Chapter 53 Return to London 15 Loading
In early 19th-century Europe, plant-based perfumes were already very popular. However, the primary purpose of plant aromas was to mask body odor, and their physiological regulating properties had not yet been fully explored. Entering the market at a time when perfume was commercially mature and the concept of aromatherapy was still relatively new, it was both easily accepted and sparked a new trend.
Top-class ladies of the most prestigious status tend to stick to conventions, and they may be hesitant to enjoy services that can only be enjoyed outside. After her own experience of sweeping the shopping streets in the early stage, Hessel decided to target customers above the emerging middle class.
These newly rich ladies, who have just escaped from hard work and developed a certain desire to consume, are willing to spend some money that is not too excessive and also like to go out and socialize. Most importantly, they are not too difficult to deal with and will not use their status to overturn a small business that has just started out if things don't go their way.
Since the clientele is not truly established aristocrats, the location should avoid aristocratic areas where rents are high and the new rich rarely visit.
Heather originally planned to spend a week or two to choose a location, but a few days later, Mrs. Banks sent a message through Anna saying that she had a suitable villa that could be used as an aromatherapy center.
Anna chose to come visit during lunch time. She handed the key to Heather and sat down opposite Mary. She asked Lena to help her add a set of tableware as if she was familiar with the place.
"It's one of the townhouses in Bloomsbury, close to the emerging middle-class neighborhood. It's only a ten-minute drive from Chelsea, where businessmen gather, and our area. It's lively but not as expensive as Bond Street. Oh, and there's no rent. Dorothea owned that house before she got married. My mother also had a house on that street, but she sold it later because she was short of money."
Anna went home after dinner. She took a new order from Mrs. Banks. This order could earn her 60 pounds, enough for her to buy the expensive dress she had been eyeing for a long time.
Heather took Mary to see the house immediately, and she knew at first sight that this was the house she was looking for.
The villa was not big, with only three floors in total. The decoration was simple and unremarkable, but this was exactly what Heather wanted. She didn't have to demolish the original design and could just make modifications on top of it.
"The first-floor lobby can be used as a social area, where the ladies can chat while waiting," Heather said as she walked around the hall. "On the right side, we can put a wooden shelf to display our essential oil products, plant specimens, and tea sets. On the left side, we can put three or four tables and serve some special refreshments, similar to those in Mrs. Banks' salon, with rose jam and chamomile cookies. I'm sure she won't ask me for royalties."
Mary paced around the house excitedly, she never imagined that one day she would run a business from scratch.
"We could ask Anna to help with some decorations. She'd offer a friendly price and we'd save a ton of money!" Mary had an unusually keen eye for saving money. "Oh, by the way, Auntie, didn't you just mention that there aren't enough rooms on the second floor? We could just divide the two large master bedrooms with a curtain down the middle, or even make them double rooms. I think those two ladies we met at the milliner's last time would be happy to chat with their companions while they're being treated."
"That's right, that's right." Heather agreed with her niece's money-saving method. Investing too much upfront could easily lead to losing everything. "Using curtains is much easier than rebuilding the wall."
The renovations were handed over to the housekeepers, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. Mr. Johnson had recently overseen a move and had gathered the contact information for numerous moving companies, furniture companies, and labor agencies in London. Mrs. Johnson, with her sophisticated aesthetic, confidently took on the interior design work after Heather had vaguely given her some disjointed ideas.
Then comes the most important product.
A few days after the new blueprints were delivered, when Reina went to check on the progress, Theodore had already successfully completed the task. However, this time, Reina gave him an extra two pounds as per Heather's arrangement and asked him to bring the work himself.
"Two copper stills, with capacities of 5 gallons and 2 gallons respectively. They have a slender condenser welded to the top, a leak-proof piston with a diameter of 0.8 inches, and a round copper pot with a diameter of one inch at the base. I've checked them carefully and there are no problems."
