It was appropriate that she was startled. It flattered her, moving back from his rising frame, but anything else would have been unacceptable. Her momentary muteness was also a good start to make amends. Not that he didn't like their conversations, Elsie had proven to have valuable things to say, but she should always be afflicted with silence if he was displeased in any way. When she did find a few words, they flared and fell quickly, at first. Another thing to her credit.<br/><br/>She returned to poise soon, and practiced her sweetness on him. It was paramount that she did not petition for her wrist back, yet. "You forgot yourself." he agreed when she went on about her error. "But I'd like for you to do as you please, as long as your priorities are healthy." In that he came first, of course. Her touch, the dress he'd complimented her in, it all added to chip away at his displeasure with her. Little Elsie with a rebellious streak. It painted her political endeavors in a different light, didn't it? If it was simply in her personality to protest, then that didn't necessarily inspire trust in whatever ideology she picked.<br/><br/>He pulled her closer suddenly, by that bullied wrist, and his free hand locked a thumb around her throat, hooking with his palm to squeeze gently. It was the kind of thing he liked when their bedroom door was closed. Elizabeth could be all her disobedient selves then, because he had all night to break it out of her. Maybe the lack on such an appetizer this morning was exactly why he'd been so irate.<br/><br/>"Learn for this then." he suggested and then unceremoniously pushed her back, arm and neck, to leave her for her own balance. It was for her sake too, that he did such a barbaric thing, because it helped him finalize her punishment so that he could let go of his annoyance. If she fell, that was a necessary consequence. He rolled a button on his sleeve and caught another glimpse of the paper.<br/><br/>"Would you like me to get you in touch with Commissioner Grant?" with Oscar's political path well on its way, he could not avoid being friends with the self-made, highly decorated and deeply corrupted head of police. It would take very little to help Susan Anthony out. Oscar's usual social club was more exclusive than the one the commissioner frequented, but that also meant Mr. Williams could visit at any establishment under his. Grant's son also worked in an office in the train station designated for ore transport. His paycheck technically came from Oscar's pocket.<br/><br/>"Also, do you have any plans today, wife?" he asked. It was the careful placing of light greenery over a pit of snakes for her. He remembered her going on about a big something for her cause tonight, but he'd decided they would go for dinner at the St. Gerald's restaurant instead. They had a band he enjoyed. He had not told her of this, yet. Call it another measure she'd have to take for having left without satisfying him this morning.<br/><br/>The kitchen maid seemed to have smelled the decrease in tension, and hurried in with the coffee the mistress had ordered. He paid her absolutely no mind when she quickly disappeared again.