Page 14 of His Abandoned Duchess

And he was not fond of that in the slightest.

Chapter Six

Frederick, Marquess of Emerton and Richard’s oldest friend, along with Mr. Baldwin Stanley, requested specifically for today, had arrived that following day just after breakfast. Richard was pleased to see them both, but he had yet to inform Amelia as to the nature of Baldwin’s visit.

Of course, this had been a purposeful choice.

It had already been made clear that his wife was an obstinate thing, and if he was going to get her to play along, it appeared that Richard needed to be imaginative with his methods. Approaching her in the drawing room where Amelia had gone for personal reflection, the Duke invited his wife to join the three men in his study.

“Of course, Your Grace.”

She bowed, her brow furrowed so profoundly that Richard could tell for certain that she suspected something of him, even ifbehind her eyes, Richard could see a deep well of burning flame—one that threatened to consume him should he dwell in it overly long.

Amelia was, of course, right to assume that he possessed ulterior motives. Still, he was hard-pressed to shift focus now that Baldwin had agreed to the meeting and was already present at Heartwick.

It was no easy thing, however. Amelia’s eyes tracked Richard with interest and suspicion. Furthermore, he could just make out the slight tremble of her fingertips, her lips, as he’d approached her, and that sharp intake of breath she’d offered filled his mind with improper thoughts.

“Thank you, Baldwin, for coming on such short notice. The entire estate appreciates your arrival.” Richard turned to Amelia. “I trust that you will be sure to make our guest feel right at home while you converse. I have business to discuss with Frederick. I will return.”

Turning to exit the room, Richard heard the rush of footsteps behind him as Amelia hurried to his side before he could depart.

“Your Grace,” she held him back with a gentle yet firm hand on his arm, “you have provided Amelia with little that I might prepare for. Please, won’t you inform Amelia of the nature of Baldwin’s visit and his personage?”

Slipping his arm free, Richard regarded Amelia with an impassive expression, seeking to let nothing of his countenance change despite the internal storm brewing.

“Baldwin is here to apply for the position of steward of the estate. As you have taken care to hire each of the house’s staff members, I had assumed you would wish to do the same with filling this particular role amongst our servants.”

Amelia blanched, her lips gently parting before she could snap her teeth shut once more. Richard fought against the inclination to smirk. He could be well satisfied knowing simply that his plan to disrupt the course of Amelia’s usual activities had been successful.

And the look of contempt in her eyes that blazed with a glowing heat nearly intense enough to feel on his skin was undoubtedly an enjoyable addition to this morning’s activities.

“You cannot simply drop this announcement into my lap, Richard. You’ve no knowledge of what meetings I was required for today. What’s more, I know nothing of the need to hire a new steward. Mr. Dannish will be mortified, particularly in the case of his firing for no apparent cause when he is both quite willing and able to work.”

At that, Richard could not contain the grin. “This is merely the first interview, Amelia. I would be quite astonished if you were able to locate a suitable replacement so expeditiously. And as for Mr. Dannish, he is getting on in years. It would be wise of him to consider retirement, for which we could pay a severance.”

With that, the Duke extricated himself from the duel with Amelia. He joined Frederick out in the hall, where they would walk just next door to the drawing room to continue their conversation while his wife attended to the hearing of Baldwin’s references. As the door to the study shut, Richard her the pained grumble released by Amelia and forced himself not to enjoy that over much.

“Good friend,” Frederick started as he opened the door to the drawing room for Richard, “I must ask. Your wife looked quite perplexed by the meeting with Baldwin. Had you truly not informed her of the event?”

He closed them in together, proceeding to the settee so that the Duke might at the least enjoy a moment off his feet while his wife stewed in the other room. As Frederick joined him, taking the seat across from him, Richard let out a sigh, holding his hand to his chest before beginning.

“This is quite the conversation that I had asked you here to have. I am unhappy with the state of the ledgers that my wife has been conducting for some five years now, and I wish to make a number of necessary changes to how Heartwick is run henceforth.”

Frederick regarded him, dropping his stare to consider the Duke’s words as a maid brought in a repast for the afternoon along with a bit of coffee with cream and sugar. When they were alone once more, his friend took up his cup as he offered his opinion of the matter.

“I understand your concern for protecting your estate’s wellbeing, Richard. Though, you might consider including your wife in the intricacies of what you wish her to correct, for she may not comprehend and therefore execute those changes upon your departure.”

Richard hummed, sipping at his coffee in a vain attempt to rid his blood of the steaming vitriol coursing through it.

“She is most inflexible when it comes to my commands, Frederick. And it is more than a passing concern that grips me. The balance of our debts and credit is of the utmost importance. Furthermore, I find too many frivolous purchases and funds forsaken to the cause of other houses.”

Nodding, Frederick returned his coffee to the small table at his left, clearing his throat as Richard decidedly ignored the food that sat before them.

“Has she not kept the receipts in order? Can you find due cause as to require more oversight? If so, it may, in fact, be wise to avoid returning to Blackford so that you might attend to the house yourself. Though, any proper wife should be more than equipped to do so herself.”

Aggravation gripped Richard, and he had to force down the latest gulp of his coffee.

“The numbers are correct, Freddie, but the choices…She is not of a prudent mind nor one to consider finances first and foremost among the estate’s concerns. Her charity is far too generous and,left unchecked, could land all of Blackford’s holdings under the hatches.”

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