Read Online No Greater Love by Janet MacLeod Trotter - Free Book Online
Authors: Janet MacLeod Trotter
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woman at her side. ‘There’s no need to fuss.’
They continued across the lawn with Alice’s black poodle, Rosamund, padding at their heels and fell to reminiscing. They had been brought together through their membership of the WSPU and would certainly never have met socially otherwise. Alice had found Emily refreshingly lively and outspoken compared to her own conventional family; she enjoyed a party and was accomplished on the piano as well as being dedicated to the suffragist cause. Alice’s brother Herbert could not bear her friends, but even he enjoyed being shocked by Emily Davison’s outrageous and engaging conversation. Alice’s broad face broke into a smile as Emily recounted her escapade into the House of Commons where she had hidden in a heating flue.
‘And what about the time you broke the window of Lloyd George’s car?’ Alice reminded her with a hearty laugh. ‘Pity he wasn’t in it.’
‘Yes,’ Emily agreed. ‘I’m really rather bad at recognising faces.’
Alice stopped and shaded her eyes as she scanned the view over the treetops to the coil of river beyond. The Tyne looked grey and choppy and unfriendly at that moment, fringed with the chimney stacks and shipping cranes that generated her father’s wealth. The wind was blowing downriver bringing the pungent smells of paint and iron and human effluent into the secluded haven of Hebron House. Alice shivered and drew her coat round her bulky shoulders.
‘A dramatic gesture is needed,’ she spoke sombrely, ‘something that will draw attention to the highest in the land - the King even.’
‘I quite agree,’ Emily was enthusiastic, ‘and I think I know what you’re going to say.’
‘You do?’
‘Yes. HMS Courageous. ’
‘HMS Courageous ?’ Alice was taken by surprise.
‘Yes, your father’s new battleship.’
‘I know very well what it is,’ Alice answered tersely. ‘But what’s it got to do with grand gestures?’
‘Its launch,’ Emily said with an edge of impatience. ‘Surely the Royal Navy’s most modern battleship will be launched by royalty or a member of the Cabinet at least.’
Alice stopped. ‘It may well be, it really hadn’t occurred to me.’
‘But it’s a marvellous opportunity,’ Emily enthused, ‘and so easy to organise. You’ll be able to find out all the details.’
‘No!’ Alice said instinctively. ‘I mean, not at this moment. The launch won’t be until later in the summer, we need a more immediate protest. Yes, more immediate.’ She took her friend by the arm and steered her round. ‘You see, I’ve been contacted by headquarters. They want a disruption at the Derby, in front of the King and Queen. Now that would really capture the headlines.’
Emily resisted Alice’s attempts to marshal her indoors and Alice found herself being scrutinised. She could see she had disappointed her militant friend and she felt vaguely annoyed that she, a Pearson, should be judged and found wanting. She did not take criticism easily and saw no reason why she should have to explain that she felt a pride in the new battleship and would be helping her father to entertain the dignitaries on launch day at Hebron House. She could not possibly sabotage such an important event for Pearson’s.
But Alice could not admit that the overriding reason for steering clear of such action was her fear of losing her valued independence at Hebron House. Her father tolerated her eccentric desire to live alone and dabble in the women’s movement because she was considered beyond marriageable age and because he could afford it. In return, she helped him with the business as much as she could. While her brother Herbert gambled his wealth away at their mother’s card tables, she at least helped Pearson’s compete against their powerful rivals.
‘The Derby?’ Emily said at last.
‘Yes, at Epsom,’ Alice encouraged.
‘So that’s what this meeting is about?’ Emily asked, her voice flat.
Alice nodded. She
They continued across the lawn with Alice’s black poodle, Rosamund, padding at their heels and fell to reminiscing. They had been brought together through their membership of the WSPU and would certainly never have met socially otherwise. Alice had found Emily refreshingly lively and outspoken compared to her own conventional family; she enjoyed a party and was accomplished on the piano as well as being dedicated to the suffragist cause. Alice’s brother Herbert could not bear her friends, but even he enjoyed being shocked by Emily Davison’s outrageous and engaging conversation. Alice’s broad face broke into a smile as Emily recounted her escapade into the House of Commons where she had hidden in a heating flue.
‘And what about the time you broke the window of Lloyd George’s car?’ Alice reminded her with a hearty laugh. ‘Pity he wasn’t in it.’
‘Yes,’ Emily agreed. ‘I’m really rather bad at recognising faces.’
Alice stopped and shaded her eyes as she scanned the view over the treetops to the coil of river beyond. The Tyne looked grey and choppy and unfriendly at that moment, fringed with the chimney stacks and shipping cranes that generated her father’s wealth. The wind was blowing downriver bringing the pungent smells of paint and iron and human effluent into the secluded haven of Hebron House. Alice shivered and drew her coat round her bulky shoulders.
‘A dramatic gesture is needed,’ she spoke sombrely, ‘something that will draw attention to the highest in the land - the King even.’
‘I quite agree,’ Emily was enthusiastic, ‘and I think I know what you’re going to say.’
‘You do?’
‘Yes. HMS Courageous. ’
‘HMS Courageous ?’ Alice was taken by surprise.
‘Yes, your father’s new battleship.’
‘I know very well what it is,’ Alice answered tersely. ‘But what’s it got to do with grand gestures?’
‘Its launch,’ Emily said with an edge of impatience. ‘Surely the Royal Navy’s most modern battleship will be launched by royalty or a member of the Cabinet at least.’
Alice stopped. ‘It may well be, it really hadn’t occurred to me.’
‘But it’s a marvellous opportunity,’ Emily enthused, ‘and so easy to organise. You’ll be able to find out all the details.’
‘No!’ Alice said instinctively. ‘I mean, not at this moment. The launch won’t be until later in the summer, we need a more immediate protest. Yes, more immediate.’ She took her friend by the arm and steered her round. ‘You see, I’ve been contacted by headquarters. They want a disruption at the Derby, in front of the King and Queen. Now that would really capture the headlines.’
Emily resisted Alice’s attempts to marshal her indoors and Alice found herself being scrutinised. She could see she had disappointed her militant friend and she felt vaguely annoyed that she, a Pearson, should be judged and found wanting. She did not take criticism easily and saw no reason why she should have to explain that she felt a pride in the new battleship and would be helping her father to entertain the dignitaries on launch day at Hebron House. She could not possibly sabotage such an important event for Pearson’s.
But Alice could not admit that the overriding reason for steering clear of such action was her fear of losing her valued independence at Hebron House. Her father tolerated her eccentric desire to live alone and dabble in the women’s movement because she was considered beyond marriageable age and because he could afford it. In return, she helped him with the business as much as she could. While her brother Herbert gambled his wealth away at their mother’s card tables, she at least helped Pearson’s compete against their powerful rivals.
‘The Derby?’ Emily said at last.
‘Yes, at Epsom,’ Alice encouraged.
‘So that’s what this meeting is about?’ Emily asked, her voice flat.
Alice nodded. She
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