Page 20 of The Butler and the Bluestocking
“Ah . . .um . . . the speaker is B. Biggs.”
Nedhelm’s eyes lit up. “We’ve been trying to persuade Mr. Biggs to attend our little meeting for several years now. Ever since that paper on the relation between pottery and wall hieroglyphs was published. Had I known you were acquainted, I would have sought your help on our behalf.”
“My acquaintance is of a very recent nature.” Mal stated.
“Regardless, this is a favor I am delighted to grant. I’m sure when word gets out that Biggs will be speaking, our entire membership will turn out in force. That alone will cover the cost of the extra printing.”
Malcolm was glad that his friend was pleased, but his conscience tugged at him. Nedhelm would not be at all pleased to discover Biggs was a woman.Perhaps I need not tell him.
“Could you persuade Biggs to accept my invitation to dinner in two days? I’d like to pick his brain on the Rosetta Stone, and discuss the topic of his speech,” posed Nedhelm.
Malcolm toyed with his dessert spoon. There was nothing for it, if he wanted to give Bess her heart’s desire–recognition of her scholarship by respected members of the scholarly community–he would have to tell Nedhelm now. It would not do for both Nedhelm and Bess to be surprised upon first meeting. Still, he delayed.
“Will Mrs. Nedhelm be present?”
“Athena wouldn’t miss it. She’s not here tonight because she wanted to attend some musicale. Evidently society is all agog over three young ladies known as the Seahaven Diamonds, and she heard they were to be present. Athena loves being au courante nearly as much as she loves an archaeological expedition. Since, her interest in Egyptology is nearly as keen as my own. If Biggs accepts, Athena will definitely be present. Why? Is her attendance important?”
“It will make Bigg’s acceptance much more likely.”
Nedhelm’s gaze narrowed. “He’s not a womanizer?”
“No, nothing of the kind.”
“Good. Then you will ask?”
“I will ask on one condition.”
“And that is?”
“That you treat your guest with all the respect due a noted scholar of Egyptology.”
“Why in the world would I not? Biggs’s reputation is well deserved.”
“I’m glad to hear you say so. Because without your assurance I would not consider asking her to accept your invitation.”
Nedhelm’s brow furrowed. “Her?Did I hear you correctly?”
Mal straightened in his chair. “You did.”
“B. Biggs is a woman?”
“A very talented and knowledgeable woman, who as we speak is working to verify a Rosetta Stone translation by Mr. Thomas Young of London’s Royal Society.”
“The membership will be outraged, but you say Young respects her enough to ask her to verify his work?”
“He does,” Mal confirmed. “If you let that be known–I can’t imagine Young would object–and if you, as the association’s leader, set the example, I think the outrage will be minimal at worst.”
“I might not remain leader very long if I do this. I do have my enemies among the members who would love to see me fail. Inviting a woman to speak to the membership would be just the thing.”
“Great reward only comes with great risk. You could cement your leadership of the society for years to come, if you invite Biggs. You might even be noted as one of the most forward-thinking scholars in the country.”
Nedhelm preened a bit at that thought then his pride subsided. “Or I could be lambasted for a fool. However, I have an idea how to present this to the membership and gain their support.”
“What’s your idea?”
“Let it be my surprise, if I succeed. The membership must approve first or I may as well say nothing.”
“I understand,” Mal said. “Perhaps we could enlist Mr. Young’s assistance in issuing the invitation to speak at the seminar. That way the responsibility is shared. Your membership can hardly fault you for following the lead of one of Britain’s most respected scholars.”
