“How do you think I would have done that? If you were determined to do something against my wishes, regardless of my reasons, what action could I take to prevent it?”

“I don’t really know,” she said, realizing for the first time the truth of that. “I . . . I didn’t want to upset you and I suppose I thought that if you didn’t know about it you wouldn’t be.”

“How the hell did you think I wouldn’t know about it when you’re invading Westminster and getting your face and name splashed across the front pages?” he exclaimed, his anger rising again. “At least if I’d been expecting it I could have done something to avert the publicity. Instead I’m left on the back foot looking like a blind fool.”

“I didn’t think of it like that,” she said. “It’s such a vitally important matter, Guy, I didn’t see anything else around it, just the need to force the government to at least acknowledge the issue. I’m so sorry if it seems to you that I was deliberately causing you embarrassment. I truly didn’t think of it like that.”

“It seems to me you didn’t think at all,” he responded curtly.

“How else are we to get the government to listen to us?” she asked. “We’ve tried asking politely, we’ve tried delivering petitions, the only response we get is a blanket refusal even to debate the subject.”

Guy was silent for a moment. He knew the truth of her statement. The government was not prepared to consider women’s suffrage.

“We would be overjoyed to discuss it in a civilized fashion,” Petra pressed. “But we’re dismissed like overexcited children wanting an impossible toy. It’s not right, Guy. I can’t back away, I’m sorry. But I promise I will tell you before I take part in any further action.”

Guy rubbed his eyes wearily. “Then I suppose we’ll have to leave it there,” he said. “There’s no point going around in circles.”

“What do you have against women voting?” Petra asked abruptly. “You’ve never given me a straight reason.”

“I don’t know why you’d want it,” he responded. “Women are welcome to give their opinions and the government is always willing to listen. What point is there in your having the vote?”

“Women won’t settle for being mere supplicants,” she stated. “You must see the difference between having an equal voice and having to rely on a man to speak for you.”

He shook his head. “I’m too tired to argue the points with you tonight. Let’s go to bed. We have a busy weekend ahead.” He opened the door for her, gesturing she should precede him.