“But are they not heathens?” Ellen seemed interested and trying to understand.
“Compared to people from an industrialized nation like England, the settlers considered them primitive. The government swept in and stole their lands,” Reese said. “In many ways, they had a progressive culture. I like that the Iroquois women had some power. Don’t you find it ironic that England has a queen running the show, but most women aren’t considered smart enough to choose their own husbands, that women in England are little more than chattel and belong to their husbands? The Iroquois were lightyears ahead of the English in that.”
“Lightyears?” Ellen asked.
“Sorry. It’s just another one of our expressions,” Reese said. “Recognition of the quality of people and their potential is important to me. One of my favorite charities helps people get a proper education and marketable skills. We provide a free education for everyone, but there are still many families who can’t or won’t take advantage of it.” She paused. “Am I boring you?”
“No. I’m fascinated by this. This feels . . . important. It is not something I hear people speak of at balls.”
“It is important. The men may discuss it after dinner when the ladies have withdrawn.” Reese heaved out a frustrated breath. “Which is absolutely ridiculous. Women can and should make a difference. I’m going to ask you a question you might think is disrespectful.”
Ellen had an expression that made Reese think of a moth about to fly into a light that would burn it, both fascinated and fearful.
“Just tell me this—how does going to parties and races and sporting events, and wearing pretty dresses and trying to find husbands or wives with more money and more property . . .” Reese paused for emphasis, “make the world a better place?”
Ellen considered the question for a second. Her cheeks flushed, and she ducked her head.
“I’m sorry.” Reese patted her on the arm. “I’ve stepped in it again. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“You do not embarrass me,” Ellen said, her voice humble. “You shame me.”
“No. No.” Reese felt like a wretch. “We’re all victims of how we’ve been brought up. I only meant to give you something to think about.”
“You have given me much to consider. There is a ring of truth in what you say. I do wish to help make a better world. I must give this some thought.”
“Well, don’t beat yourself up. I know there’s only so much one underage girl can do,” Reese said. “You are part of a society that’s as restrictive as the ones your poor people have to live in. I’ll bet they ostracize anyone daring to suggest their way isn’t the only way.”
“Very true.” Her expression had turned troubled.
“Sometimes we have to work within the system,” Reese said. “How about this? What kinds of bills or whatever does your brother sponsor in the House of Lords?”
“I don’t really know,” Ellen said. “Even when I have been his hostess for political dinners here, they save those discussions for later.”
“For when you’ve withdrawn.” Reese made a face. “And I’ll bet that if you have asked questions, you were told not to ‘worry your pretty little head about it.’ Right?”
“That is just the way my uncle phrased it,” Ellen said.
“What do you think your brother would say if a man told Gareth that?”
“He would plant him a facer!” Ellen exclaimed, and then she gasped. “I should not have said that.”
Reese laughed. “I’d like to see him do it though.”
“I would as well.” Ellen giggled.
“Ah, Miss Clarisse, I have found you at last.” Lulu hurried toward them. “Your room is ready.”
“Shhh,” Reese whispered to Ellen before the girl linked their arms.
“I understand perfectly,” the girl breathed in reply.
***
For lack of anything else to do, Jem went with Kaitlyn and the others on a jaunt to London for a few days. William acted as their host and made sure they were invited to some parties. With Jem’s mind preoccupied with Reese and what might have caused her to take off like she had, he didn’t think he made a very good impression. He overheard one man describe him as “surly.”
Jem found London hot, stinky, and dirty. The Thames was essentially a disgusting open sewer. And talk about smog. He had been in some big cities with air quality problems during his touring. They had nothing on 1850 London with its heavy air that made it hard to breathe. He guessed that shouldn’t be surprising since almost everyone used coal. Seeing it now and remembering modern London, he appreciated how much they’d done to improve things.
The only good that came out of the trip with Kaitlyn was that it gave him time to think about what to do. Nellie could tell him to stay out of whatever decision Reese was facing, but nothing said he had to do that.
