AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you, Viola. Now, let’s all welcome Lady Henrietta Prince to our ranks.”
Lady Henrietta was so beautiful it almost hurt to look at her, with her mahogany hair and ruby red lips. “I was invited to attend this meeting by Miss Beaton. Thank you very much ladies for having me. I understand that though this is a knitting society there is little needlework involved?”
“Quite right,” said Viola. “The society was envisioned by myself and Lady India, now the Duchess of Ravenwood, after she decided to infiltrate the Society of Antiquaries in a male disguise. We conceived of this secret society as a gathering place for all females, no matter their origin or station in life, who’ve been barred from joining societies they should by rights be eligible to join because of their talents or achievements.”
Beatrice held up a knitting basket stuffed with yarn, while maintaining her grip on her wineglass with her other hand. “We always have our knitting baskets at the ready, in case of an unexpected arrival. We maintain the ruse of being a charitable organization. Which we are, of course. We donate blankets and garments to foundling hospitals. We just don’t make those blankets ourselves.”
“We purchase them,” said Isobel with a grin.
“I’m honored to be in on the secret,” said Lady Henrietta. “I share your enthusiasm for achieving goals. I’ve been managing my elderly father’s estate for him. My family came to England from France in the seventeenth century, and my distant relative brought grape vines with him and planted them. No one expected them to thrive in British soil, butthey did, and we’ve been producing wine for the family cellars ever since. Now I propose to bring this wine to a larger market.”
“I’m no judge of wine,” said Beatrice, “but as far as I’m concerned, you have every expectation of success. This is delicious.”
And it made her braver, and less questioning.
Perhaps it hadn’t beensobad that she’d goaded Ford into kissing her. Maybe it wasn’t a terrible thing that she’d loved it so much.
Perhaps she wasn’t too much of a ninny.
“I’m very glad you approve of the wine. Of course I can’t let anyone know that there’s a woman behind the venture. I use my father’s name when I write letters to potential distributors and restaurateurs. Why should being female preclude me from being an entrepreneur? I say, smash down the barriers.”
Lady Henrietta took her seat to vigorous applause from the ladies.
Beatrice had to set her wineglass down for that, but she immediately picked it up again.
“We welcome you to our ranks, Lady Henrietta, and we look forward to supporting your venture in whatever way we can. As for me,” said Isobel, “I’m attending a School of Law in disguise as my brother.”
“A daring deception,” said Lady Henrietta.
“And I’m finishing my father’s symphonies,” said Viola. “He’s gone almost completely deaf. I haven’t had much time for composing these days. I’m the music instructor to the Duke of Westbury’s sisters. They are to perform in a music recital very soon and the duke expects them to shine, but I’m inclined to despair.”
“You can’t let them take all your energy and creativity, Viola. You must carve some time out for yourself,” said Isobel.
“I know.” Viola sighed. “But they’re such a handful. Enough about my woes. Beatrice, tell us about the progress on the new clubhouse.”
“I’m pleased to report that I have secured a site for our new clubhouse, ladies. We will no longer meet here, but at our own property on the Strand. It’s a modest building, but it will see us through several years of expansion. It’s the former premises of Castle’s Bookshop and has been bequeathed to me by my aunt Matilda Castle. I’m in the process of working with our solicitor to sign the property over to the League.”
“Our very own clubhouse.” Lady Henrietta clapped her hands. “What a prodigious achievement.”
“When I inherited the building it had a leaky roof, rotting floorboards, and rats in the basement, but I hired a carpenter and he’s nearly finished renovations. Soon we’ll be able to have a tour.”
“How is Mr. Wright?” asked Viola.
“He’s... busy.”
“He’s a handsome brute,” said Isobel.
“What he looks like hardly signifies,” said Beatrice. “It’s what he can do for us.”
“Describe him to me,” said Lady Henrietta, pouring another round of wine for everyone.
“He has a nose,” said Beatrice. “And two eyes. He’s always looking at a lady as if he’s mentally undressing her.”
“He only looked at you like that, Beatrice,” said Viola.
Isobel’s lips quirked. “And I must say that you returned the favor, Beatrice.”
“And what was it like to kiss him?” Viola asked.
