“Absolutely,” Theodore said. “And I would ask the House and Council to bear in mind that not onlycouldthe late duke name his daughter his legal heir, but hehas. There is a signed document in which he wills not only half his funds and the entirety of his land to his daughter, but his office as well.”
“That’s preposterous,” Lord Whitecliff spluttered. “He would have never done that.”
“But he did. And why wouldn’t he?” Poppy asked. “Is it so hard to believe my father thought me suitable? He publicly maintained from the very first day of my adoption that I have every right and opportunity as a trueborn daughter of his.”
She made direct eye contact with Lord Whitecliff, then with each of the other lords. Their lowered eyes were an answer in themselves. Finally, Whitecliff said, “You have no training.”
She raised one eyebrow. “Whattrainingare you referring to, my lord? I can read, let me assure you, and I am quite fast at sums.”
“There’s more to it than that,” he said. “A viceroy must be educated.”
Ice formed in Poppy’s stomach, hard and cold. “Are you implying that I am without an education? In case you’ve not noticed, I spent the last seven years gettingeducated, at one of the most prestigious institutions for ladies in Welkland, no less.”
“What about leadership?” Lord Alderfort asked. “You may have all the hard skills required, but do you have the prerequisite soft skills?”
“I’m sure my father, who inherited this role at only twenty himself, had minimal leadership experience as well. Just as he relied on his council, I trust that mine will work with me on matters of importance.” She managed a smile. So far, this meeting was going as she’d expected: There was pushback, but nothing she was incapable of rebutting. Every protest so far had been something that she and Theodore had predicted and prepared for.
“We should still explore our other options,” Lord Alderfort said. “My son is the eldest of the heirs, and the most experienced thus far. He would make the best viceroy.”
Poppy tensed. “There?—”
“Your son hasn’t worked a day in his life,” Whitecliff said, talking over her. “Andrew has completed not one, but two degrees. He has the necessary intellect and work ethic.”
“A scholar does not a leader make.” Colwick shook his head. “My boy, Edward, is still young and energetic. His Grace inherited early, and we saw how successful he was.”
“There are no other options,” Poppy shouted, capturing their attention again. She rose to her feet, curling her fingers into fists. “I am Clarence Sutherland’s legal heir. He namedmein his will, and so I will be vicereine.”
“Miss Sutherland, be reasonable,” Whitecliff said. “You are a woman, and unlike any viceroy this entire country has seen before. Who will follow you?”
Poppy turned to look at the other representatives, searching out the faces of the men from the Second Families whom she had met with. “I daresay there are several here who would follow me,” she said. “Others who, like me, have been robbed of opportunities in order to placate those higher up. Others who were denied the chance to become anything more than their birth, despite the Founder’s edict that all can become equal.
“But the people here are not the only people who matter. There are hundreds of thousands of people outside these walls who are not opposed to following me. Don’t pretend you haven’t seen them, the way they gather in the streets rallying for me. They want a Virian viceroy. Will you risk mutiny? Those are your workers, your servants, your farmers. No amount of formal education or leadership experience can make up for the loyalty of the people. You are in the minority, and you would do well to remember it. Will anyone follow Edward? James? Andrew?”
Poppy’s question hung in the air. Though her nerves had stretched to their breaking point, she forced herself to make eye contact with each patriarch as she said their heir’s name. Each of them looked uncomfortable, save for Lord Montrose, whom she had already dealt with. Lord Alderfort glared at Poppy, his open display of hatred clearly meant to be unsettling. Instead, it lifted a weight from her shoulders.He was angry because it was the truth.She had made a point that no one could rebut, and they knew it.
Lord Colwick rose to his feet. “Let us vote on the motion to confirm Poppy Sutherland as the successor to the office of the viceroy,” he said. “If she can secure the majority of votes among representatives, the Council will then vote among themselves. She will need the votes ofthreelords. Should she secure those, she will be vicereine, pending royal assent, of course.”
Poppy bit her cheek. She had gained Lord Montrose’s cooperation, which would likely be enough to sway at least one other lord. But could his vote influence two others?
“If the majority rejects Miss Sutherland, where do we go from there?” one of the representatives called.
Colwick paused. “Though unprecedented in Viryana’s history, the law says that it would fall to the lords to identify and interview the next set of eligible candidates.”
“So your own sons, then,” Theodore scoffed, loud enough for the rest of the room to hear.
Lord Colwick didn’t acknowledge the jibe. “When the clerk calls your name, rise and sayayeornay. If your response isaye, remain standing so that we can do the final tally.”
The House clerk rose, calling names off the list in front of him.
“Mr. James Alderfort?”
“Nay.”
Though Poppy had expected that, the word struck her like a stone anyway. It felt like a bad omen to start the voting on a negative note.
“Mr. Ian Bluefinch?”
“Nay.”
