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"Doesn't want anyone to know what?" I ask.
"What they're getting before it's too late." She tosses the flower stem to the ground.
I have no idea what she means. Pippa is beautiful. And her family may be merchant class but they are well-to-do and respectable. Other than being vain, obnoxious, and subject to romantic delusions, she's all right.
"What do you do when you're with a suitor?" Ann asks. She makes little xs in the dirt with a beheaded carnation.
Pippa sighs. "Oh, it's generally the same. You have to fawn over them. After they bore you to tears with some story about a legal case they argued, you have to lower your eyes and say something like 'My, I had no idea the law could be so fascinating, Mr. Bumble. But when you put it that way, why, it's just like reading a novel!"
We fall over laughing. "No! You didn't say that!" Felicity howls.
Pippa is losing her mopey air. "Oh, yes, I did! And how do you like this one." She bats her lashes and adopts a sweet, shy demeanor. "Well, perhaps I could manage just one chocolate"
This has me laughing in spite of myself. We all know Pippa is a secret glutton.
"One chocolate:'" Felicity screams. "My God, if he could see you put away an entire tray of toffees he'd be appalled! When you get married, you'll have to hide them in your boudoir and stuff them down when he's not looking." Pippa screeches and pretends to beat Felicity with the carnation stem. "You're wicked! I most certainly am not marrying Mr. Bumble. Gracious, his name is Bumble! That's a curse right there!"
Felicity runs just out of the carnation's reach. "Oh, yes, you are going to marry him! He's called on you four times now. I'll bet your mother's planning the wedding even as we speak!"
Pippa's laugh dies. "You don't really think so, do you?"
"No," Felicity says quickly. "No, it was a bad joke, that's all."
"I want to marry my true love. I know it's silly, but I can't help it."
Pippa looks so small suddenly, sitting there among her strewn petals, that I've almost forgotten how angry I am. I've never been able to hold a grudge anyway.
Felicity tilts Pippa's chin upward with a finger. "And you will. Now, let's call this meeting to order. Pip, why don't you administer the sacrament?"
She brings out the whiskey again. I groan inwardly. But when it comes my way, I take my poison and find it's not so bad if you take small sips. This time, I drink only till I feel warm and light, not beyond.
"We must have a reading from the diary of our sister, Mary Dowd. Gemma, will you do the honors this evening?" With a bow Felicity hands the diary to me. I clear my throat and begin:
"March 21, 1871
"Today we stood among the Runes of the Oracle. Under Eugenia's guidance, we touched our fingers to them for an instant, receiving the magic. The sensation was overpowering. It was as if we could feel each other's very thoughts, as if we were one and the same."
Felicity raises an eyebrow. "Sounds naughty. Mary and Sarah are probably Sapphists."
"What on earth is a Sapphist?" Pippa is already bored. She's twirling the ends of her black ringlets round her ungloved finger, trying to achieve a more perfect curl.
"Must I tell you everything?" Felicity scoffs.
I have no idea what a Sapphist is either, but I'm not about to ask now.
"From the Greek Sappho, a lady poet who enjoyed the love of other women."
Pippa stops twirling. "Whatever is the matter with that?"
Felicity lowers her head and gives Pippa a baleful look. "Sapphists prefer the love of women to men."
I understand fully now, as does Ann, I gather, by the way she nervously straightens her skirts with her hands, not meeting anyone's eyes. Pippa squints at Felicity as if she might read the meaning in her forehead, but slowly, a blush creeps up her neck into her cheeks and she's gasping. "Oh, my heavens, you can't honestly mean that that they like husband and wife ?"
"Yes, exactly."
Pippa is stunned into silence. The red does not fade from her face and neck. I'm embarrassed too, but I don't want them to know it. "May I please continue?"
"The Gypsies came back today to make camp. When we saw the smoke from their fire, Sarah and I hurried to see Mother Elena."
