Page 11 of A Dangerous Engagement

“How will we arm so many men?” one man asked.

“We have stockpiles of arms in various counties, in barns and factories and warehouses, but we need more. That is one of the most important tasks. We must acquire arms by whatever means possible. Buy them, steal them, donate them from your own collections, but we need as many as we can get between now and our glorious revolution, which we shall implement in May, a month from now.”

But did they have enough people for such an insurrection? Philip wanted to ask, but he thought it best not to draw attention to himself.

The men spoke of their plans and ideas about how to procure more guns. Certainly these men—the leaders, as Lady Blackstone had called them—were the wealthiest of their secret group, and some of them were rich enough to be able to afford to buy quite a few guns. They began to talk of how to purchase a large amount without raising suspicion.

Philip needed to find out the exact locations of those stockpiled weapons Lady Blackstone had spoken of. If he could get word back to the Home Office, they could confiscate them, thereby crippling their entire rebellion. But that might not be so easy.

CHAPTER FOUR

Felicity watched the next morning as the servant brought round the letters that had come by post. Sadly, there was no reply from her mother.

She sat in one of the drawing rooms with the few other young women in the group. All of them were married, she discovered, besides herself and Aunt Agnes. Beside her sat Mrs.Josephine Cartwright, who was just her age. Her husband was playing cards with some of the other men.

Mrs.Cartwright was embroidering a silk pillowcase while she spoke. The bright thread flashed in and out of the cloth with seemingly little effort.

“I can never seem to stop sewing.” She smiled and shook her head, barely glancing up from her work. “I hope you don’t mind. Whenever my hands are idle, I simply cannot concentrate on conversation or anything else.”

“I don’t mind at all.” Felicity had set aside her book on Chinese, and she now took up the needlework she had brought downstairs with her.

“I am looking forward to dancing. Lady Blackstone said we would have a dance soon and I can test out my new skills. I’ve been learning from a dancing master since I got married, but this will be my first real ball.”

It was very unusual for a young woman to learn to dance after she was married instead of before, but Felicity thought it best not to comment on it. Likely she was from a poor family and had married someone of means who wished his wife to know all the social graces, including dancing.

“Lady Blackstone said you are from a large family. I had seven brothers and sisters, but three of them died before they were a year old. I hope to have a great many children. My husband says the more the better.” She looked up and smiled before pinning her gaze back on her embroidery.

“There are many good things about having a large family.” Felicity worked a knot loose from the sampler she was stitching for one of her nieces. “I am thankful for my sisters especially, but my brothers are my good friends too—mostly.”

“Oh, girl children are the best, to be sure, though the boys are the most useful to their fathers.” She glanced up with another smile.

“There you are.” Lady Blackstone stopped abruptly as she rushed through the doorway. She was looking down at Felicity. “Mrs.Cartwright, you don’t mind if I steal Miss Felicity away, do you?”

“No, I—”

“Felicity, come. I want to show you something in the garden.”

Felicity began stuffing her needlework back into her bag. She hoped Mrs.Cartwright didn’t feel slighted, but it was rather flattering to be singled out.

“Don’t worry about your things. I’ll have the servant take them to your room. Come.” Lady Blackstone laid a cloak over Felicity’s shoulders. “I don’t want you to get a chill.”

Lady Blackstone hurried her out of the house to the garden. “Whew, it’s good to be out in the fresh air, away from the clucking hens.” She laughed, then sent a side glance Felicity’s way.

Felicity looked about her. “It is a beautiful day, but I was enjoying the conversation with Mrs.Cartwright.”

“Oh?” Lady Blackstone’s lips were slightly parted as she stared at her. “Was she telling you of intrigues and conspiracies?”

“Not at all.” Felicity laughed.

Lady Blackstone laughed too, as if relieved.

“We were only speaking of dancing at the ball and the benefits of having a large family.”

“Oh yes, Mrs.Cartwright is quite the little wife. Her husband rescued her from near starvation.”

Felicity stared. “What do you mean?”

“Well, her father worked as a weaver, and when he got sick, he was unable to feed his wife and children. Mr.Cartwright found her on the street one day trying to sell some of her embroidery. He took pity on her and fed her. His mother took her in as a servant and ... he fell in love with her. But you are not shocked that I would tell you such a story? Your mother might not approve of you knowing such things.”