Free Coming Together: With Pride by Alessia Brio Page B

deep and even that Paulette drifted to sleep to its rhythm.
    Derby Day dawned as brightly as anyone could wish. Before the telephone rang, Margaret and Paulette were awakened by the shocking amount of light streaming into the room from around heavy drapes at the window.
    Both women would have loved nothing more than to stay naked in bed, kissing and squeezing and tickling and fucking every trace of fear out of each other's warm bodies. They both imagined staging a Love-in for Peace . They both knew this couldn't be done, not while their role as representatives of their country was still controversial in itself.
    Margaret and Paulette helped each other into the clothes they had picked out for the day's performance. Then they welcomed two members of Margaret's staff into their suite to attend to their hair and makeup.
    Studying her reflection in the mirror, Paulette felt grateful to the young woman of student age who had magically improved her appearance. Paulette had never looked pretty to herself, but she had a polished look that surprised her. The mirror showed no trace of her anxiety or the persistent, low-level hunger in her cleft.
    When Margaret and Paulette arrived at the racetrack, a band in 1913 uniforms struck up a lively version of "The March of the Women." Paulette knew the words, and was tempted to sing along:
     
Shout, shout, up with your song! Cry with the wind for the dawn is breaking.*
     
    The crowd was so huge that she gave up hope of picking out any threatening sounds or hostile vibes. She wondered if anyone could distinguish the sharp report of the starting gun at a horse race from the sound of an illicit gun which had no right to be there.
    An all-female youth choir sang several patriotic songs. King Charles announced to the crowd that this day was definitely Ladies Day at the Derby, and his audience laughed politely. Queen Camilla expressed her gratitude to the stalwart women of the past, and to Emily Davison in particular, for sacrificing comfort and life itself for the rights of all women.
    Margaret beamed on everyone in sight, much like the sun. Paulette was always impressed by the natural look of her smile on such occasions. Reginald Peek welcomed his Canadian counterpart and her lovely wife.
    Argh! thought Paulette. I can't believe he actually said that .
    He explained the historic occasion and remarked that those who can't keep up with the march of history are destined to fall behind. Paulette gave him a hard stare for a brief moment.
    Margaret stepped confidently up to the microphone, and then it happened.
    "Bloody bitches!" yelled a young man who surely hadn't intended to sound so hysterical or high-pitched. A collective masculine yell that sounded like "Hoy!" arose from a struggling knot of bodies in the young man's general vicinity, lower down in the stands.
    A whisper spread through the group of dignitaries. A Canadian aide stepped close to Paulette. "Some guy with an explosive device was subdued by security. He seemed to be aiming at Prime Minister Crapper. They've got him under control."
    Paulette glanced around at Reginald, and was amazed at what she saw. His face showed undisguised anguish, as though he cared deeply about Margaret's safety.
    "My God! David!" he shouted before somewhat composing his expression. "This is all a mistake," he stuttered to the circle of faces staring openly at him.
    Paulette wondered if Reginald would be forced to leave office in disgrace, and she almost pitied him. Nothing he could possibly say to explain away his outburst would work. His mask had cracked, and all the King's horses and all the King's men could never put it together again.
    A member of the royal staff announced to the crowd that there was no need for alarm because the saboteur was being removed from the scene. His presence was explained as a small glitch in the proceedings which a good-humored British crowd could overlook. The hordes of people seemed to agree.
    Margaret spontaneously gave thanks