Our perverse tale takes us down memory lane. It’s the eighteenth century. The Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel join hands at the majestic white cliffs of Dover to form the setting for the greed and lust that are the substance of our tale. If it wasn’t for the weakness of our protagonist - he helps the poor and takes care of those in his employ - would be categorized as a real scoundrel. He goes by the audacious name of His Grace Lord Percival Pomeroy. His beautiful wife is Duchess Emily. He graces the dining tables of royalty who consider him the very epitome of virtue.
He is the possessor of land as far as the eye can see, which is used for the cultivation of livestock and grains. He also owns a tin mine; he employs the entire country. But this is all a front, as the real source of his wealth is smuggling whisky and precious gems up and down the English coast.
He lives in a luxurious castle that overlooks the English channel, a view that would melt the heart of the most ardent skeptic. He is blessed with a beautiful wife and three beautiful daughters; the youngest is a portrait of beauty. The daughters have all been well educated, having attended finishing schools in London. The eldest, Annabella, has a brilliant mind and is not above telling her father where to go. He is blessed far beyond measure. He succeeds in his bootlegging endeavours, having concocted a web of conspiracy that includes the most respected of the nobility of London and Paris. Most of all, it includes the colonel and the admiral of the army and navy, who are informed of each shipment, thereby ensuring their men are nowhere to be found.
At the bottom of the bluff that supports his castle is a tunnel that burrows deep into the cliff and leads to a secret passage into the castle. This is where the loot is unloaded, but it never actually enters the castle. From there it is transported and sold to the noble houses in London and Paris. There are rumours some of the plunder is from the high seas encounters with the Spanish galleys en route from the Carolinas to Spain. If some of this merchandise had tongues, the stories would make your hair curl. He and his family attend church every Sunday, where he has his own private pew. The young men pile into the front few rows to get a glimpse of the three daughters, but the real circus comes when the plate is handed around for the freewill offering. Here all the members of the family drop in paper money, which is more than the entire church put together. The congregation watches this pantomime with bated breath. Everyone thinks that he’ll surely get to heaven. What a holy man! This all reaches an apex on Sunday when the Cardinal from London and the local vicar all sit down to dinner. The real intrigue is in Paris, France, where palatial homes and their henchmen are the front for this contraband. His grace and family are frequent guests at these mansions, and of course gives him the opportunity to flaunt his three beautiful daughters to the salivating young noblemen. If his family only knew the real reason for their visit.
