Deeds and Words: A Sapphic Historical Mystery by Sarah Bell

Author:Sarah Bell [Bell, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

A Family Meeting

Queen Victoria wore suffragette colours. The image was so arresting, Ada paused mid-sentence to stare. Her speculating on whether Lydia Green—for they had learnt back at the WSPU headquarters that was her name—was their murderer died on her tongue. The statue had sat proudly outside Leeds Town Hall for the last eight years, the late Queen surveying the city, enthroned up high on her plinth. Some daring soul had managed to climb up there and drape a purple, white and green striped banner across her chest, a mimicry of the suffragettes’ sashes. A tribute to the dying Miss Davison, perhaps?

‘Do you mind if we stop?’ Ada was already reaching inside her bag for her sketchbook. It was too good an image not to capture on paper. Perhaps the WSPU could find a use for the picture? Or it could be part of the portfolio she showed to Frank Rutter, should such a meeting truly come about.

‘Oh, I just remembered! I have something to tell you. How could I have forgotten?’

‘Well, a little light larceny can be distracting.’ Louisa pitched her voice low enough no passersby would hear.

Ada was too excited to give the equally sarcastic response it deserved. ‘Did you know Frank Rutter supports the WSPU?’

Louisa paused for a moment. ‘The curator? Who founded that fund?’

‘The Leeds Art Fund, and yes. When I was working on the banner earlier, one of the women said I should speak to him.’ She grinned.

‘About what?’ Louisa gasped, ‘Wait, about displaying at the Art Gallery? Ada, that’s always been your dream!’

‘Well, yes, I know that.’ Her glee ruined her attempt at a droll reply.

‘That’s amazing.’ Louisa clasped her hands together, a joyful smile spreading across her face. The one Ada loved, that she wore when she dropped her armour against the world and was just herself. ‘Which pictures are you going to show him? What kind of art does he want? Oh, what about that one from last winter when the lake froze over? You did such a great job of showing the cold desolation of that scene – it makes me shiver to look at it. Or will that be too miserable? If he prefers something cheery, what about the one of Galapagos by the flowers you did back in Spring? It’s so cute, and you really captured how darn cheeky that cat is. Or would he prefer portraits? Please don’t use one of me, but you could—’

‘Louisa!’ With a laugh, Ada cut her off. ‘You’re getting a little ahead of things here. I might get a chance to speak to the man, and if I do and he seems interested, then I’ll find out what he might want to display.’

‘Right, yes.’ Louisa’s smile dropped, and her posture stiffened. ‘That makes a lot more sense.’

‘I appreciate the enthusiasm, though.’ She lay a hand on Louisa’s arm. A gentle touch. It would look like nothing more than one friend comforting another to anyone who walked past.

She got a brief smile in return, softer, fleeting, but it still warmed her.

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