Page 15

Chapter 15

March 1911

‘Show me then,’ John said to Ursula on the Sunday afternoon two weeks before Ann’s birthday.

‘I want to see what sort of gift could possibly be an improvement on a nice set of encyclopaedias.’ He winked at her.

‘This had better be good.’

She smiled and patted the two white boxes on her lap.

‘It is good. In fact, I was so impressed I went back the day after I placed the order and chose a second for myself. It will go with my best dress, the deep purple one with the lace at the neck. I won’t use it until after Ann’s birthday, of course.

’

She passed him the smaller box first. The lilac bag with silver tassels nestled in a crinkle of white tissue paper.

He felt the texture of the suede, not wanting to leave any marks on its softness.

‘Very nice. I’m sure you will look extremely elegant carrying that.

’

‘And this is Ann’s.

’ She passed the second box over to him.

‘Green, as we agreed, to match her eyes. Each bag has an additional pocket inside in cream which makes it easier to see your things in poor light.’

He examined the bag, opened the clasp with care and ran his fingers over the purple silk lining.

‘I’m sure she’ll be delighted.

’

‘Thank you.’

‘For approving of your choice of gifts?’

‘Yes, for that .?.?.’

‘Is there something else?’

Ursula sighed.

‘I suppose I’m finding things a little more difficult than I expected.

’ She was unsure how to continue.

‘I want to thank you for your reassurances about my position in the family.’ She rewrapped the bags in their tissue paper slowly and slipped them back into the presentation boxes.

‘I am a bit worried about Ann.’ She searched for the right words.

‘Finlay is brusque with her sometimes. Do you remember how he teased her about the encyclopaedias last week? I don’t think he means it badly but I can see that she has noticed.

Young girls can be easily hurt.

’

‘That young man is trying my patience at the moment. He gets these new ideas from his friends at school and I’m sure he copies their behaviour.

They did not allow such free thinking when I was a pupil.

’

Ursula was beginning to regret having raised the matter and found herself unexpectedly defending Finlay.

‘I expect it will pass. He is probably testing out what it is to be a man. And he’s itching to be independent.

’ She stood up and put the boxes back in their hiding place in the oak chest beneath the window.

‘Well, he is certainly testing me on occasion and I don’t mind admitting it.

And too much independence won’t help him in life.

I had to have a talk with him before Christmas about taking care.

I’m not sure he took much notice of me, though.

’ He waited until she was seated beside him again and took her hand.

‘You were right about the bag. Now that I’ve seen it, I understand.

I was wrong to suggest the encyclopaedias.

’

‘You weren’t wrong at all, and I’m sure if she wants encyclopaedias in the future then they can be provided.

I do find it so interesting to observe how different they are.

Ann is less impetuous and far more cautious for a start.

So far, anyway.’

‘Long may it last.’ John picked up his book and found the postcard that was marking his place.

‘And I am sure Ann will be delighted to have something a grown-up lady would have. It will add to the gift considerably. I’m very pleased you chose one for yourself too.

Where did you buy them in the end?

’

‘In Marchmont. From a young woman who has a workshop at her home in one of the tenements there. She works from her flat, in the back room next to the kitchen.’

‘And how did you find out about her?’

‘Mrs Young gave me her details .?.?.’ Her voice trailed away.

‘Ah yes, I’m sure you’ve mentioned her before.

She has been quite an influence over these last few weeks.

’

She waited to see what he would say next.

‘So are you going to boycott the census, Ursula? Are we going to break the law? That’s what this is leading up to, I think?

’ He studied the postcard as though he had never seen it before.

‘It might escape Ann’s notice that her bag is in suffragette colours, but I have certainly noticed, and so will Finlay.

’

‘Break the law?’

‘It’s against the law not to complete the census, and if you’re in the house, I must put your name on the form.

’

‘What do you mean, “if I am in the house”?’

‘Those are the rules.’

‘Where else would I be?’

‘You tell me.’ He studied her face.

A sudden realisation came over her.

‘You have been to Café Vegetaria!’

He nodded.

‘You have been spying on me!’

He held up his hand to stop her, but it had no effect.

The words gushed out of her.

‘I have seen over the last few weeks that I can make decisions for myself, without needing to always consult others. And I have even changed what I eat and I feel much better for it.’

‘And did I object?’ He squeezed the question in but she ignored him.

‘I’ve made new acquaintances beyond the wives of your business associates, who all talk about the world as though it is something they merely observe rather than something they might improve.

