"Think no more of that!" Rosina said. "We are starting out on something new and exciting, which I think you will find absorbs your thoughts and your feelings so that you have no time to worry about anything else."
Lady Doreen laughed.
"I love the way you put it," she said. "I know I will enjoy being with you."
At East Gradley the two families left the train, while Sir John stayed on for the next stop, West Gradley.
Rosina stood on the platform, waving as the train drew out. When it had gone the world felt very empty.
"Come along my dear," said her father. "We have work to do."
That evening he was visited by party officials. Both Rosina and her mother were present to hear the local party secretary tell him bluntly that his seat might be in danger.
"The part of the constituency that's been hived off to make South Gradley contained some of your most solid support," he explained. "And most of the newly enfranchised men are in what's left of your territory. At this stage we simply don't know which way they will vote. We're all going to have to work very hard to make sure of them."
"What about Sir John Crosby next door?" Sir Elroy wanted to know. "Does he have the same problem?"
"Luckily, no. He's kept the safest part of his area, and the new voters are mostly in the bit that's been assigned to the new constituency. There won't be any problem about returning him."
"Thank goodness!" Sir Elroy said. "He's coming over to help me, but I'd hate to think he was neglecting his own voters dangerously."
"Don't you worry, sir. Sir John is so popular that his party workers can do what's needed. It's right for him to help you. Just think, if you lost your seat when you were about to be made – "
"Not a word," Sir Elroy said quickly. "You mustn't talk or even think like that."
"That's understood, sir. But they're taking bets in the ale houses."
"If they must take bets on anything, tell them to bet on whether or not I get elected," Sir Elroy said, sounding harassed. "Nothing could be worse than letting people think I'm taking success for granted."
Rosina had much to think about as she went to bed that night. The threat to her father was very real. He might lose his seat just as he was on the verge of gaining high political office.
"It mustn't happen," she said fervently. "Somehow Papa must win. If only Sir John arrives quickly tomorrow. I'm sure he will know what to do."
On that thought she fell asleep.
*
Sure enough Sir John was there early the following morning, and with a plan of action already drawn up.
"I think we should start by visiting those people who
can be found at home. After that we'll go to the factories. Many of the new voters are working men, and that's where we'll find them."
Lady Clarendon came in and looked at her daughter proudly.
"I remember when I first went canvassing for your Papa," she said. "I was so thrilled. Now it's your turn."
"Do you have any good advice for me, Mama?"
"Don't forget that everyone has their problems," Lady Clarendon replied. "You won't find anyone who doesn't have a problem of some sort."
Rosina nodded as her mother went on,
"Some are worried about their children, others are just anxious to elect someone who will help them with their own particular difficulties, whatever they may be."
"I suppose," Rosina said, "the majority of them want money."
"Of course they do. No matter how much they have, they always feel poor, and would like to be better off. Which, I suppose, is also true of ourselves.
"Let them talk of their troubles, then be sympathetic and understanding.
"Leave them with a promise that if he's returned to Parliament, your father will do everything he can to make the people here as happy as possible."
"What about his opponent?" Rosina asked. "A Mr. Montague Rushley, I believe."
"He's a dreadful man," her mother said at once. "Personally chosen by Disraeli for his 'oily' qualities. He's working very hard to do your father down, by saying things about him which are untrue."
"How is he able to do that?" Rosina asked, shocked.
Lady Clarendon laughed.
"You know as well as I do that if someone wants something very important they lie and lie."
"Yes, I do," Rosina said, thinking of Arthur Woodward.
"I also understand that Mr. Rushley's office has recently been joined by some very undesirable elements, men with no background or principles. At the moment it's all vague rumour and no certain details, but people have appeared who are unlike anyone we've dealt with before. They are hard and unscrupulous, and now the constituency has been divided up, they see their chance."
"Well, we won't let them get away with it," Rosina declared.
Sir Elroy came into the room. He was starting the journey with them, on his way to a meeting of the election committee.
"Are you ready to go?" he asked.
"I was hoping Lady Doreen would have arrived by now," Rosina said, "but I suppose she won't. Maybe her father changed his mind."
"We can't wait for her," Sir John said. "There's so much to do."
So, when Papa had gone to his meeting, it would just be herself and Sir John, Rosina thought, trying not to feel too pleased.
But as they were leaving they saw a carriage approaching. When it came to a standstill, Lady Doreen got out.
"Here I am, ready to do all I can to help you," she said. "Did you think I'd forgotten?"
"Not at all, it's lovely to see you," Rosina said, trying to feel glad. It would have been nice to have just one day alone with Sir John.
"Your servant ma'am," Sir John said, taking her hand and bowing over it.
"The more lovely girls to beguile the men into voting for us, the better," Sir Elroy said.
Lady Doreen laughed.
"My father was telling me at breakfast," she said, "that everyone in London is in a state about this election. I'm determined to work as hard as Rosina is doing."
