London, April 1893

[this_isaturn]

David was quite surprised to see that the ticket to London he'd been given was first class - but he's certainly not about to complain. It was quite a refreshing experience.

After some fussing about, he finds the address he'd been given as well. He takes in the building's facade for a moment (Georgian, if he doesn't miss his guess) before knocking; a butler opens the door and shows him in.

"Josephine is busy, sir," the butler says. "She'll be up in a moment; in the meantime, there are refreshments in the sitting room."

"Thank you," David says, assuming Josephine is the woman who talked to him after the faff with the sword. He takes his hat off and steps into the sitting room.

Comments

[timelessinventor]

"Thank you, darling. I am starting to work on a novel. I doubt they will let me publish it under my own name, but hope does spring eternal."

[this_isaturn]

"Why would they not?"
Women have been published under their own names, haven't they?

[timelessinventor]

"I wish to write scientific books, darling. Not romances or morality tales. Things that women should not write, let alone study." She rolls her eyes.

[this_isaturn]

"Oh, no, how simply terrible. As though men have ever had a monopoly on pondering the possibilities of science."
(If he were from a different time, he'd finish that off with 'film at eleven.')

[timelessinventor]

"Oh, do hush, you." She grins at him, a smirk crossing her face. "I believe we will get along quite swimmingly."

[this_isaturn]

"Well, without Mrs. Shelley, would anyone consider buying it at all?" Helena's current reading choice is in a different category, he feels.
David smiles. "I should hope so, since I suspect we'll be seeing a lot of each other."

[timelessinventor]

"Mrs. Shelley did not publish under her own name, and was in a different time. However, I do not believe that is your point, which is well taken."

[this_isaturn]

David shrugs. "Anonymously done or not, the groundwork wouldn't be there if she hadn't written it in the first place."

[k39zzz]

"An excellent point, Mr. Wolcott."

Josephine can't help giggling a little at David's reaction to her sudden appearance; she turns it into blowing Helena a kiss. "Thank you for getting started, Helena. Come along, David, it's time for you to have a proper tour."