Chapter Thirty-One
Feminine power crackled as pride swelling, Franny looked out over the ladies gathered in her drawing room.
These women were her sisters, and they gave her a greater purpose that she embraced with passion and fortitude.
She couldn’t imagine another place where women born to privilege and wealth chatted happily with an orphaned pugilist. What a blessing that a daughter of a boxing coach and an ex-governess was also welcomed with open arms into this elite group.
“I have something to add,” Lady Whitehill announced.
“Go on, Laura,” Lady Siddons said.
Lady Whitehill stood, not an iota of her previous timidity evident. She lifted her chin and pulled her shoulders back as if she were a warrior. “Helena, tell Lord Griffendale to propose your ideas about coverture to Parliament. I will see that my husband does not interfere.”
Lady Davenport raised her glass high. “Hear, hear.”
Cheers echoed as glasses lifted in solidarity. In recruiting a perfect member to their club, Viscount Jonathan Davenport, the incurable rake who never took anything seriously, solidified Franny’s loyalty and respect.
“This is truly going to happen, isn’t it?” Josie said to Franny. Meanwhile, joyful side conversations broke out around the room.
Lady Siddons banged her gavel until the chatter quieted.
“Ladies,” she said, her tone earnest. “There are still a lot of men to convince. Please do not be disheartened if my nephew fails to make immediate headway.” Her jaw set in determination, Lady Siddons scanned the room, making eye contact with her attentive audience.
“Even if our proposed ideas do not come to fruition this season, know they will happen. Someday, our daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters will have autonomy. Because we were brave enough to fight, they will own property, vote, and hold seats in Parliament, and every one of you had a hand in creating this equitable future.”
Collective emotion swept over the room. Franny swiped tears from her eyes.
Even the skeptical Lady Hillcaster honked into her handkerchief. “I want my granddaughters to have autonomy,” she said. “More than I’ve ever wanted anything.”
Surely if they’d won over the stodgy Lucille, they could convince a bunch of single-minded men.
“I suppose that is all for today,” Lady Siddons said. “Bridget, is there anything you need repeated for the meeting notes?”
“As usual, I’ve done a splendid job.” The earl’s irreverent daughter grinned. “Therefore, I hereby motion for this meeting of the Happy Hoydens from Hell Assembly to conclude. Do I have a second?”
Franny laughed so hard, she snorted.
“Bridget Wentworth.” Although Lady Siddon’s tone was stern, her eyes sparkled with good humor.
“Oh, botheration,” Bridget said. “I hereby motion for this meeting of the Ladies’ Autonomy League to conclude. Do I have a second?”
“I second the motion,” Franny called. Caught up in this contagious fervor, she felt invincible. She sought Josie’s gaze and then sent her a mental message. Can you believe we are a part of something this important?
Josie’s grin grew until it was all teeth.
As the ladies kissed cheeks and said their good evenings, Franny and Josie gathered the dirty glasses and deposited them into the wash bucket.
Franny’s mouth watered as she arranged the remaining pastries in a tin.
Once she won this mill, there would be no leftovers because she would eat every last biscuit, cake, and pie.
Josie placed the last dirty plate in the bin, then swiped her hands back and forth. “Let us wash the dishes tomorrow.”
Since Franny was anxious to spend time with Edward, she agreed. They descended the stairs side by side.
“Your relationship with Edward seems to grow stronger by the day,” Josie said.
Delight rippled through Franny. “Yes, it does.”
“Have you made love yet?” Josie asked.
Franny slapped her shoulder. “That is none of your concern.”
“With all that manliness, I wager he is an extraordinary lover,” Josie said between giggles.
Despite her gasp of indignation, Franny wanted to talk about her physical relationship.
However, there was no way she could confess to their rope play, how good it felt when he pushed deep inside her, or the way he devoured her body.
“I suspect he has had many lovers in the past. He knows so much.” Her cheeks heated.
