Two artists, Fred and Henry,  immersed in the Pre-Raphaelite art movement, with its yearning for romantic escape from the materialism of Victorian society.  Two men deeply in love with their beautiful models.  But every heart hides a secret and both couples have put certain shameful events behind them, events that, if exposed, could threaten their blissful new life. The Crimson Bed, a family heirloom passed down through the female blood line since Elizabethan times, brings with it ancestral secrets that will eventually affect Fred leading him into the darkness of London slums and a very different world to that of his peaceful home. Passions escalate as he becomes increasingly jealous of his wife’s closeness to her handsome godfather, Lord Percy Dillinger, and when shocking truths finally come to light, their lives will never be the same again . . .

Adult Sexual scenes

The Crimson Bed created by Loretta Proctor an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

The Crimson Bed

As luck would have it, it appeared that Fred's father, James Thorpe, was quite well acquainted with Eleanor's father. Joshua Farnham was, he said, a very good barrister, much admired and respected in the City. For Fred this revelation was very good news. A few days after this conversation and while they were all seated at dinner one evening, Fred asked his mother if she would like to pay Miss Farnham a call on Tuesday next.


'I'll take you there and bring you back, Mama. The young lady asked if you would call and take tea with her. Weren't you a friend of her mother's?'


This was a crafty shot in the dark but to his amazement Beatrice replied, 'Oh, yes, Maria Farnham. Not a friend exactly, but I did meet her a few times while she was alive.  She seemed a pleasant, clever sort of woman but Lord, always of a sickly disposition and such people are wearisome, don't you know. They talk about nothing but their ailments all the time. There is nothing I dislike more, I assure you.'


Chapter 16: Persuading Beatrice to make a call