Page 14 of The Duke of Lies
“Actually, I’d like to see them now, if you please.” Rufus’s tone was pleasant but firm. The old Rufus would’ve yelled,“Give me the goddamn ledger!”
“Certainly.” Cuddy hesitated a moment, his gaze locked with Rufus’s, before he opened a drawer in the desk. He removed a leather-bound book and slid it across the wood to Rufus. “That is this year and last. I can have the rest sent up to the house. They’re in my storage room.” His head turned slightly, and his gaze shot to the right. The small storage room was behind the office.
“Thank you,” Rufus said. He opened the ledger and scanned a few pages before snapping it closed with a mild smile. “I look forward to reading this in depth. I must ask why you haven’t shared these with Her Grace.”
Cuddy’s eyes widened briefly as he darted a look toward Verity. A flash of malice darkened the already dark brown irises before he returned his focus to Rufus. “She hasn’t asked for them.”
Rufus didn’t so much as look at her before saying. “She’s requested to speak with you and to be more involved in the management of the estate. As the duchess, that is her right. I would argue it’s her duty, particularly in my absence. I don’t like that you ignored her requests. For that reason, I’ve decided to terminate your employment, effective immediately.”
Cuddy’s eyes now widened so much that Verity feared they might fall from his head. He was a large, beefy man, but his features had always seemed small to her—from heavy-lidded eyes to a thin-lipped mouth to a chin that was practically nonexistent. “Your Grace, please, allow me to rectify this mistake.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be acceptable, Cuddy. We’ve already found a replacement and would like to have him begin as soon as possible.”
“But you only arrived yesterday,” he sputtered.
Verity watched the malevolent smile that curled Rufus’s mouth. “I work very efficiently. Some may even say I’m ruthless.”
A chill dashed up Verity’s spine. That was the Rufus she knew. And yet…not. He’d never been so elegant in his abuse. Not that what he was currently doing could be called abuse. No, what he was doing was called justice and fitting, and she couldn’t have been happier.
And that caused her to question everything.
How could she find joy in this man? Because he’d done what she’d asked by terminating Cuddy? It wasn’t just that he’d dismissed the man. He’d done so by clearly stating the reason—that his treatment of her wasn’t to be borne. Furthermore, he wouldn’t give the man a chance to rectify his ways.
Verity stared at her husband and tried to dredge up her feelings of anger and resentment. But for now, she could only find gratitude and maybe a glimmer of admiration.
Irritation rose in her throat. No, she wouldn’t admire him.
Cuddy laid his hands flat on the desk, and Verity could see a slight tremor in his fingers. “But, Your Grace, I’ve nowhere to go.”
“You may stay for a few days, and I’ll give you three months’ wages and a recommendation—provided I find the accounts in order. I suggest you begin searching for a new position. I presume you’ll land on your feet. Men like you usually do.” He smiled that bland, slightly sinister smile again before turning his head to Verity. “Shall we go?”
She stared at him in continued bemusement. “Yes.” Rising, she looked at Cuddy, who took a moment to stand. The muscles in his jaw were tense, and lines fanned from his mouth.
The steward inclined his head toward Rufus. “Thank you for yourgenerosity, Your Grace.” He said the word generosity as if he’d had a pistol pointed at his head threatening him to employ the word or die.
Rufus scooped the book up from the desk. “One of our vehicles will take you wherever you need to go, should you require it. Do send word as to when you plan to leave. Thank you for your service, Cuddy.” He turned to Verity and held out his hand toward the door.
She left without saying anything to the steward and preceded Rufus into the bright gray sunlight. Well, not entirely gray, she realized as she squinted up at the sky. A few of the clouds were breaking.
Rufus fell into step beside her, and they walked back across the lower courtyard, reaching the stairs before she dared to speak. She glanced back at the tower and saw Cuddy standing in the doorway, staring at them. “He’s watching us,” she said.
“I’m not surprised. Plotting murder, perhaps,” he said softly.
She snapped her gaze to his profile. “You don’t really think that?”
“No, no. He’s far too cowardly for that.”
“How do you know?” Verity recalled what he’d said in the office, that men like Cuddy usually landed on their feet. “You seem to know a great deal about him, yet he’d scarcely started here before you disappeared.”
“I don’t really, but I can guess. I didn’t care for his hesitation with the account book, and given what you told me of his treatment of you, I have reason to question his authenticity.”
They walked through the upper gate, out of Cuddy’s line of sight, and Verity relaxed a bit. “You’re sure he won’t really do something awful?”
“Not entirely, but I plan to keep an eye on him. That’s why I offered one of our vehicles to take him to his destination.” He paused in the upper courtyard and turned toward her. “We have enough vehicles to do that, don’t we? I suppose I should’ve verified that first.”
Verity blinked at the shadow of vulnerability in his gaze. “Yes, we have several vehicles—a coach, a brougham, a cart, and a chaise. Our stock of horses, on the other hand, will probably not impress you. I haven’t kept up on the stables.” She’d thought of this last night as she’d fought to find sleep, mentally cataloguing all the things he could find fault with—and for which he might blame her and exact a punishment.
“I wouldn’t expect you to. Why would that be necessary anyway? Do you have sufficient horseflesh for the vehicles? Beau told me all about his pony—and your mare. It sounds as if you’ve managed things fine.”