’

He gave up trying to say anything meaningful and waited until she was finished.

‘I do not want to go to rallies and throw bricks through windows. I do not want to hand out leaflets or get arrested. But I have opinions, and they may be rudimentary in some spheres, but I have the right to express them, and I have the right to .?.?.’ She paused.

‘I have the right to try to elect a government which represents me. Me. Not you, nor the Bridge Club nor even Mrs Young. My opinions are my own. And while I’m saying all this I would like you to bring the newspaper home after work so that I may read it too.

’ She ran out of steam.

‘I see,’ he said calmly.

‘And if you don’t want to go on marches and you don’t want to protest, how are you going to achieve these goals you are so passionate about?

’

Her energy evaporated, as quickly as it had arrived.

‘I don’t know.’

‘But—’

‘I’m not sure.

Do I have to be completely certain about everything immediately?

’

‘No, of course not. I don’t know why you are so upset.

’

She found a second wind.

‘Is the journey to finding out not equally important? If discovering things is not exciting, why does Finlay have encyclopaedias, for goodness’ sake?

’

‘Stop.’

‘Why? Am I not allowed an opinion?’

He shook his head.

‘I am not?’

‘No. I mean yes, of course you are. Please look at me.’

She shook her head.

‘I went to the café to see where you have been spending so many hours.’ He sat up straight.

‘I am rather ashamed to say that I went to see if it was a suitable place. I have in fact been more than once. And I have drunk cocoa and that Brunak stuff, which I have to say is quite ghastly, and I have listened to the conversations that happen there. Anyone observing me would have thought I was reading my newspaper, the one which I will of course now leave here in the morning for you, rather than taking it into the office. I’ve been there four times in total.

They might almost know me as a regular customer now.

’

Ursula’s thoughts were taken over by a rush of questions.

Four times? He had been to the café not once, but four times ?

Why had he not mentioned it?

Was he about to forbid her to go back?

John stroked his moustache, completely unaware of her turmoil.

‘And what I initially thought was somewhere where there were some very odd opinions and ways, now seems to me to be an important meeting place for new ideas, and for actions which may change the world for the better.’ He looked at her closely.

‘So tell me, do you not want to march and protest?’

‘I do not.’

‘So, what is it that you do want?’

She was silent for a full minute.

‘I want to avoid being listed on the census. The statement is quite right. If we aren’t represented then our details shouldn’t be recorded.

’

‘I am to break the law?’

‘No.’ She stood up at last and turned to face him.

‘The census counts those who are in a property at midnight. If I’m not here then you are not lying.

’

‘And you will be where, exactly? I overheard talk of all-night walks on Bruntsfield Links and the Meadows.’

‘There is another plan, but it’s a secret.

’

‘And are you quite sure you’ll be safe?

’

‘Yes, quite sure.’

‘And how were you going to enact this plan without me knowing?’

She dared a smile.

‘I hadn’t quite worked that out, to be entirely honest with you.

’

‘I see. And is there anything else you want to do that I should or should not know about?’

She decided to strike while the iron was hot.

‘There are two things.’

‘Go on.’

‘First, I think that Ann should read the newspaper, some parts of it anyway. I can find things during the day that are suitable and she can read it when she comes home.’

John nodded his agreement.

‘And we can discuss them over dinner, which will be far more interesting to me than the colour of her new hair ribbons. And the second thing?’

‘I need your permission to do this.’

He raised his eyebrows.

‘My permission?’

‘Well, not exactly, but you always deal with the money in the house. You give me a housekeeping allowance but I don’t know how much else there is.

’

‘You want me to show you the bank account?’

‘No. But I need you to increase the allowance.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I want to pay Isobel more than we do now. She isn’t just a maid.

She is doing more of the cooking and making a good job of it.

And to allow her to do that, we also need to buy some equipment so that her other chores don’t take as long.

’

‘Equipment?’

Ursula saw that it was an all-or-nothing moment.

‘There has been nothing new since Louise died. There are new kitchen appliances for sale now. But they use electricity.’

‘You think we should have electricity installed in the house?’

‘I do.’ Ursula pointed at the gas-lit glass globes on the walls.

‘We would have better lighting and everything would be more efficient, and it would be cleaner and less work. This is a new and exciting world and we must be part of it.’

He smiled.

‘You agree with all these things?’

‘I will need to make enquiries about the electricity, but yes, I agree.’ He lifted his book back up and slid the postcard into the back page, ready to use again.

‘Just promise me that you will be safe on census night. Your well-being is the most important consideration.’