At the moment, however, Georgie rode her horse quietly and sedately. Star eyed her and said, “What, nothing in politics to go on and on about?”
Georgie eyed her and laughed, “There is always something about men’s politics to go on and on about, but for now, I shall content myself with flaunting them all by riding astride.”
Star laughed, “Well, there is nothing new in that as I do it as well. I will not allow it to be your usual radical self. What has you so quiet, my Georgie?”
“I don’t know. I feel…just a bit confused this morning,” Georgie answered.
“No, impossible. You are never confused,” Star returned half teasingly and slightly in earnest. “Never say you are mellowing with age?”
Georgie shot her a challenging look, “Age? Mellow? Careful my friend.” She sighed then and said, “I have a problem to sort out in my head.”
“Hmm, so do I, but I fancy yours is far more altruistic than mine.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Georgie asked surprised.
“Let me ask you this. Last week you said you look for the day when women would have the same rights as man. You said that you think women should be able to take lovers just as men do, without censure. Do you really believe that it is acceptable for a woman to bed a man whether she means to marry him or not?”
“Ah, a simple question, with a very complicated answer,” Georgie scrunched up her face. “What I believe Star, is that we live in an age where men, even married men, can bed whomever they choose even the household maid right under his poor wife’s nose, for example. You and I even know of such men—Lord Sefton for instance, whose ball we shan’t get to attend tonight. We are not supposed to know, but we hear the rumors and gossip, don’t we? These men, can without impunity go about their business and enjoy romance—lust, where they choose. Very few are held to censure or any consequence that I can see. I believe that it is the consequences of doing the same that women should be freed from. After all, from what I overheard Mama’s friend yesterday, Lady Sefton is carrying on a discreet affair with some young man, much younger than she.”
“Georgie!” Star exclaimed. “I would never have thought so.”
“Precisely, but your reaction to Lady Sefton’s behavior was shock while it was not with regard to his lordship. That is what I object to. I am not saying a lady should bed the butler simply because she has the right. I am saying she should have the right—the same right as a man. Does that make sense to you?”
“Yes, it does, but you know Georgie, that will never happen,” Star answered.
“Ah, perhaps not while we are young…but who knows. I mean honestly, what is wrong—is wrong. We should not be held to a different standard than a man. After all, I think women have the same…romantic desires and needs as men and yet we are trained to control them. Why should we have to control those needs if a man does not?”
Star sighed, “It is different though…somehow.”
“Only because you have been brainwashed into thinking it so. If women like us stand up and demand our rights…well then, who is to say what the future will hold.”
“What about…what about being with a man before one is married…?”
“La, Star…look at Sarah! Did she not run off with that cit last month? They weren’t married for weeks and not until her father found them and forced them to it. Did she not write us that she was happy before she was forced to marry? I think that life has many facets and directions and that one day we will rise above the constraints placed on us by men. One day, we will have the right to conduct business, to vote…to take a lover!” Georgie said and laughed. “I think that a woman shouldn’t abstain from a passion simply because society dictates that she should. Unfortunately, we live in a time where we don’t have the luxury that men enjoy. Thus, if we engage in such a clandestine affair, it must be discreet. We have so much more to lose than a man.”
“Have you ever thought about…being with a man you found…attractive?”
Georgie looked at her sharply, “As a matter of fact, I have. But this isn’t about me, is it? You want the dashing Sir Edward? Is that where these questions come from?”
Star laughed, “You think you know me so well.”
“I do, she-devil, I do.”
Star sighed and detoured her friend’s mind, “You know that Vern thinks you are the air he breathes, right?”
Georgie sighed, “Your brother and I would not suit.”
“Why?” Star asked curiously. “You and Vern get along so well.”
“It isn’t that,” Georgie said. “Of course we get along. His nature is easy and it would be hard to find someone who wouldn’t get along with Vern. The thing is that my heart doesn’t flutter, my body doesn’t quake when I think of Vern.”
“Ah, yes, love. Loving someone is so very different than being in love, isn’t it?” Star said on a heavy sigh. “So then, we are still constrained, are we not? I mean, we think we should be with a man, only if we love him—we constrain ourselves.”
“Well it is an improvement on only being with him if we are married,” Georgie giggled.
Star smiled and then sighed audibly, “Georgie, we are getting older and neither one of us has ever truly been in love.”
“Well, we did think that handsome professor held the stars in his hands…do you remember how we used to watch him and swoon over everything he did?”
Star laughed, “Yes, and what about Mr. Hoolihan’s son, Tommy…we used to go with Papa all the time to pick up supplies just to bat our lashes at him.”
“Ah, but you were the one who caught his eye and his kisses,” Georgie said and laughed.
“That is because you preferred his older brother as I recall. While Tommy was kissing me in the back of the store, you were busy doing I don’t know what, with his brother.”
“Ah Douglas! Yes, handsome older Douglas and I have never had a better kiss,” Georgie sighed.
“Tarts, that is what we are,” Star said and laughed.
“Ah, tarts do have so much more fun. I haven’t been kissed in an age…” Georgie said wistfully.
