Penelope sniffed.“Male civets don’t douse themselves with the glandular excretions of other, more popular civets in order to attract the attention of voluptuous female civets at local assemblies.”
“They would if they could,” Gloria muttered beneath her breath.“All males are optimists.”
“Speech, speech!”roared the crowd.
“Someone fetch Penelope Mitchell!”shouted a man near the dais.
“I see her!”a woman shrieked.“She’s with Miss Godwin!”
Penelope rolled back her shoulders.“Very well.I don’t know anything about love—”
“Obviously,” Gloria muttered, louder this time.
“—but science has proven that olfactory information can incite sexual arousal in both genders of many animals, causing the mating instinct to demand immediate and natural carnal satisfaction.I can talk about that.I’ve personally observed many instances of—”
Gloria grabbed Penelope’s arm and turned her away from the stage.
“No speech!”she shouted over her shoulder.“Miss Mitchell is much too shy and… er… ladylike.She appreciates your support.Enjoy the party!And the wine!Talk amongst yourselves!”
“Furthermore,” Penelope continued thoughtfully as her best friend tugged her a safer distance from the dais, “I’mgladI’m in no danger of ‘falling in love.’I like being a chemist and I like being a spinster.There’s no reason to fuss with the permanency of a husband if all a woman wishes to do is satisfy the occasional natural urge.”
Gloria wrinkled her nose.“But what about all the other women?”
Penelope tilted her head.“What other women?”
“The ladies whodowish to fuss with the permanency of a husband.You might not have a biological or financial or romantical need for marriage, but I daresay most women do not have that luxury.Theyhaveto marry.”Gloria’s voice faltered.“And we like to believe in love.”
Penelope’s heart twisted in remorse.Gloria was right.Penelope might be too rational for romance, but that was no reason to ruin the experience for anyone else.In fact, Penelope was in a unique position to actually do something about it.
“You’ve inspired me,” she announced.
“I-I’ve inspired you?”Gloria stammered in obvious concern.“To do what?”
“To help,” Penelope said.She gave a sharp nod.
Gloria blinked.“Help how?”
“With science.”Penelope tapped her chin.“What didDukedo?”
“Make an obscene amount of money?”Gloria guessed.“Revolutionize modern perfumes?”
“Men’sperfumes,” Penelope corrected with chagrin.“An easy market, and a mistake.The world doesn’t need more dandies and rakes.”
“What does it need?”Gloria asked suspiciously.
“Empowered women,” Penelope replied without hesitation.“I cannot control Society, but Idocontrol what I research in my laboratory.Dukewas just the beginning.I have more research.The next product I launch will beDuchess.”She straightened her shoulders in determination.“For women.”
Gloria clasped her hands to her chest.“You could make a perfume to help women find husbands?”
Penelope nodded.“Or become female rakes.Ladies’ choice.Once you attract a man, it’s up to you if you want to keep him.”
Gloria burst out laughing.“There’s no such thing as lady rakes.”
“There should be.”Penelope gave her a wicked grin.“Why should men have all the fun?”
“Speaking of rakes…” Gloria grabbed Penelope’s arm and bounced on her toes.“Don’t look now, but Nicholas Pringle just walked into the ballroom.Nicholas Pringle!Here, in this very ballroom.”
Penelope shrugged.“Who?”
