Chapter 11 #3
‘If we work for much less, then we will barely make a profit,’ Gwen said.
‘And we do need to do that. This is going to be causing us risk. My husband might find out, and Miss Rosewood’s uncle would certainly disapprove.
I’m sure we can meet somewhere in the middle.
Can’t we?’ She edged a bit closer to Jenny, wondering who would break first. ‘If it isn’t worth our while, then three or four shillings occasionally might be better,’ she added.
‘One guinea per bottle, minus the cost of the ingredients I will supply, and that is my final offer,’ Augusta said. ‘I do want this, but not at the extent of robbing myself.’
It was better than Gwen had hoped. She turned to Jenny, whispering, ‘We would have to sell hundreds of measures to make that much money.’
‘I expect we will sell hundreds of measures,’ Augusta said.
‘We can become rich doing this. Never mind paying for new dresses or cataract operations. If this goes according to plan, you will be able to buy clothes from the best couturiers in the country. Your husband need not be in a public ward, but can have the best of the private rooms any hospital can provide.’
Jenny nodded. ‘Yes.’
Gwen turned back to Augusta. ‘We’ll do it.’
‘Good. Have you thought about how best to administer it? As we are partners, I value your suggestions.’
Augusta sounded genuinely interested, but she was mocking them, Gwen was sure of it.
‘When we took it with Miss Salisbury, she put it in sugarplums,’ Jenny said. ‘That was quite effective and before that, we just took it in water. But I suppose if you want to create something your patrons would like to experience, then sugar lumps might be more effective.’
‘I thought about dying it a bright colour,’ Gwen interjected. ‘To make it a little more exciting to look at.’
‘What a wonderful idea,’ Augusta said, warmly. ‘Yes, I think perhaps a bright colour – but not green, because that is too associated with absinthe – perhaps red or pink? The colour of love.’
‘Pink would be perfectly easy to produce with cochineal,’ Gwen said.
‘Well then, we are decided. You will provide me with four bottles a week, in the colour of your choice. Payment will be made on delivery, however as a down payment, how about one pound? Each, of course,’ Augusta added with that condescending smile again.
She walked to the desk, unlocked a drawer, then a strongbox, and counted each of them a pound in mixed coins.
Gwen closed her fist around hers. For a small handful, it came with a heavy condition.
If for any reason they might not be able to produce what Augusta Charles expected, there would no doubt be consequences that Gwen would not like to be on the receiving end of.
‘Now, I have matters to attend to and I’m sure you both have a lot to be getting on with yourselves. I believe we will do very well together. Prepare to become rich, ladies.’
Augusta sat down behind her desk again and reached for a green ledger, and Gwen realised that they were being dismissed. Augusta looked up, as if surprised to see them still standing there.
‘You may exit through the restaurant, if you wish to see it again, or alternatively my private entrance is to the right as you leave. Just decide, and my man will escort you. Good afternoon to you.’
Miss Salisbury emerged from the other room. ‘I shall stay and dine here. Moreland will take you both home, then return for me.’
She opened the door to the corridor and ushered Gwen and Jenny out.
Wolf was waiting on the stool by the stairs.
With a wordless grunt, he led them down the stairs and out through a door to the outside.
It was raining hard and the potholes were overflowing into the gutters, washing away detritus.
The children had gone, and the street was emptier and felt more neglected.
The carriage was waiting with the door open, and Gwen and Jenny clambered inside, but not before Gwen had stepped in a puddle and the water soaked through the carboard insole and filled her badly patched boots.
She cried out in dismay, knowing that they were finally beyond another repair.
Neither woman bothered to look out of the window as Moreland drove them home. Gwen leant back against the padded seat. She felt drained and from the look of Jenny, her strength was also sapped.
‘Did we do the right thing?’ Gwen asked after a few minutes of silence while the carriage lurched along the uneven road.
She looked down at the coins she was still holding.
They were a mix of old and new, which was a relief because if they had been all new, she might have believed they were fairy gold or would turn into beans by morning.
Jenny frowned. ‘I think so. We made a better bargain than I expected. Would you like me to stay and help you make the next batch when Augusta’s woman delivers the ingredients?
Or I could do some of the jobs that need doing in the pharmacy.
I feel that I have rather a better deal out of it than you do. ’
Gwen bit her lip. ‘It bothers me that she’s paid us in advance, and we are in debt to her.’
‘Yes, I did think of that.’ Jenny’s frown deepened. ‘But we can deliver it, can’t we, and it’s money we didn’t have this morning.’
She looked at Gwen’s feet and grinned. ‘I hope you’ll spend your first payment on boots for yourself. Those look horribly uncomfortable.’
Sitting with unpleasantly wet stockings, Gwen couldn’t really disagree.