Finally, Warrick could breathe again. He pushed his coffee away. The brew had failed him today.
Saville lowered back into his seat. “Damn females.”
Warrick shifted in his chair, tugging at his cravat. Had the temperature risen a degree or two? “Are you sure they will listen? Perhaps we should not have let them quit the room like this.”
“Don’t concern yourself with their antics. It’s an act of rebellion and nothing else. What can they do?”
Was Saville not paying attention, or was he in denial? “They can do a whole lot.”
Saville scoffed. “Then should we escort them back to my sister’s chamber to oversee their compliance? Those two won’t disobey me.”
A door slammed shut, the bang so close it rang in Warrick’s ears. That was no bedroom door.
Warrick arched a brow at his friend.
Not disobey you?Was that not their entire purpose?
Chapter Two
“Inever imaginedI would live to witness such a spectacle.”
Scores of women gathered in Mayfair dressed in Turkish trousers. Some were wearing masks. Others—like Selena and Theodosia—were boldly claiming their identity. Everyone already knew they weretheheiresses. The ladies who arrived at the Stewart Ball clothed in breeches and top hats, scattering copies of pages from the betting book of White’s from atop the staircase.
But most importantly, in this crowd,thosewomen—the members of the secret club—must be present.
But would they be wearing masks or not?
“I’m obsessed with these trousers,” Theodosia said for the tenth time. “I shall wear them every chance I get from this day forward.”
“Your brothers would object.”
“My brothers aren’t in London.”
“Yet.”
“Which is why I must seize every opportunity until they return.”
“Enjoy your freedom while you have it, my friend.” Selene surveyed the crowd. “What’s next do you suppose?”
“We parade around. Consort with our fellow rabblerousers.”
“Perhaps this morning is more of a display, a chance to see who claimed the rebellion and who did not.” Selena’s gazeflicked over the women who gathered in the street, admiring each other’s fit. “Theyshould be here. Watching us.”
“You sound like a wife trying to catch her husband in an affair. Are you that dogged in your attempt to find them? Does it not bother you that they are using us to fan the flames of discord?”
“They are seizing an opportunity, just like you.”
“Well, I can’t argue that.”
“All these trousers...” Selena still couldn’t believe the ladies of Mayfair had embraced these foreign garments to such a degree. It was a spectacular sight. “How colorful.” A thought occurred to her. “The trousers must have been manufactured in London. If not, the crest must have been added here. If I can find the company... or whoever delivered them to our doorstep...”
“A secret club will leave such a gaping hole in their plan?”
“Perhaps not. But even so, I am determined to find a member of the club here today. I shall not be thwarted.”
“Then go ask around. I shall help you look out for suspicious behavior.”
“That would be too conspicuous.” Her gaze flicked over all the women with masks. “I should probably whisper my request into some ears and see if it does the rounds. Who reacts, who does not.”
