Page 13 of Impossible
“So I gathered. That seems appropriate since she’s known him his entire life.” Ada couldn’t find fault with people who were loyal, not when her own family had turned their backs on her. It made her wonder if the viscount realized the support and love he had.
“To satisfy your curiosity about the retainers—in the kitchen, there is just Mrs. Debley and Molly Tallent, the girl who comes in the afternoons. There is also Og in the stable, and my son is the sole footman.”
“Og mentioned there’s a boy who comes to help there too.”
“That’s Molly’s brother, Archie. They live fairly close. Mrs. Tallent is a widow—her husband died last year, but she’s meeting the obligations of the lease.”
“His lordship is allowing her to stay?” Or was he even aware that Mr. Tallent had died?
“You must think he’s horrible—and he can be—but underneath his bluster, there’s a kind and caring gentleman. At least there was once,” she added softly. “He wouldn’t turn anyone out.”
Perhaps not, but he also wouldn’t invite anyone in, as evidenced by his refusal to give his half sister a job when she’d come asking. Granted, Prudence hadn’t told him they were related, but it shouldn’t have mattered. She was more than qualified to do any number of things, and it was clear he needed help and had for some time.
But Ada wouldn’t get into any of that with Mrs. Bundle. If she wanted to find some grace in her employer, Ada wouldn’t try to persuade her otherwise. Even if the truth was that he had none.
“I’m glad to hear of your confidence in his lordship,” Ada said. “He is not being very helpful to me in my endeavors. I would like to tour the estate, but he refuses to take me. He suggested Og would do so, but Og has just informed me that he doesn’t have time. I suppose I can just walk about and talk with people.”
Mrs. Bundle’s brow furrowed. “You can’t walk the estate every day. That would take you far longer than the fortnight you are here.”
“Well, I don’t ride, and I can’t drive either, so I’m afraid I don’t have any other options.”
Mrs. Bundle nodded. “Archie Tallent could drive you. I’ll speak with him and make sure Og doesn’t get in the way. When would you like to go?”
Ada felt a surge of excitement and gratitude. “Tomorrow would be excellent. Thank you, Mrs. Bundle.”
“I believe we want the same thing, Miss Treadway,” the housekeeper said with a smile. “His lordship just needs a push to get back to where he needs to be.”
“And you need help,” Ada said pointedly. “I mean to make sure you get it.”
“I suspect if anyone can do that, it’s you.” She winked at Ada. “I’ll inform you when tomorrow’s arrangements are complete.”
“Thank you, truly.” Ada practically skipped off to the library.
She stopped short just over the threshold when she saw the viscount standing next to her worktable, a book in his hand. “How unexpected to find you here,” she said loudly so he wouldn’t be surprised by her arrival.
He pivoted toward her, a scowl etched into his features along with the scars. She realized the disfigurement made him look permanently fierce. Did that intensify his expressions so that he appeared more irritable or angry than he actually was?
People likely reacted poorly upon seeing him. Surely that contributed to his overall surliness. She imagined that would be frustrating or wearisome. Or even depressing.
“I see you’ve been reading this drivel instead of working on my ledgers,” he said sternly. “If you can’t do what you were sent here to do, I’ll send you back to London.”
Ada opened her mouth to deliver a well-deserved setdown, but she realized he was provoking her and still hoping there was a way to get rid of her.
She wasn’t going anywhere.
Miss Treadway set one of the estate ledgers on the table. “As you can see, I was just working on your ledgers.” She inclined her head toward the book in his grasp. “Do you expect me to work during every moment I’m awake? I read that book last night to relax. I happen to enjoy love stories. What doyoudo to relax?” She stared at him expectantly and crossed her arms over her chest.
She wore a simple day gown of dark blue that covered her up to her neck. But the way she held her arms drew his gaze to her breasts, which were larger than he might have expected of a woman of her diminutive size.
He jerked his attention to her face. “This isn’t about me. This is about you squandering your time.”
She rolled her eyes and unfolded her arms, dropping them to her sides, where her hands curled into fists. Good, he’d irritated her.
“I’m not squandering anything. I wake early, and I work after dinner. You will not berate me for relaxing before bed, nor will you criticize what I read. Romance is not drivel. Everyone should be so fortunate as to experience love and find a happy relationship. Why denigrate that?”
“Everyone should be so fortunate as tokeepa relationship like that.” He swore under his breath, hating himself for saying that out loud. He tossed the novel onto the table. “Just make sure you’re doing what you came here to do.”
She took a deep breath, and her hands flexed at her sides. “If you read my updates—I left another in your study last night—you would know that I am working hard. I’d be happy to apprise you of my progress.”