And he was determined to tip the odds in his favor.
Chapter 13
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, Reese got better acquainted with Ellen, Kellworth, and especially the Kellworth gardens. Reese didn’t have to worry much about exercising because she got plenty working in the dirt and riding with Ellen. In the evenings, after dinner, they took turns reading to each other and had some lively discussions about characterizations in the Brontë sisters’ novels.
Reese kept her mind too busy to think about Jem. Mostly. Unfortunately, it didn’t keep her from dreaming about him.
“When my brother and his friends arrive, they will likely be engaged in sporting activities,” Ellen said at dinner one night, pulling Reese from her thoughts.
“What kind of sporting?” she asked, curious. “I do sports back home.”
“You?” Ellen perked up. “What kind of sporting events do the ladies of your society engage in?”
Once again Reese was at a loss. She might be able to explain about men playing soccer, baseball, or football, but women? Reese chuckled.
“Please tell me, Clarisse,” Ellen asked. “I can tell that often you wish to say something, but then you do not. I am interested in everything you do in America.”
“Well, I took a class in fencing.” That at least was a sport Ellen should be familiar with. “I’m actually not too bad at it.”
“Fencing,” Ellen said, her voice flat. “You mean like the men?”
“Yes, like the men. And I beat a fair number of them in my class.” A surge of pleasure flooded Reese at the memory. “My instructor told me women could be quite good at fencing because our reflexes tend to be a little faster on average than men’s. I’m tall for a woman, but still smaller than a lot of guys. That can be an advantage because I can get in and out faster. I had to be careful because my reach—” Reese held out her arm, “was usually shorter than a man’s.”
“But how can you ‘get in and get out’ in a dress, fast or not?” Ellen asked.
“I wore the same kinds of clothes the men did.”
Ellen sat in silence for a second and then stood, clasping her hands to her chest, body shaking with excitement. “Will you teach me to fence? We must do it before Gareth returns, as I know he will not approve.”
Reese studied the girl. If her ladyship had made the request when they first met, the answer would have been an emphatic no. Reese had now seen how hard Ellen worked in the garden, though. The girl was in shape.
“All right. Let’s do it after dinner,” Reese said, “after our food has settled.”
They withdrew to the parlor for a time after the meal. Reese tried reading aloud, but Ellen kept fidgeting over her needlework. She finally set it aside.
“Has our meal settled enough?” Ellen asked.
“I have exercise clothes,” Reese said, “that I wear which I’m sure wouldn’t be deemed appropriate to wear in front of men. I’m pretty sure your brother’s trousers would be too large for you. You don’t want them falling off when you’re fencing. You’ll have to wear your knickers, I mean your bloomers, so we won’t want any servants coming in on us.”
&
nbsp; Lulu coughed.
“Except for my maid, of course,” Reese said.
“If my companion were here, she would stay as well. As she is not . . .” Ellen arched a brow and led the way to a large room, empty of furniture except for a few chairs against one wall. Weapon racks adorned the other walls. All the candles were already burning, so the room was well lit.
“Nice,” Reese said, thinking it would be a great workout room, which it probably was for the Earl. With some floor mats, she could do yoga in here.
Ellen went to the pulley and summoned a servant. She instructed the maid who arrived that they were going to be having a private activity.
“I will lock the door, and we do not wish to be disturbed.”
The maid shot them both a concerned glance but bobbed a curtsy and left. Ellen then went to the door and slid the bolt. She turned to face Reese and grinned.
“I am ready,” Ellen said.
“Before we get down to our skivvies, I’d like to check out your brother’s weapons.” Reese went over to a rack and tried the different foils before choosing a lightweight one for Ellen. Reese found a sweet one, nicely balanced, for herself. Taking her skirts in her left hand, she did a step-lunge at an imaginary opponent before retreating and parrying.
