At her aunt's home for tea, she and Griffin get into a heated argument. She figures he's the most self-absorbed, insulting man she's ever met, and he concludes she's the most obstinate, stubborn, emotional women he's ever met. She does, however, make a favorable impression on his sister, Helena. Helena decides she wants to join the suffrage movement, and Cassandra takes her under her wing. Only things aren't that simple.
Someone seems intent on harming the two women.
First they're attacked on their way home from a union meeting, and then someone snatches them on the way to a rally in the park. They escape both incidents relatively unharmed, but as time goes on, it becomes clear that these are not random events. Someone is working very hard to make sure the suffrage movement is halted in its tracks, and they're not above using force to see that it's done. Neither woman is willing to give up on the cause, much to Griffin's dismay. He tries unsuccessfully to persuade them to give it up.