She considered his blacksmith dilemma, listing her acquaintances in her head.Penelope. Why had she not considered her female friends? Penelope’s stepfather was a blacksmith.
Sending a note ’round to her friend, she asked when they could call. She apologized for her boldness, although she knew Penelope would laugh at her apology, expecting nothing less from her.
When she received the expected invitation, she made arrangements with another instructor at the charity school to switch days. Two afternoons later, on one of Althea’s days off, they knocked on Penelope’s door.
Penelope ushered them into her drawing room as the middle-aged housekeeper, Mrs. Thorpe, bustled in with tea and pastries. Beth greeted the older lady and asked after her husband, who also worked for Penelope.
After Mrs. Thorpe assured her he was well and left, Beth turned to Penelope. “How have you been?”
“Good. Busy. The bakery is coming along, and I spend time with Barbara, Michael’s mother as often as possible. She continues to offer countessing and Ton tips.”
“How to suck your husband’s cock whilst wearing his coronet?” Beth snarked.
Penelope looked shocked.
“Pen, you really ought to be used to me by now.”
“Oh, I am—but, but he’ll have a coronet?”
The two of them laughed so loud and long they were holding their sides and wiping tears away as Althea gazed on questioningly, not having caught their exchange.
“Right, then. Enough about themanythings I have to learn.” Penelope ignored Beth’s snicker at her emphasis. “Althea, what is happening with your shop?”
Althea explained Evan’s idea and Charlotte’s willingness to invest.
“Oh!” Penelope bounced in her seat, and Beth stifled a grin at the unconscious action. “Lady Peterborough is also funding my bakery. I am so glad she agreed to help you as well. ’Tis almost as though we are keeping it in the family.”
Charlotte’s husband had died last winter, leaving his younger brother, Edward, as the earl. Pen’s closest childhood friend, Sophia, had married the new Earl of Peterborough earlier this year and, in the process, reunited with Penelope.
Beth chuckled at how small a community the aristocracy was. ’Twas a bit incestuous, even beyond the men knowing each other from a spanking club.
Althea had met Sophia’s cousin in the Enlightened Salon, made up of graduates and investors in the School of Enlightenment, and had been pointed to the school for Beth’s education. Then Beth had met Sophia in the introductory course, just after Sophia’s marriage. Then she’d met Penelope in the advanced course.And oh, I still shiver in pleasure when I remember that one night.
All of that happened before Sophia and Penelope rediscovered their childhood friendship after six years apart.
And now, she’d dragged Althea into the friendships she’d formed. Her cousin seemed to enjoy it well enough, thankfully. Her name pulled her out of her thoughts.
“Beth, what have you been doing?” Pen asked.
“At least ’tis no longer a question of who,” Althea interjected, only half under her breath.
Beth shot her an annoyed look.
Pen’s brows shot up. “Really? Do tell.” She leaned forward, folding her hands in her lap in an eager pose.
“’Tis nothing serious. I’ve been helping Robert.”
“Ford? With his cock?” Pen asked. Then, as the other two hooted, she blushed and apologized. “I swear, Beth, you bring out the worst in me. Or rather, the dirty. My apologies. Please continue.”
“He doesn’t need any help with that, I must say.”
“Really?” Pen goggled. “Still waters run deep. I would not have thunk it of Ford. He is always so reserved. We shall return to that in a moment. First, what are you assisting him with, then?”
“Are you familiar with his trade?”
“Only vaguely, I’m afraid. He works with leather, I believe?”
“Oh yes.” It gusted out on a sigh of pleasure.