“I hope I suit him. He has had to teach me everything.”
Edward lavished her with compliments about her passion, and he seemed to be aroused all the time. Hopefully, he wasn’t humoring her.
As they stepped onto the gymnasium floor, Josie’s tone turned serious.
“I understand that feeling. Nicolas did not have a lot of lovers, but he was engaged before we met. He said the few carnal relations they had were unsatisfactory. However, this comely widow, ten years his senior, schooled him in lovemaking.”
Franny snorted. “Lady Milton?”
“How did you know?” Josie asked.
Franny hadn’t known, she’d simply been thinking out loud. “She favors Edward, but he told me they were never lovers.”
“Don’t you believe him?” Josie asked.
Franny clasped Josie’s hands and confessed, “I believe him. Josie, he is so very honest. And wonderful. In fact… I have fallen madly in love with him.”
“I knew it.” Josie wrapped Franny in a hug and squeezed. “Honestly, having a life partner is divine. You have someone to curl up with every night and wake up with every morning. You can talk about anything and everything. Being in love with your husband is rather amazing.”
“But he has not proposed,” Franny said.
“ ’Tis just a matter of time,” Josie said. “I see the way he looks at you.”
Hopefully this was true, because Franny would leap into his arms, calling out, yes! “Since you are being so nosey, it is only fitting that I ask, are you with child yet?” She patted Josie’s flat belly.
“No.” Josie frowned. “I got my monthly courses last week. Once I am, you will be the second to know. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to spar with you then.”
How bittersweet.
“In that case,” Josie added, “mayhap, Roseanna Chapman will make the perfect sparring partner for you. She is quite good. I am pleased she decided to train with us.”
“Mayhap.” One of Franny’s core beliefs was that life placed individuals in one’s path at just the right moment.
“The truth is, once I settle my debt to Bear, I don’t know if I will continue fighting.
Surprisingly, after my original horror, I’m quite excited for this fight.
Besides giving up sweets, it feels wonderful to be training. However…”
“What?” Josie asked.
Too many emotions whirled for Franny to understand how she felt about her future competing. She sighed. “I suppose I should stop overthinking and concentrate on my upcoming fight.”
“Splendid idea,” Josie said.
“By the by, did you truly suggest that I stay with Edward when Papa was recovering?”
Feigning memory lapse, Josie tapped her cheek.
“You little imp.” Franny lightly pushed her shoulder. “Seriously? None of you thought a lick about my reputation?”
Josie laughed. “Do not act so put out. We are hardly high-born ladies, and we are already challenging the status quo. We run around in our chemises punching people and telling other women to fight for autonomy. Besides, you were much too stubborn to ever admit you found him attractive. We were simply helping you find happiness.”
Franny opened her mouth to dispute Josie. However, every bit of what she had said was true.
“I’m meeting Nicolas at The Spotted Octopus,” Josie said. “Would you care to join us? I think your father is with him.”
“No. Edward is walking me home. Speaking of Edward…” Franny searched the gymnasium.
“Is something wrong?” Josie asked.
“Edward said he would wait for me, but he isn’t here.”
“He must be about somewhere. His things are over there.” Josie pointed to his pile of clothing and mufflers in the weight area.
“He said he was going to assist Harry. Maybe they are working in one of the offices.”
“Probably.” Josie kissed her cheek. “See you tomorrow.”
Once Josie departed, Franny searched the building to no avail. Disappointed, she plopped onto the bench beside Edward’s discarded possessions. Red splotches spattering his cravat caught her eye.
She picked up the sticky fabric. Had Pete the Trojan or Thumbs McCartney given Edward a bloody nose?
She flinched—Edward’s poor, wonderful, imperfect nose. As soon as she saw him, she would gently clean his injury, then kiss him until he forgot about the pain.
Tamping down her impatience, she waited.
And waited.
“Where are you, Edward?” she whispered to her empty gymnasium.