‘No, we don’t,’ a voice behind Mrs Barnes intervened. ‘And you should know that, Amelia.’
Mrs Wickham emerged from the crowd and Amelia Barnes scuttled off.
‘Although perhaps with some people we should?’ Mrs Wickham whispered into Dorothea’s ear but not so quietly that Kate and Clara couldn’t hear. Mrs Winton smiled.
‘I’m so pleased you came and that you brought these two young ladies, too, Dorothea. It’s so important that we engage the next generation in our fight.’
‘I’m happy to be here,’ Mrs Winton replied. ‘As long as you don’t expect me to get involved in some of the more militant activities. I do support what you’re all doing and I will do what I can, but I must draw the line somewhere. You do understand, don’t you?’
‘I quite understand,’ Mrs Wickham said. ‘Any news from London? Have you heard from James at all?’
They all moved towards the door where the excitement of raised voices indicated that the march was approaching.
* * *
‘And what happened then?’ Eliza asked as Kate was relaying the story of the day’s expedition.
‘We all went out to greet the women who’d marched from Eastleigh. They’d walked all the way from Land’s End, some of them. It’s taken them over a month,’ Kate said.
‘Shouldn’t fancy darning their stockings,’ Eliza joked, ‘nor washing them neither. Phew! You say there was tea laid on for them. Plenty of cake was there?’
‘There was cake, yes,’ Kate said slightly impatiently, ‘but that wasn’t the thing I remember most about the day. You should have been there, Eliza. The speeches . . . so many women all of one mind and hardly a man in sight!’
‘Not my idea of a good time,’ Eliza said.
‘Oh, Eliza! The things that those women said. Things that I’d never thought about before. There’s been women trying to get the law changed for forty years and men have stood in their way. Parliament has refused to listen. It was so, so . . . inspiring. Yes, that’s the word. Women pay taxes, so women are entitled to vote, they said. Parliament decides upon things of vital interest to women so women must be able to express their opinions through the ballot box.’
‘Such as what?’ Eliza asked.
‘Such as education, housing and employment,’ Kate replied. ‘I believe in what they’re saying, Eliza. Meetings and petitions are not enough, it’s time for action!’
‘Hark at you!’ Eliza said. ‘Sounds like they’ve got a new recruit. Just you be careful what you get yourself into, mind. I bet some of those women’s husbands don’t have a notion of what they’re up to. Mr Winton surely wouldn’t approve if he knew, but then he’s not here, is he?’
Kate looked at Eliza. She was so much happier now Mr Winton was away. She and Tommy would soon be together.
‘No, probably just as well. But then she’s not the only woman who will have to face that challenge, is she? There were plenty there that the mistress seemed to know. There was one, though, who made the mistress agitated. A woman called Mrs Barnes, the mistress seemed troubled by her. Why’s that?’
‘Ha! She’s the local busybody, likes to poke her nose into everyone else’s business, got a vicious tongue. Used to come around here for tea, until her husband was passed over for a promotion at the master’s bank. She never forgave the master and therefore the mistress too. She’s best avoided that one!’
Kate hoped that the woman wouldn’t make trouble for Mrs Winton. She could sometimes be demanding, but she was a good mistress. Eliza had told her stories of how cruel some employers could be. She was learning more about the world every day and her place in it. Life in Micklewell had been so sheltered. She knew nothing of how society worked, what more she could accomplish, what more there was to experience and learn. Coming to Andover had taught her a great deal. The country mouse was learning how to be a town mouse. She had seen a glimpse of what women could strive for and wanted to be part of it. She put her hand in her pocket and held the ribbon. She wanted to wear the purple, white and green. She wanted to become a suffragette.
Her first opportunity to do something about that desire was when she managed to talk to Philip for the first time in weeks. She was in the garden, taking in the twins’ washing, when she saw Philip strolling beside the flower beds. She tried not to look in his direction but she felt his eyes upon her.
She was folding the last of the clothes, inhaling their sweet smell of sunshine and placing them in the basket, when she realized he was standing right beside her.
‘A beautiful day, Kate,’ he said.
She stuttered the reply out, trying not to appear flustered by his presence. ‘Yes, Master Philip. A good drying day.’ It had been several weeks since she’d seen him and she smiled at him, trying to gauge if he was as pleased to see her as she him.
‘Are we not past the stage of such formalities, Kate? Call me Philip, please.’
‘Oh, I couldn’t, not in front of anyone else anyway,’ she said, blushing.
‘Well, to me then at least,’ he replied returning her smile. ‘You know, everyone is so pleased that you came to work here, Kate. The whole atmosphere in the house has changed. The twins are less argumentative with each other and Mother is impressed with your desire to read and learn. As for Clara, she says that she thinks of you more as a friend than a maid. You really are different, Kate, quite remarkable in fact.’
Kate felt embarrassed by his compliments but pleased at the same time. She bent down to lift the basket and he stooped to help her. Their eyes met and they stood locked in each other’s gaze until she broke the spell.
‘I really should get this washing back inside. Eliza will be out here looking for me,’ she said.