"I am sure the two of you will be a great success," Sir John said smiling.
"Thank you. I look forward to learning about other people's lives that are so different from our own," Lady Doreen said.
"I agree," Rosina said at once. "Think how much we can learn from the men who are working on the railways or down a coal mine. Also from women who have brought up a large number of children, and have had to work in a shop or somewhere else to get the money to feed them.
"Mama insists that it's important to talk to the women too, even if they can't vote, because they may influence their husbands."
"Do men ever listen to their wives?" Lady Doreen asked.
"I doubt it," Rosina said at once, "but that is Mama's theory."
"And she is quite right," Sir Elroy said at once. "I have always listened with deep respect to whatever my wife says, because she is such a wise woman."
Rosina laughed.
"It's all right, Papa. I promise to tell Mama that you said that."
"Thank you, my dear," Sir Elroy said, mopping his brow.
They all laughed at his relieved expression.
Having dropped Sir Elroy off at his meeting, the other three had an exhausting two hours talking with people who had only just gained the vote under the new bill, and could still hardly believe it.
Rosina realised that it was going to be very hard making the men realise how important the election would be, and how essential it was for them vote the Liberal party into power. She talked about all the reforms Mr. Gladstone was planning that would make people's lives better.
The men listened, but she was not quite sure how much they understood. When they got outside she said,
"Goodness, that was hard work. Do you think we did any good?"
"I hope we did," Lady Doreen said. "I thought you were brilliant in understanding how the election would affect them, when as far as I can make out they have never taken part in one before."
"We
can only hope," Rosina said, "that something we have said to them will make them realise how much their vote matters."
Lady Doreen laughed.
"I never knew it could be so tiring having to repeat oneself," she said. "If I have to say again what I have already said fifty times, I think I will go mad."
Rosina laughed.
"No you won't," she said. "You'll go on working as we all do. Now here we are at the next place, and it's time to say it all again."
"You do it so well," Lady Doreen sighed. "I'm trying to be as good as you, but I will fail, I know I will fail."
"You have to believe in yourself, just as you believe what we are telling them is the truth," Rosina answered. "They have been told a lot of lies by the opposition."
They stayed for an hour, talking earnestly, and were all very tired when they came outside and climbed back into their carriage.
They were driving towards the next 'port of call' and were passing the railway station, when Rosina gave a cry of joy.
"Stop! Stop!" she called to Wilkins, the coachman. "It's Charles."
Sure enough, there was her brother coming out of the station.
Wilkins pulled the horses to a standstill. Rosina opened the carriage door and jumped out.
"Charles! Charles!" she exclaimed. "How wonderful to see you again! Oh my goodness, you're hurt."
To her horror she had noticed that his arm was in a sling.
He kissed his sister. Then he said,
"It's nothing serious. I fell down some stairs."
"But how did you come to do that?"
"Between you and me I'd been making merry and – well, one thing led to another – "
"And you fell downstairs," she said, amused.
"It was enough to get me some leave, so I thought I'd come and help Papa win the constituency."
"I am so glad to see you," Rosina said. "We're out canvassing. We can take you with us and you can go home afterwards."
"All right, if that is what you want," her brother agreed.
Seeing Sir John sitting in the carriage, Charles beamed with pleasure.
"I was hoping I'd find you here," he said. "In fact, I tried to reach you before I left London and was told you were in the country."
"You have come home at exactly the right time," Sir John told him. "Things are very serious and we have all got to fight in every way we can to win what is likely to be a very unpleasant and a very violent battle."
"Good heavens!" Charles exclaimed. "Is it as bad as that?"
"Worse," Sir John replied. "But let me introduce you to someone else who is helping your father, although I expect you've met her before."
As he spoke Charles noticed the third person in the carriage and gave a cry.
"Lady Doreen!" he said. "How nice to see you again. I didn't expect to find you here."
To Rosina's amusement she saw that he was blushing.
"I came to help the family work for your father," Lady Doreen replied. "I'm glad to see that you've come to do your duty."
"I think I'm going to enjoy doing my duty now," he said, smiling at her.
After Charles's luggage was put on the back of the carriage, they started off again.
They visited three places in quick succession. Rosina and Lady Doreen left the last one first, and waited in the carriage for a while before the men joined them.
"I never realised that there was so much work involved in politics," Lady Doreen said. "I wonder how Lettice Holden will like it."
"Miss Holden?" Rosina echoed sharply.
She realised that she had almost forgotten the wealthy Lettice. It was a rude shock to be reminded of her now.
"You know how you and I have been longing to marry her off to Sir John," Lady Doreen said mischievously.
"Have we?" asked Rosina, who had no recollection of longing for any such thing.
"Of course. A rich wife will be of enormous benefit to him, and I understand that it's almost settled between them."
