letters

Letter Three

Alicia Greene, absolutely fuming, took a seat in the nearest armchair and buried her head in her hands.
Her bun, carefully done in the early hours, had grown loose and fell forwards. Escaped strands of hair curled about her nose and cheeks and in irritation she pulled them out.
She couldn't believe her husband.
He had arrived home, drunk, at three in the morning. It was out of character for him-- the young man was normally mild mannered and kind.
It usually wouldn't have been such a big deal, but guests were to arrive in a few moments and he could not get up due to a dreadful headache.

"What a mess," Alicia grumbled. The clock chimed and she jumped to her feet. The guests were to arrive at any moment now.
Alicia straightened her skirts, heading towards the parlor. Some maids were dusting about the room in terribly harried manners, while others were plumping pillows and preparing tea.
They understood that everything must be perfect for guests.
Alicia waved her hand and they disappeared.
Twinings, the butler, was soon in the doorway and announcing the guests: Cornelia Lovings, Ginelle Upton, Becky Earhardt. They politely headed in the doorway and sat in available armchairs, eyes all on Alicia.

"Welcome," she said, immediately reaching for the tea. A soft spoken woman, she had always relied on her husband to help her entertain, especially when there were so many guests.
She felt so terribly shy. "I do beg your pardon," she softly continued, "my husband has taken ill."
The women all murmured their soft condolences, and silence fell again.

"Cornelia," spoke Becky at last, "I believe I saw you at the convention last Saturday." Cornelia brightened.

"Yes, I was there! How awfully sad I didn't see you there."

"Convention?" asked Alicia softly.

"Why, yes," said Becky. "For the suffragettes."
Alicia, though she knew her friends were suffragettes, hadn't realized that they were so devoted. Truthfully, she tried to stay away from the voting and the drama.
That was how people could get into trouble.

"You should consider joining the suffragettes," Ginelle interjected. "We always need more women."

"I don't know," admitted Alicia, taking a sip of tea. "I feel like... I don't want to get into trouble."
Ginelle giggled lightly.

"There's no trouble, I promise you. But you must agree that we should at least have voting rights."
Alicia thought quietly for a moment.

"I... I suppose. But truthfully I believe that the men have handled it so well so far, and I'm terrified of the responsibility."
The three women all laughed at her.

"Oh Alicia," said Cornelia. "You must come to one of our meetings. You'll change your mind."
-
The day came to an end and Alicia's friends at last headed home. Her husband was still upstairs with a headache, she supposed, and was left alone in the parlor.

"I wonder," she murmured to herself. Perhaps it would be worth going to a meeting.
She hadn't realized that the suffragettes were so prominent in society.
At first she had seen them as rebels. But after listening to her friends today, perhaps they were better than she had thought.
Yes, Alicia decided. A meeting would do her good.
-
The meetings weren't wild as Alicia had initially thought them to be. In fact, they weren't formal affairs at all. It was just a small group of women, politely discussing freedoms and rights and such.
It was explained to her that there were formal meetings, but they didn't happen as often.
Shyly, Alicia sat and listened to the other women. She was too afraid to speak, and let everyone else converse. Her friends were there, which gave her some comfort.

"My husband," said one unfamiliar woman, "is quite in favor of the suffragette movement." This emitted tiny cheers from the other women. "I'm so grateful to him."
The woman was young, with dark hair and eyes full of life. Alicia liked her.
The ladies talked long into the night and Alicia grew to like the ordeal. She liked the talk of equal rights, of pride for being a woman.
The meeting ended all too soon.
On the walk home Alicia caught up with the dark-haired woman who had earlier spoke. The woman smiled at her.

"You're new, aren't you?" Alicia flushed.

"Yes, erm-"

"Call me Lydia."

"Yes I'm new, Lydia. I'm Alicia Greene, pleased to meet you.

"You as well." Lydia smiled widely. "I've heard about you from your friends. I'm so glad you could make it tonight."

"I admit, I appreciated it much more than I thought I would."
Lydia laughed at her.

"I'm so glad to hear that. Is it too soon for me to assume that you're one of us now?"
Alicia thought. She had never really been part of something before, especially something as large and loud as a suffragette. The thought gave her excitement, such a thrill she hadn't before felt.

"No," she declared at last. The word felt good on her tongue. She was a part of something now. She, the shy, soft spoken girl, was a part of something.
"It's not too soon at all."
Lydia smiled at Alicia, and they headed home.