“Find out and let me know.” Guy turned on his heel and left the office. He still hadn’t the faintest idea how to deal with Petra’s affiliation to the Union, not to mention her active participation in the protests. He was not fool enough to imagine he could forbid her having anything to do with the Union. She would ignore him and he would have to respond. The consequences were unthinkable. Neither did he think she would respond well to a request that she leave the Union, or, at the very least, play only a passive role. He knew his wife well enough by now to know where she drew her lines of autonomy. And, in truth, he respected her for it. It was just damned inconvenient in this instance, but he would have to find a way to deal with any active participation in the invasion of Westminster, which, he strongly suspected, was what she had in mind.

He shuddered at the thought of the scene in St. Stephen’s Hall, the sergeant at arms and his men wrestling with a horde of women suffragists, trying to evict them without causing physical injury. There would be police, bystanders, newspapermen and photographers. Lady Ashton was a prominent society figure, married to an influential member of the peerage. There was no way she could escape notice and her inevitable arrest would be on the front pages of every newspaper and scandal sheet in town. It didn’t bear thinking about.

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

“Are you going to Westminster this morning?” Petra asked her husband as he finished dressing on Friday morning.

“Not immediately, Freddie requires my presence,” Guy said with a mock sigh. “The dear boy is on a hobby horse about the land bill and he will insist I give a speech on the matter. I have to go over it with him before I find myself saying something in the Lords I might regret. Then I’m engaged to lunch in the Peers Dining Room. But never fear, I will be back at four o’clock.” He came over to the bed where she still sat against the pillows drinking her morning tea. “For this mysterious surprise.” He bent over to kiss her. “Won’t you give me a hint?”

Petra shook her head vigorously. “Not a smidgeon. Have a good morning and enjoy your luncheon.” She slid out of bed, blowing him a kiss as he went to the door. “Until this afternoon.” The door closed in his wake and she went to the window, looking out on a brilliantly bright morning. The trees in the square were a mass of red and gold, the sky a cloudless blue. It promised a perfect day.