This summary section includes Chapter 33: “King Fred Is Worried,” Chapter 34: “Three More Feet,” Chapter 35: “Lord Spittleworth’s Proposal,” Chapter 36: “Cornucopia Hungry,” Chapter 37: “Daisy and the Moon,” Chapter 38: “Lord Spittleworth Comes to Call,” Chapter 39: “Bert and the Ickabog Defense Brigade,” Chapter 40: “Bert Finds a Clue,” and Chapter 41: “Mrs. Beamish’s Plan.”

The day after the attack in Baronstown, the king questions the two lords. He says the people don’t seem to like him as much as they once did. Lady Eslanda has told him that the high taxes are ruining his subjects and that no troops are stationed up north at all. Spittleworth discredits Eslanda’s information and proposes tripling the tax to provide more soldiers in the Marshlands. The king, not knowing what’s really going on in other parts of his realm, agrees.

Later that day, Spittleworth’s spy reports that people are suspicious of an Ickabog that only hops on one leg. His lordship immediately orders Dovetail to make two pairs of wooden feet. He also sends Roach north to the Marshlands to dispel rumors that nobody is stationed there. Then, he orders his henchmen to kidnap Lady Eslanda and bring her to his estate.