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Authors: Virginia Henley
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Brief Summary in Plain Language of the Most Important Laws Concerning Women .”
“Leigh Smith? I’ve never heard of her.”
“Her father built the school for the poor in Vincent Square. I persuaded Father to donate money, and when I took it round there, I met Barbara. Her father deeded the school to her, but he has to hold it in trust, since women are not yet allowed to own property. She and her friends meet every Friday in Langham Place to discuss women’s rights. She holds open house through the day and into the evening. I’ve joined the crusade, and promised to sign all their petitions. It won’t be long before things change!”
“Oh, I’d love to meet her. Though my writing must be frivolous compared to hers.”
“I beg to differ. There is nothing frivolous about love and romance. They are at the heart of every woman’s dreams. Barbara is very Bohemian. I warrant she would totally approve of us visiting Hazard House for an evening of gaming.”
The pair read in silence for a half hour; then Harry threw back her head and laughed. “Listen to this. Barbara and her friend traveled about the Continent wearing blue-tinted glasses and unconventional short skirts to show off their legs. She wrote a poem about it.” Harry recited:
Oh! Isn’t it jolly to cast away folly,
And cut all one’s clothes a peg shorter
(A good many pegs) and rejoice in one’s legs
Like a free-minded Albion’s daughter?
Harry looked up from the book. “Rachel, we must get ourselves invited to a masquerade ball so we can wear costumes that show off our legs.”
“Victoria wouldn’t be amused.”
“Oh, you’ve put your finger on a most entertaining solution. We’ll wear short skirts to the queen’s annual Bal Costume at Buckingham Palace!”
When the invitations arrived from D’Arcy Lambton, Earl of Durham, for the dinner party at Carlton House Terrace, they included Louisa, Duchess of Abercorn, her sister Rachel, all three of the Hamilton daughters, and young James.
“Durham never fails to do things correctly, etiquette-wise, that is,” Lady Lu declared as they prepared to leave for the dinner.
“Perhaps that comes from his late mother, Elizabeth. After all, she was lady of the bedchamber to Queen Victoria.” Harry slipped on her cloak and picked up her fan.
“More than likely it was because she was Earl Grey’s daughter. It will be like old times. I remember dining at Earl Grey’s town house when I was a girl and he was the prime minister,” the duchess recalled. “He outlived D’Arcy’s parents and left Carlton House Terrace to his grandson.”
When the five ladies stepped into the phaeton, the duchess spoke to her son. “James, I’m afraid you’ll have to ride with Riley again.”
“Don’t give it a thought. I much prefer it to being smothered by crinolines, or skewered by whalebone,” he added irreverently.
When the carriage arrived at Carlton House Terrace, D’Arcy was waiting outside to greet them. Etiquette dictated that he offer his arm to the duchess to escort her upstairs. Fortunately, his friend Thomas arrived on foot from the Ansons’ nearby town house in St. James’s Square. He was just in time to offer his arms to Lady Harriet and Lady Rachel. Young James Hamilton parodied his action and with an amused grin escorted his sisters Beatrix and Jane.
Harry could feel the powerful muscle in Lord Anson’s forearm. She squeezed it with her hand, sending him a secret signal that no one else was privy to. When he glanced down at her, she covered her mouth with her fan to conceal her amusement. She felt him squeeze back, telling her to behave herself, and this time even her fan couldn’t hide her bubbling laughter.
Upstairs, Durham’s majordomo, Fenton, took the ladies’ cloaks and ushered them into the drawing room, where two liveried footmen offered the guests champagne from Georgian silver trays.
With sparkling eyes, Harry immediately picked up two flutes, and waited for
“Leigh Smith? I’ve never heard of her.”
“Her father built the school for the poor in Vincent Square. I persuaded Father to donate money, and when I took it round there, I met Barbara. Her father deeded the school to her, but he has to hold it in trust, since women are not yet allowed to own property. She and her friends meet every Friday in Langham Place to discuss women’s rights. She holds open house through the day and into the evening. I’ve joined the crusade, and promised to sign all their petitions. It won’t be long before things change!”
“Oh, I’d love to meet her. Though my writing must be frivolous compared to hers.”
“I beg to differ. There is nothing frivolous about love and romance. They are at the heart of every woman’s dreams. Barbara is very Bohemian. I warrant she would totally approve of us visiting Hazard House for an evening of gaming.”
The pair read in silence for a half hour; then Harry threw back her head and laughed. “Listen to this. Barbara and her friend traveled about the Continent wearing blue-tinted glasses and unconventional short skirts to show off their legs. She wrote a poem about it.” Harry recited:
Oh! Isn’t it jolly to cast away folly,
And cut all one’s clothes a peg shorter
(A good many pegs) and rejoice in one’s legs
Like a free-minded Albion’s daughter?
Harry looked up from the book. “Rachel, we must get ourselves invited to a masquerade ball so we can wear costumes that show off our legs.”
“Victoria wouldn’t be amused.”
“Oh, you’ve put your finger on a most entertaining solution. We’ll wear short skirts to the queen’s annual Bal Costume at Buckingham Palace!”
When the invitations arrived from D’Arcy Lambton, Earl of Durham, for the dinner party at Carlton House Terrace, they included Louisa, Duchess of Abercorn, her sister Rachel, all three of the Hamilton daughters, and young James.
“Durham never fails to do things correctly, etiquette-wise, that is,” Lady Lu declared as they prepared to leave for the dinner.
“Perhaps that comes from his late mother, Elizabeth. After all, she was lady of the bedchamber to Queen Victoria.” Harry slipped on her cloak and picked up her fan.
“More than likely it was because she was Earl Grey’s daughter. It will be like old times. I remember dining at Earl Grey’s town house when I was a girl and he was the prime minister,” the duchess recalled. “He outlived D’Arcy’s parents and left Carlton House Terrace to his grandson.”
When the five ladies stepped into the phaeton, the duchess spoke to her son. “James, I’m afraid you’ll have to ride with Riley again.”
“Don’t give it a thought. I much prefer it to being smothered by crinolines, or skewered by whalebone,” he added irreverently.
When the carriage arrived at Carlton House Terrace, D’Arcy was waiting outside to greet them. Etiquette dictated that he offer his arm to the duchess to escort her upstairs. Fortunately, his friend Thomas arrived on foot from the Ansons’ nearby town house in St. James’s Square. He was just in time to offer his arms to Lady Harriet and Lady Rachel. Young James Hamilton parodied his action and with an amused grin escorted his sisters Beatrix and Jane.
Harry could feel the powerful muscle in Lord Anson’s forearm. She squeezed it with her hand, sending him a secret signal that no one else was privy to. When he glanced down at her, she covered her mouth with her fan to conceal her amusement. She felt him squeeze back, telling her to behave herself, and this time even her fan couldn’t hide her bubbling laughter.
Upstairs, Durham’s majordomo, Fenton, took the ladies’ cloaks and ushered them into the drawing room, where two liveried footmen offered the guests champagne from Georgian silver trays.
With sparkling eyes, Harry immediately picked up two flutes, and waited for
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