Free Lady Westbrook's Discovery by Etta Stark

honest,” he said, “I find the whole topic of children to be entirely uninteresting.  I doubt either sons or daughters would hold much interest for me.”
    “Your progeny being your scientific discoveries, I suppose?” said Lord Elmbridge.
    Felix chose to ignore the sarcastic tone employed by Lord Elmbridge. “Well, quite. It certainly doesn’t seem to require much wit to produce a child. Nor does it seem to be especially more commendable to produce a male rather than a female. I believe my wife has the right of it when she says that the most important thing is the health of the child.”
    “Well I for one wouldn’t want to be saddled with a bunch of daughters to have to marry off,” scoffed Lord Elmbridge.
    “You know , Lord Elmbridge,” said Margaret, “I believe that way of thinking will soon be considered most old-fashioned indeed. Women are even now campaigning to have the right to vote. Once this has been achieved, I believe we should expect to see them given as much responsibility as men in public and political life. Perhaps we shall soon women run for political office alongside the men.”
    Lord Elmbridge gave a short bark of derisive laughter. “Women voting! It’s a preposterous idea. Surely you can’t support such a ridiculous notion, Mr Oliver.”
    “I most certainly do,” replied Felix. “In fact, it was a discussion about the very topic which first persuaded me that Mrs Oliver was a lady worthy of consideration.”
    The conversation moved onto other topics. Margaret sensed a certain coolness from the other guests towards herself and Felix. As the plates were taken away , she glanced at him.
    “Are you all right?” he asked softly .
    “I feel we have upset the other guests ,” Margaret replied in a whisper.
    “We could upset them still further,” said Felix, looking at Margaret before glancing pointedly at the dining room table.
    Margaret didn’t appreciate the significance of the gesture at first. Then she remembered their earlier conversation where Felix had threatened to make love to her over the Waverley’s dining room table in full view of the other guests. She blushed deep red, which made Felix grim infuriatingly.
    The men remained in the dining room for cigars and brandy as the ladies withdrew to the drawing room. Margaret didn’t relish spending time exclusively with the other women. She gritted her teeth and resolved to get through the rest of the evening as best she could.
    As the gentlemen were returning from the dining room, Margaret was in conversation with the Duchess. “You and Mr Oliver are quite the pair, aren’t you?” she said. “I can see why you must have been attracted to one another. But we were all surprised that you decided to rush into marriage so quickly. Perhaps you should have heeded my advice, after all, and arranged for a chaperone the night he stayed at your house.”
    Margaret’s blood boiled at the not-so-subtle accusation. “My dear Duchess,” she said hotly, “ it is surely not the done thing to accuse one’s guests of illicit behaviour in such a way. Did you intend to be quite so rude?”
    The Duchess of Waverley scowled. “I assure you that no rudeness was intended.”
    “I see, it was stupidity that triggered such a remark rather than rudeness.”
    The Duchess gasped.
    Felix was at her elbow by the time she finished her sentence. The rest of the party were clearly listening to every word while pretending that they were not.  Without looking at anyone else, Margaret turned to Felix. “I find I have a headache,” she said. “Would you mind if we went home now?”
    “Not at all,” said Felix.  He bowed to the Duchess. “Good evening, your Grace,” he said. “Thank you so much for a pleasant evening.”
    The Duchess did not answer him, but Felix retained his unruffled composure as he escorted Margaret to the door. As she left, Margaret glanced at the usually affable Duke of Waverley, who had an expression of fury on his face.