9.
“Yes, what is it now, Briggs? Didn’t I tell you I wished to be undisturbed for the remainder of the afternoon?”
“You did, m’Lord.”
“Can’t it wait? As you can plainly see, I’m quite engaged at the moment reprimanding Barbara for getting drunk and cavorting shamelessly in the cellar this morning with DP, the two Frenchies, and Emily rather than waiting breakfast on Lady Wragg and myself!”
“If binding her spreadeagled and bare naked on a fourposter, and paddling her tight little arse with your bare hand is a form of ‘reprimanding’ then I will, of course, add that information to the repertoire of ‘reprimands’ of which I am already aware. But the disturbance I have brought to you is a justifiable one, of that I can assure you,” sniffed Briggs with nose in the air and the haughtiness in tone he employed when dismissing something he’s been told as nothing more than an irrelevant annoyance.
“Alright, Briggs. Tell me what this is all about.”
“It’s about the local Council building permit for the upcoming ‘event’ our ‘designated’ builder, Mr Tree, has submitted on our behalf. It seems there are a few irregularities and a Mr. Dudley Buildwright from the Council Building Authority has come here to see you about them. I’ve asked him to kindly wait in the drawing room whilst I sought you out, and have instructed our Eulalia to see to it that he is comfortable and well entertained.”
“Eulalia? Not Barb, thank goodness! Right then. I’m on my way.”
“Hey! … wait! You’re not going to go off and leave me here like this!” Moaned Barbara, twisting herself about on the fourposter and raising her head.
“I don’t know why not?”
******************
“Good afternoon, Mr Buildwright. Terribly sorry to have kept you waiting like this.”
“Oh, no inconvenience at all, Lord Wragg. Your lovely Eulalia, here, has kept me quite entertained. She’s really quite knowledgeable and I’ve learned some fascinating things from her.”
“Uh oh. Nothing too embarrassing, I hope,”
No, not as all. Did you know, for example, that the Ancient Greeks had building codes, and even provisions for building inspections?”
“You don’t say …”
“Yes, and I’ve learnt from her that the earliest known written building code may be found in the Code of Hammurabi, which dates from the 18th century BC! Remarkable!”
“Quite! Now do tell me, Mr Buildwright, what brings you here? I gathered from Briggs that there’s an issue with our building permit proposal? Is it that our builder, Mr Tree, is an American. Does he need a license of some sort to build here?”
“No, that’s not a problem. The UK is somewhat unique in that it does not require builders to be residents in order to take on contracts and perform professional work. Any person can potentially work as a builder, as long as someone is willing to hire them.”
“I see. Then what is the problem.”
“Well, it’s just that the proposal is of such an unusual nature. We simply lack building codes that might apply to expanding an existing medieval dungeon, much less constructing an outdoor scaffold and gibbet, or mounting heavy timber crosses in a rose garden. You see our dilemma?”
“Quite. Well tell me then, Mr Buildwright, what might I do to make things right, if you catch my drift?”
“Yes, well … since this is Terra incognito, I suppose as building inspector, I have considerable latitude in the matter. From what I gather from the building plans, the event for which these building plans are in preparation for is something that might excite some long suppressed personal interests of mine.”
“Say, no more, Mr Buildwright. Would a free admission to the event … uh … grease the skids?”
“I believe that it would, Lord Wragg.”
“Excellent. That can be arranged.”
“One more thing!”
“What?”
“Well .. in speaking with one of the bank directors in Cruxton just the other day, I was shown some extraordinary photos he had in his possession .. photos … quite provocative photos, I dare say … of a girl here in service at Cruxton Abbey.’
“That would be our Barbara.”
“Yes, so I was told. Now, if you’re interested, I believe an expedited approval of your building permit might certainly be possible should a certain exclusive session with your Barbara … properly restrained and undressed mind you … in the newly completed dungeon expansion, be discretely arranged?”
TBC