“Nice,” she said.
“You truly do know this,” Ellen said.
Reese looked at her with raised brows. “Did you think I was lying to you?”
“No. Of course not.” The girl grinned. “I have never before met a woman so capable.”
“Thank you.” Reese gave her a fencing bow. “Now, let’s have you give it a try.” She showed Ellen how to hold the foil in her hand. “With these foils, we only have to worry about the tip.” She explained a couple of the foot moves and had Ellen try them. She immediately tripped on her skirts.
“Time to strip down,” Reese said. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”
She had Ellen turn around and went to work undoing the buttons. Lulu hurried over and began doing the same thing on Reese’s dress. Soon, they stood facing each other in their chemises and bloomers.
“You do not have your . . . what did you call them, exercise clothes?” Ellen asked.
“I laundered them today,” Lulu said.
“What is this?” Ellen nodded to the strap under Reese’s top.
“It’s a sports bra. They’re made to support a woman’s bosom when she’s active,” she said. “Now try that same move.”
“This is much better.” Ellen giggled. “As I work in the garden, I have often been jealous of my gardener’s worn clothing.”
Reese walked her through the moves again and then added some defensive ones. They practiced together until Ellen dropped her foil and clutched her hand.
“What’s wrong?” Reese set down her own weapon and took Ellen’s hand, examining it for bruising.
“It cramped until I could no longer hold the foil.” Her ladyship winced as Reese massaged the muscles.
“Your hand muscles aren’t used to this,” Reese said. “If you think you’d like to continue it, I can give you some exercises to help strengthen your hands. We ought to be able to find a ball or something else squishy for you to squeeze. You have to be patient, though, because it takes time to strengthen your muscles.”
“I would love to be able to do this. Even after my brother is here,” Ellen said, still breathing heavily from the exertion.
“You have enough open space in your bedroom to practice some of the moves there,” Reese said. “The more you do it, the stronger your cardio will get.”
“Cardio?”
“Heart and lungs,” Reese said. “You can strengthen them by exercising, and you won’t breathe so heavily.”
Ellen fanned herself. “Yes, and I’m glowing.”
Reese laughed. “My grandmother used to always say, ‘Ladies glow. Men perspire. Only horses sweat.’ But it’s good for your body to move around and work up a sweat.”
“I will need to bathe before bed,” Ellen said.
“Or just do a sponge bath now and bathe in the morning. It’s up to you how much you want your maid to know.”
“Oh, Clarisse, this has been the most fun I’ve had in a very long time.”
While they put the foils away and dressed again, Reese wondered what Ellen would think of kickboxing.
As the girls parted for the night. Reese grabbed Ellen’s arm. “Be aware that when you exercise late, it can keep you from sleeping because you’re all wired up.”
“I have so enjoyed myself that I believe my mind will be busy remembering all you taught me. That alone is quite exhilarating.”
Reese went to her room and picked up her now-dry exercise clothes. “I’ll need you to unbutton me again, Lulu.”
“Miss?”
“That room is perfect for exercising. You want to come with me?”
“If you promise to lock the door, I will stay here.” The maid yawned.
Reese put on a dressing gown over her skimpy attire and returned to the fencing room. She only had the candle from her room and set it on a table by the door. It would provide enough light for what she needed. She began her kickboxing routine and then her martial arts katas.
***
The next day, Ellen was too stiff to practice fencing.
“I feel it too,” Reese said with a chuckle. “I’ll show you some stretches that will help. It’ll hurt but will make the stiffness better.”
Ellen looked dubious but gave it a try. “I do not understand how you are able to do that.” She shook her head at Reese doing the splits. “Did you grow up in a circus as a contortionist?”
“Very funny.” Reese jumped to her feet. “We have to stretch our muscles, or we lose flexibility as we get older.” She went through her usual stretching routine, pausing periodically to give Ellen alternative moves.
“I do not hurt as much.” Ellen moved her arms and legs.
