Buttons &beaus

“That would be lovely.” Miss Green rapidly reappeared. “John, the drapery department did not need me. Have you taken leave of your senses?” Eliza took her groceries and fled. After the ceilidh, John walked her home and kissed her lightly on the cheek. It wasn’t long before they were seeing each other regularly. One day, he invited her to tea to meet his mother. Their home was very posh compared with Aunt Ruby’s simple cottage. Halfway through the meal, John’s mother said: “My friend Margaret thought she saw you on that ridiculous Votes for Women demonstration. Please tell me she’s mistaken.” Eliza waited for John to leap to her defence, but he remained silent. She replied: “Your friend is correct.” John’s mother pushed away her scone and jam. “Do tell me, how does breaking windows achieve anything?” Eliza stood up. “I’ve never broken a window in my life!” Snatching up her gloves, she strode from the house. John ran after her, calling “Wait!” She spun to face him. “Why didn’t you defend me like the gentleman I thought you were?” John ran a hand through his dark curls. “This Votes for Women business is getting out of hand. Maybe you should stop going on marches and marry me.” “Give it up and marry you? That is the least romantic proposal ever and my answer is no!” She ran home, tears blinding her. “Whatever is the matter?” Aunt Ruby asked as she ran past and up the stairs. There was an insistent rap on the door. “Don’t let him in!” said Eliza before throwing herself on the bed, sobbing. The next morning, on her way to work, she stopped to admire the flowers in the park. The sight of the geraniums normally lifted her spirits but, thanks to John’s betrayal, they didn’t work their usual magic. She sighed deeply. “Eliza, don’t do it!” She turned to see John running towards her, looking distraught. “Don’t do what?” she asked crossly. “Oh, thank goodness! I thought you were about to chain yourself to the park railings.” “Don’t be ridiculous. Anyway, I’m not talking to you.” John took her hand in his. “I was worried about you. All those stories in the paper about women going on hunger strikes. I couldn’t bear anything bad happening to you. That was the only reason I asked you to give up the cause.” Eliza met his gaze. “What about your mother? She doesn’t approve.” John shook his head. “She’s from an older generation and doesn’t understand what it’s all about.” Eliza reflected that Aunt Ruby’s reaction had been much the same. Maybe she should try persuading older women of the advantages of the vote instead of getting angry when they didn’t comprehend. A loud voice interrupted her thoughts. “John! I sent you to the Post Office half an hour ago. Kindly return to work!” Miss Green stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at them. A week later, as they walked to the dance, John suddenly knelt on the ground in front of her. He pulled something from his pocket and handed it to Eliza. She burst out laughing when she saw it was a flower cleverly shaped from knicker elastic. “I made a mess of this last time so will you please marry me and make me the proudest man in the world?” John asked. As he took her in his arms, Eliza was already looking forward to telling their children and grandchildren the story of how they’d met. She wondered if any other couple had ever been brought together by the purchase of two yards of knicker elastic…