Aunt Agnes had finally gone home, leaving Marguerite alone to mull over her words. Agnes's words had been cutting - too cutting. Marguerite could easily have destroyed that maid if she had wanted to. She had the connections, and truthfully, she could manage without them. God knows she had handled far more dangerous individuals in her past. But that was just it, she didn't want to. She was a new Marguerite now, living a new life where there was no room for intrigue. She might even have willingly given those thousand pounds, if only she could trust that the maid wouldn't come back for more. In a way, Marguerite felt a sense of compassion and pity for the poor girl.
She was in the large library, seeking to lighten her mood, so she put on one of her favorite records on the gramophone.
Camille Saint-Saëns' - The Carnival of the Animals.
This humorous musical suite had been published two years prior, and Marguerite had bought it during her last visit to London. She truly loved the playful interplay of the instruments. It was whimsical yet sophisticated. It brought a smile to her face. She gazed out over the vast estate through the open window, enjoying the gentle caress of the breeze.
Soon the others joined her in the library and John mentioned he needed to head to London for a few days. The year 1924 was an election year, and John, being a member of the House of Lords, had obligations that required his attention. He made it clear the others were welcome to join him but they shouldn't feel obligated.
"Why not? A little trip to the city could be quite refreshing," Malone said.
Marguerite was already making plans. "It would be the perfect opportunity to catch a play in the theater before the summer season begins. I've compiled a list of everything Veronica should see."
"I'm in," Veronica eagerly agreed.
Marguerite turned to John. "What exactly will be expected of you during this election period? It's not every day you're called away to London."
"It's just dreary politics, my dear. Don't bother your pretty head with it." John said with a twinkle in his eye, but he could have been just as earnest.
"You did not just say that." Malone teased.
Marguerite, raised an eyebrow in mock indignation. "Lord John Roxton, call me old-fashioned, but you deserve to be spanked for that comment. Now, why wouldn't I bother my head? Enlighten me, please."
"You already do so much around here."
"What do I do exactly?"
"You run this house."
Marguerite let out a small laugh, the irony not lost on her. "I haven't done anything with Aunt Agnes around. Now that she's gone, the servants still manage things in their own way, and there's a lot going on without me even knowing."
Veronica jumped in. "Speaking of elections, how are we standing with women's rights? I'm not exactly up-to-date. Do women have the right to vote yet?"
Marguerite answered. "Oh, women do have the vote, provided they're at least 30 and either own property or are married to someone who does. Quite the modern breakthrough, isn't it?"
"You tick every box on the list, what's exactly your complaint?" Malone asked.
"Oh, the privilege is overwhelming. My objection isn't for myself, but for the principle of the matter."
"Long live women's rights and all that," John began, "But I still believe politics is and should remain men's matters."
"You're on fire today, Roxton." Malone chuckled.
Marguerite was clearly not amused. "Oh, the complexities of it all. How will we ever comprehend it?"
"We leave everything else in your capable hands. Isn't that a fair deal?" John asked.
"Well, I've had enough humor for one afternoon." Marguerite declared. Rising gracefully from her seat, she added, "I'm off to call Emily to see if she's in London. If not, she could join us. I'm in the mood for her shenanigans. Veronica, come with me so we can pack. We'll leave the men to discuss their masculine topics."
Arriving in London, they settled into the Roxton townhouse. Baby William and his nanny also came with them, as he was too young to be separated from Marguerite. The Blackwells were also in town, as Lord Kenneth had similar duties to John, so they invited them over for dinner. Emily distributed political pamphlets that she had collected, eager to spark a discussion.
"I gather you attended the liberal candidate's rally today?" John asked.
"Oh, yes, it was quite splendid." Emily replied.
"There was talk of a riot." Malone said. "I hope you weren't caught up in that."
"It takes more than a little scuffle to deter me." Emily reassured him.
"Will you vote liberal?" Veronica asked.
Emily's enthusiasm dimmed slightly. "If only I could. Sadly, the vote eludes me still. Marguerite, however, has that privilege. I trust she'll use it wisely."
"I haven't made any decisions yet." Marguerite said.
"But surely you'll vote for Ramsay?" Emily pressed.
"I don't know. I'm not very political. I don't really know anything about his ideas." Marguerite said.
