William looked at her in disbelief.“Lord Dalton is to give his maiden speech to the House of Lords today.”
“I knew it would happen soon, but how does that concern me?”
“Surely you are aware of the topic of the speech he will be giving?”
“Not at all.”Jane was mystified.“Why ought I to know?”
William gave her exasperated look.“Did you not ask him to support your cause for women’s rights?”
“You know that I have, but how can that have any bearing on what Jonathan is saying in the House?”
“He’s made no attempt to contact you during the week?”
“What has he been doing?”Jane’s stomach lurched with fear.
“He’s worked on his maiden speech for the House of Lords.Each afternoon before I leave, I make a clean copy of it, expecting it will be the final version, only to find the next morning that Dalton’s re-written it in the evening.
“Each day he has become more fixated on his task.He seemed determined to have a polished piece of oratory ready for soon after Parliament recommencement on the twenty-seventh.Yesterday he handed me the final draft of his speech and requested once again that I copy it for the next day.There were multiple changes, with whole sections deleted and new paragraphs inserted.”
“Yes.And?”Jane shook his sleeve, wishing he would get to the point.
“He means to talk on the rights of women.He has drafted and redrafted the speech, each time making it more radical in tone.He will be crucified in the House, I’m sure of it.He will be booed from the House.There is no way in which the members of the House of Lords would accept the argument for the equality of women and their rights.”
Jane gasped.“Surely not?That is so out of character for him.He’s ever been an archconservative,” Jane countered.
“That may have been so, but you are not accounting for his love for you.He will do anything in his power to assist you for that reason now.He’s willing to risk his political reputation in support of your cause.”
“Good heavens!”Jane exclaimed.This was extraordinary news.To support her cause, he was ready to commit political suicide among his peers.“I must stop him.”
“You can try!”
“When will he give his speech?”
William’s face was lined with worry.“He’s taking luncheon at White’s, then going to the House.”
Her stomach hollowed out.“I must find him immediately.”She hurried out of the study.She needed a hackney fast.
William followed her.“Jane, where are you going?”
“To his club to see if he’s still there.”She had to reach him first.
William scolded, “You can’t go into White’s.”
“Surely I can send in a note.”
“You should not even be in St.James’s Street, let alone call at the door.I’ll come with you.”Grabbing his beaver hat from the hall table, he raced down the front steps in her wake.He hailed a hackney and handed Jane into it.They set off in a hurry.
A short while later, Jane hustled William out of the vehicle.He entered the door of White’s and she heard him requesting his employer on a matter of urgency.
The top-lofty concierge informed him that Lord Dalton had left the club about a quarter of an hour ago.They had just missed him.
William ran back to the cab.
“We must go to the House,” Jane said.
William called up to the driver.“Take us to Westminster Palace.Make haste!”
The hackney lurched into motion as the driver touched the horse with his whip.Jane clutched her hands in her lap and braced her feet on the floor as the driver attempted to make some speed despite the traffic.
