Sophia turned her attention to Madam Hart, expression colored with intrigue as the woman explained some of the specifics of her business. It wasn’t as though Soph was blind, anyone could see the sort of operation run here. Already she noticed a stag party down below, with a man led off by a pretty redhead to some indeterminate location. Despite working towards different ends, however, the brunette could appreciate Rose’s candor and corresponding hustle.

“Sex sells,” she offered with a shrug, knowing eroticism was as significant a part of an artistic piece as the music or ambiance. “Ballet is as much a show of physical strength as it is a celebration of the body’s exquisite natural form, so we embrace this in our own way. After all, we would be poor businesswomen to not recognize the opportunity in front of us.” In more polite company, a socialite may have fainted at this discussion. So it pleased Sophia to find someone likeminded, especially now that she felt a pleasant rush from her first drink. It wouldn’t be long until she was completely numb to the wound from earlier; she bowed her head appreciatively as Rose seemed to read her mind and poured up their second glasses.

“I hope you’re not worried about my sensibilities, Madam Hart. I assure you that as a young girl touring world stages, I’ve encountered a fair share of men with more of an appetite for pretty faces than art – from tsars to sailors.” She punctuated the fact with a mischievous smile, shaking her head at thought. It was a disgusting, but predictable cliche that made men think ballet dancers were destined to please in more ways than one. Years of practice made her adept at robbing them of this notion.

Leaning close to Rose conspiratorially, “On one occasion, I delivered a sailor such a ferocious kick that I learned he died a few days later.*” she smirked. “I would hazard a guess that the only differences between our patrons are superficial ones. My genteel patrons might be missed at a funeral a bit more than some of yours. But stripped to the skin, these men all want the same thing – uncomplicated adoration, even if just for a few minutes.”

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