Ever After (Unfinished Fairy Tales #3)(68)
But I can’t be bothered about the wonders of the megaphone now. Liam, looking markedly different from the cynical, snarky guy who used to sneer at my efforts to improve education for girls, is speaking with heated passion. There’s a glint in his eyes; he looks indignant, affronted, and ready to stage a protest. Considering what he’s talking of, I won’t be surprised if he’s rallying people against the lords.
“According to the survey in your hands, landownership is ridiculously distributed in this country. Allow me tell you…”
Liam launches into a similar speech I’ve heard at the Union. Looks like their meetings have attracted so many people that they no longer congregate at the Hungry Boar.
“Princess?” Amelie touches my sleeve. “Do you wish to stay here, or go to the bookshop?”
She keeps her voice down, and as the crowd around us is so noisy, it’s impossible that anyone heard her call me princess. But Liam’s gaze happens to fall on us at the very moment. Recognition dawns in his eyes—I bet not only does he recognize me, but also Bertram and Amelie.
“Let’s go,” I tell Amelie. I came here because I wanted to talk to Mr. Wellesley, and I need to get back before Edward returns. Knowing Edward’s neurotic concern about my whereabouts, I sure don’t want him coming back and finding me gone.
On our way to The Bookworm, we pass a shoe shop. I tell Amelie and Bertram to meet me at the shoe shop, since it’s only a few minutes’ walk from The Bookworm, and go off before they can protest. Got to give them some time together.
Before I reach the bookstore, someone grabs my arm. I twist around, using a karate move to wrench away, and the other person grunts in pain.
“I thought I saw you in the crowd,” Liam says, rubbing his arm. “Since this is your grandfather’s shop, I thought you might come here, so I decided to try my luck.”
“I’m honored,” I say, failing to keep the sarcasm out of my tone. “There must have been a lot of people who wanted to ask follow-up questions to that speech you made. It was quite thought-provoking.”
“Oh that.” He seems proud of himself. “It took me several months of conducting surveys and hiring assistants. I myself was also amazed at the results.”
I bite my lip. The people out there were totally riled up by his speech. “Why did you make that bet with Lord Harrington in the beginning?”
He is silent for a while. “Edward and I grew up together in Enrilth. We were the same age. From when I could walk and talk, my parents had taught me that the prince was special. I must always yield to his demands, I must never offend him, and no matter how he treats me as a friend, we will never be equals.”
There’s a twisted smile on his face. No wonder he joined the Union. When I first met him in my honeymoon, I had thought he was faking his friendship with Edward. Yup, if he was made to defer to Edward since he was a child, well yeah, that must’ve made him bitter and resentful towards the peers. “All the girls in the village were infatuated with the prince. In their eyes he was akin to deity. He had everything—looks, wealth, position. They didn’t care he wasn’t easy to approach or lacked charm. If Edward did not possess those external factors, he’d hardly be able to attract the females with his character alone.”
I don’t think so, I’m tempted to say. Edward may be obnoxious at times, but Liam hasn’t experienced what Edward has shown to me. Although I have to say Edward can be distant and cold when he wants to. It’s only among his closest ones that he reveals his caring, sensitive, even flirtatious side.
“I have always been top in my class,” Liam says, narrowing his eyes. “Yet I know that no matter how hard I study, I can never achieve high in life. You know well yourself that Princess College chose Henry over me. What Athelia operates on—the preference for hereditary connections rather than actual merits—means that intellectuals like me will never be allowed an equal chance. And so, when Charlie Quinn started distributing flyers about his mission, I was intrigued. I discovered there are many people like me, who are also dissatisfied with this unfair, biased system.” His eyes are glowing now. “We want to change this unjustness, Miss Wilson. That report on landownership is only the first step. We will not rest until the entire peerage is abolished. Parliament is merely a bunch of privileged members who have no interest in the people, despite their claims. How could they know what we want, when they’ve never worked a day in their life?”
“So what you’re saying is you want to advocate radical sentiments in the people?” I say. Not that I support this hereditary culture, of course. But the way he’s doing it is unsettling. “What are you planning to do?”
He gives me another of his enigmatic smiles. “Join our Union, Miss Wilson. We could use someone valuable like you.”
“Because I punched Fremont?” The words are out of my mouth before I can help it.
“I shall never forget his bloody nose and the look on his face.” He smirks. “Well, if you ever change your mind, let me know.”
He slips me a card. It’s plain and white, unlike the fancy scented cards that noble ladies use when they go calling on friends and acquaintances. “You could do so much more than being the granddaughter of a bookstore owner.”
“Lass, I’ve been waiting for you,” Mr. Wellesley says, coming out of the shop. “Come in, there’s a new series you’ll like…”