Sophie gave a wistful sigh and walked to the window of the lovely studio where she, Fiona, and Lily met every Saturday morning to conduct business related to The Debutante’s Revenge. The studio, located in Fiona’s house, reflected the passions of all three women. Fiona’s breathtaking paintings graced the walls; Lily’s exquisite desk—a gift from her besotted duke—flanked shelves filled with novels, poems, and other inspiration; and Sophie’s lush plants sprouted and blossomed in every nook and cranny, adding beauty and softness to the elegance.

“The meeting went very well,” Sophie reported happily. “The members adored your sketch and Lily’s latest column. Both sparked a great deal of lively conversation.”

Lily blew a dark curl away from her face, set her pen on the desk blotter, and leaned back in her chair, her green eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Tell us more,” she urged. “What do your members wish to know? What topics capture their fancy?”

Sophie paced the length of the studio slowly, carefully considering her answer. She’d founded the Debutante Underground so that devotees of the column would have a place to discuss the column and other topics of interest to them—especially the ones that were deemed unsuitable for genteel drawing rooms. As such, the meetings were an excellent source of ideas for future columns, but Sophie was very careful not to violate her own guidelines—particularly those ensuring anonymity and forbidding the sharing of personal details. Fortunately, Fiona and Lily respected her adherence to the rules and never pressed her to share more than she felt she could. They could have attended themselves, of course, but perhaps they sensed that Sophie needed the meetings to be her domain—her unique contribution to their project.

“The women agreed wholeheartedly that a generous spirit is an important quality in a lover,” Sophie began. “But some of them wondered how to nurture that quality in their current partners. Others wished to learn how to be more generous lovers themselves.”

“Interesting,” Lily said. She picked up her pen, dipped the nib in her inkpot, and began scribbling notes. “Perhaps I should write about the importance of explicitly communicating one’s desires.”

“An excellent idea,” Fiona chimed in. “Honest communication is key to every aspect of a relationship.”

“Agreed,” Lily said firmly. “In next week’s column, I’ll advise women to tell their partners what they desire—both in the bed and outside of it.”

There was a time, not so long ago, when such forthright talk would have made Sophie blush to the roots of her hair. But she now realized that carnal pleasure was as natural as a seed sprouting in the sun. It was nothing to be ashamed of, but rather, something to appreciate—even celebrate. The Debutante’s Revenge had opened the door to an enticing, passionate new world.