“Explain, please.”
“He creates leather cuffs, often attached, sometimes in shapes which make for very interesting sexual positions. Some are incredibly adaptable to whatever piece of furniture he wants to put to use. And corsets and cock and bollocks corset thingies and…”
Penelope sat back, gusting out a breath. “I shall say it again. Still waters run deep. Oh my. I am not certain I can ever look at him the same way again.”
Before Beth could respond, Althea interjected, “Come now, Pen. That is not very fair, is it? None of Michael’s friends look questioningly at you, despite how your relationship began.”
Pen blushed and lowered her gaze to her hands. “You are right, Althea. You have my apologies. As does Ford. I did not mean it as critical, more that I shall feel awkward thinking of his creations. But that is no excuse.”
In the ensuing silence, Beth smiled at Althea and squeezed her hand, grateful for her cousin’s leap to her defense.
Penelope took a breath and turned back to Beth. “Mayhap the three of us should have a viewing party of Ford’s work one day soon.”
“We can have a private party at some point. He also takes them to the demi-monde parties at Sarah’s for sales, but he does so anonymously,” she warned.
“Excellent. I shall be on the lookout for one of those.”
Beth recalled Penelope’s stepfather’s business. Despite Robert’s lukewarm response to her attempt to help his sales, her passion for helping find people whose needs meshed was dimmed rather than doused. Mayhap he could afford to spurn potential sources of income. However, there was a blacksmith somewhere who needed to put food on the table for his family, and she had an opportunity to ensure they could.
“I have a question for you, please. Robert’s work needs small, intricate metal pieces. Buckles, other fastenings, and adornments. The blacksmith he works with is older and may retire soon. He is also already struggling to keep up with demand. Might your stepfather know someone who could help, please? Oh, and ’twould need to be someone very discreet. And ideally someone closer than Peterborough.”
“Ah. Of course. I shouldn’t think discreet will be an issue, but he may not know other smiths beyond the Peterborough area. I shall write and ask him. He has an apprentice now. He’d once thought Matthew would follow in his footsteps, but Michael has said he wants to send Matthew to university if he’s interested. And David will make sure he’s interested, as he wants Matthew to have an easier life than he’s had. So he brought in a younger man to train to take over the business. I shall ask how he found him, as well as other ideas for you.”
“David will be open-minded about the specifics?”
“Oh yes. Michael and I came clean to him after our betrothal. He was surprised but not shocked, given my friendship with the four ladies at the end of town. It was also easier for him to accept with the happy outcome.”
“Robert is adamant about confidentiality. He’d likely hate that I told even you.”
“I will outline the idea for David without names, to see what he thinks.”
“Wait.” Beth’s mind was two steps ahead. What if she could convince Robert to go to Peterborough—with her? “Mayhap it would be best to speak in person, as I don’t know what questions Robert will have. Could you word the note to introduce that idea as well, please?”
“Certainly. He met both of you at the wedding breakfast, and I know he’d be happy to speak with anyone interested in his profession.”
Her new scheme distracted her as the women snacked and caught up. A trip would be perfect. ’Twas out of the public eye of the Ton. They could discuss designs and have daytime as well as nights together, like they had in Bath. Assuming he’d agree to the catalogue—and why wouldn’t he—they could determine the number of pieces to include and positions for each sketch. Should it be comprehensive or a sample?
As she replayed the night before in her thoughts, Beth frowned.
Why hadn’t Robert reacted to her catalogue idea more enthusiastically? She could not fathom what his concerns might be. Mayhap he thought she was interfering or was too proud to accept help.
Mayhap you’re just convenient for testing his products and using for sex.After all, that has been every other man’s view.
Beth’s good mood, her default to start each day, deflated. While she was secure in her networking skills and eschewed the Ton’s strictures, her confidence in herself as a long-term partner to anyone was fragile. Should she even ask to accompany him to Peterborough?
Youoften choose sexual partners for convenience or physical attraction. Why is he not allowed?
She gritted her teeth. Her conscience sounded a lot like Althea. Despite that, ’twas a good question. He gave her the best orgasms of her life. She had an outlet for her creativity and possibly her people-matching skills. And he found her beautiful.
She could not bear it if that was smoke and mirrors to pacify her into remaining in his bed longer. While she found she reveled in giving up control in the bedroom, she refused to do that with her heart.
What if ’tis too late?
Chapter Fourteen
The next evening, Robert did not go to his club.Clubs. As the little minx knew.
He’d spent the entire day contemplating the risks and rewards of expanding his business with a catalogue and the additional trade-offs of doing so with Beth as a model. She’d be outraged if he used her idea without her modeling.
