Ever After (Unfinished Fairy Tales #3)(81)
Bianca is glowering from a nearby stall, but I hold my head high. I will not let myself be intimidated. Every effort she had tried to harm me has been thwarted. Edward will never let her cause trouble for me again.
Miss Cavendish greets me with a heartfelt smile, which grows wider when I purchase a rose-pink scarf for Amelie. It’s a pretty, dainty item, just the perfect thing for a girl of her age, and will look lovely over her dark gowns. It’s ironic that Amelie has plenty of fashion sense, but she doesn’t bother to apply it on herself. Bertram will appreciate the new look, I’m sure.
“Excellent choice, Kat.” Miss Cavendish wraps up the scarf in tissue paper and purple ribbons. “Would you care for a scarf, Your Majesty?”
When the charity bazaar is almost over, the queen takes my hand. “I look forward to the next time we meet, Kat.”
For that moment I am too overwhelmed to speak.
“Me too, Your Majesty.”
39
Kat
Edward’s defending me in court has swiftly become a nationwide sensation. It is a rare instance that every single paper I’ve read are positive about his case. Even the paper that takes a cynical, sometimes contemptuous view of royals and aristocrats, grudgingly commends Edward’s determination to marry a woman based on merits, despite the ‘somewhat questionable means of achieving his goal.’
“But won’t you get into trouble for telling the whole nation you lied to them?” I ask Edward, folding up the papers and going to the sofa where he’s sitting.
He smiles and pulls me to sit next to him. I lean against his shoulder, feeling safe and secure. Athelia is a tough place to survive as a single woman, but with Edward’s protection, I don’t have to worry. “Strictly speaking, I should be prosecuted for willful planning of a fraud, but I have yet to receive a summons from High Court. Think of what the headlines will say.”
“The Prince Is Sentenced For Courting The Woman He Loves?” I say, and we both laugh. It sounds ridiculous. Yeah, it’s unlikely any prosecutor will have the nerve to accuse Edward.
Still, his confidence both reassures and unsettles me. I’m glad he won’t be punished for his ‘crime,’ but on the other hand, his privilege as a royal is exactly why people like Liam have been voicing resentment. Were Lord Fremont not a well known peer, he would have been sentenced to jail long ago for assaulting and impregnating Nell. Although the girls are much better off now, no amount of alimony can magically heal the trauma Nell had gone through.
Liam’s voice echoes in my mind. The lords comprise only a small percentage of our population, yet they control most of the wealth.
Edward tweaks a lock of my hair. “What are you contemplating, love?”
I tell him about Liam and the Union. “I’m worried about what they might do. There were thousands of people in the city square, and they were all shouting and yelling they’ve been unfairly treated. I won't be surprised if they've printed and distributed tens of thousands of Liam's pamphlet.”
“We are not like Moryn,” Edward says. “If there is truly unrest, the Metropolitan Police will take care of it.”
“That’s not the way to resolve the problem.” I turn and face him, letting him see how indignant I am. “The thing is, they have a point. I don't think it's okay that the nobles have so much land when most of the population is burdened by food prices. If we let the nobles continue as before, there will definitely be more complaints from the people.”
“I understand.” Edward grits his teeth. “I shall introduce the tax bill as soon as I can. I’ve tried scheduling it earlier, but a few lords, such as Sunderland and Westin, seem keen to discuss other acts first. My instinct is that they are unwilling to deal with it.”
As a matter of fact, the problem of food shortage has become worse, despite the charity bazaar and other efforts the government has attempted. The price of grain has increased from ten silvers a pound to three golds. To put this into perspective, an everyman used to spend half of his wages on food. Now he could be spending nearly ninety percent. Last time I bought a hot bun at the park, it cost me a whole pound, when previously it was only a shilling. It doesn’t affect me that much—I still get to eat three full, wholesome meals every day—but I know most people in Athelia aren’t as lucky as I.
Edward spends most of the day at the palace. I wish I could be there with him and offer him suggestions, but I am not allowed to participate in his meetings with the king and the ministers. Not even if I were queen. All I can do is wait for him to come home and ask him how their discussions went.
Only one good thing has occurred while we’re dealing with the thorny issue of the food crisis. Due to nationwide sympathy since Edward’s confession at court, the Royal Marriages Act has been revoked. Since it isn’t a constitutional law, we only need the signatures from the current Privy Council members, such as Duke Philip, for the Royal Marriages Act to be abolished. In the future, marriage between a royal and commoner will be recognized. Edward and I can be married. All we have to do is wait for the decree absolute.
Since I can’t accompany Edward to his meetings or help him with his work, I spend the mornings walking in the park with Bertram and Amelie. As Henry’s residence is in the city center, the park is one of the few places I can reach on foot. And since I’m still, technically speaking, a single gal, I shouldn’t be out alone, so I ‘chaperone’ Bertram and Amelie.