“You are right. I should like to be kissed by the dashing Sir Edward,” Star said suddenly.
“Indeed, I noticed, but Star, honestly, I must say he is most definitely a man who would leave you brokenhearted. You realize that, don’t you?”
Star nodded and beamed wistfully, “Yes, but it might be worth it!”
“You are wrong. I do know you, and that would never do for you.” Georgie declared and grimaced. “Well, here we are.” She pulled her horse up at the barn and swung her leg over and jumped lightly to earth. Smoothing the jacket and riding skirt of her dark blue riding ensemble, she patted her hair in place and adjusted her brown top hat in a jaunty manner.
“You look wonderful Georgie, but who are you preening for? Have you already changed your mind about my brother?”
Georgie snapped a look at her, “No, did you not notice that you have guests at Berkley? They must already be up at the house.” She indicated the two horses occupying the training paddock and Star’s brow went up and her heart began racing.
Chapter Eight
MILES AND VERN looked toward the open door of the bedroom and Vern’s countenance took on a genuinely pleased smile as he greeted the newcomers. “Jules…” he said and looked past him to the striking man at Jules’ side.
Dilly appeared to be about to bolt so his lordship called after her, “Dilly, hold there, just a moment if you would.”
“Indeed, no need for you to rush off child,” Miles said with a soft smile directed toward her.
“Shut up, Miles,” Vern admonished.
“What? What did I say?”
“Dilly, would you bring up a fresh pot of…” Vern started.
“No, no,” Jules interrupted. “No need for tea, not staying that long.”
Vern nodded and with a lift of his finger allowed Dilly to hurry off, but Miles stalled this by saying, “Hold on Dilly. Just to be cert
ain we don’t need anything?”
Vern pulled a face at him but turned to call merrily to the two men hovering still at his open doorway, “Come in, come in. The doctor tells me I am not infectious.”
Jules went forward and glanced toward Miles, as Vern offered, “You know Miles don’t you?”
Jules smiled and nodded, “Miles, yes of course.”
Sir Edward saw the wary look that passed between the two and thought, aha! Rivals for the fair Star. It irked and amused him at the same time, though he wondered why it should annoy him. It was nothing to him how many suitors she had in the wings. He shrugged this off immediately.
Edward took a position quietly standing in the background as he surveyed the scene before him and noted that Star’s brother looked enough like her to be her twin. The same corn-silk colored hair, as Jules had dubbed it. He was a handsome young man, though his face looked white and drawn from his days no doubt, in bed. He thought immediately of the young boy—boy indeed, but someone who did in fact, look like Vern and the Lady Star. Was his suspicion fancy?
Vern regarded Jules with some amusement and said, “If you came to call on m’sister, you are out of luck, Jules. She is off visiting Georgina.”
Jules clasped his hands behind his back and said, “Ah, I am sorry that we have missed her, but we are not here to visit her. You see, we have a solution to the problem, so in a manner of speaking it is she that brings us here.”
“A solution to the problem? What problem?” Vern frowned.
“Indeed, your meaning, sir?” Miles asked as he stepped forward. He was not smiling.
Vern saw this at once and snorted. He turned and waved Sir Edward closer, “I am sorry to greet you from my bed, sir. While these two battle over m’sister, may I introduce myself as I see Jules is too excited over some other matter to attend to the oversight. I am Vern.”
“Indeed, so I gathered, I am…”
Jules remembered his manners at that moment and hurriedly interrupted with an unintelligible sound and then with a wave of his hand as he offered the necessary introductions.
Dilly had been stalled in the door frame, waiting for the outcome of this. Did his lordship wish her to bring up a tray or not? He finally saw her hovering nervously about and said, “Oh, Dilly, I am sorry. It appears we won’t be having tea.”
She nodded and made good her escape down the hall and then hurriedly down the main staircase. She flew for she had any number of things that needed taking care of and not enough minutes in the day, so she grumbled to herself as she made her way. “I don’t have time to wait on swells and bloods,” she told no one in particular as she went past a collection of Berkley portraits. She was highly flustered and in something of a state when her mistress and Miss Madison came through the front door and nearly bumped into her.
“Why Dilly, whatever has you so flushed?” Star’s brow was up high as her eyes scanned the hall for a clue.
“Naught, but Oi will say this to ye, Miss Star. Oi cares fer ye and the young lord. That’s why Oi stays on, otherwise Oi would go to Mrs. Quigly, who thinks Oi would do as ‘er own personal maid.”
“But Dilly, I don’t understand. Do you wish to leave us? Have we burdened you with too much work?” Star stole a quick glance at her friend, but if Miss Madison had an answer, it wasn’t written on her face.
“No, don’t be thinking that. Why ye and the young lord ‘ave been good to me, ye ‘ave. ‘Taint that, but it makes me uneasy to serve ‘imself and ‘is friends abovestairs, it does. It would be more fittin’ if there was a serving boy to do that.”
Dawning lit in Star’s eyes and mind. No doubt Miles was up to some devilry with Dilly for she was a pretty little thing, and he was an outrageous flirt. Over the years, she could not help but notice that about him. She knew him well and though he meant no harm, she also knew to someone like Dilly, he could be intimidating.
