A Seditious Affair (Society of Gentlemen, #2)

by K.J. Charles

“That’s not what the people wanted.” “What people want is freedom to live their lives, and good rulers to make that possible in an orderly state. Your cries for unbridled liberty are cries for chaos. What sort of society arises from murder and upheaval?” “I don’t call for murder,” Silas said. “What I want is to see people rule themselves, not be ruled, and for that they need teaching, and they need a voice. And if men, and women too, don’t want to rule themselves, well, let them say that. Let them who want chains stay in them, but they should have the choice. And you know why your lot won’t give us that choice, why you’d rather take away all those ancient British liberties you’re so strong on than listen to the people?” He jabbed a finger at Dominic’s shoulder. “Because you know damn well you’d find that even the men who want masters want different masters. Better ones. Ones that don’t just leave people to starve—” “One minute you want liberty; the next you demand that the government take charge of the bread on every man’s plate.”