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“I hope it was all right, but I brought two of my mates with me.”
The man nodded his approval. “Are they free thinkers, as well?”
“They are,” Follett confirmed.
“Then they are more than welcome.”
Follett turned towards them and said, “Allow me to introduce you to Mr. Guy Stewart.”
“I just go by Stewart,” the man revealed.
Oliver gave him a polite smile. “I am Radcliff.”
“And I am Haskett.”
Gesturing towards an empty table, Stewart remarked, “You are more than welcome to sit back and drink some ale until everyone arrives. Although, I should warn you that it is rather watered down.”
“That sounds terrible,” Oliver said.
Stewart laughed. “It still gets the job done.”
“That is all I care about,” Follett joked before moving towards the table.
After they were situated around the table, Oliver’s eyes roamed the room and noted the two windows along one wall. If he did need to make a hasty retreat, he had found his way to depart.
A serving wench entered the room with three tankards of ale in her hand and placed the drinks in front of them. Oliver reached into his waistcoat, removed a few coins, and extended them towards her.
“Thank you, Mister,” the serving wench said.
A few more men trailed in before Stewart stood up in front of the room, causing the room to grow silent. “Before I begin, I just want to remind everyone that what we will be speaking of today could be considered treasonous to some.” His eyes grew solemn. “You are welcome to leave if you are uncomfortable with free thinking.”
No one moved to leave, so Stewart continued. “Our mad King George and his misfit son, the Prince Regent, are making a mockery of all of us. They tax us relentlessly, and they use those funds to finance their lavish lifestyles. They live in castles while we live in squalor.”
A man raised his tankard. “Hear, hear.”
“But what can we do about it?” Stewart asked. “Do we just sit back and allow this misfortune to befall us?”
Another man spoke up. “What can we do about it?”
“I propose we march to the palace and have a protest!” Stewart exclaimed. “We can express our displeasure, and the Prince Regent can’t pretend he doesn’t see us. After all, we will be protesting just outside of his windows.”
Follett frowned as he said in a hushed tone, “This is not what I had in mind when I agreed to attend this meeting.”
“What did you expect?” Oliver asked.
“I thought we would just sit around and debate about Whig politics,” Follett admitted.
Stewart walked closer to their table and asked, “Is there a problem?”
Follett nodded. “I’m afraid I am not interested in staging a protest,” he admitted. “It is unlawful.”
“Unlawful?” Stewart asked in disbelief. “And what of the Prince Regent’s spending habits? Is that not also unlawful?”
“I contend it is not,” Follett said. “He is our reigning sovereign.”
“But he shouldn’t be,” Stewart declared. “He is unfit to be a ruler.”
Haskett interjected, “You shouldn’t say such terrible things about the Prince Regent.”
