The Fairbairn Girls Read Online Free Page A

that when I’m married to Rory we can nip up to town whenever we like, I think I’d go mad.’
    Lizzie looked thoughtful. ‘I think we all want to escape south. Especially Freddie. It’s because we’re young. We want adventure. We want to see the world. I expect we’ll be quite happy to settle here again when we’re as old as Mother and Father.’
    Her sister looked appalled. ‘I hope I won’t end up here when I’m old. I don’t think Rory would like it either.’
    ‘I don’t think James would mind. Eventually, you know.’
    ‘Do you think you’ll really marry him?’
    Lizzie smiled smugly. ‘Yes, definitely. He’s just waiting for the right moment to propose.’
    Laura spoke eagerly now. ‘When Rory and I are married we’ll be in a position to invite Georgie, Beattie and Di to stay with us, and we’ll introduce them to Rory’s friends. Young men who live in London, too,’ she added impressively.
    ‘What? Not county, you mean?’
    She shrugged. ‘Maybe no one who is listed in the peerage, but Rory knows masses of people through his work, including an actor. They all seem to be making a lot of money.’
    There was a shocked pause before Lizzie spoke. ‘Goodness!’
    ‘Most of the really rich young men are in trade, or at least their fathers are,’ Laura continued defensively.
    ‘Goodness,’ Lizzie repeated. ‘Don’t you think we might frighten them off with our titles?’
    ‘I’m seriously thinking of dropping mine when Rory and I are married.’
    ‘Whatever for? You’ve always been Lady Laura and I’m certainly not going to stop being Lady Elizabeth for anyone.’
    ‘I don’t want to overshadow Rory by being Lady Laura Drummond while he remains plain Mr Drummond.’
    Lizzie’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. ‘Hasn’t it occurred to you that having a titled wife might raise his standing amongst his clients?’
    Laura flushed angrily. ‘What a horrid thing to say.’
    ‘I’m not saying that’s why he’s marrying you, I merely meant . . .’
    Laura jumped to her feet. ‘I know what you mean. You think we’re defined by our titles and the fact that we’re women. Thank God Emmeline Pankhurst formed the Women’s Franchise League two years ago. Soon women will be equal to men and allowed to vote, and it’s about time too. We’ve been regarded as appendages to our husbands, with not an original thought of our own, for too long. It’s time we stood up for ourselves,’ she added forcefully.
    Her sister looked askance at her. ‘Here we go! Does Rory know you’re a secret suffragette?’
    Laura burst out laughing. ‘Of course he does, and it’s no secret. That’s what he likes about me. Times are changing. Do
you
want to be like Mama? Letting Papa make all the decisions? At least we’ve now got a Married Women’s Property Act, but we need much more recognition.’
    ‘I’m happy with the way things are. I don’t want the responsibility of having to make all the decisions.’
    ‘So you’re content to live your life as a second-class citizen? A “Yes Woman” who does what her husband says?’ Laura countered swiftly, her hazel eyes glinting with intelligence.
    Georgie, Beattie, Diana and little Eleanor came into the room at that moment and looked at them with curiosity.
    ‘What’s going on?’ Beattie asked.
    ‘What are you arguing about? We could hear you from the hall,’ said Diana.
    Laura looked amused. ‘We weren’t really arguing. We were having a discussion about a woman’s role in the future. I believe we should have the same rights as men.’
    ‘How boring,’ Georgie exclaimed in disappointment.
    ‘Would you give up your title to make your husband feel less inferior?’ Lizzie demanded.
    ‘As my future husband will have a title already it won’t arise,’ scoffed Georgie airily.
    At that moment they heard their father’s voice coming from somewhere outside the castle, yelling furiously at someone. Laura and Lizzie both rose to their feet and rushed to open the