Chapter Eight
The hall was buzzing. Kate had never seen so many women in one place. Not even at the Christmas Bazaar in Micklewell village hall. Purple, white and green rippled across the room. Kate thought she was walking across a Hampshire heath.
The invitation to attend the meeting with Mrs Winton had come as a complete surprise.
The mistress had become more relaxed somehow, since the master’s departure and she and Clara seemed closer to each other, there were less disagreements.
Perhaps that was why she had been asked to come, or perhaps Clara had asked if Kate could come too?
Whatever the reason, Kate was pleased to be there.
This was an experience that she would never have had in Micklewell.
Eliza had commented that Kate shouldn’t get above herself ‘hobnobbing with the gentry’, but Mrs B said it was an honour to be included and that Kate should be on her best behaviour.
The three stood just inside and Mrs Winton scanned the room as if she was looking for someone. ‘It’s very crowded,’ she said. ‘I wasn’t expecting quite so many.’
Kate watched as a fulsome figure wearing a bold sash walked towards them.
Her purposeful stride making the ostrich plumes on her hat bounce to her rhythm.
‘My dears, welcome. Isn’t it wonderful to see so many of us?
’ she said. ‘Now there’s a table over there where you can choose from a sash like mine, or a ribbon.
Our seamstresses have all been busy sewing. ’
She sailed swiftly on checking the attire of all in her path. It was not a familiar sight to see her mistress take orders from someone else, but she led the way and Kate and Clara followed. Armed with the less conspicuous ribbons, they pinned them to their chests and joined the crowd.
Within a few minutes the ostrich plumes made their way onto the platform at one end of the hall and there was an announcement that there was news of the march. They would be arriving at the outskirts of the village very soon.
‘We have banners against the wall over there.’ Mrs Ostrich Feathers beamed. ‘Volunteers needed, please, to carry them.’
Clara, clearly seduced by the excitement, made a step forward and was barred by her mother’s arm.
‘Well, well, Dorothea Winton, what a surprise?’ a voice called from behind them.
Mrs Winton turned. ‘Mrs Barnes, Amelia, how lovely to see you,’ she replied. Kate couldn’t help but notice that Mrs Winton was anything but pleased to see the face with the inquisitive eyes and a slightly lopsided mouth.
‘And who have we here?’ the woman quizzed, peering out from under her ribboned hat.
‘This is my daughter Clara, and Kate, the twins’ nursemaid,’ Mrs Winton replied.
‘Unusual to bring one’s maid to such events,’ Amelia Barnes commented.
‘I didn’t think the suffragettes discriminated,’ Dorothea Winton replied.
‘No, we don’t,’ a voice behind Mrs Barnes intervened. ‘And you should know that, Amelia.’
Mrs Wickham emerged from the crowd and Amelia Barnes scuttled off.
‘Although perhaps with some people we should?’ Mrs Wickham whispered into Dorothea’s ear but not so quietly that Kate and Clara couldn’t hear. Mrs Winton smiled.
‘I’m so pleased you came and that you brought these two young ladies, too, Dorothea. It’s so important that we engage the next generation in our fight.’
‘I’m happy to be here,’ Mrs Winton replied. ‘As long as you don’t expect me to get involved in some of the more militant activities. I do support what you’re all doing and I will do what I can, but I must draw the line somewhere. You do understand, don’t you?’
‘I quite understand,’ Mrs Wickham said. ‘Any news from London? Have you heard from James at all?’
They all moved towards the door where the excitement of raised voices indicated that the march was approaching.
* * *
‘And what happened then?’ Eliza asked as Kate was relaying the story of the day’s expedition.
‘We all went out to greet the women who’d marched from Eastleigh. They’d walked all the way from Land’s End, some of them. It’s taken them over a month,’ Kate said.
‘Shouldn’t fancy darning their stockings,’ Eliza joked, ‘nor washing them neither. Phew! You say there was tea laid on for them. Plenty of cake was there?’
‘There was cake, yes,’ Kate said slightly impatiently, ‘but that wasn’t the thing I remember most about the day. You should have been there, Eliza. The speeches . . . so many women all of one mind and hardly a man in sight!’
‘Not my idea of a good time,’ Eliza said.
‘Oh, Eliza! The things that those women said. Things that I’d never thought about before.
There’s been women trying to get the law changed for forty years and men have stood in their way.
Parliament has refused to listen. It was so, so .
. . inspiring. Yes, that’s the word. Women pay taxes, so women are entitled to vote, they said.
Parliament decides upon things of vital interest to women so women must be able to express their opinions through the ballot box. ’
‘Such as what?’ Eliza asked.
‘Such as education, housing and employment,’ Kate replied. ‘I believe in what they’re saying, Eliza. Meetings and petitions are not enough, it’s time for action!’
‘Hark at you!’ Eliza said. ‘Sounds like they’ve got a new recruit. Just you be careful what you get yourself into, mind. I bet some of those women’s husbands don’t have a notion of what they’re up to. Mr Winton surely wouldn’t approve if he knew, but then he’s not here, is he?’
Kate looked at Eliza. She was so much happier now Mr Winton was away. She and Tommy would soon be together.
‘No, probably just as well. But then she’s not the only woman who will have to face that challenge, is she? There were plenty there that the mistress seemed to know. There was one, though, who made the mistress agitated. A woman called Mrs Barnes, the mistress seemed troubled by her. Why’s that?’
‘Ha! She’s the local busybody, likes to poke her nose into everyone else’s business, got a vicious tongue.
Used to come around here for tea, until her husband was passed over for a promotion at the master’s bank.
