Aidan chuckled. “Well, I’d say she’s done that. It’s simply that her protest has brought her to Washington. And, I fear, notoriety. For, if she’s visiting Zee, she will end up on the picket line.”
Morgan glared at first Aidan and then Teddy. “Do you expect me to believe you countenance your wife’s actions? And her ability to drag my wife into her dangerous plans?”
Teddy smiled with a nod in Aidan’s direction. “I’ve been convinced that there is little danger in standing in front of the White House, holding signs in protest. They aren’t breaking the law, and they are peaceful. If men are afraid of women speaking their mind, then that’s their concern.” He took a deep breath. “I can’t say I’m delighted to know Zee carries out such activities, but my protestations were ignored. Thus, it’s what she wants to do, and I must support her.”
“Why?” Morgan asked. “Why, when it will only bring her pain and suffering and will do little to further the cause she espouses?”
Aidan chuckled. “You still have a lot to learn about your wife and marriage, Wheeler. You must grant them the freedom to do what they believe.”
Morgan watched Teddy with frank confusion. “But your wife isn’t even considered a citizen of the United States. Why would she continue to struggle for women here when her country has disavowed her?”
Teddy stiffened. “Zee refuses to accept the limitations on her citizenship imposed by her government. Although they don’t consider her an American, she does.” He shook his head. “She’s never been to England. Why would she consider herself English?”
Morgan watched Teddy closely, but he said nothing further. Aidan’s countenance, while friendly, failed to encourage further personal conversation.
“Doesn’t it bother you that your wife has already been arrested three times?” Morgan asked Teddy.
Teddy glared at him. “Of course it does, but those arrests didn’t lead to much. She was released almost immediately. They were perfunctory, and I’m certain the judge is well aware of the dangers of incarcerating women who haven’t broken any laws.”
Morgan scoffed. “You know how the courts work. They’ll find some meaningless charge as a way to lock them up.” He sighed. “I can’t imagine Parthena in jail.”
Teddy sighed. “Zylphia would not be swayed, and she is under the belief I am unaware of her imprisonments.” He ran a finger over his eyebrow. “I saw no reason to mention it to her as I knew it would not aid my argument. She was healthy and well, and I should not concern myself about a few days spent in prison.”
Morgan watched him with dawning horror. “It’s as though she sees it all as a lark. And now Parthena has been drawn into her web.”
Teddy’s jaw tightened a few times before he nodded. “I fear Zee has yet to recognize the gravity of their situation should public sentiment, or the judge’s, turn further against them.”
After a drawn-out silence, Aidan cleared his throat. “I would recommend you give Mrs. Wheeler and yourself time to calm after this latest argument. When you feel enough time has passed, and, if she has not returned from DC, I’d consider visiting her there.”
“I want her home by the holidays,” Morgan murmured.
Aidan nodded as though his demand were reasonable.
“It’s only September, Morgan. Give her time to cool down and to miss you,” Teddy said with a wry smile. “I visited Zee last month and learned I hadn’t given her enough time to miss me yet.”
Morgan shook his head, perplexed as he watched Teddy. “But your wife has been away for the better part of eight months. Since that drastic picketing started in January.”
Teddy’s eyes flashed but otherwise remained composed. “I know how long my wife has been away.” The soft pitch of his voice silenced any protest from Aidan or Morgan. After a tense moment, the conversation turned to business, and the tension thrumming through Teddy and Morgan eased at the impersonal topic.
Parthena waved away the cab one block from her desired destination. She carried her small suitcase with her and found the address to the National Women’s Party headquarters at Cameron House. She peered at the three-story brick building and paused on the walkway. As she stood there, dithering about what to do, the door burst open, and a line of women poured out. Parthena jumped to the side of the walkway to watch the stream of women pass her.
Seeing Parthena on the walkway, Zylphia halted as she walked from the building, a bundle under her arm. Zylphia spoke to a woman in her group and handed her the bundle, motioning them to go without her. “Parthena?” Her incredulous voice jolted Parthena out of her perusal of the goings-on of the street. “What are you doing here?” She pulled her friend into a hug.
