Mrs. Katherine Saunders and clan visit The Silver Thimble

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina looks to Christine and raises an eyebrow.

[Mrs K. Saunders]

"Oh I am so sorry, forget I said anything." she says blushing, because she actually still can.

[Christine Daye]

Christine giggles nervously, her fingers twisting around each other. She looks around the room, ensuring they're not overheard, but still drops her voice a little.

"Oh... I might have mentioned... in strictest privacy.... the Parisian lace... with which you trimmed... my more recent acquisitions... and how beautiful it was.... and Mrs Saunders... was quite taken by the notion..."

There's the slightest hint of emphasis on the word "Mrs".

"... also... the trimming... in coloured ribbon... so much more... luxurious... beautiful... um... And after all, one should ensure that one's ensemble is complete and of the finest quality.... should one not? The um... underpinnings... are of much importance to the outfit... and... um... oh! They were just so beautiful! What is the point of denying oneself beauty simply because it is only to be seen by oneself? Mrs Saunders has been through... well... she deserves luxury and the best... which of course is why I brought her here in the first place...um..."

Her words fade away into a gentle hum.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina can't hold the slightly stern expression and relaxes into a genial smile as she lets for a peal of merry laughter.

"I'm sorry darling, it was dreadful of me to tease so, but I simply couldn't resist." She gives an apologetic glance to Christine then also check the room before continuing 'so long as the good Doctor is safely in the work room we might go onto the shop floor and examine some, ah, under pinnings? Anna can stand guard for us."

That said she guides all the ladies back into the shop where Miss Wilkins, now slightly more cheerful in appearance is sorting through a collection of ribbons.

"Ah Miss Wilkins, I wonder, could we prevail upon you to stand guard at the door to the parlour? Mr Swainswick and the Doctor are currently engaged in a fitting but I'd not wish for them to return unannounced when the ladies wish to inspect the contents of the second cupboard on the left."

This apparently innocuous remark makes the girl smile as she bobs a curstey. "Yes Miss Audley, of course." She quickly tidies up the ribbons and then leaves to take up her post quietly shutting the door behind her.

Valentina smiles and then heads over to the aforementioned cupboard and pulls out a few of the drawers, laying them on the counter top. She beckons the others over for a better view.

"These have been finished with Brussels lace and as you can see I have a selection of coloured ribbons. I have 3 sets left with the Parisian lace but one set is..." She coughs discreetly. "An experiment perhaps, for one with unusual tastes."

She mentioned them partly to see what reaction it'd get and partly to see if Katherine would ask for more information. The sets in front of her were all snowy white aside from the brightly coloured ribbons trimming them.

[Mrs K. Saunders]

A puzzled look comes over Katherine's face.
"How can underwear be experimental? Is it made from a more luxurious fabric and new colour? Enlighten me Miss Audley."

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina glances to Constance for a brief second, the twinkle in her eyes clearly evident before looking back to Katherine.

She grins wickedly. "Well darling, if a respectable married lady such as yourself doesn't know I'm not sure I should enlighten you."

She removes a new drawer and lays it on the table in front of them. "If you wish to make educated guesses though, please, be my guest..."

The new set is of a filmy silky fabric, fine enough to be entirely see through. It's black and trimmed with delicate black lace and tiny red bows. There seems to be rather less fabric than in the white sets as well.

Valentina watches all of them for their reactions, a tiny smirk hovering around her lips.

"Of course, I wouldn't sell these to just anyone... The Thimble prides itself on discretion you know."

[Mrs K. Saunders]

"What am I looking at? ...... I mean what pratical purpose would such an undergarment serve....."
Realisation dawns on Katherine, she goes red and covers her mouth in shock.

She looks around her and leans into Valentina's ear whispering
"Erm..... do they come in purple?"

[Christine Daye]

Christine smiles back at Valentina and giggles. As the drawers are laid out, she looks at the items on display longingly.

"Oh, they are so beautiful! And I can assure you, my dear Mrs Saunders, that they are delightful to wear! So soft..."

She stretches out a hand to touch the fabric, notices her gloves and sighs, dropping her hands once more.

She tilts her head in surprise at the sight of the experimental set, her eyes widening.

"Oh, Miss Audley, ... oh! Oh... I fear that... oh my.... um... perhaps... given my unmarried state... um... "

She abruptly turns away to the pile of ribbons, sorting through them, looking for the green ones, humming quietly to herself.

lavender's blue, dilly dilly, lavender's green... when you are king, dilly dilly, I shall be queen...

[CFlaubert]

Constance looks at the proffered item with interest

"Experimental you say?"

She picks them up and examines them from all sides. Carefully taking in the intricacies and delicacy. After a pause she speaks

"Well they certainly appear significantly more functional than the everyday variety. Certainly there wouldn't be the same sorts of delays one has to manage with using ones current wardrobe. If I had known such items were available Ms Audley, I'd certainly have asked you earlier! Why with such garments as these one would hardly have to leave one's lab. Astonishing that they're still considered experimental!"

She glances towards Valentina, something of a smile on her lips.

"Well these certainly meet my requirements....and black...black somehow seems perfectly appropriate. I'll take them!"

She nods in satisfaction.

[Valentina Audley]

It is not often these days, that Valentina is surprised. Rarer still are the times when she's rattled. However, as is the case now, it does happen.

She blinks at them all. Opens her mouth to say something and then shuts it again in silent discombobulation.

Were they honestly confessing by deed or word that not a one of them had the slightest knowledge of the art of seduction? Just how young were they all?

She tries again to say something. "Do you mean to tell me that not one of you has ever?" She stops. If they're that clueless they'll probably not understand the question.

She sighs, takes a deep breath and rubs a hand over her face.

"I am afraid you misunderstand me slightly darling. The garments are not experiment, it is there efficacy upon..." She tries to find a way to describe it without reduce Christine to hysterics. "Upon the person you might wish to seduce. They leave the wearer... open to misunderstandings if not correctly utilised." There was nothing for it, either Christine would cope or not.

"In answer to your question Mrs Saunders, I regret the answer is no as my fabric supplier only carries black. And even then he's wondering what I've been making with it." She sounds regretful.