He then pulled out a large pile of bottles and jars from the box he had been holding. "And the glass droppers, brown light-proof bottles, mortars, and wool filter cloths you'll need later. These are samples. If everything goes well, I'll prepare ten sets of them. So, I've already paid a lot of money, isn't it time to pay me?"
Heather pulled the box over and examined it carefully, then looked up in surprise. This Theodore Westin was surprisingly reliable. There was even a long detailed bill in the box. However, Heather had no way of checking whether the specific amount was overstated, but the total amount did not exceed 150 pounds, so the price should not be too outrageous.
"Great, no problem." Heather took out 200 pounds from the drawer and handed it to Theodore: "150 pounds for checkout, 50 pounds for you. Help me find a few more things."
"Okay, okay! No problem! I admire bosses like you who are so straightforward!" Theodore's eyes lit up at the sight of the money. "Even if it's buried in the ground, I'll find a way to dig it out for you."
Buried in the ground... Heather frowned. Theodore's nonsense character was completely her sore spot.
"I need to establish long-term cooperation with flower farms and purchase some common local plants, such as mint, lavender, and chamomile. The specific requirements are on the list."
Theodore took a look and asked with a playful smile, "So you want to start a perfume business? Let me tell you, there's no market for it. There are at least three prestigious perfume shops on Bond Street."
"...This is none of your business. As an intelligence dealer, please keep your mouth shut." Heather has always preferred serious and respectable men in her male aesthetic. Theodore is too flashy. Although Caroline secretly calls him a bit romantic, Heather has always been wary of him, always feeling that he might turn against her.
Theodore readily agreed: "Okay, ma'am, I'll be able to hand over the candidate soon. I've made similar connections for foreign trade merchants before."
Common flowers can be purchased from local farms, while scarce raw materials such as Ledum imported from overseas have to be provided by Mrs. Banks, after all, the quantity required is not large.
In addition, there are some delicate species that need to be cultivated in greenhouses, such as roses and geraniums. These varieties can initially rely on the greenhouse rose gardens in the suburbs of London for emergency use, but the prices there are too high and the quality is average. After much deliberation, Heather decided to grow them herself to prevent future bottlenecks, but she has not yet decided on the specific operation.
With so much money being spent, Heather felt a little overwhelmed. She just wanted it to be like the laboratory she was in when she was studying, where the funds would be managed by someone arranged by her supervisor, and everyone else only needed to apply for and be reimbursed.
So Mary volunteered to take on the financial work. She had read Das Kapital twice. Although this might not directly guide daily accounting processing, her sensitivity to numbers and grasp of business logic far surpassed Heather's, because Heather only knew the principle of not spending more than she earned.
"It's pure torture. I mean, I have to record and estimate every single account, and I have to haggle to control costs." Heather just wants to spend without thinking, but unfortunately, she's not rich enough yet. "Now I finally understand why my sister hasn't been able to save extra money for her nieces' dowries. To be honest, cash flow is really hard to control. Mary is different. She's a natural business person and has been a huge help to me."
"What about me?" Lancaster felt his job was in jeopardy. "What can I do?"
He was so proactive that Heather racked her brains to think of a job for him.
"Ah, I remember you said before that you often contribute articles to The Times mocking politicians. Why don't you write a few promotional articles for me and submit them to newspapers and magazines like The Times, The Weekly Express, and The Female Spectator?"
Lancaster deeply felt the feeling of shooting himself in the foot. In fact, he was not good at writing articles at all. He usually mocked those people in person.
“…Of course.”
Lancaster hesitated for a second between hiring someone else to write the article and writing it himself, then chose the latter. He immediately asked his assistant, Evan, to buy the five best-selling newspapers and magazines from London newsstands, placed the contact information of their respective owners on his desk, and then began to study hard, striving to submit a perfect answer before the aromatherapy clinic officially opened.
Finally, there are the personnel.
The first was a senior nurse, Mrs. Banks, who recommended a 40-year-old lady she knew who had studied at a nursing college and mastered basic massage. She had a steady image and skilled techniques, and she needed money at the right time, so she quickly agreed for the sake of the salary and started practicing and training.
