Page 24 of Impossible
“Yes, you should, but I know you don’t like to part with money.” There was a frost to her tone.
“Because I don’t spend money on the estate?”
“That and…other things. I was inclined to believe you weren’t interested in helping people.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Are you referring to something specific?”
“Yes, but we needn’t discuss it. I’m glad to hear that you are going to pay for the doctor.” She blinked. “Are you going to pay for the doctor, or were you merely acknowledging the fact that you should?”
He’d done an excellent job of ensuring everyone believed the worst of him. He ought to feel satisfied, but instead felt queasy. “I’ll reimburse you.”
“Thank you. You should also know that Mrs. Kempton needs temporary help while she recovers. She can’t take care of a sick baby and two small children. Her husband is busy with the farm, of course. I want to hire someone from the village.”
“I’ll pay for that too,” he said. “But…can you take care of the hiring?”
“Certainly.”
Every day she showed him how she could run Stonehill better than he could. He could blame the fact that his father hadn’t really educated him on how to do it—why would he when his brother was meant to be the next viscount? Only, Max had spent the past two years doing everything possible to avoid learning anything. To avoid doing anything.
To avoidfeelinganything. Except anger and despair. He was quite accomplished at feeling those.
The people at Stonehill—his retainers and the tenants—depended on the viscount. He had a responsibility to them, albeit one he didn’t want. Dammit, he never should have inherited this. Why wasn’t there a bloody cousin he could turn this over to? Someone else ought to be the viscount. Someone worthy.
“I’ll go to the village tomorrow morning,” she said, setting her utensils down. “How far a walk is it?”
Timothy cleared their plates and went about setting the next course, which Max didn’t want.
“Three miles.” Max didn’t doubt she could easily do it, but her time was valuable. “I’ll have…Archie drive you.” He realized he didn’t even have a bloody groom or coachman to drive her. He could instruct Og to do it, but he now found he didn’t want to subject her to the ornery stable master.
He needed more than a steward. He needed people in the stables, in the house, in the overgrown gardens. He needed a damn butler. He didn’twantany of it.
She broke into his thoughts. “Thank you, I appreciate your help with this. I confess I’m surprised I didn’t have to convince you this was necessary.”
“I am too.” He exhaled. “It seems I must take a more active role, beginning with hiring a steward.” That way, Max could turn everything over to him. He’d make sure whoever he hired understood that Max didn’t want to be involved.
“Will you manage that?” she asked tentatively.
“I’d rather not.” He leaned back in his chair. “I don’t suppose I can expect you to take that on too. No, of course not. Perhaps Lucien will help me.”
“He’d be delighted to.” She couldn’t contain her smile, and he envied her that buoyant, uncontrollable emotion. He’d almost forgotten what that felt like.
As soon as he let it in, a searing pain would crush the sensation. He wasn’t able to feel joy anymore, and watching her was a grim reminder.
Max stood. “Please excuse me.”
“I’m glad you came to dinner,” she said. “I look forward to helping you get back to work with the estate. You’ll be happy to be involved, I promise. It will be wonderful—for everyone.”
He wouldn’t be happy, and it wouldn’t be wonderful, not for him. But it was necessary, and Max had always done the hard, seemingly impossible things.
Someone had to.
Ada was delighted to meet Archie Tallent the next morning. He was waiting for her with the cart when she walked into the stable yard. Though just fourteen, he was exceedingly tall. His face was still quite boyish, his cheeks full, and his smile easy. His dark hair curled against his forehead beneath his hat.
“Good morning, Archie,” she greeted him. “I’m so pleased to meet you. If you don’t mind, I’d like our first stop to be your house so that I can meet your mother. I’m doing my best to tour the estate while I’m here, and for the next week, I believe, you will be my driver.”
He nodded. “I’m at your command, Miss Treadway. At least that’s what my mother told me to be,” he added with a smile.
Ada laughed. “I think I’m going to like your mother.”
