Lady Lydia's Arc

Chapter 1 of 3

Lady Lydia pressed her nose against the cold glass of the university library window. Inside, young men in dark coats bent over thick books. They scribbled notes and turned pages. Not one woman sat among them. She pulled back and straightened her cream-colored dress. Her heart beat faster. Someday she would walk through those doors as a student. Someday she would prove that women belonged in these halls of learning. But first, she had to make the men of high society listen. She walked away from the university with quick steps. Her mind worked on a plan. If they would not let her inside their halls, she would bring the ideas outside. She would create her own gathering place. By the time she reached home, she knew what to do. She sat at her writing desk and picked up her pen. The words flowed onto the page. An invitation. A pamphlet promising speeches and shared ideas. She would host these gatherings herself. People would come to hear new thoughts. Women would speak alongside men. She signed her name at the bottom with a firm hand. This was how it would begin.