An Offering. Arthur had put quite some thought into developing the sample parcel for Señora De Matteo. She had said she did not wear make-up often, which meant nothing too strong or too difficult to apply. He had only a guess at her age, which meant he had to walk a fine line between things that did not suit a lady over twenty-five but which did not imply he thought she was old. Skincare had always been a key element of Arvale's ethos, but sending too many products along those lines, particularly with no detailed knowledge of her skin type and with a strong desire to avoid offering offense by suggesting that her skin needed improvement...and so on. He had spent hours putting things in, taking things out, and swearing under his breath.
Ros had laughed at him, saying it was possible that he was the only heterosexual man in Georgia who could take such an intense interest in cosmetics, to which he had rejoined by telling her that she could thank his cosmetics for her Louboutins - a familiar, flirtatious back and forth between them, a familiar, comfortable thing. He thought that might have helped him relax enough to finally make a decision, bundle up things, and send them along: a few tiny tubes of mascara, several tiny pots of SPF-infused foundation in different shades he thought were close to hers, miniature lipsticks and hand creams and moisturizers. Additionally, he had included a half-sized bullet of the new Summer Rose tinted balm and its matching nail polish, shades he had had developed to go along with Jessica Rose and the shades being developed for Mara and Lola for the new youth line launch; Summer Rose was a more corally pink than the original Jessica Rose, a warm and bright summer color, but still sheer and unsaturated enough to be appropriate on younger girls. With this bundle, he included a short letter.
Señor y Señora De Matteo, he wrote in Spanish.
I hope this parcel finds you both well. I look back fondly on our meeting at our children's school and recalled Señora De Matteo's interest in Arvale Cosmetics products. I hope you will accept this gift of samples and will find products you like among them. Also included are lip gloss and nail varnish from our new juniors line, which I thought Leonor might enjoy. Rosalie, Jessica, and I all send our regards to her and Felipe as well as yourselves.