She knocked on Father’s study. “Father? May I?”
“Come in, darling.”
She pushed the door, and Father opened his arms to welcome her.
“What is it? You seem upset.” He patted her cheek. “Is it your mother again? She doesn’t want you to spend too much time in the conservatory, does she?”
“No, it’s about something else.” She sat on the stuffed chair next to him.
He removed his glasses and set aside the papers he’d been working on. “Tell me everything.”
“It’s about Lady Mary, the daughter of the Earl of Teck.”
Father stiffened.
“She disappeared from society. After her perfect Season and all the suitors interested in her, she just left. Well, it turned out, she was thrown out of her house.”
“I know.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “As a matter of fact, I’m aware of what happened to Mary.”
She took his arm. “We can help her, can’t we? She’s in need, and her child is struggling.”
“Darling.” He exhaled. “What Mary did is unforgivable.”
“Unforgivable?” She removed her hand. “She’s a mother who needs help.”
“Shush.” He glanced at the door. “I don’t want your mother to hear you. Mary wasn’t careful. She thought only about her own enjoyment, and there are consequences for ladies who pursue pleasure. A child with no father, out of wedlock, when she wasn’t even officially engaged.”
“Does that matter in front of what she’s facing?”
“It depends on the mistake.” His tone was so firm and resolute her heart broke. “There’s nothing we can do for her. Women like her, who give themselves before marriage, cause only trouble. She wasn’t a common country girl. She was an earl’s daughter and disgraced herself and her family.”
“You agree with me that women should vote.”
“What does the vote have to do with anything? Mary behaved like a reckless, ordinary girl. She should have known better.” He put his glass back on. “Her reckless behaviour is an argument against the reliability of women and their judgement or their ability to vote.”
“So one mistake, and she’s shunned for life.”
“Yes.” The word was final, like the sound of a lid shutting on a coffin.
The pain his words caused shocked her into silence. She’d been so sure Father would have agreed with her.
She’d just learnt how truly naïve she was.
