then will be up to the young ladies.”
“They’ve gotten ’round her before,” said Tom. He and the earl exchanged a smile.
They seemed to share a real comradeship. She had seen them together a good deal by this time, and the aristocrat never condescended to the former street urchin. It was puzzling. Teresa looked from one to the other. “You take them so seriously?”
“I do,” replied the earl. “I have observed them in action. It is impressive.”
Tom nodded admiringly. “You should see Miss Deeping with her charts,” he said. “And Miss Moran with her books, Miss Finch ‘organizing.’”
“Miss Ada Grandison is most adept at interrogation.” Macklin’s tone held amusement, but he also seemed to mean it.
“They are young ladies,” said Teresa. She couldn’t quite believe that this aristocratic man respected females’ abilities.
“Older than me,” said Tom. He gestured to emphasize his presence as part of their quest.
The case was completely different, and they knew it, Teresa thought.
“You don’t think young ladies can have such skills?” asked Lord Macklin. “I’m surprised. I would have thought you held the opposite opinion.”
“It is not a case of my opinion,” Teresa answered. “Or even of abilities. They are not given the chance. They are not well educated. They are controlled, patronized, treated as exhibits rather than persons. Loved by their families, yes usually, but not allowed to undertake real actions of their own.”
The earl nodded. “That is often true, I think. I admit I hadn’t realized how true until I met these particular young ladies and found them very different from others I’d encountered. They are quite enterprising in using their intelligence and curiosity.”
“Time will take care of that,” said Teresa. “Society will wear it out of them. Unless their world falls apart, of course, and they become part of the invisible flotsam of disaster.” This remark earned her a sharp look from Lord Macklin. She pressed her lips together. She was exposing too much. And why was she bothering to argue? Did she care so greatly what he thought?
“They mean to keep on,” said Tom. “They told me so.”
“They will acquire husbands who will not allow this.”
“They mean to find husbands who do.”
Teresa shrugged at the lad’s naivete. “Young men make many promises when they are wooing. But once married they expect ‘proper’ behavior. Why else do people say it that way—the knot is tied? That sounds like imprisonment, no?”
“You are harsh to us men,” said the earl. His gaze was even more speculative.
She must stop this, Teresa thought. It was too revealing. But she couldn’t seem to. “Do you claim to know of liberal husbands?”
“Only a few,” he acknowledged. “And some of them have had to learn hard lessons to achieve that state.” He smiled as if this was half a joke.
“I don’t believe in them.”
“But—”
She cut him off with a gesture. “You do not see these paragons when they are left alone with their wives. Or hear what they say to them then.”
The earl hesitated. She waited for a sharp response. But he said, “That is true. I suppose I can only speak for myself as a husband.”
“Yourself?” Teresa became aware of an acute interest in the nature of his marriage. The thought of Lord Macklin as a husband was riveting. She pushed on, even though she knew she should end this conversation. “I suppose you will say you allowed your wife to do as she pleased?”
“I did.”
“And she also had the power to give this permission to you?”
“What?”
“Oh, it did not occur to you that she had that right?” His expression was answer enough. The idea had never entered his head.
“Perhaps it did not,” said the earl slowly. “Not in those terms.”
“I suppose she never wanted to do anything you thought wrong,” Teresa added. “Because she was too well trained. That is what draws men. Along with beauty, of course.” No doubt his wife had been lovely and serenely biddable. One of those fortunate women to whom life gave everything. She felt a ridiculous spike of envy.
The earl seemed to be pondering her words. “That is not so,” he said finally. “We disagreed.”
“Until you convinced her that you were right.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Celia was a warm, intelligent, sensible person. I admired her enthusiasm for life as much as her beauty. I listened to her opinions and often came round to them.” He met her eyes. “As you have said, no one else was present in those moments. You will have to take my word for it.” His tone and