"Nonsense," said Rosina before she could stop herself. "If that were so he would have told me, or at least my father."
"But perhaps delicacy prevented him," Lady Doreen said. "A man naturally doesn't like to appear too confident until he has received a firm answer."
Rosina was very pale, and suddenly she could hardly find the breath to ask the next question.
"Are you telling me that Sir John has actually proposed to Miss Holden?"
Her heart was beating hard as she waited for the answer.
"I'm not quite sure," Lady Doreen said slowly. "Normally she confides in me, but recently, when I've asked her how advanced matters were between them, she merely giggles and simpers."
"Then she doesn't sound like the kind of wife he needs," Rosina said in a voice that she hoped did not shake. "A wife who giggled would drive him out of his senses."
"So I think myself. But, you know, if he has proposed, he is committed."
"Of course," Rosina said, a little sharply. "If he has proposed."
"Well, I'm sure it's only a matter of time. Whenever
I've seen them together they've seemed so happy. Every time they dance, she always seems to be laughing."
Rosina was silent, thinking back to the times she had danced with Sir John. She had never felt like laughing. Rather she had wanted to feel his hand tightening in the small of her back, drawing her closer so that she could feel his warm breath on her cheek. She had wanted to look deep into his eyes and see them burning as they looked at her.
She had wanted to watch his mouth, and wonder how it would feel if he kissed her.
But she had not wanted to laugh.
At this moment she felt that she might never laugh again.
"Rosina?"
She became aware that Lady Doreen was talking to her, as though from a great way off.
"I'm sorry," she said, startled back to reality.
"I said the men are coming. Now we can be on our way."
They were approaching the carriage, laughing and slapping each other on the back.
Rosina was watching Sir John, as if from a distance, and it was as though she was seeing him for the first time. How handsome he was, how splendid with his laughing face, his air of confidence and vibrant masculinity!
How could any woman refuse his proposal?
And how could she herself have been so blind all this time?
By the time they had reached the carriage and got in, she was in command of herself again, and able to ask,
"How did you get on?"
"Not too badly!" Sir John answered. "But, if you want
the truth, we'll have to work hard to make them believe that they need to have the Liberals in power."
"But we've got to win," Rosina said. "For Papa's sake, we simply must."
He laid his hand over hers.
"Don't worry. Everything will be all right."
How often had he done this before, carelessly? Now she felt as though his touch burned her. She wanted to snatch her hand away. She wanted to leave it in his forever.
At the next place they were heckled by a man who was obviously primed with some very difficult questions. But they answered them well, because they were fighting for what they believed in. Charles was particularly impressive. At any rate, Lady Doreen seemed to think so.
At last they reached home, eager for their lunch. As they sat down to eat, Sir John said,
"I feel as if I've climbed to the top of the highest mountain and fallen down the other side."
"I know exactly that feeling," Rosina replied. "I think we deserve a good meal, but we must eat it quickly, because there's still a lot to do this afternoon."
"I think I worked harder this morning than I've worked for a long time," Sir John said. "All I can say about you two ladies is that you are magnificent. I'd be really worried if you were working for the opposition."
"The last man I was talking to tried hard to convert me into being a Conservative," Rosina said. "He promised that if I became one
, I should have everything I want and innumerable men kneeling at my feet."
They all laughed.
Then her brother said:
"If you believe that nonsense, you will believe
anything."
"Thank you, brother dear! You're more than complimentary."
"Oh, you know what I mean."
"Brothers are never complimentary," Lady Doreen said wisely.
"Besides, Miss Clarendon doesn't need politics to get men kneeling at her feet," Sir John observed. "She has most of London there already."
Most, she thought, but not all. Not you.
Charles greeted Sir John's pronouncement with brotherly scepticism.
"Rosina?" he cried. "Never!"
His sister kicked him under the table.
"Eat up," she said, ignoring his yelp. "We need strength to go on this afternoon."
Lady Doreen groaned.
"Do we really have to do that?" she asked.
"Of course we have to," Charles replied. "But I'll look after you, and I promise you that you won't find it so tiring as you did at first."
Rosina and Sir John exchanged significant glances.
By the time they were able to cease work and enjoy a late tea, they all said they had never worked harder in their whole lives.
"And now," said Sir John, "I'm going home to have a bath, and to tell the truth I'm going to bed very early, because I'm exhausted."
Rosina laughed.
"Nonsense!" she said. "You're enjoying every moment of it. I saw you this afternoon holding forth volubly to several women who were entranced by you."
"But how will that help?" Lady Doreen wanted to know. "After all, women don't have the vote, so what is the point of entrancing them?"
"There isn't one," Rosina said. "But Sir John enjoys female adulation. Since Miss Holden isn't here he has to make do with any he can find."
If she had hoped to surprise a reaction from him, she was disappointed. He merely grinned at her.
It was time for Lady Doreen to leave. Charles took her to where her carriage was waiting.
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