With an exasperated sigh, Reid said, “As I said before, her name is Lady Elise.”
“Yes, butwhois she?” Sidney asked impatiently.
“She is my neighbor and has graciously agreed to serve as hostess for you louts as my mother is away.”
“Neighbor?” This came from the direction of the sideboard where Fitz was now helping himself to the goods.
“Apparently my father rented the dower house to her three years ago in an attempt to raise funds. She has been living there ever since and has done a remarkable job improving the property.”
“It’s unusual for a single woman to live alone,” Henry observed.
“Yes,” Reid agreed, “but she came here in rather unusual circumstances.” All three men looked at him curiously, eager for him to explain. “It seems she was ruined four seasons ago as we were just pulling out of the Waterloo mess.” He saw Henry flinch at his bluntness. “Polite society rejected her.”
Sidney let out another whistle and shook his head. “What did she do?” he asked.
“Apparently, she was attending a ball when a footman was injured on some broken glass. Having some medical knowledge to help him, Elise took him into a side room to see to his injuries and was found alone in the room with him. You can guess what happened next. Though nothing improper had occurred, she was still cast out by many.”
Henry looked furious. “I swear . . . thetonand their impossible standards . . . I almost lost Grace because she feared they would never fully accept her.”
“I find it quite ridiculous myself,” Reid stated. “Anyway, after a few months Elise decided to leave society all together and moved out here with her father’s blessing.”
“You admire her,” Fitz observed. All three men were examining him closely.
“I do,” Reid admitted. “In fact, I think I may be falling in love with her, and I would very much like your help figuring out how to convince her that our different standings in society should not preclude a relationship between us.”
Fitz and Henry beamed at him while Sidney groaned. “Not you too,” he whined. “It’s bad enough listening to these two lovesick fools wax poetic about their wives, but I thought I still had you on my side.”
“Give it up, Sid,” Fitz said slapping the other man on the back. “One day love will come for you as well, and you’ll be helpless to resist.”
“I’m happy for you, Reid,” Henry said quietly. “I hope I’ll get to know her better while we are here. We all want the best for you.”
“Thank you,” he said. “But enough about that.”
“Thank god,” Sidney muttered under his breath.
“We have serious matters to discuss. There is no way we can allow the Tory plan to move forward, so let’s start planning.”
CHAPTER20
For the first few days after setting up at Cliff House, Elise was happy to be caring for the gentlemen in a way she had not expected. Vowing to take excellent care of them, she tried to anticipate their needs and see to their comfort, allowing their attention to stay focused on matters of Government. She ensured fresh sheets and towels were placed in their rooms each day, beds were turned down each evening, and warm water was ready each morning. Between meals, she made sure snacks and tea were provided to keep the men fueled for their long nights of work. She had even persuaded them to take a much-needed break and go outside for a few hours, allowing the gentlemen to get some air, and Elise access to the war room they had hardly left for two days straight.
Knowing what they were working on was important as tensions around the country were still high after the events in Manchester over the summer, Elise was thrilled that she could assist in a small way. Though she tried not to linger or eavesdrop on the work they were doing, she was fascinated by their political maneuvering.
Though they had been productive, Elise could tell the men were growing increasingly frustrated by the challenge ahead of them at the special session. The truth was that as Whigs working towards progress and in favor of reform, they were completely outnumbered in the House of Lords. Knowing they couldn’t win enough support to their side to vote down the Six Acts, a series of proposals aimed at suppressing radical gatherings and the ability to protest, they decided to initiate a longer-term campaign of persuasion. And Elise knew they were relying on Sidney as the sole MP in the group now that Reid would vote in Lords, to muster support in Commons and see if alternatives might be presented within that chamber.
The men were arguing late into the evening over strategy on the second night when Elise silently walked into the room with a fresh pot of coffee and a tray of fruit, cheese, and biscuits. While trying to go unnoticed, she felt Reid tracking her every movement in, out of, and about the room. They had hardly spoken since the men arrived as there was much to do in a short time frame. Nevertheless, she could feel his awareness of her, and he expressed his appreciation of what she was doing for them whenever he had the chance.
Catching what the men were saying, Elise couldn’t help but listen once again.
“Everyone is concerned about rebellion, myself included, but this is not the way to go about it,” Henry said. “Suppressing speech will only further upset the people, and it’s not even related to the real issue. What the people need is lower taxes.”
Riled up, Sidney replied, “No, the most pressing issue, and what the people need is more affordable food. Taxes won’t matter if they die from starvation first!”
Unable to stop herself, Elise turned towards the room and interjected. “All I keep hearing from you is ‘what the people need.’ Do you even know for sure? Have you stepped outside of this room long enough to ask them? You’ve all either been elected or entrusted to represent the people in your jurisdiction, yet you are making decisions on their behalf as if you know what’s best. Is that perhaps not part of what has everyone so upset—the feeling they don’t have a way to make their own voices heard?”
All four men looked at her in stunned silence. While embarrassed for her outburst, Elise was not sorry for what she had said. As a woman, she was more than familiar with feeling like her own needs were not considered when it came to how and why men made decisions. These men had the power to change that—if they could get out of their own way and actually enact some of the changes they proposed so passionately.
After a moment, Elise noticed a smile spreading across Reid’s face. “You’re correct, Lady Elise. We have been remiss in setting time aside to listen to the workers and learn what they would most like to see happen. We’ll head to The Crown & Armstomorrow and see who we might find there to discuss our ideas with. I hope you don’t believe that we don’t care what they have to say.”