Assistant blenders didn't need to be as experienced; they only needed to be literate and careful in their work. Reina and Mrs. Banks's personal maid had both received training from Heather. After completing their training, they would each recruit several local girls from the common people and train them into talented individuals.
In addition, the core team also needs a salon manager who is responsible for observing the expressions of customers on the first floor, chatting with customers, and quietly promoting sales. Finding such a person is very difficult. On the one hand, it requires a deep knowledge of the product, and on the other hand, it requires emotional intelligence and social skills.
"I can recite all the essential oil formulas, ingredients, and effects by heart." Mary sat on the second-floor windowsill, her account book clutched, watching Reina diligently teach the new girl how to use a dropper. "But I really can't chat and laugh with those ladies. Finding topics to talk about in front of strangers is a hundred times harder than studying."
"I'm good at finding topics to talk about. But that recipe book is too complicated. Even if you hang my head on a chandelier, I won't be able to memorize it." Anna pretended to faint.
At this time, the sound of high heels came from the stairs. Before I saw anyone, I heard a soft female voice.
"Mrs. Lawrence, long time no see."
Anna leaned over the railing, looked down, and mouthed to Hazel, "It's Mrs. Mason."
It turned out to be Mrs. Madeline Mason. After the last salon, Heather never participated in any other large social events, so she never saw this lady again.
Mrs. Mason was as graceful and polite as ever. She came up and greeted everyone before walking towards Heather.
"Mrs. Lawrence, I'm sorry I came here without sending a visiting card in advance. My house is on this street, and I can see your front door from my balcony. In fact, this is the third time I've seen you coming in and out of here. I was really curious, so I came here uninvited."
"I see." Heather was impressed by Mrs. Mason's social skills. She always blended into the conversation like water without leaving any trace. Even people who were prejudiced against her at first would find it difficult to dislike her after talking to her. What a suitable candidate for salon housekeeper. It's a pity that someone with such status doesn't need such a small salary.
"Well, I'm thinking of taking the lead in organizing a special plant salon recently. It's a long-term one, and it will mainly use some natural plant extracts to treat common physical discomforts among women." Heather gave a brief introduction to their future business. Although Mrs. Mason is not the target customer group for on-site consumption, she may be willing to buy some products to use at home.
Mrs. Mason listened carefully, nodding frequently. "Sounds very novel, especially that hand cream? I'll definitely buy some as soon as it opens. This winter has been so dry. However, when I came up just now, I seemed to hear you guys talking about the housekeeper."
"Ah, yes. I'm looking for a suitable person to take charge of reception and introductions at the front desk, but after much thought, I can't find anyone who can be used."
Mrs. Mason lowered her head and pondered for a few seconds. "I do have a suitable candidate. She's a distant cousin of mine who has never planned to get married. She's very sociable and used to help out at a gallery in London. She's very familiar with all the paintings on display. Perhaps she could give it a try."
"Is it the Cornaghi Gallery?" Anna asked. "I seem to remember it. There was a lady there with a round face who loved to laugh. She was even better at chatting than I was. Once, when no one was around, we spent a whole hour talking about contemporary painters. In the end, I even bought a painting, and it's still in my studio."
"That sounds like exactly what we're looking for!" Just being able to chat isn't enough; being able to get customers to spend money willingly afterward is the hallmark of a top-tier salesperson. "Mrs. Mason, when is your cousin free? I'd love to have a good chat with her."
Mrs. Mason said she would contact her cousin as soon as possible and send someone to deliver the letter here once the time was confirmed.
With the major problem of staffing solved, the preliminary preparations began to proceed in an orderly manner. Heather breathed a sigh of relief and began to look forward to the opening.
"Oh, by the way, there's one more thing." Mrs. Mason said goodbye and then turned back. "My fiancé is hosting a dinner party in Chelsea this Saturday night to help us integrate into Chelsea's social circles. The dinner party is quite grand, and all the new rich families living in Chelsea and the surrounding areas have been invited. Although it's not as luxurious as the top aristocratic balls, it has its own unique flavor."
