“That was so much fun,” I wheeze out.
“Good.I am glad you enjoyed it.”Leo peeks around the corner to see if we’re being pursued.He must not see anything because he leans back against the wall with me.
“Is the next place going to involve this much crime?”I ask.
“Do you want it to include illegal acts?”
“Well, I’m already doing illegal things by lying to the crown, and we just infiltrated White’s, so maybe I should be a bit more circumspect?So as not to push it.”
“Where is the fun in that?”
Fuck it.I won’t be around long enough for all my crimes to matter.Or if I am caught, what’s one more crime to add to the list?“You’re right.I’m game for wherever you want to take me.”
CHAPTER30
“Iadmire your spirit.But we will not do anything too scandalous next.In the evening, however…” A damn tease, Leo doesn’t finish the sentence.
“I get my question now.This mysterious, rakish, illegal event, is it something athletic?”I don’t know where else to go with the questions, if it’s not a restaurant, dinner party, or a play.I don’t think it would be another ball, but that’s an option.
“No.I suppose some do complain it is hard on their body after extended periods of this activity.But it is not meant to be athletic, in the sense that it is done for the purpose of exercise or there are competitions for it.At least no official competitions, although many do tend to brag about their ability to participate in this type of activity for extended periods.”
“Hmm.Evasive, strange answer to a simple yes or no question.Is it sex?Are you taking me to a nice place where we’re going to have sex?”
Leo, bless his Victorian heart, blushes.“No.And that is two questions,” he mumbles.He leads us to his carriage, telling the driver where we’re going in a whisper I can’t hear.
“All right.”I throw my hands up.“You know, Victorian pornography develops a bit of a reputation in my time.”
“You don’t have…pornography in your time?”He stumbles over the word, because of all that Victorian training of repression with the “fairer” sex.Absurd.
“Oh no, we definitely do.In a way that is more accessible than you could ever imagine.We have devices where you can carry all the porn in the world in your pocket and watch it whenever you want.And we’ve got books, pictures, paintings, and video, so you can choose your own adventure in the medium.”
Leo looks shocked and I giggle, but also hope this doesn’t break any more time travel rules.Not that the universe has punished me yet for breaking the rules, which I’m sure I have at this point.
“It’s not just a pornography machine,” I clarify when he still hasn’t spoken.“It hasallthe information in the world.Or at least a lot of it.And a lot of lies too.”Anything someone has posted to the internet.“And it just happens to include pornography.”
“You live in a truly wondrous time.Advanced technology.Educated, assertive women.And a freedom of sexuality.”
“I thought you’d like that.I mean, it’s still complicated and there are some who are less progressive.Victorian morality is kind of making a comeback in some ways.But in general, there’s more freedom for people to decide what they want their relationship with sex to be.”I don’t feel the need to tell him that I’ve been more assertive here than I ever was back home.But the parts about education and pornography are still the truth, and he’s probably more concerned with those anyway.
“I can understand why you want to go home so urgently.”
“There are good things here too,” I say shyly, refusing to look at him.“Things that I will miss when I leave.”PeopleI will miss.Leo-type people.
“But you still want to leave?”He asks the question softly, like he’s as afraid of my answer as I am of giving it.
“I have to.”I don’t want to get into the debate again for something I’m so conflicted over.Because in reality, I want it all.I want my home and I want my Leo.And I don’t see how I can have both of those things, or even one of those things, at this point.I try to change the subject.“Where are we going now?”
“This next activity needs a small caveat,” Leo says carefully.
“What?How bad is it that you need to caveat it?Why are we going if it’s bad?”
“I am not taking you here because I approve of anything that happens in this building?—”
“Then why do I want to go?”
“Allow me to finish.I think the scholar in you will appreciate what you are about to see.But it is going to make you, the person, angry.So please get your book out, and please do not hit me with it.”
I get the book out.“I make no promises.But I will keep your warning in mind.”
