Lost Treasure

Chapter 3 - Votes For Women!

POV = Lilly

The sun streamed through the bedroom window as I finally managed to prise my tired eyes open. Sunday morning - the night after another party at Patsy's house. This one had been for Ella. My wonderful friends had decided to throw her a birthday party after she had enjoyed herself so much at Patsy's three weeks ago.

Yet again we had all spent a carefree night enjoying each others company and laughing until our sides hurt. Yet again Patsy had left her solid chocolate in temptation's way and I'd taken it for a run around the garden - and she still couldn't catch me! I guess all that walking and climbing up trees in the jungle had proved useful after all. But above everything else, my sister had enjoyed her birthday more than she'd been allowed to since our parents died, and that was worth more than all the chocolate in the world to me.

I rolled over to see that Ella was still well and truly in the land of nod, and I smiled at her. As a gentle breeze blew through the open window, I lay back on my pillow and remembered all the fun we had last night. We really had enjoyed ourselves like we were small children again thanks to Patsy's generosity. It was a blessed relief after another tough week at work with a miserable block of granite!

It had been quite late when Ella and I finally crawled into our beds, tired but with big smiles on our faces. I had the strangest dream though. I was Rapunzel way up in a high tower - except I hadn't been locked away by a witch or wicked relative. Oh no, I'd chosen to hide there to avoid all those pesky suitors that my Aunt kept finding, and to throw 'Votes for Women' leaflets at passing chauvinists. The leaflets were wrapped around rocks of course!

Then the whole thing got a little peculiar. Instead of a handsome Prince trying to 'rescue' me (perish the thought - yuck!), a man with a face like chiselled stone was trying to reach me. Yes, that grumpy old miser Mr Ambrose was climbing up the longest ladder I've ever seen (because I refused to grow my hair long and girly for any male to climb up!) so that he could persuade me to return to work. Oh and he sternly informed me that the cost of the ladder would be coming out of my wages! Ha! Can you imagine that man climbing a ladder after anything other than a pot of gold or lost treasure?!

Then he seemed to get confused because he started calling me Sleeping Beauty. I took great pleasure in informing him that he had obviously climbed into the wrong fairytale dream and would he kindly take his miserable, miserly face out of my sanctuary! I don't really remember what happened after that.

Maybe it was the cheese I had eaten at Patsy's? Patsy!! I suddenly remembered that I had promised, along with Eve and Flora, to attend a rally supporting 'Votes for Women' in Hyde Park as part of her birthday celebrations - and today was the day. All I wanted to do right now though was to stay in bed, but a promise is a promise.

Yes, come on Lilly! You're a proud feminist. Campaigning for women's rights is far more important than lazing about in bed. Up. Up right now!

 I double checked that Ella was still asleep before I opened my bedside drawer and checked my work pocket watch. 10.15am. I was thankful that we'd persuaded a very enthusiastic Patsy to meet in Green Park at midday instead of 11am as she'd originally suggested. At least I wouldn't have to race around like a headless chicken! So, I hauled my weary body out of bed and started to get myself ready. I decided to leave Ella in peace and kissed her gently on her head before leaving the room.

* * * * 

It was just before midday as I strolled through the gates of Green Park. I headed towards our favourite bench that was nicely hidden by a screen of bushes from the main pathway. Flora and Eve were already there but not Patsy.