The last thing Elsie could have possibly expected was for Oscar to smile that brightly. Even his voice took notes from the grin spread across his handsome features. She linked her arm with his and stepping forward with the grace of a woman who knew very well now to move underneath such constricting conditions and balanced on high heels as if they were nothing. The couple of inches still left her looking up to her husband and the way he said her name and laughed sent butterflies through her veins.<br/><br/>The off the shoulder construction of the dress left the expanse of her upper chest on display. Gentle mounds peeks out of the bodice, expanding every time she took a breath. While horridly uncomfortable, Elsie had dressed to impress. Yet, it was the room full of New York’s elite that she aimed to please. She desperately wanted her husband’s approval. She had always thought that it would come unconditionally, but she’d been lied to. Elsie was left to work for it and she only concerned herself with the opinions of Oscar.<br/><br/>He’d asked her how her day was but before she could answer he called he a hussie and commended her on her appearance. Slightly taken aback by the crude comment, her gaze settled on the lace covering her hands. Oscar’s attention had been stolen by the drunk commissioner and Elsie couldn’t decide if she was relieved or jealous.<br/><br/>“I’m sure he meant that in the most loving way.” It was Anthony’s voice that licked her ear next. The older woman, the mother of their revolution, was already into her fifties and while the stress she was under showed, she somehow still put on an air of being at complete ease. Anyone who didn’t know who she was would have never been able to guess that she had spent the previous night in jail.<br/><br/>The woman’s words struck Elsie hard, knowing for a fact that there was no love radiating from Oscar. It was a show and while she could play it too, it seemed to exacerbate her feelings of simply not making the cut. Anthony’s tone confirmed she was judging the man only a seat away.<br/><br/>“You know how they can be.”<br/><br/>Anthony nodded. “You’re Elizabeth Williams, are you not? You planned the convention currently taking place on the other side of the city.”<br/><br/>Elsie nodded, sadly. “Yes, seems we both were forced to miss the event.” Her voice was hardly a whisper, meant solely for the other woman’s ears.<br/><br/>“Look at those two!” The commissioners face was beet red and his eyes were already a bit glazed over. It was confirmed that Elsie did not like the man one bit, but would be grateful to him for releasing Susan Anthony. “Little birds, just chirping away. Planning our destruction they are!” Whatever he had been telling Oscar had been momentarily put on hold.<br/><br/>“All our women will turn themselves into whores if we let them.” He elbowed Oscar, laughing heartily, looking around the table at the men, hoping someone would agree with him. “They don’t know it, but they need us to keep them in line. Silly creatures, am I right? Ah, but Miss Anthony, I’ve heard this rumor that you refused to marry because then a husband would get everything you wanted to be yours. I think you’re all just greedy.”<br/><br/>Anthony’s expression grew even grimer as the man rattled on, but she never said a word. Elsie probably should have taken a note from the other woman.<br/><br/>“Because you think the good of this country includes only men?” The words slipped out of her mouth before she’d even thought them over.<br/><br/>“Elizabeth Williams, you are like a child at this table. Whatever girlish things that are filling that pretty little head of yours are certainly not important enough for us to entertain.”<br/><br/>In truth, everyone at their table had at least ten years on Elsie. Young as she may have been, she had proven to be an intelligent young woman with motivation and dedication to spare. Even when her two causes so often clashed.<br/><br/>“You’re only worry should be whether your husband is fed and fucked.” He laughed again. “Hell, Oscar, she’s hardly even ripe yet!”<br/><br/>Anthony didn’t budge. Elsie sat speechless, unable to form a coherent sentence and floundering under the sudden attack.