Anastasia

Decisions, Decisions

"Adelaide..." Anastasia began uneasily.

"Yes?"

"What- What- What is this?" she murmured weakly.

Adelaide furrowed her borw, genuinely puzzled. "I told you already, it's the headquarters of the WSPU - you know, the suffragettes, as they call us."

"Us?" Anastasia stared at her friend, dumbfounded. She had not heard very much of the female suffragists, only that they were violent militants who stormed into parliament and set fire to government property and - and - and yet, here was Lady Adelaide Whitby, a member of one of the oldest, wealthiest noble families in the whole of England, standing in front of her, proclaiming proudly she was a member of such an organisation!

"But, Adelaide, you cannot - it's - it's - What possessed you to bring me here?" Anastasia asked in horror, already recoiling. "If my father ever found out - "

"But that's precisely the reason I brought you here, Anastasia! Why should your father dictate what you can and cannot do? Just because we're women doesn't mean we're less intelligent than men. We should have the same rights as any man! Can't you see that?" Adelaide finished passionately, looking searchingly at her friend.

"Adelaide, these women are put in prison! I've heard of the things they do, vandalising buildings, assaulting the police - " she broke off; Adelaide was smiling.

"Deeds, not words. That's what we say. How will we ever get recognition if we don't take action? We've tried a peaceful approach, but it came to nothing."

"But - " Anastasia put a hand to her forehead. What had she been dragged into?

Before either of them could say anything else, the door was opened by middle aged woman with a serious face and small, round glasses. "Lady Adelaide," she exclaimed upon seeing her at the door. "We were not expecting you today."

Adelaide gave Anastasia one last pleading look, then turned to the woman standing in the doorway.

"Good day, Miss Goodman. I've brought along a new recruit. May I present to you Lady Anastasia Banks."

"How wonderful!"

Anastasia, incredulous, moved forward to correct Adelaide, but the other girl replied before she could get a word in, "It is indeed, Miss Goodman. I thought I would show Lady Anastasia where the offices are. Is Stella here today?"

Miss Goodman shook her head. "I'm afraid not, she went out with Miss Pankhurst this morning."

"So Christabel's not in either - And Rebecca?"

"She's at - "

"Oh, college, of course. I forgot. Well, at least we'll have a doctor to treat the wounded when she completes her studies," Adelaide said brightly. "Oh, Miss Goodman, could you give me an additional copy of Votes For Women?" She called to the woman who was moving down the corridor beyond the door. She turned back to Anastasia, saying, "What a pity Stella and Rebecca aren't here, I had wanted to introduce them to you. You'll like them, I think. They could convince you."

"Convince me?"

"Well, yes. Convince you of the Cause. That what we're doing is right, is necessary!"

Anastasia felt so overwhelmed, she was afraid she might cry. She fell back slightly, leaning against the wall of the building outside as she tried to compose herself. Around her, automobiles and carriages drove past noisily, a child cried out and a horse whinnied. She took a deep breath, inhaling the polluted air of London. How she hated the city! "But it's not- "

"It's not necessary?"

Anastasia looked up sharply. Adelaide's tone sounded dangerous, challenging. "Well, I - "

"Is it your will to be treated as an inferior person, with silly opinions not worth listening to? It's not right that we should have to fight for something so obviously right and just as having the vote, but we must. Someone must, or we will forever be considered the weaker sex, no good for anything other than - "

"Adelaide! Please, don't." Anastasia put her head in her hands.

"Why? Are you afraid of being confronted by the truth?"

"No, I - " she stopped herself, suddenly realising that perhaps Adelaide was right...But no, she couldn't make such a decision like this.

"I'm sorry, Adelaide. You shocked me, that is all it is."

"The WSPU is a good organisation, Anastasia, I hoped you would allow me to show it is."

"I haven't read about it much, I've never had a great interest in what is happening in the world," Anastasia replied. Though she had been reading the newspapers far more regularly of late, she had only done so because she was looking for the name Campbell, and had never been particularly motivated to do much more than glance at articles about the suffragettes. Such topics were strongly, if unofficially, forbidden in the Banks household, as they were in all houses of respectable families. "But it's always portrayed as a rather violent party in newspapers."

"Anastasia," Adelaide began, "you've been reading the wrong newspapers. How can you form an opinion if you have only heard one side of the argument?" At that moment, Miss Goodman reappeared at the door, a newspaper in hand.

"Here it is, Lady Adelaide. Will you be coming in?"

"No, thank you, Miss Goodman. Lady Anastasia has to return home."

The bespectacled lady nodded and re-entered the building. Adelaide looked after her with a sigh. She held out the newspaper Miss Goodman had given her to Anastasia.

"Our very own publication," she explained as Anastasia examined it. Votes For Women, it was titled. A caricature of the new Prime Minister bowing down to a tall and imposing lady took up most of the front page. "But enough for today," Adelaide said, pulling Anastasia along to the motor gently. "I promised I wouldn't keep you out for long."

During the drive home, Anastasia remained silent, as did Adelaide, unusually, until they began to near the Adlington house. At this point, Adelaide sighed and said, "I know I haven't convinced you, Anastasia, and I am sorry if all this has ruined any chances of a friendship between us."

"Oh, no," Anastasia cried, anxious to console her friend. "Of course not, Adelaide. It's only - I - I've had a shock and - " she stopped, wondering what she was going to say next. "You are one of the few friends I have - at all - and I should hate to lose you. But you must understand that - "

"That you cannot support women who want to be equal to men?"

Anastasia felt hurt by that statement and must have looked it too, because Adelaide softened: "I apologise. I just - I didn't expect you to be so reluctant. Well, may I ask you one thing?"

Anastasia nodded.

"Read Votes For Women, even one article. Perhaps it will change your mind. Perhaps not. But I shan't mention it again after that."

Anastasia agreed just as they arrived outside her house. The chauffeur got out and opened her door, but before she could step out, Adelaide leaned across and whispered,

"I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone about my involvement in the union. Papa would have a fit if he found out."