“How clever you are.”
His lashes lowered faintly. “We’ll see. She may not like it.”
“Of course she will. What woman doesn’t like roses? Not one,” Julia briskly said, answering her own question. “Now is this a surprise? It must be of course.” She smiled. “Women love affectionate surprises as you no doubt know.”
“I’ve noticed,” Fitz murmured, smiling back. “I’ve already asked her friend, Miss Eastleigh, to lure her away from her apartment this evening in order to give us time to plant the garden.”
“Capital! This will be such fun, darling. I’ll ring up the gardener immediately and begin making plans.”
“Stanley is doing some research on roses as well, so stop and see him on your way out. I’ll see to the setting up of lights for the workmen. We won’t have much time. Three hours at the most.”
“Matheson will arrange for the men. And, darling, you can’t imagine how many new roses have come on the market lately. Every woman I know has added scads of roses to her garden. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but your rose garden is rather nice out back.”
“I have,” he politely lied. “Thank you, your taste is excellent.”
“A word of warning, darling; some women have what they call friendship gardens-you know, plants that are mementos of family and friends. So make sure nothing is pulled up that might have that look.”
His brow furrowed. “That look? How do you recognize it? ”
“Oh, dear, if I didn’t have a diplomatic dinner to attend with Kemal tonight, I’d come and oversee the project. Never fear,” she crisply added, “I shall warn Matheson. He’s very good, you know.” An understatement for the man who managed all the lavish gardens on Fitz’s estates. “Don’t worry about a thing, darling. You will have your garden.”
HIS MOTHER’S ASSURANCE wasn’t sufficient to persuade Fitz that his gesture would produce the requisite results. Nor could he fault Rosalind for being angry with him. He had played a rather major role in her imprisonment; that it had all been a misguided blunder did not excuse him.
He was gratified to receive a reply from Sofia shortly after noon, promising to carry out his wishes. He went out to talk to Matheson after that, only to find that the head gardener and his mother were out shopping for roses. But in answer to his questions, another of the gardeners took him around the garden and pointed out a great variety of roses in every imaginable color. And none were in the least wilted, Fitz was pleased to see. Which meant he could indeed deliver on the little patch of Paradise he’d been picturing in his mind. Not that a few little trifles of jewelry might not be advisable. An added token of his affection just in case.
Which thought brought him to a standstill on the steps of the terrace, the essential question: exactly how much affection was involved in this effort of his? That decisive calculation was not yet completely resolved in his mind. He knew he wanted Rosalind more than he’d ever wanted anything, but for how long? he asked himself, not unaware of his past record with women. He must decide before he saw her again. This time, with this woman, he daren’t make a mistake he’d live to regret.
Softly swearing, he continued his ascent and entered the house through the library. A few minutes later, he left word of his destination for his mother, and after a quick detour to Grey’s, he rode out to Mertenside for the afternoon.
He needed peace and quiet.
He needed to think.
Chapter 31
ARE YOU MAD? Why would I go to a Thompson lecture? ”
“Because Dr. Maud Warren is giving the rebuttal,” Sofia said, leaning against Rosalind’s counter and smiling at her. “Maud’s new research disputes all of old Thompson’s outdated theories about women’s inferiority. It should be exciting; the hall will be packed with women.”
“I’m not sure I need that kind of excitement; the police will be there in force.” The police presence at events such as this was meant to intimidate.
“We can sit in the back and leave if things get out of control. Say you’ll come. Violet and Christina will be there. We should lend them our support.”
The two young ladies were just beginning their college careers, having received scholarships at Girton College, Cambridge, thanks to Rosalind’s training sessions. “If they’re going to be there,” Rosalind murmured, “perhaps we should go.” Her Saturday night lectures were about inspiration and change after all.
“We’ll come home directly after. I’ll have you back by ten at the latest.”
“Good. It’s been a busy day.” Rosalind smiled. “Although, I do adore Maud Warren’s poise in the face of ranting, self-righteous men like Thompson. It should be amusing.”
“Absolutely. Thompson always begins shouting when his theories are disputed, as if the louder his voice, the more persuasive his argument will be. If nothing else, Thompson’s temperamental sideshow will help take your mind off Fitz,” Sofia kindly observed, aware of Rosalind’s dreams last night, not to mention having heard the full litany of Fitz’s transgressions at dinner.
“I’m not sure anything will take my mind off Fitz.” Despite every effort to resist, she thought of him constantly. “It’s stupid, I know. I’m probably the five hundredth woman who’s passed through his life, and none of us has left so much as a ripple on his psyche.”
“You never know,” Sofia replied, although she was careful not to say more. Fitz wasn’t exactly known for his permanent attachments. His note may have been nothing more than a seduction ploy.
“Oh yes, I do,” Rosalind firmly said, her pragmatism coming to the fore once again. “I’m not his style if he even has one, which isn’t altogether certain since he amuses himself with women of every age, rank, and description. And he’s not my style by any stretch of the imagination”-she grimaced-“his obvious and impressive charms aside, of course.”
“Darling, look, if nothing else, your thoughts will be diverted for a few hours at least.” Fitz’s impressive charms were too much in demand for her to offer Rosalind any false hope. “And we’ll also learn something about Maud’s new research. Apparently, female test scores at the universities have been exceeding men’s in every discipline.”
Rosalind chuckled. “I could have told them that, although it’s wonderful that Maud has evidence to document the fact. Have you ever thought about going to university? ”
Sofia shook her head. “Not when I’m making so much money with my painting.”
“Once my finances are in a better state, I just might apply.”
“Good. You spent too many years taking care of Edward. It’s about time you thought of yourself.” And if Fitz enters your life again, you’ll have someone to pay your university fees.
“My thoughts exactly.” Along with reminding herself to stop her useless brooding about Fitz.
“I’ll be here at six. We’ll have a quick supper at the tea shop on the corner before we walk to the hall.” Crossing her fingers behind the screen of her skirts, Sofia smiled and said, “I don’t think you’ll be sorry you went.”
Chapter 32
THE LECTURE WAS by turns irritating, amusing, and inspiring.
Thompson spoke first, offering his conventional lecture on women’s role as ordained by God-that of a woman who can sing, dance, draw, walk well into a room, and be the pride of her parents and husband. As a physician and a man of science he also considered it his mission to bring the light of scientific objectivity to the Woman Question. A vast body of research, chiefly of brain weights, head sizes, and facial proportions, proved, he asserted, that women were much lower on the evolutionary scale than men and the differences between the sexes could be expected to widen even further as man evolved and specialized. According to Thompson, the more primitive female role concentrated on her animal function of reproduction, and the controlling influence of the ovaries on every aspect of a woman’s life, was evident in a full range of diseases from irritability to insanity. He spitefully added that the influence of the ovaries over the mind was particularly on display in woman’s artfulness and dissimulation.