"Why do we want a damned mill?" Lord Mellester's voice boomed across the empty hall.

"According to Lord Ridgley's steward, a gristmill might be a more efficient way to process and grind corn or wheat. It was an idea he had. We could charge a nominal fee, and even other manors could bring their crops to us. It would generate more taxes and encourage growth in the village," patiently explained Reeve Merick.

"And where is the money for building it going to come from? Do ...