignore orders. She was forced to do as the men visiting wanted.
Warren watched Misty for as long as he could before she entered a room.
He was taking a risk. A big foolish risk, which he hoped would pay off. He did not come all this way just to be turned away.
It wasn’t long after that Misty returned with a man at her side.
"He will see you now," Misty said, placing a drink before Warren for him to take along.
Misty led the way to a room away from where all the visitors gathered, but remained outside when it came time for Warren to go inside.
"He is there," she said, holding the door for Warren.
Warren entered the room, and immediately, the smoke in the room from plenty of cigars got to him. He covered his nose with his right hand, his eyes squinted as the smoke affected his eyes.
Warren was able to make out the women, less dressed than the woman before, sitting on the laps of men in the room.
In the room, a man was eyeing Warren from head to toe.
"Are you the owner?" Warren asked, letting out a cough before he moved his hand.
"Last time I checked, I was the owner. You’re the fool who came to disturb my business. You must want to die," Victor Langley, the brothel owner, said.
Victor snapped his fingers to get the men in the room to move.
Warren was unexpectedly grabbed by the same men who once had women sitting on their laps.
"Business is dealt with by the woman outside. You do not come to me asking about any women. Unless you are one of the men sent to kill me. What has brought you here? Down," Victor ordered the men.
Warren was forced to lie against the table before him with his arms held by the men employed by Victor. "I’m not here to kill you. I have an offer to make to you. If you would just give me a moment to speak."
Victor blew a cloud of smoke in Warren’s direction. "I am giving you the chance to speak. I had plans to kill you, but then I saw your face and wondered why a man like you is here. Which woman charmed you? Who is it that you think you can buy?"
"No one," Warren replied, trying to wiggle his way out of the men’s hold. "I am trying to sell someone to you. Penelope Collins, daughter of Duke Edgar Collins."
Victor smiled, amused by the offer. "Lift him. How does a man like you, who came in here with no way to protect yourself, going to offer me a daughter of a duke? It is a fine offer."
Victor was fortunate to see Penelope’s face a few times, so he knew she was quite beautiful. His speciality was to have the women who worked for him sometimes act like the ladies from good families to entice the pathetic men who had no chance with the real ladies.
Warren stood up straight, fixing his ruffled shirt. "I need your help to get it done. I have worked lowly jobs and overheard how much men would pay to be with a woman like her. It would make you quite a profit if you took her."
"So," Victor said, tapping his cigar. "You have come to me with an idea. One that will help you, I presume. You want me to do all the work to get rid of someone you hate?"
Victor chuckled. "I have always wondered what it feels like to lie with a refined lady, and I have done just that when their houses fall. They have only their bodies to sell then. Does the duke seem like a man who will need to sell his daughters?"
Victor was still a little humoured that this was what was presented to him.
It certainly was bold since no one would casually plot on the Collinses unless they had the power to do so.
Victor had that power, but he doubted the man before him did as well.
"No," Warren said, feeling his chance slipping away. "But that doesn’t have to be the reason she comes here. I will find a way to slip her from her father’s side and bring her. It is quite easy for women to become well hidden