When Parthena pulled away, Zylphia frowned at the tears in her friend’s eyes. “What’s he done?”
“Oh, Zee,” Parthena whispered. She waved at the backsides of retreating women fading in the distance as they marched down the sidewalk. “I see I’ve interrupted something important. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right. Bev took my place. I’ll have to switch with her another day.” At Parthena’s confused stare, Zylphia laughed. “We’re picketing. We picket every day.” Zylphia glanced up and down the street in front of Cameron House. “I’m actually surprised people aren’t here protesting our departure. That’s become an almost daily occurrence.”
She looped her arm through Parthena’s and led her in the opposite direction of the picketers. “Come. Let’s go to a tea shop, and you can tell me what’s happened.” She stopped and held up a finger. “Wait a second. I’ll see if Ro is free.”
Parthena watched as Zylphia raced inside. Within a few minutes, she returned with Rowena in tow. After giving Parthena a hug, Rowena said, “Rather than a café, let’s go to our apartment, Zee.”
When they arrived, Zylphia held the door for Parthena, welcoming her into their small rented rooms. “These aren’t much, but everything is quite expensive in Washington. Besides, we spend most of our time at Cameron House. We’re thankful we don’t have to go down the hallway for the bathroom.”
Parthena shook her head. “I hate to admit I hadn’t even considered that possibility. How do you stand this?”
“It’s like being in the nursery again,” Rowena said with a wink. “Zee and I share a bedroom.”
“I want to be in Washington, and this is what I can afford,” Zylphia said as she took off her hat and hung it on the peg by the door. “That’s not true. I could pay for something much grander, but I don’t know how long I’ll be here, and I want to economize as I’m not sure how long Teddy will help me.”
“I can only imagine that Teddy would give you adequate money so you could live a bit more grandly.” Parthena watched her friend with a worried furrow in her brow. “And that your father surely would not make you live like this either.” She nodded to Rowena, who shrugged.
“Teddy and I fail to agree on much these days.” Zylphia waved her hand as though such a comment were of little concern. “Please, sit and tell us what has brought you here. What did Morgan do?”
Parthena roamed the room, picking up framed pictures of Zylphia and her parents, Zylphia with her cousins in Montana. Parthena paused as she studied a photo from the previous holiday of Teddy, Zylphia, Morgan, Rowena and herself. “It’s more what I did.”
Zylphia collapsed onto the settee, kicked off her shoes and curled up in comfort. “I’m sure he provoked you into acting like a madwoman.”
“And you couldn’t help but respond and say awful things,” Rowena said as she sat on a chair near Zylphia.
Parthena turned to study her friends, both of them sitting with an air of calm composure even though they’d spent the day writing articles against the government for denying women the right to vote and had supported women who had defied the law and picketed that day. “Why do you always take my side? Why do you never believe I could be at fault?”
Zylphia laughed. “I know you could be at fault. You’re human. But you’re my friend, and I will always t
hink well of you.”
Rowena smiled. “We know you, Parthena, and we accept you as you are. We also know your husband, and he could provoke a saint to violence.”
Parthena sank onto the chair next to the settee and shook her head. “I don’t know what to do anymore. One moment I think we’ll have a normal marriage. A fulfilling marriage. And then he turns all cold again. And he loves to taunt me with Lucas.”
Rowena frowned. “You must have said something to make him feel insecure if he brought up Lucas again.”
“Genevieve and Lucas are to have a baby.” She watched as Zylphia smiled with joy at the news. “I told Morgan that, and he immediately jumped to the conclusion that it meant I wished I were the one pregnant by Lucas. Not Viv.”
“Oh my.” Zylphia sighed. “Did you disabuse him of that foolish notion?” When Parthena sat dejectedly on her chair, Zylphia shook her head “Of course you didn’t. The two of you would rather choke on your own pride than actually speak to each other and explain what you are feeling.”
“That’s not fair, Zee.”
“Of course it is. Why can’t you simply tell Morgan you want a baby? That you’re envious of your sister and wish to not only be an aunt but a mother too?” She frowned with frustration as she watched her friend. “Or is it that you still bar him from your bedroom?”
