Ever After (Unfinished Fairy Tales #3)(88)
Yeah, I suppose that it’s unlikely a man will vote that he start paying taxes. “Since the tax bill is defeated, how are we to secure funding for food rations?”
Edward sighs. “We shall have to cut back on budgets for schools and other public constructions. It is our priority that the people cannot go hungry. It has been a tough winter on the crops.”
I think of Molly standing alone in the snow, of Nell trying to get Lord Fremont to pay alimony for her baby, and I bite my lip. I don’t want to delay the compulsory education we have been working so hard for, but Edward is right. The first and foremost objective is to feed the people.
“I met Liam today,” I say. “He sent me a message. I thought it was a Union meeting, so I went.” I tell him it was actually a personal meeting, and Liam was trying to convince me to join their side. I didn’t tell him Liam’s confession of his feelings, yet Edward is astute enough to detect something wrong in my way of speaking.
“There’s more to it, Kat. If he requested to meet you alone, is that the only thing he asked of you?”
“No,” I admit. “He asked me to be his woman.”
Fury crosses his features for a moment, but then he calms down. “Knowing what has happened to you last week, he has a point. You will be more likely to be in danger if you are in the public sphere as princess.”
“Hey,” I say sharply. “Even if I never met you, I would never accept Liam. Do you think I’d fall for a guy who wasn’t even friendly to me in the beginning? And even if I end up with him, it’s unlikely that I would be safe. I don’t know what they’re planning, but I’m sure it’s just as risky joining the Union. But I agree with his views of the people—they shouldn't be the only ones shouldering the burden of this country, while the aristocracy sit back and do nothing and enjoy privileges. We need more equality in Athelia.”
“I cannot fault your opinion,” Edward says. “But it has been this way for centuries, and the people never questioned it. Were it not for the failure with the crops, I do not think the people would have been so angry.”
“We’ve got to come up with something,” I say emphatically. “I refused Liam’s offer, so we need to watch out what they might do in the future.” On an impulse, I throw my arms around him. “Promise me you’ll be careful, okay? I don’t want to live without you.”
“What about your work with the children?”
He has a point. “Okay, then. I’ll find someone else. Someone who isn’t so bossy, demanding and possessive, and doesn’t have a poker face on most of the time.”
This makes a difference. His eyes narrow and he tightens his arms around me a possessive hold. “Don’t you dare.”
I smile and snuggle in his embrace, but the uncertainty and fear remain hanging in the air. We don’t know what might happen the future. This is the biggest crisis I've experienced since I came to Athelia. The social issues we have been trying to resolve are nothing compared to this widespread unrest that has taken root in the people.
43
Kat
The headlines every day get worse. There are numerous articles written about the lords' outrageous reaction to tax budget. They complain that they would be plunged into poverty if they were taxed. The Union must be gloating—these lords have showed that they are truly the indolent, ignorant race that know nothing about real life.
“Lord Westin said ‘if this bill is passed, the loss of a thousand pounds shall leave me no choice but to discharge the servants in my employment,’” I read aloud. “‘Think about it: a thousand people will be forced into employment. Dire consequences indeed.’”
“The fool,” Edward mutters. “This article exposed him as a miserly employer who cannot pay more than one pound for a servant.”
A loaf of bread costs a pound. The least that a family can get by is two loaves a day. Honestly speaking, even if Lord Westin didn’t make the complaint, I bet many of his servants would have left his employment voluntarily.
“The Earl of Glastonbury says ‘I shall have to close down my tennis courts.’”
“I heard he has several, in fact,” Edward rubs his hand over his forehead. “This would afford him to play any time of the day without the glare of the sun.”
“Oh my God.” I could imagine Liam reading these papers to the people. I then notice another quote by Lillie’s husband, the Marquess of Sunderland. “‘I will have to sell my horses and instead have donkeys pull my carriage in the future. Imagine how ridiculous that would look.’”
Despite the childishness of his complaint, I have to stifle a smile. Sunderland’s carriages are magnificent vehicles of gold-and-ivory trappings and gleaming exteriors—the Athelian equivalent of a Lexus or Porsche. It definitely would be hilarious if he had donkeys pulling the carriage—if they can move the carriage at all. I lay down the paper and let out a sigh. No wonder Edward was so concerned when the tax bill was rejected. He anticipated that the aristocrats would make such ridiculous complaints, and further antagonize the people.
Edward gathers the papers in his arms. “I must be going to Parliament. I shall show them these articles and attempt to knock sense into those MPs. Yes, don’t look surprised, Kat…half of them don’t bother reading the papers, unless it concerns speculations of the annual horse race.”