Mrs. Mason took out a lavender and gold invitation from her exquisite embroidered handbag and handed it to Heather: "You are welcome to come. You can bring as many friends as you want. We hope that more people will participate in this dinner."
Heather accepted the invitation and promised to attend the ball.
This was exactly what she wanted. Offline promotion before the opening was essential, as many newly wealthy middle-class women didn't like reading newspapers or magazines. As for Paddington, Heather had asked Anna, who had lived there for three years, to take her to visit the neighbors.
As for the Chelsea district, she had originally planned to visit the brewery owner, Mrs. Victor, at the millinery shop according to the address she had left behind. However, Mrs. Mason's ball would obviously allow her to reach more target customers, which was a great opportunity to establish a mass base in Chelsea.
"Leina, pack five sets of each of the essential oils and products I made earlier. Use the most exquisite packaging!" Heather shouted, "I want to show off my skills at the dinner party on Saturday!"
When Madeline Mason returned to the balcony of her house, she saw Heather and others across the street coming out of the villa and getting into a carriage.
"Madam, do you really want Miss Olivia to leave the gallery and go to some aromatherapy shop? She's a good source of information if she stays there." The personal maid asked carefully behind her.
Madeline still had that gentle expression on her face. "Of course, there are other ways to gather information, but this is the best way to get close to Mrs. Lawrence."
"But...didn't Lord Lancaster ask us to keep an eye on Mrs. Lawrence?"
"He didn't want me to be his spy anymore, but he didn't stop me from helping Mrs. Lawrence sincerely."
A carriage approached from below, and Madeline calmly left the balcony. "Didn't you see? Two days ago, Mr. Lancaster came to the aromatherapy parlor alone. He's a highly respected and busy Chief Justice, not some idle dandy. You know, in a crucial moment, no other source of information is as useful as his."
The maid was still a little confused: "But, if I make friends with Mrs. Lawrence, will that gentleman help me?"
Madeline didn't answer the question. She thought, yes, she could sense that even the high and mighty, cold-blooded Supreme Court Justice had an irresistible attraction to him. That alone was enough for her to bet on Mrs. Lawrence.
Furthermore, the lady possessed an indescribable charm. It was as if she had never been caged or tamed by formalities, which made people inextricably curious and attracted to her. Even if she had no connection to the Chief Justice, Madeleine was willing to spend a little time and energy on her.
Saturday came quickly.
Saturday's dinner was held at Terrace House on the Chelsea River, a townhouse on the banks of the Thames. It was once the private residence of a shipbuilder in the 18th century and after renovation it still retains the spaciousness of a riverside mansion.
Through the porch, the main banquet hall is on the second floor. The window frames are painted a deep dark green, framing the river view into a flowing painting. In the twilight, the lights of Battersea Bridge on the opposite bank gradually light up, the river ripples dark blue, and the faint sound of piano music drifts in.
The terrace outside the banquet hall was covered with non-slip teak wood flooring and surrounded by pots of blooming flowers, red and pink, swaying gently in the night breeze. The weather had warmed up today, making it a perfect setting for a banquet like this.
When Heather and Mary arrived at their destination, the house was already full of people inside and outside. Several lively children were playing freely on the riverside terrace, and there were also many people standing on the huge balcony on the second floor. It seemed that Mrs. Mason's invitation was indeed spread widely.
"The scenery here is truly beautiful. I still remember when we first arrived in London, there was a house in Chelsea listed in the property brochure." Mary struggled to avoid a maid carrying a silver tray of port wine across the lawn and squeezed into the first-floor lobby. "It's a bit far from the city center, though. Except for the time I came to London from Longbourn, I've never had a carriage ride this long." Even though it was only forty minutes.
"It's because it's far away that it feels different from the city center, isn't it?"
