Twice Upon A Time (Unfinished Fairy Tales #2)(77)
“The police ought to award you a medal of courage, Princess Kat,” he remarks and gives me a low bow.
I jump up, embarrassed. “Oh, come on, it was only a punch on the nose.”
Edward catches my elbow. “Kat, there’s no need to be modest about it. It’s the first time in our history that a princess has helped crack a case in human trafficking.”
I part my lips into an obligatory grin, but while I’m relieved that Molly is safe, the problem about the children still remains. I doubt Molly’s father will let her off the hook. She is probably back in the streets, trying to earn enough to support her sister and the baby. And there’s nothing I can do about it.
After Bertram leaves, Edward makes me sit down at the window seat. Outside, the garden is a glorious spectacle of orange and gold, but I’m in no mood to appreciate it.
“I know that you are still anxious about the children,” he says quietly. “Would that I were able to promise you an immediate solution. But Kat, you have already made progress, even if the current situation isn’t satisfactory. It will only get better.”
“I know, but still.” I sigh and lean against him. “I understand that it’s going to take a long time, but oh, I can’t help seeing red when that man slapped Molly. If he could be that violent in public, then what might have happened to her if he’d succeeded? If you hadn’t suggested that we go to that restaurant, she might be lost forever.”
He strokes my hair. “Think no more of that night, love. She’s safe now, and we are going to figure out the next step to protect her and the others from harm.”
“But how?” I sit up and stare at him. “I can’t forbid Mr. Ripley from making his daughter hawk in the street. I can’t foresee any way to prohibit child labor when the parents are the ones who encourage their children to work. The Minimum Wage Act is rejected. And even if it were passed, I don’t think Mr. Ripley would change his mind and allow Molly to stop working.”
“What about the people in your world? Surely the wealth cannot be equally distributed, and you must have some impoverished families over there. Did their children not have to work? Did their children attend school?”
“Everyone has to go to school because they’re required to . . .” I grab his hand, excitement pumping through my veins. “Oh Edward, it’s so simple! All we have to do is establish a law that states education must be mandatory for all children! If they have to go to school, then they can’t go to work.”
He stares at me as though I have just spoken Spanish to him. Speaking of Spanish, it’s such a long time since I’ve used it. I still miss home, no matter how much in love I am with Edward.
“Such a notion is without precedent,” he admits. “It does seem the most likely method to do away with child labor, but I can already foresee that the difficulty will be much greater.”
“We’ve got to try anyway. You told me that Athelia is slow in making progress, but we can’t just sit here and do nothing. Let’s submit a bill to Parliament, like you did with child labor.”
“Parliament will not open until early next spring.”
“Isn’t there any other way we can convince the…the Ministry of Education, for instance, to consider compulsive education?”
Edward gazes at the view outside, his brow creased. “A few years ago, I had an idea to transform an old cemetery into a public park. Father taught me the proper way to implement my plan. I was to submit a proposal to the municipality, detailing the purpose, the preparations, and the expected results. We can do the same with this.”
“Okay.” Back when I was working in the publishing industry, before I lost my job, I had assisted in planning for a new column for the magazine. There wasn’t much I was assigned to do, being a novice, but anyway, I have an idea of how a proposal works. “Sign me up.”
* * *
A few days later, I receive a message from Lady Gregory. Meg would be visiting this afternoon, and if I don’t have anything planned, I’m welcome to drop by.
I quickly pen a reply, answering in the affirmative. I’ve spent all morning sorting the background material for the proposal for compulsory education, and I appreciate the chance to go out and let my brain relax for a while. I had borrowed books from the palace library, and Edward even got me a pass to use the archives in the University. My desk became so cluttered that I’m considering asking for a larger one, so I can better manage the books and articles I’ve accumulated.
As the carriage rattles on the street, I rub my hands on my gown, praying that I won’t run into the Mansfields. In The Ugly Stepsister, I had caused a scene by throwing wine on a ruthless, avaricious factory owner, right in the middle of Lord Mansfield’s party. I doubt Mansfield has any friendly feelings toward me.
We stop outside a huge mansion. The doorman yawns widely as he asks for my card. I stare at him, not expecting that I had to bring a card. Nor did I expect the doorman would be sleepy when it’s early afternoon.
“I am Princess Katriona.” I gesture toward the carriage, which looks fancy enough, since it’s from the palace. I hold out my hand, and my wedding ring flashes, the diamonds glittering under the sun. “My . . . sister is married to your master’s nephew.”
“Please wait outside, lady.”