Chapter 241 - 238: House Of Lords II (1/2)
There were 5 main purposes for the meetings in the house of lords.
First and foremost were for approving new bills, such as public policy recommended by the ministries.
Second, for approving the recommended appropriation of national budget.
Third, for when there's trial against a member of the peerage.
Fourth, for in-depth consideration of public policy by the ministries.
Last, to crosscheck the activities of the ministries and the landed peers.
With all these identified, sessions have a fixed schedule. Every year, it would start in Mid- June and then end in October. It would be held once or twice a week. Then, on need basis, there could also be some intersessions in between.
Given the duties of the landed peers and the travel time to the capital, frequently, the landed peers, especially those from far areas, were allowed to send representatives to attend the meetings when no voting was required. That was except for, the first meeting of the year in summer, and unless, of course, if the King demands their presence.
--
Monday morning of June 18th was the first session of the house of lords that year. Geoffrey could see from the window of his chambers that the palace grounds were gradually being filled by its members.
They were all wearing robes, all of which were worn on top of their clothes, open on the shoulder of the right-hand side while the left side was tied with a ribbon to free the left arm. It was closed at the front and the length reaches the ground. They were of similar make but of different colors.
The ministers were all wearing black robes made of wool with golden accents and the emblem of the ministry they're heading embroidered on the left shoulder area.
All the landed peers were wearing scarlet robes with a collar of white miniver fur. On the right-hand side of the robe, miniver bars edged with gold oak-leaf lace, indicate the rank of the wearer. 4 for a duke, 3 ½ for a marquess, 3 for an earl, 2 ½ for a viscount, and 2 for a baron.
The vice ministers that were part of the peerage were wearing their red robes with miniver bars according to their rank while having the emblem of their ministry embroidered on the left shoulder area.
The vice ministers that were not part of the peerage were wearing navy-colored robes also with the emblem of their ministry embroidered on the left shoulder area.
”Your highness, the 2nd prince will indeed be attending today's meeting.” His aid informed him.
Geoffrey nodded his head. His half-brother, Frederick, have just returned from Alighieri and have turned 18 this year. Yesterday at dinner, his mother has bragged of his achievements, comparing him to Geoffrey who funnily sang in some music album like an entertainer, causing the ire of the queen, who was his mother. Like usual, he just let their words enter one ear and out of the other.
However, Frederick had the gall to mention Serena's name. He talked about how he could not even teach his fiancée some decorum. That she was singing like some entertainer and even worse, she's doing all those with a man beside her.
Geoffrey's patience has been tested. He knew that his brother was goading him. They were trying to find faults with him and since they could find none, they were constantly trying to lure him in taking a misstep.
Good thing that the King has arrived to join them, and the one-sided conversation ended.
”Shall I help you don your robe?” asked the aide.
”Alright.” He replied.
--