Page 64 of Whiskers and Wiles

“Should we be worried?” Lord Lawrence asked.

“No,” Waldorf said cautiously. “I do not think there is any reason to worry at all.”

As it turned out, their chief reason to worry a great deal appeared at the far end of the room only moments later.

Lord Walsingham was dressed in his robes of state as he entered the chamber from the doors at the opposite end from the galleries. The part of the hall where he and the other ministers stood for formal announcements, such as the one that was about to take place, was on the same level as the public gallery, but a long dais ran against the wall, and a raised podium stood in the middle of that so that the First Minister could be seen and heard by all when he made pronouncements.

The entrance of the First Ministers and other ministers of the New Heptarchy was accompanied by a traditional trumpet anddrum voluntary that felt deeply medieval and overly formal to Kat’s mind. Napoleon cowered in his basket at the din, not liking the sound of it at all. Kat felt a bit like her beloved friend herself, tense and bristling as they waited to see whether any part of their mission had been a success, whether the Mercian Plan would be up for debate during that session of Joint Parliament, or whether it had all been for naught and unity for Britannia would have to wait another year at least.

“This is it,” Kat whispered, grasping Waldorf’s hand and holding it tightly as Lord Walsingham took his place at the podium, then waited for the musicians to stop.

Once the last note sounded on the trumpets, the chamber was so silent that it would have been possible for everyone to hear Napoleon yawn. Not that he was about to do that in any way. The moment was far too exciting.

“On this twenty-first day of October in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and sixteen, by the trust and authority invested in me by the monarchs and people of the seven kingdoms of the New Heptarchy, I officially declare the eight-hundred-and-fifty-seventh session of Joint Parliament open.”

There was a rushing sound in the chamber, like everyone assembled letting out one breath, then drawing in another as they awaited the all-important announcement of what matters would be discussed and debated in this session.

Kat glanced to her friends, glad that they were there with her and that they cared for her, come what may. She was happy for Muriel and Bernadette, who had found love and joy, despite the odds, and she hoped that Minerva would find love and happiness as well, in whatever way her odd friend defined that. She was glad to have Waldorf with her again at last and so grateful that he had a family who loved and supported him, even if there was a curse on their house. She was more relieved to be a part of their boisterous family now than she could say.

That moment of gratitude was fleeting but poignant. It returned to quivering expectation when Lord Walsingham began to speak again.

“The primary matters that will be discussed in this session will be the question of whether to grant the American colonies independence, the Mercian Plan for the unity of Britannia, improvements to the condition of the River Thames?—”

Kat heard nothing after Lord Walsingham announced that the Mercian Plan would, in fact, be one of the primary issues on the table that session. She was not the only one. Despite the fact that it was customary to restrain oneself from any outbursts about issues or policies to be discussed until the entire list was read, quite a few people, women and men, let out triumphant cries when the Mercian Plan was mentioned.

The rest of the announcements finished in a blur. As quickly as the important moment had begun, it ended with Lord Walsingham and the rest of the ministers exiting the chamber with as much pomp and circumstance as they’d entered.

“I cannot believe it,” Muriel gasped, grabbing Lord Cedric’s arm. “We’ve actually done it!”

“We have not done it all yet,” Bernadette cautioned her. “The Mercian Plan will be debated, but that does not mean it will be passed.”

“But this is the first step,” Minerva said, more excited than Kat had ever seen her. “This means that we have a chance not only of uniting Britannia, but of making certain women are granted the same rights as men throughout the kingdoms.” She paused for only a moment before saying, “I must return home to the Kingdom of Wales as quickly as possible so that I might rally support for Mercian unity with all who would vote on it there.”

“Return to the Kingdom of Wales at this time of year?” Kat asked, surprised that her friend would want to undertake sucha long journey when everyone who was anyone was in London, and when the weather began to turn frosty and unpredictable.”

“I must,” Minerva said with a nod. “Matters of unity are not so settled in my home kingdom as they are here.”

“How do you intend to get there?” Bernadette asked incredulously. “Everyone is traveling in the opposite direction these days.”

“Not everyone,” Lord Dunstan put in. “I am about to take Father back to Godwin Castle myself, since that is where he wishes to be. He does not care much for London and, I must confess, neither do I.”

“Could you take Lady Minerva part of the way to Wales?” Waldorf asked.

The chamber was starting to empty around them, now that the important announcements were over, which nudged their group to head for the doorway as well. Their conversation was interrupted as they made their way out through the vast, old building and into the street.

The crowds were already cheering there, which necessitated their entire group to edge their way around the building to the small park off to one side. Once there, they were able to resume the conversation.

“I would be more than happy to accompany Lady Minerva back to the Kingdom of Wales,” Lord Lawrence said, smiling brightly at Minerva. “I would consider it to be an honor to be of service to the friends of my family.”

“You wish to escort me all the way back to Wales?” Minerva asked, eyeing Lord Lawrence suspiciously.

“If you would allow me,” Lord Lawrence said, bowing graciously to her.

Minerva made a face when his head was bowed. Kat stifled a giggle, knowing full well what Minerva’s hesitance was all about. Lord Lawrence was entirely too sunny for her disposition.Chances were that she would be subjected to every sort of optimism and happy conversation when she was much more inclined to speak of the macabre and the dismal.

However, considering it was only the beginning of the London season, Minerva had little choice.

“I suppose I accept,” she said with a sigh. “But you must not inundate me with pithy sayings about how lovely and wonderful life is. We all know that life is but a short journey in a downward direction, and that none of us have any choice but to run screaming toward its bitter end.”

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