“Yes,” Petra said simply. The last thing she wanted was a discussion of the Union now, when somehow her relationship with her husband had emerged unscathed from her little demonstration, which, with hindsight she freely admitted to herself had been a mistake. She now saw that she’d put Guy at a disadvantage and any other man would have been embarrassed. Guy was just above and beyond such irritatingly human weaknesses.

* * *

Petra was in her parlor the following afternoon answering letters and a pile of invitations when a knock on the door brought Diana and Fenella into the room, together with Diana’s dogs, two magnificent South African Ridgebacks.

“This is a nice surprise, and very well timed. I’m getting bored with this.” She gestured to the correspondence littered on the writing table.

“We’re taking the dogs to the park. Will you come?” Diana asked cheerfully.

Petra bent to stroke the dogs, who were greeting her enthusiastically. “Yes, I could do with the fresh air. I’ll just fetch my coat and meet you downstairs.”

Five minutes later the three women were walking briskly toward Hyde Park. They entered at Cumberland Gate and Diana bent to unclip the dogs’ leads, letting them run free. “So I have news,” she said as she straightened. “The march is to take place next Monday, but word is being spread that it will be the following Friday.”

“On Monday?” Fenella exclaimed. “But that’s so soon. Can they get everything together in just three days?”

“Apparently so,” Diana said. “Speed is vital if we’re to keep it a secret until the last minute. We’re hoping that the powers that be will be persuaded that it’s not for another week so we’ll catch them unawares.” She bent to pick up a stick and threw it for the dogs in the general direction of the Serpentine.

Petra bent to take a soggy stick from the jaws of Hercules, who stood panting and drooling at her feet. “That’ll be quite an achievement. The Union has grown so much it’s becoming a real political nuisance. If they get the chance to disrupt the march they will. It’ll be quite a coup if we can pull it off.” She hurled the stick toward the lake.

“Has Guy said anything?” Fenella asked, hurling another stick for Hera, who was looking expectant after her brother had chased the one Petra had thrown.

“Not in so many words,” Petra said thoughtfully. “But I know he’s waiting for something to happen. It’s very unnerving. I catch him looking at me now and again as if he’s trying to read my mind.”

“Why don’t you ask him?” Diana questioned.