teaatheabbey:

             CHAPTER TWO OF SPARE BRIDES – THE MIDDLE MAN

The Napiers were, unsurprisingly, as charming as ever. In Clarissa Napier, she had found something of a confidant and mentor during her season – following an ill advised visit to a vote count in Ripon when she was eighteen (one in which she’d ended up unconscious and almost costing the poor chauffeur his job), her father had wanted to put a stop to her politics but, as with most other things when it came to his youngest daughter, Robert had been brought around with just a little persuasion from his wife, had agreed to allow her to continue on the condition she was chaperoned at all times. With a Viscountess at her side, it was impossible for Sybil to get into trouble, and so it was that she’d swapped rallies and canvassing for committee meetings and tea – it wasn’t ideal in Sybil’s world, but it was a compromise…

And it hadn’t lasted.

Now that she was a free and independent woman, she had joined the cause once more. Whilst some women had the vote, it still wasn’t enough, and Sybil had once again joined the cause, a common interest that even to this day she still shared with Clarissa.

“Oh I wish I had more time to get involved,” Sybil lamented as the two women conversed in the drawing room before dinner. “But my studies have been keeping me busy. So many seem to have given up now that some have the vote.”

Clarissa smiled fondly at her young protege. “The day will come when everyone will, I’m certain of it,” she said. “Especially while their are still women like you pushing for change. It’s an admirable cause.”

“My father still doesn’t think so,” replied Sybil. “And Granny is more convinced than ever that all I need is the right man to come along and change my opinions and priorities.”

“And what do you think?”

“That the right man would never ask me to.”

“You know, Evelyn is a strong supporter of suffrage too.”

“I should hope so, with a mother such as you bringing him up.”

Clarissa laughed. “He’s to spend an awful lot more time in London in the coming months,” said the Viscountess. “Perhaps you could introduce him to some like-minded people?”

Sybil nodded. “I’ve known Evelyn since I was a girl,” she replied. “He’d be most welcome.”

Clarissa smiled to herself as she took a sip of her cocktail…

Sybil, it seemed, wasn’t the only person set on playing matchmaker for her son.