“Maybe. But you said you sell mostly through private parties, with demonstrations by the host or hostess of the party? The acting would be done with products in sets sold as such.” She thought further. “With the individual items, you might broaden your audience to those who do not attend the parties. Maybe you sell those through the Sc—” She broke off.
“The what?”
“Uh, nothing. I want to look into another channel before I propose it.” Beth could not believe she had nearly blurted out the name of the school. She’d enjoyed helping Robert so much. He was much better at the design, but she brought a woman’s perspective. Her real strength, though, was in her network. Bringing people together to help them both. Or in this case, providing people with a way to spice up their love life while helping Robert. But the school was sacrosanct. She would never threaten the secrecy of the program; it helped too many young women and had proved invaluable to Beth herself.
On the other hand, nothing was stopping her from speaking to the headmistress about opportunities to sell Robert’s products.
He had changed the subject. “Beth, when we return to London…”
“Yes?” When he looked awkward and his voice trailed into silence, she braced herself to hear that London would mean the end of their dalliance.
“You know I value my privacy, so we must keep it quiet, but I should like to see you again.”
Yay!She nodded. “I should like to spend more time with you as well.”
“I shall send a note ’round when Bags and I return from Cheltenham, then?”
“Yes, please.” In the meantime, she’d write to Helen Montague, the headmistress of the School of Enlightenment.
****
Back in London, Althea rushed to check on her store and her inventories, having convinced an apothecary owner in Bath to partner with her. Beth was sure there’d be unending amounts of paperwork and other drudgery on which her cousin thrived.
She visited the charity school to re-start volunteering and to see if there were older students searching for their next step in life. She acted as a second counselor for them, after their teachers and the headmistress. While she did not have the same training as the instructors, Beth’s network and her experience of bouncing between three homes allowed her to relate to the students and envision suitable paths for them to consider.
After she’d finished at the School of Enlightenment, Beth had returned to Althea’s home. Understandably, given her past transgression with a fellow clerk, Althea was reluctant to have her help in the store again. So Althea had asked the Enlightened Salon for ideas to fill Beth’s time with something other than mischief. One lady had suggested volunteer work.
Beth took to the charity school like a duck to water, and Althea sighed in relief. When Beth found the first student she’d thought would excel at the School of Enlightenment, she’d written to the headmistress. Helen Montague had sent a recruiter to visit with Beth, then interview the student, and the woman had agreed. Helen also raised the idea of Beth helping to place graduates of the school. Beth preened and soon found coordinating with the school the most rewarding element of pairing people with opportunities.
After seeing Robert’s products, she saw an opportunity to add another layer to that networking. The school and its network of alumnae were an excellent untapped audience for his leatherwork.
Dear Mrs. Montague,
She’d not yet been able to bring herself to think of the headmistress as Helen, despite invitations by the older woman.
I have encountered a man—she scribbled overmanand wroteperson—who creates leather pieces to enhance intimate activities. Bondage, apparel, and beyond. This individual values anonymity. Thus, I am wondering about a way to sell to the school and mayhap a few select sponsors and alumnae.
Do you believe this might be possible? If so, how? I am loath to raise it with my new friend until I get your thoughts on the matter, particularly your permission to discuss information about the school even vaguely.
Sincerely,
Beth Jenkins, exemplary student extraordinaire—her standard tongue-in-cheek signature to her former headmistress, as she had been wild even as a student.
The list of names of people associated with the school was a closely held secret. Thus, while she could be a conduit for his sales, they’d need a method to market the goods. There were too many pieces to make a sample set, and the audience was spread far and wide across the country.
Mayhap a catalogue? They could hire an artist to sketch the pieces. Should they use models?
Her blood surged at the idea of modeling for sketches. She’d get to try all the pieces again.
She straightened abruptly.
Theywouldn’t do anything. He could use any model he wanted.
There is no we. This is Robert’s business, and our time together is only a lighthearted romp to him.
Why did the idea of their end, of him touching someone else hurt so much? ’Twas stupid to give someone so much control over her emotions.
****
