Page 30 of The Butler and the Bluestocking
I’ll have to write a polite thank you declining his very kind offer. I’ll use the excuse that seven days is insufficient time to prepare.It wasn’t strictly true. She could discourse on a large number of subjects with no preparation at all. She shoved away the intruding memory of long evenings talking with Malcolm. Nonetheless, the insufficient preparation time was a reasonable excuse and would avoid other less comfortable explanations.
She reached for the next envelope surprised to see that it was from Mr. Thomas Young.
My Dear Lady Elizabeth,
“I write on behalf of our mutual friend, Mr. Herbert Nedhelm and beg you to accept his invitation for you to speak to the membership of the York Antiquarian Society. Your help to me over the past few years of examining the Rosetta Stone has been invaluable. I know you to be the equal of any scholar in Europe and far superior to most. For too long, you have lingered in the shadows because of a ridiculous pre-conception shared by many Englishmen that women are incapable of deep thought. You and I both know that history teaches us otherwise. The queens and empresses of Egypt were among the most intelligent and well-educated rulers of their day. As you well know, England’s own Queen Elizabeth is a shining example of the abilities of women. I look forward to reading the account of your seminar in the society’s next journal.
With Kind Regards,
Mr. Thomas Young, Foreign Secretary Royal Society, London
“Oh dear,” she mused aloud.With Mr. Young’s endorsement, refusing Nedhelm’s invitation would be much more difficult. A communicable disease was clearly in order.“I wonder how easy it is to catch the measles?”
“I beg your pardon, Bess? You cannot seriously wish to catch the measles.”
Patience stood in the doorway to the dining room. “It’s a horrifying disease,” she continued, as she served herself from the sideboard then took her place at the table “Especially in children who do not understand the damage that can be done by scratching the measles pox. And while doctors have more success treating the disease now than in the past, many people who suffer the disease do not survive.”
“P... Patience, I did not see you there, and no I’ve no desire to have the measles again. Having it once as a child was more than enough. However, I desperately need an excuse to be unavailable this coming Friday.”
“Whatever for?” the countess enquired before sipping her tea.
“I’ve received an invitation to present a lecture in a closed seminar for the York Antiquarian Society membership.”
“Congratulations.” Patience lowered her teacup and smiled. “This is thrilling news indeed. You will finally have the recognition you deserve.”
“What if I don’t want recognition?”
Patience cocked her head. “Do you imagine the members of York’s Antiquarian Society will not look kindly on your presentation?”
Count on Patience to cut to the most important issue. “I do not know. I wish life was different, but I’ve learned that being female is not an asset among scholars.” Heavens, it wasn’t even much of an asset in society, unless one was beautiful and could engage in witty but empty conversation.How can I possibly speak before an entire auditorium of men, all judging me, eager to find my work and myself lacking?
“And of course, you are willing to let that stand.” Patience lifted a forkful of eggs to her mouth.
Bess winced inwardly. “No, but what can I do? I’m just one woman.” A woman who, if Malcolm Marr was to be believed, had allowed irrational fear to rule her life for entirely too long.
Patience swallowed and blotted her mouth. “One woman who is uniquely qualified to change men’s minds. A woman with a rare opportunity to prove such nay-sayers wrong and show them just how capable women are. I am surprised at you, Bess. Have you learned nothing in all the years we, a family of only women, have been making our own way? I’ve heard you, seen you long for the kind of recognition received by Mr. Thomas Young and other distinguished scholars. Yet here you sit with the most golden of chances handed to you and bemoan the fact that you are female in a society full of male scholars who, despite their rarified educations, are idiots. Sometimes I wonder why you so greatly wish to be among their number.”
“I understand, Patience, and nothing would please me more than to accept this invitation. However, if I do so, every woman in this family will be tarnished when society learns that B. Biggs is a woman. Not just any woman but the daughter of the Earl of Seahaven. What will happen to the suitors that have Ivy, Josefina and Iris so excited? The disapproval won’t just be against me, Patience. All of us will suffer.”
Her stepmother dropped the toast she was buttering to her plate. “I do so wish you were wrong, but I know you are not. Nonetheless, I implore you to take advantage of the opportunity given to you. If the men courting your sisters are so shallow as to be frightened off by the idea of a brilliant scholarly sister-in-law, then the girls are better off without them. But I’ve met the men in question, and I do not think they are fools.” She resumed buttering her toast. “The seminars do not begin until after the ball, so you have plenty of time. Prepare your presentation, Bess. Allow me and your sisters to stifle any wagging tongues.”
“Thank you, Patience, both for your gentle scolding and reminding me that I too often try to get by without help from my sisters.” Bess stood. “I will leave you to your breakfast and go to the study to pen my reply to Mr. Nedhelm.
