Page 56 of A Gentleman's Reckoning
At the end of it, Yardley frowned. “I am afraid it is not enough to bring the earl down. It is a lot of circumstantial evidence, but there is nothing solid. You may have to go up north and visit the textile mill yourself to see if you can find any evidence there.”
The momentary hope that Yardley would give him the magic solution was dashed. A silence fell that was broken only by some teasing laughter coming from one corner of the room. He glanced over, unsurprised to see Sebastian Drake at the heart of it.
“Get the evidence,” Lord Blackstone said. “And I will bring it to the duke’s attention. I was able to preserve his favorite spaniel, who now sits happily in his permanent place in the duke’s library. His Grace will receive me.”
“Thank you,” John said. It was the best he could do.
That night,John wrestled with the question of whether he should bother going to the orphanage the next day or not. The uncertainty of whether Geny had truly learned of his identity, and the fact that he still had work to do there weighed on the side of going. However the apprehension of having her receive him with contempt made it difficult for him to set forth with any confidence.
In the end, it was the thought of Timothy and Gabriel waiting for him that made him go. He could not disappear from their lives without explanation. Even if he was chased out of the asylum, they should know that he had attempted to continue in his role as steward and had not forgotten about them.
He went early and was therefore unsurprised that the carriage bearing the earl’s crest was not there. This was a small respite he had depended upon, as it would give him some time to settle into his office and prepare himself for when she did arrive, if indeed she had planned to come today. Perhaps she would avoid him entirely and send word that he should pack his things, never to return.
There was also the risk that Lord Goodwin himself would arrive and throw him out on his ear. The risk had always been there, and he could not blame Lady Geny if—shocked by what she had learned about his identity—she arrived at the orphanage in the company of the earl so he mightthrow John out.
Although she is perfectly capable of doing the task herself, he thought glumly.
To his surprise Gabriel was already in his office, diligently at work at the small table.
“I hope you do not mind that I came in before you were here, sir. It takes me longer to work on the sums than when I was using my other hand.”
John praised him for his diligence, offering an encouraging smile despite how depressed he felt. He looked around the office, conscious that he might be leaving it soon, and removed his hat as Gabriel turned in his chair.
“John Groat delivered the courier. It’s on your desk.”
“Thank you.” John sat and pulled the small pile of letters toward him. In addition to the usual collection of itemized bills, there was a thick letter with many pages, sealed and addressed to the financial steward of the foundling asylum. Without giving another thought, John split the seal and spread open the pages.
Redhill Spinnings & Works
Rochdale Canal
Ancoats, Manchester
Dear Mr. Peyton, the letter began.
John knew he should stop reading at this point since the letter was clearly not addressed to him, but his curiosity got the better of him. This was most likely regarding the earl’s mill. Besides, the front of the letter had not listed Mr. Peyton by name, so he had not been wrong in breaking the seal.
We have not received the funds to continue the work on the textile mill and the workers’ housing as has been promised many times over in the last months, and I am at a loss for how to understand this. Lord Goodwin came himself and approved the project afterhaving bought the land. We started on those initial proceeds and have met every promised milestone on our side. In the last four months, the money has slowed to a halt until there is not even enough to pay the workers. What am I to do? I have already laid from my own purse a sum to pay the laborers so their families can eat.
Besides that, there are other textile workers who have lingered in the area in the hopes that the mill would be functioning in little time. I can hardly hold my head up in front of them. I demand that you send the money that is owed to me at once. I have attached the invoices with this letter in case you should have misplaced them. And I beg that you will apprise me of whether this project is to go ahead as agreed upon or not. I have my own reputation and livelihood to think of.
Richard Gover
John read the letter over and over again, noting the address and gaining in conviction that this was the proof he needed. He might even be able to hand this to Blackstone without needing to visit the mill in question.
He dropped the papers on his desk and went over to the closet that held the stack of ledgers, flipping through them until he found the one that showed the disbursement entries listed as redirected funds. As irregular as it was to redirect donations from one project to another, if it had truly been what the earl had done, then where had the money gone?
He tucked the papers and book into a bag and set it beside his hat. He would have it ready in case there was a need to leave in a hurry.
With his mind so wholly consumed by the earl’s exposure and having achieved the necessary proof at last, it was difficult to spend the morning teaching Gabriel. He hadn’t even the heart to go looking for Timothy to see where he had gotten off to. At last, he heard the sounds of the carriage rolling into the courtyard, and he looked out. It was the earl’s.
His heart began to race as he waited to see who would alight. Would it be Lady Geny? Had Lord Goodwin accompanied her?
In the end, only Lady Geny and her maid stepped out of it before the groom brought the equipage into the carriage house. She looked up at the window and he thought she saw him, but she gave no sign of recognition, nor did she smile. Instead, her face was solemn as she walked toward the entrance.
His heart sank. He wondered if he had done well to persist in his efforts to bring the earl down. It was by far worse to lose her good opinion. If being shunned by society pricked, then losing Geny cut daggers. If he could give up his place in society forever and thereby gain her back, it would take no time to make his decision. But he had already gone too far. It was too late to pull back.
He heard her coming up the stairs; heard her murmur a greeting to someone in the office, presumably Mrs. Hastings. He waited a little longer, but she did not appear at the doorway.