"In any case, Roxtons have always voted conservative." John said.
"What of it? Marguerite's her own person." Emily countered.
"Yes, but she's also my wife."
"Oh, Johnny." Emily sighed, half in jest, half in lament.
Marguerite assured, "Don't you, worry. I'll re-educate him tonight when we're alone together."
Malone said, "You know, Emily, I'm also a supporter of the liberal party. Ramsay MacDonald has some compelling ideas that could really shake things up."
"Then you simply must join me for the next rally." Emily said. "I'm even considering canvassing."
Malone nodded enthusiastically. "That sounds like a plan. I'd be happy to join you."
"Me, too." Veronica said.
With a note of relief in her voice, Lady Catherine said, "It would be comforting to know that Emily has responsible companionship at these events."
Emily clarified, "What my dear mother really means is that she's afraid I might misbehave and cause a scandal."
"That's not at all what I meant, Emily." Lady Catherine countered. "I simply believe in the virtue of good company."
"It's true enough. Everything started when I turned 17, and they went on preparing me for the season. Do you know about the season?"
Malone nodded, "Yes, of course. The season."
"I don't know about it." Veronica admitted. "What is it?"
Emily explained, "It's when young ladies of a certain class make their official entrance into society. It involves a series of balls, receptions, and high social gatherings where you're essentially showcased to potential suitors."
Catherine laughed ironically, "My dear, what an exaggeration. It's not nearly as transactional as it sounds. It's simply a time to celebrate one's coming of age and to meet new people."
Emily continued. "While I was aching to talk about music, philosophy, and the interesting people I met, they had me walking and dancing, and bobbing up and down like some kind of show pony."
Catherine interjected, "We simply asked that you shouldn't go into the room like a bull in a china shop. It's all about making a good first impression." She paused, her voice sharpening a bit, "Which you never did, considering you ran away from your own debutante ball."
"You ran away from the ball?" Marguerite asked, clearly impressed.
"Oh, Marguerite, it was dreadful. Absolutely dreadful! All those insufferable pompous types. Those repulsive flirting females. The great yawning boredom of their chatter. What do you think of the ball? What do you think of the band? What DO you think of the weather? Oh, it was unbearable. It was more than I could stand. So I… ran away through the front door."
Marguerite couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for Emily's audacious spirit, though she knew better than to openly endorse such scandalous behavior in front of the family. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she listened, and a small smile appeared on her face.
"That must have been quite the escape," She said in the end.
"Oh, the shame of it all." Emily replied.
Robert, misunderstanding her point, nodded gravely. "Shame indeed."
"No, not running away, Papa. The shame of all that waste and extravagance, when outside there's so much poverty and hardship."
Veronica nodded in agreement. "That's absolutely right. What little I've seen of this world so far is quite alarming. The disparity between the upper class and the struggles of everyday people... It's stark and troubling."
Emily then added, "That's why anyone who can vote should consider the Liberal Party. They aim to bridge some of these disparities."
Catherine addressed the group. "I do hope Emily hasn't shocked you too much."
Malone chuckled lightly. "On the contrary, Lady Kenneth. Emily is very intelligent and she should definitely use her intellect. A true gentleman will appreciate that."
Emily replied, "It's not that easy when you are constantly told it's not ladylike, indeed worse. It's considered a serious disadvantage for a girl to be clever. I'm an educated daughter of an earl, and yet, I'm expected to discuss the weather."
John, with a supportive smile, assured her, "You are welcome to discuss politics or any other topic that suits your preference in this house anytime, Emily."
Emily responded with a grateful smile. "Thank you, John. I know you're ultimately on the right side of things, so I'll forgive you for that remark from the start of the evening."
Later, as Marguerite and John lay in bed, Marguerite couldn't wipe that smirk off her face.
John noticed this. "Marguerite, tell me. If we ever have a daughter and she's anything like Emily. A rebel, so to speak. Will she have your support the way you support Emily?"
Marguerite paused, considering his question, then said, "It seems I'll have to, unless I want to become a huge hypocrite. What about you?"
John replied, "Well... It's well-known that it's a father's job to spoil his daughters, just as it's a mother's job to spoil her sons."
"Then we're bound to have spoiled children."
"And what a delightful chaos that will be."