Deeds Not Words

➹ Chapter One: So the suffrage begins

Not a suffragist. A suffragette! The type of woman that smashes windows and chains themselves to fences. All in the hope of getting to be able to vote.

I'd heard a few young boys talking about them. "Those dirty ol' suffragettes," they had said, all agreeing with one another. Apart from one. He stood out from the rest because his eyes were emerald green and his hair oak brown, like the tree trunk he was leaning against. "They're vile, a bunch of pigs" a blond-haired boy snorted. They were all well-dressed apart from the oak-brown haired boy, in fact, one I've seen at one of the parties our family went to.

That probably needs some explaining.

I'm Marigold Aldaine and I'm fifteen years of age. I have a brother, who's two years older than me, called Gillson, he's away at boarding school. He only visits at Christmas and maybe one or two weeks in Summer. But whenever he does, people think we are twins because we are so impeccably similar. And there's quiet Daisy, who's three, and outgoing yet sensitive Roger, who's five.  We live in a lovely house, we are very wealthy. But I do feel a bit ashamed of it.

Some people just see me as a spoiled little "princess" when in fact, I am no way near getting a regal title and I'm not spoiled. The little one's are. Saying that, I am very grateful with all I have. I have a whole lot of books, a diary with a fine leather cover and a fountain pen and alot of hats and frocks. None of them I really take a fancy for. My birthday is coming up too through, on the 6th July. It's only May now

And Gillson is coming over for it! I'm oh so thankful, usually he just writes a letter declaring, "happy birthday Marigold, have a splendid day" and give me a necklace. Those necklaces I keep in a special jewellery box for him.

Enough about me though.

But that boy, that boy with the oak brown hair...

Maybe I'm developing a pash for him! If I am I'm gonna get tormented by Roger and Gillson. Should falling in love hurt this much? I read about how to cope with it in my Girls' own annual. It stated that fantasizing over a man you don't know is "unladylike".

I don't usually say this about anyone but, they're daft.

*

"Mother" I said silently, tip toeing into her bedroom, it was still only six o' clock. We wouldn't wake til about half seven. Saying that, Roger would playing some wild game that his bed was a ship and he had to gather up all his toys.

"What?" Mother repiled, turning around slightly but her hat was covering her pink rosy cheeks and swollen eyes from crying. "You alright?" I asked making my way over to her.

"Yes. I'm fine dear Marigold" she reassured me, smiling shakily. "Sorry about father" I put my hand on hers. She sniffled. "I don't care about him, I know damn well he's just a drunk slob, here, please do take this," she said rather angrily and handing me this ribbon saying, "votes for women" in big black writing and the top of it laced with purple, and the bottom emerald green. Like mother's eyes. "Us women need to stick up for what we believe" Mother said putting her hand on her full chest dramatically. We both giggled a bit.

"Oh mother, it looks beautiful" I swooned over the ribbon, letting my fingers glide along it. It was a very fine material. "It took me a while to find it, it's very popular," she explained, getting out a whole box of items from under the bed, "I keep them all in here" she gave the box a pat and opened it. It was like green fields of iris. Just all Green and Purple (white too)

Mother babbled on about the significance of each item. All the badges, pins, rosettes, signs and brooches. She gave me a very mature and smart green and purple brooch. "You must hide this from your father, and Roger too, we both know his very.. fond of shiny things" Mother warned me. I giggled a bit remembering him dropping my shiny silver bangle down the lavatory. Mother chuckled too.

"But, oh Mother, when is Gillson coming here? Will he come early? Is he actually gonna come or is father filling me with false hope?" I questioned her desperately.

"Right Honey slow down a bit, yes he is coming. We wrote to the boarding school asking if he could. They said only if he did some work over his little break". "Yes!" I said under my breath. I was delighted!

That day, a telegram came from the WSPU. I hoped it was from Gillson. It was addressed to my mother, but curiosity made me open it.

It read about how there will be a protest near the Rose Gardens, it was signed by Emmeline Pankhurst, who Mother had told me founded the WSPU. "Mother!" I shouted from my bedroom. She came in her new loose flowing blue dress, with a little shawl with embroidered pearls on it. "Yes?" She replied and rushed over when she saw the letter. I had completely forgot I had completely been looking at a letter addressed to her!

"I'm so sorry, I got too curious" I explained, putting an emphasis on the "too". Mother chuckled. "It's fine". "But mother, please can I go?" I pleaded putting my hands together like I was an angel. She hesitated, "if you're brave enough, there will be policemen there. So we must be careful."

"I don't care if I get arrested Mother" I scoffed. "But what about little Roger and little Daisy and Gillson?"

Mother always knew how to make me soft.

At that I was speechless, just out of pure sadness. I could never cope with out Roger's imaginary games and Daisy's cuddles and although I was used to Gillson being departed, it would still be a terrible misery to never see him again.

*

The door knocked, Roger sprinted over to it, almost falling over his own foot, he opened it and saw my dear best friend, the telegram girl Winnie.

"Marigold!" She shouted delightfully when she saw me her face lighting up

"Winnie!" I exclaimed daintily. She ran over to me and hugged me tightly. "I've finished my shift, so now I can meet up with you very grandly. How about we go for tea eh? I earned a few shillings and pounds from working," she suggested brightly, "and I've got a very handsome young man to come with us" her tone turned quiter, yet it was like she was gonna squeal.

"Oh," I said my eyes widening, "would your mother agree with that?" She nodded enthusiastically. "I would like to think so, he's really good-looking and dashing" she swooned.

We went out to tea and the tea shop was like a palace. With beautiful vases containing tulips. There was a beautiful clock on the wall and it was a nice, peaceful and calm atmosphere.
Winnie delighted in eating the sponge cake with cream and raspberry jam in the middle. The boy then came a little late. "Hello, sorry I've arrived a bit late" he chuckled softly and tilted his newsboy cap back a pinch.

He looked up at me so I could properly see his face, and there he was. My oak-brown haired knight in shining armour.