one blot in such a heartwarming image.
Her family.
“There is a meeting tonight at the home of one of the officers, Mrs. Knox,” I mused out loud. “Although not strictly a membership meeting, I don’t see what objections they could have to your attending it. What of your family? Surely they will pose objections? I am afraid that I have not made the . . . er . . . very best of impressions with them, and we both know how Mr. St. John feels about women’s suffrage.”
“Your introduction may have been slightly unorthodox, but you have made quite an impression with Griffin.” She paused. “I will admit that he does not support women’s rights, but I have determined to not let that stand in my way. I don’t believe Griffin will have any objections to my attending meetings in your company.”
“That astonishes me greatly, I must confess. While I have known your brother only a short time, I’m afraid the impression he has left upon me is one of boorishness and a closed mind.” Wrapped up in an incredibly attractive package, but I needn’t tell her of the more lustful of my thoughts. “I fear you are in for more dissension than you are allowing.”
Helena looked shocked, and made an exclamation. I halted her by saying, “Forgive me for speaking so rudely, but Mr. St. John’s opinions are exactly those against which we are struggling! If you wish to take a part in this glorious battle, you must be prepared to face such beliefs, and to do your best to educate those ignorant minds, as I have strived to do.”
“But,” she stammered, “that is not at all what he was saying last night, at home—he is not at all like that—”
I cut short her protestations. “I will give you some literature that states the Women’s Suffrage Union views, which you may use as a verbal sword when attacked by those of weaker intellect.”
“I suppose that would help…”
I rose and gathered a collection of pamphlets from the desk. The tea arrived, and as I handed Helena a cup, I motioned towards the pamphlets.
“Take these home with you. I feel firmly that your family will oppose you attending the Union’s meetings, but since you are determined . . . .” My eyebrows rose questioningly.
She nodded. “There is one thing I should tell you, Miss Whitney. It is about my brother.”
“Something more?”
“No, it is about my older brother, Lord Sherringham.” She paused, and clasped her hands in distress. “He has very different opinions than ours, as you might have noticed.”
I remembered with clarity his rude comments outside of the Hospital Ball.
“I should warn you that he has taken a stand against suffrage in the House of Lords, and is considered one of the leading proponents against our noble cause.”
I mentally groaned. Oh, I had put myself in a fine position—mentor to the only sister of the enemy camp’s leading supporter. Swallowing my concern, I smiled grimly at her. “We certainly have our work cut out for us, do we not?”
“I look forward to joining the Women’s Union tonight, and declaring myself in the war against men.”
“It’s not quite a war,” I cautioned, disliking her to believe that violence was a part of Union work. “Nor is it really a Union meeting tonight. I don’t want you to be disappointed—the recording secretary is ill, and I will be taking notes of a meeting between a few of the officers only. They will be discussing the roster of active suffragists, and beginning to plan the demonstrations that we will hold in the coming months. It’s bound to be a bit tedious. Are you sure you want to come?”
“Very much so. We are to go to dinner at a distant cousin’s, but I am sure I can get out of it.” She looked up at me with sudden humor. “I believe I shall have a headache, and retire early to my bed.”
We agreed that Helena would meet me at my sister’s home, and from here we would drive to the meeting at Mrs. Knox’s house near the British Museum. After a
Her family.
“There is a meeting tonight at the home of one of the officers, Mrs. Knox,” I mused out loud. “Although not strictly a membership meeting, I don’t see what objections they could have to your attending it. What of your family? Surely they will pose objections? I am afraid that I have not made the . . . er . . . very best of impressions with them, and we both know how Mr. St. John feels about women’s suffrage.”
“Your introduction may have been slightly unorthodox, but you have made quite an impression with Griffin.” She paused. “I will admit that he does not support women’s rights, but I have determined to not let that stand in my way. I don’t believe Griffin will have any objections to my attending meetings in your company.”
“That astonishes me greatly, I must confess. While I have known your brother only a short time, I’m afraid the impression he has left upon me is one of boorishness and a closed mind.” Wrapped up in an incredibly attractive package, but I needn’t tell her of the more lustful of my thoughts. “I fear you are in for more dissension than you are allowing.”
Helena looked shocked, and made an exclamation. I halted her by saying, “Forgive me for speaking so rudely, but Mr. St. John’s opinions are exactly those against which we are struggling! If you wish to take a part in this glorious battle, you must be prepared to face such beliefs, and to do your best to educate those ignorant minds, as I have strived to do.”
“But,” she stammered, “that is not at all what he was saying last night, at home—he is not at all like that—”
I cut short her protestations. “I will give you some literature that states the Women’s Suffrage Union views, which you may use as a verbal sword when attacked by those of weaker intellect.”
“I suppose that would help…”
I rose and gathered a collection of pamphlets from the desk. The tea arrived, and as I handed Helena a cup, I motioned towards the pamphlets.
“Take these home with you. I feel firmly that your family will oppose you attending the Union’s meetings, but since you are determined . . . .” My eyebrows rose questioningly.
She nodded. “There is one thing I should tell you, Miss Whitney. It is about my brother.”
“Something more?”
“No, it is about my older brother, Lord Sherringham.” She paused, and clasped her hands in distress. “He has very different opinions than ours, as you might have noticed.”
I remembered with clarity his rude comments outside of the Hospital Ball.
“I should warn you that he has taken a stand against suffrage in the House of Lords, and is considered one of the leading proponents against our noble cause.”
I mentally groaned. Oh, I had put myself in a fine position—mentor to the only sister of the enemy camp’s leading supporter. Swallowing my concern, I smiled grimly at her. “We certainly have our work cut out for us, do we not?”
“I look forward to joining the Women’s Union tonight, and declaring myself in the war against men.”
“It’s not quite a war,” I cautioned, disliking her to believe that violence was a part of Union work. “Nor is it really a Union meeting tonight. I don’t want you to be disappointed—the recording secretary is ill, and I will be taking notes of a meeting between a few of the officers only. They will be discussing the roster of active suffragists, and beginning to plan the demonstrations that we will hold in the coming months. It’s bound to be a bit tedious. Are you sure you want to come?”
“Very much so. We are to go to dinner at a distant cousin’s, but I am sure I can get out of it.” She looked up at me with sudden humor. “I believe I shall have a headache, and retire early to my bed.”
We agreed that Helena would meet me at my sister’s home, and from here we would drive to the meeting at Mrs. Knox’s house near the British Museum. After a
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