Free A Little Knowledge by Emma Newman Page B

thanks.”
    The letter on top of the pile was from Margritte, and the wax seal on the back had been stamped with the single feather motif that the four of them used to indicate the need for the reader to be alone when reading the enclosed letter. It also meant that after she’d read it the ink would turn into dust, so she moved the waste-paper basket closer, ready for afterwards.
Dear Cathy,
    I regret the way our meeting ended yesterday. It was clear you are not happy with the idea of a Ladies’ Court. I should have told you that William and I discussed it but it simply slipped my mind. As you know, he visits regularly with the Charms required to keep me hidden, and inevitably we talk about what occupies our thoughts. He does want to help but both he and I feel you wish to achieve far more than Society could accommodate as quickly as you wish. It is so frustrating being unable to help you publicly, and I fear you may have felt William and I colluded behind your back. I can only assure you that this is not so. We all have the same end goal, and a desire to see each of us safe and happy as we achieve it. There is a long and difficult road ahead of us and I hope our friendship will endure.
    With love,
    M
    Cathy watched the words turn to dust, folded the paper inwards to collect it all, and tossed it on the fire. Secrecy Charms were all well and good—and critical for her secret cabal—but she missed being able to read the words over a few times to digest them. She had been angry that they’d discussed the idea of a Ladies’ Court behind her back, but half of that anger was the needy, ugly fear that Will preferred the company of the stately and refined Margritte over her own. She had to make sure that fear didn’t make her into an arsehole about his friendship with Margritte. Of course Will doted on Margritte; he was responsible for the awful situation she was in now. Cathy sighed. What a bloody mess. She added Write nice letter to M to the list.
    Flipping through the rest of the envelopes, Cathy saw that there were none from her fellow conspirators and, happily, nothing from Dame Iris either. Cathy hadn’t seen her since the last time she visited. She couldn’t help but smile at the memory of her fainting when Eleanor had appeared at the doorway. The moment when Dame Iris realised she no longer had any power over her was one Cathy would never forget.
    One envelope towards the bottom of the pile caught her eye, as the handwriting was unlike that of Society ladies. It was all in uppercase, the letters spaced too far apart to look right.
    There was no wax seal on the back. Cathy opened it, finding a single sheet of paper inside with the words all written in uppercase letters again.
SPEAK LESS AND SMILE MORE. STUPID WHORES LIKE YOU SHOULD STAY OUT OF
    A knock on the door made her jump and stuff the paper back into the envelope before she finished reading it. “Yes?” Her heart thumped uncomfortably as Morgan entered with his silver tray again.
    “I’m sorry, ma’am, you have visitors.”
    Cathy looked at the clock. At this time? She picked up the calling card offered to her on the tray, noting the folded top left corner informing her that the individual was there in person.
Mrs Charles Rhoeas-Papaver
    Aquae Sulis
    “Oh shit.” What was her mother doing in Londinium? She picked up the second card with its own folded corner.
Miss Elizabeth Rhoeas-Papaver
    Aquae Sulis
    Cathy noted how Elizabeth’s had a beautifully painted poppy flower in the lower right corner. Did their father know about that embellishment? “Bollocks. Not her too. This is all I need.”
    Morgan, no longer disturbed by her language, simply pulled the tray back to rest in place in front of his chest. The sound of her sister cooing at the entrance hall floated down the hallway. “Shall I inform them that you are not receiving visitors?”
    “If you’d met my mother, Morgan, you’d know that would make no difference whatsoever. Show them