Exchanging a knowing glance with Georgie, she patted Dilly’s shoulder and said, “Dilly, I do promise that as soon as we can, we shall bring in the additional help you need. You are perfectly correct. ‘Tis time Vern looked about for a valet to handle such things.”
Satisfied, Dilly sniffed and allowed a quick curtsy before she headed toward the kitchen and Cook.
Chapter Nine
“I WON’T HAVE Miles and Vern teasing that child. Why, it is the outside of enough. We can’t afford the servants we have, let alone another,” Star said in a hushed aside to Georgina and chewed her bottom lip.
“Now Star, Vern is not the sort to dally with a vulnerable girl like Dilly and Miles, well,” she smiled, “Is Miles. He can’t help himself, can he?”
“Indeed. Yet lately, he seems to think I might be open to his dalliance,” Star frowned.
“Well, as to that,” Georgie smiled wickedly, “Miles is infatuated with you. I say infatuated because in my opinion that is all that it is and I don’t want your head turned by him.”
“Take a damper!” Star fidgeted with her fingers. “Miles, indeed. That is like my saying that Vern has a tendre for you—Miles and I would never suit.”
Georgie frowned. “I don’t know if it is quite the same thing. Vern wants to marry me because he likes me and thinks he would be comfortable with me as his wife and because the joining of our two estates would get him out of financial trouble. Miles wants to marry you because he openly adores you and thinks that he might be in love. He isn’t, but he thinks he is.”
“I quite agree. Miles adores every maid in town. He can’t help himself. He loves women. When we were young he once told me that he thinks each and every one of us, tall, thin, fat, skinny, all hold a mystery he needs to unfold. Can you imagine?” She laughed out loud as they reached the top step and turned at the landing toward her brother’s room.
“Star, don’t go raking them down until you have calmed yourself,” Georgie cautioned.
“Do I not look calm?”
“You look like you are about to toss them into the gallows and throw away the key,” Georgie giggled.
“You know Georgie…things are dire. There is something I haven’t told you,” Star started to say, thought better of it and bit her lip. Her brother had been hobnobbing with common thieves—a pack of criminals, giving them information he should not have been. The horror of it had her on edge. How could she tell Georgie such a thing? She was irritated with him. She knew he had done it, foolishly yes, but because he had been desperate.
She walked into her brother’s room and saw Sir Edward, profoundly dashing in his buckskin riding jacket, sitting beside her brother’s bed and in close conversation with him. Why, oh why did Sir Edward have such a whirlwind effect on her? It was as though the air had been wrenched from her lungs and withheld just out of reach. The sensation left her giddy.
“Star!” Vern exclaimed on a merry note. “You are back and in time to hear the good news.” Vern’s smile widened as he found Georgie stepping into the now overcrowded bedroom. “Hallo, Georgie, come and give an ailing man a kiss.”
“Hallo, brat,” Georgie said and blew him a sisterly kiss.
He eyed her and said softly, “I shall have to teach you to do better than that.”
“Oh, you don’t have to teach me, dearest. I fancy I rather know the knack of it better than you realize…but there is always the when and the who to be considered before I display my talents.” Tongue in cheek she started to turn away, but for the beseeching tone of his voice which called after her.
“Georgie, ah Georgie, you drive a man wild. You…you know I mean to have you, don’t you?”
Star, in spite of the present company, snorted and for her transgression, received a brotherly glare. Star rolled her eyes at him.
“Do you, Vern dear?” Georgie countered. “What a very odd thing to say to someone who has been a sister to you most of her life.”
“Oh do stop your bantering you two and let Vern tell us what he means,” Star said after she had made the perfunctory round of greeting the others in the room.
“Right, so what it means is that you two needn’t sit home tonight for lack of escort. You have three!” Vern grinned from ear to ear. He looked at Georgie, “Sad as I am that I shall not have you on my arm Georgie, I am pleased as a generous man can be that you won’t miss this ball.”
Star looked at Miles who was standing erect and proud. Jules looked hopefully her way and Sir Edward, she could clearly see, appeared completely amused.
*
Sir Edward had watched Star enter her brother’s room and the vision of her lively beauty hit him soundly. He discovered he was momentarily bereft of speech as he watched her with her white gold hair all windblown and making a perfect frame around her heart-shaped beautiful face and thought that she was stunning.
Jules was completely right; she did take the breath away. Why had he not immediately seen this—or had he and resisted?
Evidently a bit of a drama was taking place and he found it intriguing. Vern seemed to want Miss Madison and from where he stood, the lovely Miss Madison seemed to have eyes for his friend, Jules. In addition to this, both Miles and Jules wanted Star and this was he thought something Shakespeare would have had a very excellent time describing.
However, somehow he was being drawn into the romantic comedy, much against his will. He had meant to keep himself aloof and then what must the pretty Miss Star do but turn her dark eyes on him. Deep inside of him he felt a stirring, a flutter he did not recognize, for it had never happened before.
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