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“Mr Black… as I came in, I saw a woman leave this shop, tucking something away. I admit to curiosity – why would a woman, wrapped in a cloak as if for concealment, be visiting a Gentlemen’s Outfitters?”
Mr Black regarded him for some time, and Thorne wondered if he had offended the man.
But then Black nodded, as if coming to a decision.
“I believe I’ll tell you the truth of it, my Lord, for your family have proven to be trustworthy. I make and sell more than sword canes, as you know, but some of what I make is never seen in this shopfront. If you’ll forgive me for it, I’ll be blunt. I’m bastard-born – my mother at least did what she did out of love, however misplaced, but there are many women who end up with child, and not by willing choice, and many bastard-born children whose lives are far worse than mine has been. I want to give women a choice, a way to defend themselves.”
Thorne contemplated those words, he could certainly agree with the sentiment.
“But… how?”
“Two ways, my Lord. With the weapons I make for them – knives disguised as those small tubes that women keep knitting needles and scissors in, for sewing, and other similar items that can fit in a reticule or a pocket – and by the things I teach them, about how to… fight dirty… shall we say, when a man attempts to do things they don’t want.”
“That’s… a wonderful idea! When my sisters were younger, as they got closer to the age when men noticed them, I taught each one of them just where to apply a knee, or the heel of a boot, to… discourage… an overenthusiastic gentleman. One or two of them even used that knowledge to good effect a few times. But where do you do this? And how do you find the time?”
“That’s the rub, my Lord. There really isn’t enough time, since Blackwater acknowledged me, and the ton decided that they like my work. And there isn’t really enough space here, either…”
Thorne stared at the counter top, unseeing, his mind turning it all over. He needed something to do, and something worthwhile – he refused to just drink and gamble his life away. He had funds – and he knew that Mr Black did too, now. What if… they could work together, and find a nearby building to buy, for just this purpose?
“Mr Black, Does the idea of founding a personal defence school for women of the lower classes appeal to you?”
“Of course, my Lord, it’s what I’ve been working towards – but… the time, and the finding of a place…”
“Mr Black, are you willing to take a partner in this venture? Because I have time, and I have funds to contribute.”
Mr Black half gasped.
“You’d involve yourself in such a thing? You, a Duke’s heir?”
“A Duke’s heir with not enough to do, and a desire to help women – having seven sisters will make you think like that. For that matter, if I could think of a way to create a personal defence school for young women of the ton as well, I would. But how any of them might escape their mamas to attend I cannot, at this point, imagine.”
“You’ve the right of it there, my Lord. But perhaps, if we start with the commoners, you’ll come up with an idea, later…”
“By that statement, I take it that you’ll have me as a partner in this endeavour?”
“Indeed – I’d be a fool to turn you away.”
“Excellent! While you set to making my sword cane, I will set about finding us a building – close enough to here for convenience, and inconspicuous enough that the women coming to it will feel safe.”
>>>
Marion, Countess of Hungerwood, spluttered, nearly dropping her teacup.
“Faith! You did what?!”
“I applied my knee to Lord Parrington’s privates, with some considerable force. He released me with pleasing alacrity. I left him curled up on the terrace tiles, moaning piteously. It was entirely his own fault for attempting to continue when I had said no.”
“Oh dear! No wonder he looked so very unwell when he came back into the ballroom. But was that wise? Will not that action likely make all men, good or bad, avoid your company? Men are, after all, quite sensitive about such treatment…”
Faith sipped her own tea, and smiled, despite the fact that Marion’s words sent a tiny frisson of fear through her.
“If they are afraid that I might do such a thing to them, then I can only assume that they would consider doing something to deserve it. And if that is the case, then I do not wish to know them.”
“That is a valid point. We will just have to see if Parrington spreads gossip, or if he is too embarrassed to admit he was felled so by a ‘slip of a girl’.”
“Perhaps we would all be better off if more young women of the ton knew how to do such things, how to defend themselves from unwanted amorous advances.”
“Perhaps we would, indeed.”