“I don’t bar him,” Parthena snapped. “He’s chosen to distance himself from me in that manner.”
“Because you froze him out and didn’t want him touching you!” Zylphia tossed her hands in the air in exasperation. “You talk about Morgan acting as an icicle, but I think you learned that lesson well too, P.T. You must decide what you want. Lucas is lost to you. He’s never returned to Boston in all this time, and I wonder if he ever will. He’s happy with your sister. From what he writes, he’s been in love with her since almost the moment they married. You must find your own happiness.”
Rowena canted forward as her two friends talked avidly about their marriages, her eyes lit with curiosity. “Zee’s right, P.T. You have to stop clinging to the hurts from your past and find the happiness of your present.” Her gaze was filled with compassion as she watched Parthena battle tears. “I’d hate to have the same conversation with you five or ten years from now.”
Parthena scrubbed at the few tears that escaped. “You don’t know what I fear.” She gripped Zylphia’s hand when she felt it on her knee. “I know he’ll see any overture I make to him as a sign of weakness, and I couldn’t stand to have him believe he has such power over me.”
Zylphia sighed. “Loving someone gives them power over us. The power to hurt us. The power to bring tremendous joy. If he loves you, he won’t see your love as a weakness, but as a strength. And a precious gift.”
After a few moments where Parthena sniffled, Rowena said, “In the beginning, I can see why you were worried he would react in such a way. But not now, P.T. He’s overall a good man, and he’s been very patient. If you truly want nothing to do with him, tell him. Free yourself, and him, so that you can find joy.”
“I ran away,” Parthena whispered. At her friends’ confused stares, Parthena closed her eyes in regret. “I ran away when I promised I never would.”
Zylphia’s confused expression didn’t clear up with Parthena’s statement. “We all run when we’re afraid. I think it takes tremendous courage to acknowledge that we were wrong, that we should have acted differently. And then to change how we act.”
Rowena raised an eyebrow at her friend’s words, her gaze filled with ironic humor. However, Zylphia remained focused on Parthena and refused to meet Rowena’s gaze or practice any introspection.
Parthena swiped at her cheeks. “I know I must face him at some point, but I’m not ready. I need time,” she whispered.
Zylphia shared a smile with her friend. “Don’t worry. We’ll keep you plenty busy with the cause. You’ll have time to consider what you want to do, but you’ll also have your opportunity to become more involved.” Her smile held a touch of deviltry. “What are your thoughts on picketing?” She shared a laugh with her friends.
Parthena returned from the picket line with a hem torn loose and her hair down. Her banner had been ripped from her hands, and she sported a bruise on one of her shins. She attempted to walk without a limp but feared she failed. When she reentered Cameron House, Zylphia saw her and smiled.
“I can see it went well,” her friend said.
Parthena glared at her friend’s sarcasm.
“No, I’m serious. You’re still clothed.” The outrageous comment shocked a laugh from Parthena who rolled her eyes.
“Come,” Zee said, gripping Parthena’s arm and tugging her to a back room where tea and cakes awaited the picketers. “Help yourself and then tell me all about it.”
Parthena placed a few treats on her plate, filled a cup with tea and then followed Zylphia to her desk. Parthena pushed aside papers to make room for her plate and cup and settled into her chair with a sigh. “It feels good to sit.”
Zylphia laughed. “I know. Even though we’re only out there for hours, it can feel like days sometimes.”
“I don’t know how you can continuously return to the picket. It’s boring, and, then in an instant, it can turn terrible.” Parthena took a sip of tea, blushing as she accidentally made a slurping noise.
“I tried to give you the least inflammatory banner for your first day,” Zylphia said. “I think it might have helped.”
Parthena shook her head in disbelief. “Some men spit on women. Can you imagine?”
Zylphia nodded. “Yes, I can. It’s disgusting.” She shuddered as though recalling it. She stiffened, her demeanor cooled and sent a warning glance to Parthena. “Hello, Mr. Hooper.”
