The Aristocrat's Lady (Love Inspired Historical) by Mary Moore Page A

the long run.”
    He must have felt the impatience of the crowd that even she could discern. He did not take a breath as he continued. “Gentlemen, you will need to read my proposal fully. When you read it, I believe you will conclude that my range of figures for the stipend amounts are well worth the effort these men gave us. All I ask is that we recognize that those men risked their lives for us all. Some of them have been gone for years at a time. I do not see that one year of monetary help from us would be too great a drain on our resources.”
    Nicole jumped as a voice very near to her in the upper gallery shouted down to Lord Devlin, “I can’t wait to hear your third part, Guv’nor. Do we give them all silver plates to eat on, too?” A riotous guffaw startedin the gallery as merchants and businessmen slapped each other on the back in agreement.
    The gavel pounded several times along with a shout of the stentorian voice behind the bench: “Order, I want order, now!” As the crowd quieted, the voice continued, “We will have no more of these interruptions from the gallery, or it will be cleared immediately. Is that understood?”
    Toby nudged Nicole. “It may be time to go, Lady Nick. I think ’is lordship ’as seen you and ’e looks worried.”
    “Toby, he is worried because he cannot make this roomful of selfish fops understand his plan.” She didn’t give Toby time to start in again as she listened to the raised voices below.
    “Lord Devlin, are you going to continue?” the harsh speaker asked.
    “Yes, your grace, I apologize. The third part of my plan will be the hardest and most costly for England, yet I believe the soldiers have paid no less a price.” He paused for emphasis. “The third phase consists of two groups. First are men who will come home, but will not be whole in body. They will have lost limbs, or sight, or have been too seriously injured to work. The second are families of men who were lost in the war. Without the heads of their households, many have been thrown out into the streets, or worse, into debtor’s prison. In my opinion, these groups deserve pensions for life .”
    The uproar was incredible. It reverberated off the oak walls and seemed to echo back upon him. “For life?” one voice called over the tremendous noise. “Youare mad!” cried another. A third yelled, “How are we supposed to pay for the problems we have in America if we are funding soldiers who are no longer fighting?”
    Suddenly one man stood up and the others quieted for him. “Lord Devlin, what you propose is outrageous. Why, on some of my estates, several poachers have already been caught because you give them the excuse of ‘not being able to find work.’” The “hear, hears” chimed in around the room. “What have you to say to that?”
    Nicole was so proud of him. He kept trying to convince a room full of opposition, while at the same time trying to still the crowd into reason. “I agree with Lord Faversham. Poaching has begun, and as far as I am concerned, a criminal is a criminal whether veteran or not. However, my hope is that this plan will keep the soldiers who cannot work from turning to a life of crime.”
    He seemed to recognize that they were losing their patience. He finished his speech very quietly. They had to lower their voices to hear him. “Gentlemen, I appreciate the time you have given me today and ask that you consider my words as you read my proposal. I spent some time with our soldiers on the continent and have personally seen the hardships they bear. I will not tax your patience with those details now, but I would ask that we not make them face conditions just as hard when they return to the home they fought for.” He turned and faced the bench. “I thank you for your time, and I bow before your grace and this House.”
    Conversation broke out everywhere, and Toby demanded they leave. Nicole was compliant; she hadheard enough. Lord Devlin was not like the other men