Chapter 56 Return to London 18 Opening with Good Luck
"You've already noticed something's wrong, why are you asking now?"
At 1 a.m., Heather got out of bed with disheveled hair, and felt the devil's whispers ringing in her ears again.
Ahhh, a week had already passed. She still kept thinking about this sentence and began to ponder the answer. Why, why on earth?! Could it be because she was afraid that if she told him, he would stop showing up...
Hazel slumped onto the bed and yanked the thick, new velvet quilt up over her face.
Please, don't think about it anymore! Heather said to herself.
It must be because tomorrow is the aromatherapy center's ribbon-cutting ceremony and the first day of trial operation, and she is too nervous.
Heather closed her eyes and forced herself to review tomorrow's schedule again. Only then did she finally feel relieved and slowly fell asleep.
The next morning, Heather got up on time and asked Mrs. Johnson to design an outfit for her that was both noble and elegant, friendly and generous, and not too overwhelming. Mrs. Johnson once again fulfilled her demanding requirements brilliantly.
Heather looked at herself in the mirror with satisfaction: "Phew, that's good, everything is ready."
"God bless you, ma'am." Mrs. Johnson gently inserted the last brooch into her collar.
"Aunt! Look what this is!"
As soon as Heather came downstairs, Mary immediately stretched her head from the dining table to look at her. Heather took the thin book in her hand, which was today's "London Morning News".
"Oh, this is the advertising space I asked...Mr. Lancaster to help reserve in advance."
Lancaster had been completely absent for the past few days, but his messenger would appear in Paddington every day. Sometimes it was a letter discussing serious matters, sometimes a strange little story, and sometimes a large bag of freshly made cake rolls from Melville's. Even if Heather hadn't had time to think of a reply for several days, something related to him would still appear the next day.
"I know, but Auntie, look at what's written here. Why does it feel weird?"
Heather sat down and began to look at the ad carefully. This ad was published on the front page of the "Social Morning News", a £4 annual magazine that covered topics such as culture, social life and fashion, and its target audience was middle and upper class women.
"The H&D Botanical Aromatherapy Salon will begin its soft opening today, and interested women are invited to participate. During the first three days, celebrity experts will be on hand for interactive activities, and all participants will receive a customized aromatherapy pouch. In addition, ten lucky winners will be drawn to receive either a private box reservation at Covent Garden Opera House or a half-day private yacht ride on the Thames."
Huh? Heather's eyes widened. This was too high-end. The newly rich might not travel across several districts just to get a free sachet, but the latter two rewards would definitely attract many people.
"Reina! Go ahead and tell Miss Olivia that we need to prepare more seats and giveaways. There may be more people coming today than we expected."
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended mainly by insiders rather than clients, began at 11 a.m. Mrs. Banks and Heather cut the understated green velvet ribbon together in the beautifully landscaped garden.
The specially invited famous newspaper painter will take a few minutes to record this important moment. The columnist is waiting on the side, ready to interview the two partners separately to collect materials for tomorrow morning's front-page headlines.
The sunlight slanted down on the scissors, refracting tiny glints of light. Mrs. Banks, smiling for once, said calmly, "I hope we can all get what we want, Mrs. Lawrence."
"Of course." The lavender petals on the ground were blown onto Heather's skirt by the wind: "This is just the beginning, Mrs. Banks."
The picture is frozen on the canvas.
Mrs. Victor got off the carriage at three o'clock in the afternoon. She had already made an appointment with her friends to come and support Mrs. Lawrence on the first day. However, they met two other ladies when they were about to leave.
"Huh? Mrs. Lincoln, didn't you think it was inappropriate for a widow like Mrs. Lawrence to do something so conspicuous? Why are you going too?"
Mrs. Victor's blunt words made Mrs. Lincoln blush. She stiffened her neck and said, "Then I thought about it. It's not easy for her either. It would be so embarrassing if no one went."
Mrs. Lincoln's friend didn't give her face and got into Mrs. Victor's carriage. "Oh, she's just being stubborn. I tell you, she's been talking about how useful that bag of orange blossom fragrance is these past few days. She even knocked on my door early this morning to ask me to come with her."
Mrs. Victor agreed very much. "I wonder what other good things Mrs. Lawrence has. I put that aromatherapy in my bag. Although I am still very tired after a day, I feel much calmer."
However, they all agreed that there would not be too many people present today, because people always want to try new things themselves before they are willing to accept them, but if they are not widely accepted, most people are unwilling to try them.
This thought continued until they stood at the door of the villa.
"Mrs. Victor, has your driver taken the wrong road? There seem to be quite a few people here."
Mrs. Victor also felt very strange. After repeatedly confirming with the driver, she got off the car doubtfully.
"Good afternoon, ladies! Are you here to attend the opening of our aromatherapy salon?" A slender, friendly lady in a light yellow dress came forward. She greeted Mrs. Victor and the others in a friendly, yet non-flattering manner.
Mrs. Victor and the others were sure that they had not come to the wrong place.
"Today should be the first day, how come so many ladies know the news?" Mrs. Lincoln asked curiously as she looked at the well-dressed strangers coming and going around her.
Miss Olivia smiled slightly: "You probably didn't have time to read today's social morning paper? Many ladies came here specially because they saw the raffle prizes we advertised." As she spoke, she skillfully took out a newspaper.
