“Lady Vegas,” Miss Narayan said with a curtsy. “Lady Dorrington.”
“How do you do?” Aunt Josephine said, inclining her head to all three new acquaintances.
Francis’s mother eyed him sideways for a moment before treating the others to her most gracious smile. “I must say, my son chooses the most handsome friends to associate himself with.”
“Thank you, my lady,” Miss Narayan said, nodding to Francis’s mother before sending Francis a frustrated look.
Francis grinned. He enjoyed the fact that he had Miss Narayan on the back foot. If she let her guard down and failed to defend herself, as though she were a fortress that could not be penetrated, he would most certainly win the courtship game he’d begun.
“Maharajakumar and rani?” Francis’s mother glanced between the Narayans with a supremely diplomatic look. “I take it, then, that you are royalty?”
“Our father is the Majaraja of Koch Bihar,” Mr. Narayan answered.
“How very impressive,” Francis’s mother said, managing to sound genuine. “And what brings you to our cold and dreary shores?”
“We are here to further our education,” Miss Narayan answered before her brother could.
That definitely captured Lady Vegas’s interest. “Both of you?” she asked.
“I am in attendance at the University of London,” Mr. Narayan answered, sending his sister a sideways look, as though attempting to remind her of her place.
“And I am at Bedford College, my lady,” Miss Narayan slipped in before her brother could answer for her. “It is a subsidiary of the University of London, a college for women.”
“I attend Bedford College too,” Miss Sloane added in a whisper, grinning from ear to ear.
“That seems to me as though it is a good place for you,” Francis’s mother said.
Francis had to raise a hand to his mouth to keep from laughing outright. Even though Miss Sloane was not of marital interest to him, she was precisely the sort of young lady that amused his mother. Perhaps if the young woman wanted a career as a companion for a marchioness, he would have to look into employing her.
That was not the matter on the table at the moment, however.
“Mother, you have just missed it,” he said, shifting slightly to indicate a change in the conversation as well. “Miss Narayan has just given a most excellent speech on the advantages of woman’s suffrage and the importance of England setting a good example for its colonies.”
Miss Narayan brightened a bit at the admiration implied in Francis’s words.
Her brother frowned, but once again seemed uncertain about whether to voice his disapproval in front of not one, but now three members of the British aristocracy.
“I am quite interested in the subject of women’s suffrage,” Aunt Josephine said, regarding Miss Narayan and Miss Sloane carefully. “Though I am not certain I approve of it.”
“Why, it is an inevitability for the future of England and the Empire,” Miss Sloane said, smiling and breathless.
Aunt Josephine exchanged a look with Francis’s mother. The two were already plotting something, Francis could tell.
“Do you agree, Miss Narayan?” Francis’s mother asked.
Mr. Narayan twitched so much he had to grasp his hands behind him, likely to stop himself from what he must have seen as disrespecting his elders, and perhaps his betters. Francis felt a bit sorry for the young man. He clearly believed he had a duty, but had no idea how to carry it out. He and Joseph would have gotten along splendidly.
Miss Narayan seemed to weigh her words carefully before answering. She sent Francis a suspicious look, as though she knew full well she was being led into a trap. Francis wasn’t sure whether that was a testament to her intelligence or a sign of her wary attitude toward…everything.
“I do believe it is the future, Lady Vegas,” she said with a nod. “Particularly as more and more women are educated. If we have the same intellectual training as men, and as men themselves are constantly saying that we are the morally superior sex, why should we not have a say in the governance of the kingdoms in which we live?”
Lady Vegas burst into a smile. She shared that smile with Aunt Josephine. Perhaps Francis’s mother had been playing along with his game before, but now it was clear that she liked Miss Narayan.
“I couldn’t agree more, my dear,” she said. “In fact, I should like to discuss the matter with you further. The hour is growing too late at this moment. The sun is on its way to bed, and so must I be. But I should very much like to invite you for tea. Would Thursday morning suit you?”
Mr. Narayan’s mouth dropped open, as though he wanted to protest the invitation, but didn’t feel as though he could. Miss Narayan merely looked surprised.
“Oh, dear,” Miss Sloane said with a sigh. “I have a class Thursday morning.”
Francis had been so focused on the game his mother had taken over and was playing on his behalf that he’d forgotten about Miss Sloane for a moment. He had to confess that he was glad she could not be there, however.
“I….” Miss Narayan hesitated. She peeked at her brother. Whether it was despite the way Mr. Narayan frowned at her or because of it, she turned back to Francis’s mother and said, “I believe that I am available that morning, my lady.”
“Good.” Francis’s mother nodded. “The address is number ten Berkeley Square. I shall see you at ten o’clock on Thursday, then. Francis, come along.”
Francis’s brow shot up at the way his mother called him like a puppy. “I, er, I had intended—”
“Come along,” his mother repeated, more forcefully.
Mr. Narayan grinned. Francis hated the idea of the whelp laughing at him. But he had to admit, a moment later, that being set down by his mother in front of the man might actually have helped his case. “We must return home as well, Priya,” he murmured to his sister.