“Thank you.” Eleanor rushed to her chambers, removed her bonnet, gloves, put her house slippers on, and grabbed the book she had just purchased before going back downstairs to the dining room. Matt and Charlie had just put their plates on the table and were getting ready to sit when she walked into the room. She picked up a plate as well. “Good afternoon. How did the vote go?”

Charlie straightened. “Good day. It passed, but not by much.”

“Please sit. I will not be a moment.” Luncheon was, as usual, a cold collation accompanied by soup. A footman stood next to the tureen. “I will have a bowl please.” Eleanor then selected some chicken, cheese, bread, and an apple. She placed her plate on the table and sat. “What was it about?”

“It is the first reading of a bill that would prohibit bribery for votes. There has been a documented problem in two of the boroughs.”

“That sounds serious.” She had not given much thought to voting before. After all, as things stood now, she would never be able to vote.

“We believe it is,” Matt said. “However, one member stated that it was an overblown charge.” He peered at the book. “What is that?”

“Mineralogia Cornubiensis; a Treatise on Minerals, Mines, and Mining by William Pryce.” Eleanor dipped her spoon into the soup. “I wanted to begin reading about mines and their management.”

“There is a book that will be published in July,” Charlie said. “It will be more modern, but I doubt it will help you very much. The owners and men studying mines have little to no care for the workers.” He pointed to the tome. “That will tell you what they think is the best way to extract the minerals.”

She swallowed her soup. “Are they not the best ways?”

“Not for the workers.” He took a bite of the sandwich he had made, chewed, and swallowed. “I visited a few mines in Germany and Austria. They are so eager to get the minerals out that almost no safety for the workers is taken into consideration.”

“In that case, safety is what I must focus on.” She took a few more spoonfuls of soup. Today it was a very tasty chicken with vegetables.

Matt glanced up at her. “I received a note from Herndon. They are back in Town.”

Butterflies suddenly fluttered madly in Eleanor’s stomach and she put her spoon down. “Have you asked him for an appointment yet?”

“No. I thought it might be better if I met with him first and brought Charlie along with me. We will explain what it is you want to do and tell him you will require more information about the mine before you can draw up a plan.”