Hessel felt this place was more like a post-industrial modern city. As the river breeze carried moisture in, the factory chimneys on the other side of the river had just ceased operations, their smoke plumes fading to wisps of light gray in the sunset glow. Most of the people here were newly wealthy individuals who had built their fortunes through industry and trade. They discussed not palace secrets or landed harvests, but stocks, steam, and business opportunities in a newly opened railway company east of the city.
"Indeed, how should I put it? It just feels freer and more casual here, without the feeling of being constrained. The roasted partridge is delicious, too." Mary picked up a small plate of sizzling, sliced partridge legs from the long dining table on the first floor and followed the example of the people around her. This reminded her of Longbourn for the first time in a long time, not because of anything else, but mainly because of the roasted grouse on hunting day.
As they were talking, the host of the banquet came down from the second floor and began to circle around to greet the new guests on the first floor. Many people put down their plates and looked over curiously.
"Wow, is that Mrs. Mason's fiancé?" Mary handed her finished plate to the maid and wiped her mouth. "Well, Mrs. Mason is still as bright and charming as ever, and her fiancé is not bad either. Although he looks a little older, he is still within the range of being a dashing man."
Heather chuckled at her serious comment. "What do you know about being suave, little girl? Why don't we go find Mrs. Victor's seven sons and broaden our horizons?"
Mary looked at her aunt helplessly: "Aesthetic appreciation of the opposite sex is an innate nature." It was a rare occasion for her to be so pedantic and show off her knowledge. Heather couldn't help laughing out loud.
"Mrs. Lawrence, you seem very happy. I hope you like today's party." It was Mrs. Mason who turned around with her fiancé. Heather was so busy talking that she didn't notice.
She quickly put on a polite social smile. "Good evening, Mrs. Mason. Sorry, I just love the atmosphere here." Heather turned to the man next to her whose eyes sparkled inexplicably. "Is this your fiancé?"
Madeline secretly pinched the man with her right hand and said calmly, "Yes, this is Mr. Howard Crawford. These two are my friends, Mrs. Lawrence and Miss Mary Bennett."
The man greeted Heather and Mary with a distorted expression.
"Mr. Crawford, this name sounds familiar." Heather wondered if this was the Crawford from the canal company.
Crawford leaned forward gracefully. "I suppose Mrs. Lawrence has some relatives who invested in the Birmingham-Liverpool Canal. I happen to be the manager of the Birmingham Company."
"I see, that's indeed the reason."
Having satisfied her curiosity, Hazel turned around and continued chatting with Mrs. Mason. Although Crawford was the owner of the canal company, she had completely handed the matter over to Mr. Darcy and was too lazy to take the opportunity to make friends with Crawford for any benefit.
Mrs. Mason went to greet the other guests and left without saying a few words. As they left, Mr. Crawford looked back at Heather again with an expression of great interest.
Heather was secretly alert. Although she was not narcissistic enough to think that she would make her fiancé, a beautiful woman like Mrs. Mason, fall in love at first sight, Mr. Darcy once mentioned that this man was rumored to have ten illegitimate children, so she always felt that this gentleman was not a good person.
"Do you have to stare at me so blatantly?" Madeline whispered in Crawford's ear affectionately, blushing expertly amid the good-natured teasing of the people around her.
"I'm sorry, dear. I'm really curious about who could make our Duke go to such great lengths." Crawford considerately took away his fiancée's wine glass and replaced it with a glass of lemonade.
"Oh, really? You invited that gentleman today, didn't you? If he saw you, I'm really worried that you'd end up in some bad way."
"Don't worry too much, my dear fiancée. Lancaster and I have known each other for over thirty years. Even if he were a stone, he would still have some affection for me. But you," Crawford lowered his head slightly and leaned close to Madeline's head, "my dear, you are planting spies to plot against Mrs. Lawrence. Aren't you really afraid of becoming neighbors with your ex-husband?"
Madeline shook his hand off: "I didn't plot against her. Can't I make friends with someone sincerely?"
Crawford reached out and took her back without any anger, nodding and smiling at the people around who were looking at him.
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