“Because I don’t want to open the whole can of worms,” Petra responded. “And quite honestly I don’t think I could lie convincingly. I’m not very good at it at the best of times and Guy would see right through any deception. I prefer to just get the whole march over with. There’ll be plenty of conversation after that. At least, I hope it’ll be a conversation,” she added with a grimace. “I’ve never seen Guy really angry.”

“He might surprise you,” Diana offered. “He doesn’t come across as unreasonable at all. Although he is clearly used to being in charge all the time.”

“That is certainly true. Anyway, what are the details for the actual march?”

“As I understand it, we assemble at Caxton Hall at ten o’clock on Monday, take up our banners and just process in a quiet and peaceful manner to Westminster, hoping that we can get to Parliament Square before they have time to marshal the forces to stop us. Emmeline and two or three others will bang on the door to St. Stephen’s Hall and demand entrance. If the sergeant and his men try to block their way then they’ll push forward and the rest of us will be right behind them, a bit like a battering ram at the siege of a castle.”

Diana laughed, her eyes glinting with excitement. “It’s going to be wonderful. This time we’ll make sure they hear us.”

“What do we do when we get inside?” Petra asked.

“Chant our demand for suffrage, just that, over and over, and wave our banners. Nothing more aggressive.”

“It’ll make enough of a stir as it is,” Fenella observed. “Will Parliament be sitting on Monday?”

“Not until the afternoon, of course, but there should be enough members around in the morning to find our presence disrupting.” Diana turned her step toward Mount Street. “I need to get home. I promised to go to Caxton Hall this evening to help with the posters. Can either of you join me?”

“Not tonight,” Fenella said. “I have a rehearsal in Chiswick. Edward’s written three one-act plays and he wants to put them on together at the Music Box. It’ll be an exhausting evening, but I can come and help tomorrow morning.”

“Petra, how about you?” Diana asked.

Petra shook her head. “Guy’s going to be in for dinner and I’ll get all flustered and muddled if I try to make up some reason why I’m suddenly going out for the evening. Can you manage without me tonight? I can come tomorrow morning too.”

“I’ll see you both then.” Diana raised a hand in farewell and went off with the dogs toward Cavendish Square.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two