“Mrs. Goff, always a pleasure to see you.” He turned his bright smile to Parthena. “I believe I’ve yet to have the pleasure of making your acquaintance.”
“I’m Mrs. Wheeler,” she said in a flat, crisp tone. “From Boston.” She jerked her hand away from his as he lifted it for a kiss.
“I’m Mr. Hooper, a special friend of Mrs. Goff.” His smile widened as Zylphia watched him with a feral glint in her eyes. “She’s always reluctant to speak of us in public,” he whispered.
“Mr. Hooper, if you would please leave, preferably forever, I would be most thankful.” Zylphia fisted her hands at her waist and blushed as she beheld her unshakable suitor.
“Oh, I know women don’t always mean what they say,” Mr. Hooper commented as he perched on the edge of Zylphia’s desk.
“I find that statement offensive,” Parthena snapped. “You are here, in Cameron House, and theoretically in support of universal enfranchisement. However, if you truly believe that women don’t always say what they mean, then how can you believe we are in earnest when we proclaim our truths? When we go to the picket line each day and unfurl our banners?” She set down her teacup with such force that the saucer cracked. “You are offensive, and I’d think those in charge of this movement would prefer you not enter here.”
“But I’m in support of your movement,” he sputtered.
“In words only. You aren’t truly in support of women and what we hope to achieve once we are enfranchised. Men like you hope we’ll remain in a convenient little box, easily labeled and controlled. You’d do well to learn that this is just the beginning of true equality for women.” She glared at him. “If you will excuse us, we have important matters to discuss that don’t include you.”
Mr. Hooper stood, stupefied for a moment before he tugged on his waistcoat and stormed off. Zylphia giggled as he nearly ran over Rowena in his haste to exit Cameron House. Rowena joined them, pouring a cup of tea.
“What riled Mr. Hooper?” she whispered.
Zylphia smiled. “Parthena told him off. I’m hopeful he’ll cease in his pursuit of me now.” She grinned wickedly at her friend. “Or he’ll find Parthena more to his liking.”
Parthena shuddered. “I hope he’ll take the hint and leave us all alone.�
�
Rowena shrugged. “Whether we like it or not, we’ll need his help at some point. He is a brilliant lawyer, and we’re bound to need legal counsel.”
Zylphia rose and arched her back. “Come. It’s time to finish the day. Let’s go for a short walk to show Parthena some of the local sights before heading home.”
“Plus I should find a hotel room as your apartment is cramped already with the two of you.”
“Or,” Zylphia said, “you could rent rooms in our building.”
Parthena laughed. “I am spoiled enough to want more during my stay here.”
They gathered their hats, light jackets and purses and departed Cameron House. They walked at a leisurely pace toward the Tidal Basin where many locals enjoyed the comfortable fall evening as they passed the Washington Monument. They glanced in the distance where a memorial to President Lincoln was being constructed. As they walk on, they had entered a verdant park, with no buildings and few cars on the roads that intersected the area.
“When I arrived, I explained what had happened between Morgan and me.” Parthena shot a quick look at Zylphia. “Yet you’ve been absent from Boston for over eight months, and, when you’re home, you never visit. Why is there such a distance between you and Teddy?” Parthena asked.
Zylphia’s step faltered a moment before she righted herself as though she’d never hesitated in her step. “He needs to work on his business dealings with my father in Boston, and I desire to be here during this important time in the movement,” Zylphia said.
“There’s more, Zee. Tell me,” Parthena coaxed. Rowena nodded her agreement to Parthena’s prodding.
Zylphia motioned them to join her on a bench on the warm late September afternoon. They sat in the sunlight, soaking in the warmth. “I want to be an American citizen. Teddy doesn’t want to be an American.” She shrugged her shoulders as though that described her situation.
“I don’t understand,” Parthena said.
“When I married Teddy, I unwittingly lost my citizenship. Due to the Expatriation Act of 1907, my citizenship is tied to that of my husband’s. It doesn’t matter where I was born. Thus, since Teddy is a British citizen, now I am seen as British. I have no legal protections here.”
Resilient Love: Banished Saga, Book 7 Page 20
