Page 78 of The Laudanum Ladies' Society

Jenny sent her calling card in. The three women had decided that she was the most respectable, and the connection with Mr Rosewood might make her more likely to be admitted. They were escorted to the same parlour where Selina had given them an audience before, with the outlandish furniture and art. Now it was hard for Jenny not to picture Selina lying on the peacock-covered chaise longue in a state of abandonment, while presumably counting guineas in her head.

Selina was wearing a scarlet skirt with a peach blouse decorated with scarlet flowers. Her hair was assembled into a loose chignon and she wore a peach day cap threaded through with scarlet ribbons. She looked like a respectable woman who might be spending the afternoon at her piano or canvas, not a courtesan. But then she was very intelligent, and some men valued conversation and a veneer of class as much as they did an alluring body, which Jenny had to admit Selina had.

‘Ladies, this is unexpected,’ Selina purred. ‘I am assuming this is not a pleasure call, but nevertheless would you like some tea? I have a rather wonderful orange pekoe that is delightfully refreshing.’

‘Yes, please,’ Gwen said.

Jenny looked at her in surprise, but Gwen raised an eyebrow.

‘As Miss Salisbury says, it isn’t a social call, but I do hope we can remain civilised when she hears what we have to say.’

Selina’s eyes flickered. She reached out and rang the silver bell, and before long a smartly dressed young man entered the room. He wasn’t the same man they had seen before, but he was equally handsome.

‘Kershaw. Tea, please,’ Selina commanded.

He bowed deeply and left. Selina turned to Miriam.

‘I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure. Miss Rosewood, will you introduce me?’

Jenny gave Miriam’s name. ‘Miss Sandler is an artist of some skill. She’s brought along some sketches that we thought you might be interested in.’

‘I am not much of a patron of the arts,’ Selina said.

‘I think you might like these pictures, though,’ Gwen said, giving an insincere smile.

‘I believe you prefer the music hall,’ Jenny said with a light laugh. ‘The view from a box can be excellent.’

Selina looked slightly off-kilter. When the tea arrived, she allowed Kershaw to pour it then dismissed him.

‘Now, shall we begin?’ she said crisply.

Jenny nodded to Gwen who sat forward on her seat.

‘You know that I am aware that Augusta Charles is operating a brothel from the coffee shop known as The Rook and Wren and that she is forcing her wards into prostitution.’

Selina laughed. ‘Yes, I was surprised to see you there. Have you thought any more of her proposal regarding remedies for any ailments the ladies might suffer?’

Jenny looked at Gwen in surprise.

‘No. Nor do I intend to,’ Gwen said bluntly. ‘I am appalled to have been caught up in such an occupation at all. Which brings us to our purpose today. We have discovered that Augusta is using our product not in a public house or an opium den, but in a brothel. Were you aware of this?’

Selina smiled condescendingly. ‘Yes. I was. And I apologise for the deception. But obviously, some people’s moral standards would prevent them wanting to be associated with it, and your product was too good to waste the opportunity of using it.’

‘So you’re happy that she is using it to drug the girls into submission,’ Miriam snarled.

‘That’s not what she does with it,’ Selina scoffed. ‘Where on earth did you get that outlandish idea?’

Jenny put her teacup down angrily. ‘I’ve witnessed it with my own eyes.’

‘No!’ Selina shook her head rapidly. ‘You must be mistaken. Augusta wouldn’t do something so immoral!’

Her disbelief appeared genuine. Jenny crossed the room and stood in front of her, watching her face for signs that she might be acting.

‘I was there recently, and I heard Augusta forcing it upon one of her girls. I think it was the one who was in the office when we first met her. She spoke a language I think was Italian.’

‘Bella! Oh no, surely not! She’s far too young to be working yet!’ Selina looked aghast. She fumbled her cup and saucer as she put them on the side table. It was the first graceless motion Jenny could remember seeing her ever perform. Again, she seemed authentically shocked, which gave Jenny hope that they might find an ally in her.

‘Did you know that Augusta uses her wards in that way?’ Gwen’s eyes narrowed dangerously.