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

A month later Fred and Ellie met once more, this time by secret arrangement. Fred had written and suggested that she might join him for a stroll in Kensington Gardens. He had made up his mind that he would ask her to marry him as soon as he was able but it was important to see what her true feelings were towards him. The thought of tackling Joshua first and asking him for his daughter's hand daunted him considerably. It would be no easy task. 


Ellie came accompanied by her maid, Lottie Mulhall. That was some relief for Fred. He knew that the redoubtable Miss Perrin looked upon any young man who came close to her mistress with deep suspicion.  Mulhall, on the other hand, kept a polite distance behind them as they walked along.  She looked the kind of faithful old servant who would never give away her mistress's secrets, indeed, might even collude in them. 


Chapter 20: Secret meetings