STORY DESCRIPTION

The legendary rake, the ninth Duke of Loughmore is planning a Gathering at his country seat. It will be a gathering of gentlemen with similar tastes to his own. Apart from racing his own ponygirls against those owned by his friends, he plans to enter Meg, a solidly built peasant girl in the heavy horse division and he is keeping his plans secret.

Meanwhile he is disciplining and enjoying the favours of Lady Harriet Gibson who lives close by and whom he is considering making his mistress. He has, at her request, also disciplined her daughter, the Honourable Georgina Gibson who is running a little wild with some disreputable soldiers. At one rendezvous with Captain Hamish Drummond, she tells him about having been caned by the duke and Hamish sees that Georgina might provide a way for him to make an entry into ‘society’.