suffragettes for all she knew.
She doubted it, however. They were probably the type who would simper around Harrison, playing coy and delicate and helpless. He would like that type of female.
He probably thought it beneath him to be challenged by a woman.
No, he hadn’t read the broadside, she was certain of it. She smiled into the wind, anticipating when he finally did.
Chapter 6
T oday’s council meeting had been contentious. Just when Logan thought the clamor might die down, a male representative of the Scottish Ladies National Association was allowed into council chambers.
When he read the petition handed to him, presented by a man who otherwise looked intelligent, he only stared at it.
“The SLNA wants to march through the streets of Edinburgh?” he asked, biting back his irritation and attempting to sound calm and reasoned.
“Yes, Provost Harrison, in order to demonstrate to the good citizens of Edinburgh our just cause.”
He put the petition on the long table in front of him. “Have you traveled through Edinburgh lately, Mr. McElwee?”
The man held his ground, smiling back at him. “Indeed I have, sir, and I understand your concerns about congestion. The SLNA wishes to hold the march at a time both convenient to the council and when we would be most visible to the citizens.”
Logan glanced to his left, then his right, meeting the stony features of his fellow councilmen. “We will take it under advisement, Mr. McElwee.”
The man nodded. “When might you make a decision, Lord Provost? The ladies are most anxious.”
“Have you no concern for their safety?” he asked. “Or are you not aware of the number of disturbances during each of the SLNA meetings?”
For the first time, McElwee didn’t look as sanguine. “We are indeed aware, Lord Provost, which is the reason why we wish to march. If the inhabitants of Edinburgh truly understood our goals, I believe we would be able to marshal their support.”
Two women had been badly hurt last week, and just a few days ago a group of men shouting epithets had advanced on women leaving one of the meetings.
One of his predecessor’s most memorable acts had been to adopt a dog and, when he died, have a statue erected in his honor. While Logan knew he would, no doubt, be remembered by posterity as the man who oversaw the destruction of Edinburgh by a war of the sexes on the Royal Mile.
“The ladies will simply have to petition other cities in the interim,” he said.
A half hour later he parted from his fellow council members. After giving instructions to the secretary recording the meeting, he made his way to his office, only to be waylaid by McElwee. The man stepped out from an alcove and stood in the middle of the corridor, effectively blocking his passage.
“Mr. Harrison, if I might have a moment,” he said.
“Now is not the time to press your case, Mr. McElwee. I believe you already did a sufficient job of that in council chambers. As I told you, we will take the matter under advisement.”
“What would it take to convince you, sir, that the SLNA should be given the opportunity to educate and inform?”
“There are plenty of ways they could educate and inform, Mr. McElwee, that wouldn’t put them in jeopardy. We could not guarantee their safety.”
“We do not wish to be safe, sir. We wish to be heard.”
Logan folded his arms, staring at the other man. “We? How did you find yourself involved in a group of women?” Raucous women at that, who were determined to press their case to others who didn’t want to learn or listen.
“There are numerous men who belong to the SLNA, Mr. Harrison. Those men who realize it is the nineteenth century, time enough for women to take their rightful place alongside men.” He eyed Logan with narrowed eyes. “You’re a director of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, are you not?”
“I am.”
“A pity you do not care as much for the plight of women as you do
She doubted it, however. They were probably the type who would simper around Harrison, playing coy and delicate and helpless. He would like that type of female.
He probably thought it beneath him to be challenged by a woman.
No, he hadn’t read the broadside, she was certain of it. She smiled into the wind, anticipating when he finally did.
Chapter 6
T oday’s council meeting had been contentious. Just when Logan thought the clamor might die down, a male representative of the Scottish Ladies National Association was allowed into council chambers.
When he read the petition handed to him, presented by a man who otherwise looked intelligent, he only stared at it.
“The SLNA wants to march through the streets of Edinburgh?” he asked, biting back his irritation and attempting to sound calm and reasoned.
“Yes, Provost Harrison, in order to demonstrate to the good citizens of Edinburgh our just cause.”
He put the petition on the long table in front of him. “Have you traveled through Edinburgh lately, Mr. McElwee?”
The man held his ground, smiling back at him. “Indeed I have, sir, and I understand your concerns about congestion. The SLNA wishes to hold the march at a time both convenient to the council and when we would be most visible to the citizens.”
Logan glanced to his left, then his right, meeting the stony features of his fellow councilmen. “We will take it under advisement, Mr. McElwee.”
The man nodded. “When might you make a decision, Lord Provost? The ladies are most anxious.”
“Have you no concern for their safety?” he asked. “Or are you not aware of the number of disturbances during each of the SLNA meetings?”
For the first time, McElwee didn’t look as sanguine. “We are indeed aware, Lord Provost, which is the reason why we wish to march. If the inhabitants of Edinburgh truly understood our goals, I believe we would be able to marshal their support.”
Two women had been badly hurt last week, and just a few days ago a group of men shouting epithets had advanced on women leaving one of the meetings.
One of his predecessor’s most memorable acts had been to adopt a dog and, when he died, have a statue erected in his honor. While Logan knew he would, no doubt, be remembered by posterity as the man who oversaw the destruction of Edinburgh by a war of the sexes on the Royal Mile.
“The ladies will simply have to petition other cities in the interim,” he said.
A half hour later he parted from his fellow council members. After giving instructions to the secretary recording the meeting, he made his way to his office, only to be waylaid by McElwee. The man stepped out from an alcove and stood in the middle of the corridor, effectively blocking his passage.
“Mr. Harrison, if I might have a moment,” he said.
“Now is not the time to press your case, Mr. McElwee. I believe you already did a sufficient job of that in council chambers. As I told you, we will take the matter under advisement.”
“What would it take to convince you, sir, that the SLNA should be given the opportunity to educate and inform?”
“There are plenty of ways they could educate and inform, Mr. McElwee, that wouldn’t put them in jeopardy. We could not guarantee their safety.”
“We do not wish to be safe, sir. We wish to be heard.”
Logan folded his arms, staring at the other man. “We? How did you find yourself involved in a group of women?” Raucous women at that, who were determined to press their case to others who didn’t want to learn or listen.
“There are numerous men who belong to the SLNA, Mr. Harrison. Those men who realize it is the nineteenth century, time enough for women to take their rightful place alongside men.” He eyed Logan with narrowed eyes. “You’re a director of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, are you not?”
“I am.”
“A pity you do not care as much for the plight of women as you do
Similar Books
