Ever After (Unfinished Fairy Tales #3)(69)
Gratefully, I follow my ‘grandfather’ into The Bookworm. Yet while I’ve gotten rid of Liam for the time being, I can’t avoid him completely. The crowd in the city square is nothing like I’ve seen before. If he stirs the people into an uprising, as what happened in Moryn, there’s going to be deep trouble.
* * *
At night I wait for Edward. It’s nearly midnight when he strides inside, looking exhausted, but I swear he retreats a step when he sees me.
“Kat,” he says, holding up a hand as though I am carrying a infection. “You shouldn’t be here.”
It’s almost as if he’s a maiden who needs to safeguard his reputation (how amusing), but I get to the point. “Sorry, but I had to talk to you. I miss those nights when we had conversations together. I hate sleeping alone.”
He looks on the carpeted floor. “I feel the same.”
I sit down on the chair by the window. “There was a huge gathering in the city square today. Liam was speaking to the crowd.”
Edward also sits down, but he is careful to maintain a respectable distance between us. It almost feels we are back to when he was courting me, though it’s ironic that Edward wasn’t as mindful of my reputation as he does now.
“About the disparity of landownership?” Edward rubs a hand over his forehead. “Father and I have also been discussing the issue as of late.”
I show him a handbill I picked up while Liam was speaking. The headline reads “Starving Workers Unite: Learn How To Make Your Voice Heard.” There’s the date and time of the next meeting at the Hungry Boar.
Edward reads the contents on the handbill, and his brow draws together. “I am not surprised that he would have a conflict with the aristocracy,” he says quietly. “Liam has harbored a grudge towards the peerage since he was a young boy. He is smart and hard-working, no doubt about it, but he could never become a member of Parliament or make a great name for himself. Unfortunately, in this country, connections and wealth are more important than merits.”
“Is there anything we can do about this?” I say. “It’s unfair to treat the people differently, and to give preferential treatment to those based on birth and connections. If the hereditary practice continues like this, there will be more and more people dissatisfied, and who knows what they might resort to.”
Edward rubs his forehead. “It is part of the reason why I thought your compulsory education was an impressive idea. It is difficult to provide the laborers and white-collar workers with the same pay, because they differ in education, and so they have different skills. However, my major concern at the moment is how to resolve the scarcity of food.”
At my questioning look, he says, “Kat, haven’t you found the winter this year uncommonly long and harsh?”
I understand at once. “There’s a shortage of crops because of the harsh winter, which led to famine.”
“It’s reported that many people in the country have moved into the capital, hoping for better luck here. The more they wander around and congregate, the more of a problem it’s going to be. We must import more grain for the people going hungry.”
“Right.”
“There’s a problem, however. Our financial budget is becoming tighter every year. The new railroad cost hundreds of thousands of pounds and the entire system isn’t even finished. People are still new to it and it’ll take years to turn a profit. The passing of the Education Act means setting aside a substantial amount to build schools, employ teachers and inspectors, acquire supplies, etc. If we are to purchase food, we need to halt the railroad construction or the schools.”
I wince. I don’t want the schools delayed, but it is more important to feed the people. For some reason, Liam’s speech pops into my mind. “Can’t we raise the taxes for the peers? Since they have so much land anyway.”
Edward is silent for a moment. “There are no taxes imposed on the aristocrats.”
I almost fall off the sofa. “The nobles don’t pay any tax in this country? When they have so much land?”
“It’s a tradition that has stood since our country was founded. When we went to war with Moryn, countless knights and squires have sacrificed their lives defending our lands. Because of their contribution, the then king made it a law that the peers need not pay taxes, as they have already paid their blood.”
“But that’s hundreds of years ago! There hasn’t been a war for ages, and since Athelia is the most powerful country in this world, it’s unlikely we’ll need their blood.” I rise from the sofa. “I don’t understand why the lords can’t be taxed. They already own ninety-five percent of this country, for crying out loud. Let’s use the extra income to buy more food for the people.”
“We can import grain from Moryn. They have a more moderate climate, and Augustin needs money. He built a new palace for his wife as a wedding present.”
“Oh my God.” I put a hand over my mouth. “I’m marrying the wrong man.”
“Too late.” He pulls away my hand and kisses me deeply, as though marking me as his. “How about fifteen percent of the nobles’ income?”
“In my world, the rich pay up to forty percent of their income.”
He wrinkles his forehead. “The members of Parliament are unlikely to agree to such a large percentage. Remember how we passed the Eight-Hour Act? If we force the MPs pay heavy taxes, when they’re used to keeping every single penny of their income, I can guarantee it will meet unanimous opposition, even when considering the situation in our country now.”