She never forgave the master and therefore the mistress too. She’s best avoided that one!’
Kate hoped that the woman wouldn’t make trouble for Mrs Winton.
She could sometimes be demanding, but she was a good mistress.
Eliza had told her stories of how cruel some employers could be.
She was learning more about the world every day and her place in it.
Life in Micklewell had been so sheltered.
She knew nothing of how society worked, what more she could accomplish, what more there was to experience and learn.
Coming to Andover had taught her a great deal.
The country mouse was learning how to be a town mouse.
She had seen a glimpse of what women could strive for and wanted to be part of it.
She put her hand in her pocket and held the ribbon.
She wanted to wear the purple, white and green. She wanted to become a suffragette.
Her first opportunity to do something about that desire was when she managed to talk to Philip for the first time in weeks.
She was in the garden, taking in the twins’ washing, when she saw Philip strolling beside the flower beds.
She tried not to look in his direction but she felt his eyes upon her.
She was folding the last of the clothes, inhaling their sweet smell of sunshine and placing them in the basket, when she realized he was standing right beside her.
‘A beautiful day, Kate,’ he said.
She stuttered the reply out, trying not to appear flustered by his presence. ‘Yes, Master Philip. A good drying day.’ It had been several weeks since she’d seen him and she smiled at him, trying to gauge if he was as pleased to see her as she him.
‘Are we not past the stage of such formalities, Kate? Call me Philip, please.’
‘Oh, I couldn’t, not in front of anyone else anyway,’ she said, blushing.
‘Well, to me then at least,’ he replied returning her smile.
‘You know, everyone is so pleased that you came to work here, Kate. The whole atmosphere in the house has changed. The twins are less argumentative with each other and Mother is impressed with your desire to read and learn. As for Clara, she says that she thinks of you more as a friend than a maid. You really are different, Kate, quite remarkable in fact.’
Kate felt embarrassed by his compliments but pleased at the same time. She bent down to lift the basket and he stooped to help her. Their eyes met and they stood locked in each other’s gaze until she broke the spell.
‘I really should get this washing back inside. Eliza will be out here looking for me,’ she said.
‘Always so busy.’ Philip sighed. ‘I wonder that you find any time to read at all. Have you finished The Mill on the Floss? I can recommend Silas Marner too. I’m sure there’s a copy in the house somewhere. Shall I ask Mother for you?’
‘Ask her what?’
It was Clara’s voice. Kate hadn’t noticed her approaching them across the grass.
‘I was just telling Kate how Mother would be happy to lend her another book,’ Philip said.
‘Oh, yes, of course. She’s quite the reader, is Kate, amongst other things,’ Clara replied casting a knowing look in Kate’s direction. Was it obvious that Kate was attracted to Philip? Was he attracted to her?
‘In fact, she’s a most unusual young woman altogether,’ Clara continued. ‘She’s going to join the suffragettes. Has she told you about the meeting?’
‘What meeting?’ Philip said.
‘Mother took the two of us to a meeting at the Winchester Society. There was a march and banners and there were so many women, all calling for the vote.’
‘Does Father know?’ Philip asked.
‘Does Father need to know? He’ll only object,’ Clara said, becoming more animated.
‘You know, Philip. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life at tea parties being weighed up by old dowagers as suitable wives for their sons or nephews.
I want to do what you’re doing, take the university entrance exam.
I want to be like those women who are standing up for their rights.
I believe that their cause is a just one. Women should have the vote.’
Kate felt uncomfortable being on the edge of this discussion and began shifting her feet.
Clara’s voice was becoming more insistent.
She started to move away when Philip clearly sensed her discomfort and said, ‘No need to get heated about it. I agree with you, Clara. I won’t say anything to Father.
I think you should talk to Mother. She went to the meeting too, she must have some sympathy for the idea of a woman contributing more to society. ’
Kate took the pause in the conversation as her opportunity to leave. ‘Excuse me, Miss Clara, Master Philip, I think I should be getting on with my work.’
‘Of course,’ Philip said. ‘We mustn’t keep you. Clara and I will continue this debate alone.’
‘No wait, Kate, stay. You’re just as involved in this as I am. You’d like to know more about the suffragettes too, wouldn’t you?’
‘Yes but . . .’
‘Well then. I have a plan. Will you help us, Philip? Will you come to the next meeting with us?’
‘I thought it was all women?’ Philip said.
‘No, there are some men that support us as well. There was one who spoke at the meeting, a Mr Kennedy, he came all the way from London just to show that there are men who agree with what we’re trying to do, not only for us privileged women but for working women as well.’
‘Us? You are suffragettes already, then, are you?’ Philip teased.
‘I can’t call myself one until I’ve done something positive to help,’ Clara replied.
‘You know I won’t be allowed out unless I’m chaperoned.
We could say we’re going to an event at the Meeting Rooms. I believe there’s a talk in the Guildhall on the same evening as the suffragette meeting, about the origins of the Twinings company or some such. ’
‘Not one of my major interests but all right then,’ Philip said.
‘And Kate must come too,’ Clara added.
‘Of course, she must,’ Philip agreed.
So, she was to be invited out by Clara, and Philip would be there too!
She couldn’t quite believe what was happening.
What would Eliza make of it, she wondered?
Probably best not to tell her the whole story, in case she blabbed to Mrs B who would be all ifs and buts.
Enough to say she was required to accompany Miss Clara for the evening.
Her mind was busy working out how this had all occurred while she said a flustered thank you and took her basket of washing back to the kitchen.