Mrs. Victor hadn't had time to look at it; she was busy choosing her outfit this morning. But the woman who was traveling with Mrs. Lincoln saw it and said, "Is this real? A private yacht on the Thames? My husband has always wanted one, but it's too expensive and the itinerary is restricted by social status, so he's never been able to go."
Olivia led them inside and said sincerely, "Of course it's true. I was shocked to hear the news this morning. This is a rare opportunity. But even if you don't win, you won't be disappointed. Today we've invited the renowned plant connoisseur, Mrs. Dorothea Banks, to share her knowledge on the benefits of plants for women's health. And then there's Mrs. Lawrence demonstrating essential oil extraction and treatment techniques."
Passing through the hall, Mrs. Victor caught a glimpse of several ladies sitting in front of the large glass windows in the corner chatting. The sofas there looked particularly comfortable, and girls in uniform were serving them exquisite refreshments.
They were led to the back garden, where Olivia escorted them to the last row of seats. The back garden was very quiet, with only sporadic voices, as everyone was intently watching Mrs. Lawrence, who was explaining at the front.
"All plant essential oils are extracted through custom distillers, which are purer and more effective than those obtained through common infusions. The plants used are all provided by suburban farms or royal plantations."
Wearing pure white lace gloves, Heather placed two dark brown glass bottles under the gaze of everyone, and used a dropper to drop water into the hot water in the double-layer copper stove.
"Add three drops of rosemary and two drops of peppermint essential oil to half-boiled water. Steam will evenly emerge from the holes in the upper porcelain plate of the incense burner." Heather had an assistant blender half-recline on a chair and carefully adjusted the angle of the porcelain plate so that the steam holes were facing her neck. "When the meridians at the back of the neck are tense, the head will naturally feel groggy and tired."
"Indeed," Mrs. Victor whispered to her companion, "My neck has been really uncomfortable lately."
After Heather finished her adjustments, she stepped aside to allow the masseur to complete the next step.
"During the steam treatment, a massage oil made from sweet almond oil and a small amount of lavender essential oil will be used. Our specially hired professional masseuses will massage the neck muscles and solar plexus to further help relieve fatigue."
The assistant lying half-lying in front of her looked so comfortable that Mrs. Victor turned her stiff neck and was completely moved. She looked to the front row and found that other ladies had a beautiful brochure in their hands, so she looked around for other receptionists.
Someone soon noticed her need and handed each of them a booklet with a smile.
"There are only thirty places for the first batch of high-end members. If you pay a membership fee of 5 pounds in advance, you will enjoy a half-price discount for six months, as well as a new product trial gift box every month." Mrs. Victor read it out.
"Membership? What is this? But the price is not expensive. I see they use the best almond oil and those flowers. I wonder how many are needed to extract such a small amount of essential oil."
"Isn't that expensive?" Mrs. Lincoln objected. "Five pounds is only half price. Look at the other items. Just this one on the stage is two pounds at half price. It's much more expensive than getting your hair done at a milliner."
A lady sitting in the front row couldn't help but turn her head and whispered, "It's not cheap, but the environment here is much better than the millinery shop! Excuse me, if you mean the one in Bond Street, the lady outside just told me that members can rest in the lobby and enjoy tea for free."
"Ah!" Mrs. Victor was even more interested. "After we go to the millinery shop, we always spend at least a pound to go to the confectionery next door. It's really not expensive. By the way, which district do you live in?"
Mrs. Victor and the lady in the front row hit it off immediately and quickly exchanged names. Mrs. Victor was very satisfied because she loved meeting new friends the most.
After the previous explanation was over, Mrs. Victor and her friends returned to the hall with Mrs. Max and her daughter in the front row. Mrs. Victor joined the membership without hesitation, took her experience gift and planned to go back.
Olivia stopped her at this time and said, "Mrs. Victor, if you're not in a hurry to go back, you can go up and try any of our services for free. This is a special benefit for today's new members. We are currently in the trial operation phase, and only members can enjoy our services in advance for the next two weeks."
This was a pleasant surprise. Mrs. Victor had just wanted a cervical massage and had been lamenting the fact that the place wouldn't officially open for another two weeks. Several other ladies nearby also heard Olivia's words and, after a moment's hesitation, signed up for memberships.
Mrs. Victor and her friend went upstairs contentedly, and asked Mrs. Lincoln to rest downstairs for a while or call a carriage to go home by herself.
Just as she was happily sitting on the leather massage chair and about to lie down, Mrs. Lincoln came in.
"Hey, why are you here too?"
Mrs. Lincoln stuttered and walked straight to another massage chair on the left side of the curtain. "Although it's certainly not cheap, I don't need this little money. I also signed up for a membership."
Her good friend, Mrs. King, rushed over from the doorway to watch: "Oh, Mrs. Victor, you didn't know that Mrs. Lincoln just won the right to use the private box at the opera house!"
Now it was Mrs. Victor who was dumbfounded.
Mrs. Lincoln suppressed a laugh and said, "Although I'd rather go to the yacht, the opera house will do. Mrs. Ryan next door spent all her money last year and still couldn't get into the best private room. Mrs. Lawrence is also spending money, so of course I have to give her face."
After she finished speaking, she lay down comfortably amid the jealous looks of others.
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