“I told you so. Now,” Reese said, “I’m going to teach you some self-defense moves.”
“I do not understand.”
“They’re ways to get away if someone grabs you.” Reese held out her arm. “Grab my wrist like you plan to force me into the shrubbery and have your way with me.”
“I would never—and you are woman.” Ellen stepped back, her cheeks flushed.
Reese barely kept from barking out a laugh. The poor girl’s blushing would probably give her some problems if she ever did get her London Season.
“Of course you would never do anything like that, and yes, I’m a woman. I need you to pretend that you’re a bad man so you’ll take my arm hard like a bad man would. Do you understand? It’s acting.” She wished she hadn’t made that comparison because it immediately made her think of Jem. She had gone two years without him in her life and survived. Why, after only a few days around him again, did his absence feel like she had a gaping hole in her life? A hole that nothing, and no one, but Jem could fill.
“I am always in the company of people who are responsible for my safety,” her ladyship said. “I cannot imagine a time when I might need to protect myself.”
“You obviously haven’t read the same Regency romances I have.” When Ellen frowned, Reese added, “Think of it as a way to give you self-confidence in awkward situations. Or what if your brother refuses Sir Slimy’s request to court you, and he decides to carry you off? He plots to find you at a party where he will get you in a compromising situation. Just when someone comes in the room, he kisses you.” At the girl’s horrified expression, Reese nodded sagely. “See, you’d be ruined. These people are such idiots that they’d force the girl who’s just been assaulted to marry her attacker.”
“I had not thought.” Ellen had paled.
“Then you need to know how to put guys like that in their place.” Reese held out her hand. “Pretend that I’m you, and you’re Sir Slimy.”
Ellen tightened her jaw and took Reese’s wrist with surprising strength. “Good girl!” Reese used her other hand t
o trap Ellen’s and did a swift move to raise the girl’s elbow at an awkward angle. She gasped, and Reese let go.
“Pretty sweet, isn’t it,” she asked.
“Sweet, indeed.” Ellen nodded. “What was it that you called it again?”
“They’re joint locks because you use the other person’s joints against them, but you should think of them as escape moves. If you’re ever in a situation where you feel threatened, the most important thing is to get away. Sometimes, the only way to do that is to make it so your attacker can’t follow you.” Reese paused, trying to think of a delicate way to explain the more tender parts of the male anatomy. She opened her mouth, closed it, and then opened it again before snapping shut her jaw.
“You know something you fear will embarrass me, am I correct?” Ellen asked.
“It’s that mushroom thing again,” Reese said.
“Where they feed me rubbish and keep me in the dark?” The corner of Ellen’s mouth twitched.
“Exactly.” Reese grinned. “They ‘protect’ unmarried ladies—at least of the upper classes. The problem is that your ignorance makes you a target for unsavory people. Have you ever seen a horse give birth?”
“Yes, I have.” Ellen swallowed.
“Have you ever seen how the mare got pregnant?”
“Grandmama had a most embarrassing chat with me last year,” Ellen said, her voice soft.
“You do understand that men and women—” She broke off when Ellen nodded vigorously, her cheeks red.
“That part of a man’s anatomy is very tender. If you use your knee and thrust it between his legs—” Ellen swayed, and Reese broke off, reaching to take the girl’s arm and lead her to a chair. “Here, put your head between your knees. We don’t want you to faint.”
Ellen did as she was instructed, making a pathetic picture in her chemise and bloomers.
Lulu had risen, but Reese waved her back, feeling bad that she had pressed the topic.
“I’m sorry.” Reese patted Ellen’s back sympathetically. “I’m a terrible friend. Maybe there are times it’s okay to be a mushroom.”
Ellen sat up, abruptly, her eyes flashing. “I will never be a mushroom again.” Her head swayed, her momentary anger gone.
Against the Magic (Twickenham Time Travel Romance) Page 13