Page 54 of Impossible
“What of them?” Had she asked for this meeting to barrage him with questions he didn’t know the answers to?
“It is my understanding that once a new tenant arrives for our farm, I and my children will move to the steward’s house.”
“Oh, yes. Of course.”
“May I look at it?” she asked politely. “I should like to ascertain its condition and whether there are furnishings.”
“Talk to Mrs. Bundle about that.” He wasn’t sure if Mrs. Bundle could help her, but in the absence of a steward and a butler, she was the ranking retainer in his employ, so she seemed the likeliest to provide assistance.
“It seems I have bothered you, my lord,” she said tightly, rising to her feet. “I thought you wanted to meet with me today.”
“No, I didn’t ask to meet with you. Miss Treadway left a note.” A disappointingly short and impersonal missive in which she’d said he had a meeting with his new steward this afternoon.
“I see. She also sent me a note. It seems she neglected to tell either of us why we were meeting.”
“She should have stayed to help with this transition,” he said darkly, angry that she was gone, that she’d left him with what he now saw as a mess. How he hadn’t seen it before, he didn’t know.
“I’ll learn quickly, my lord,” Mrs. Tallent said with confidence. Max only grunted in response. “Do you wish me to check in with you regularly?”
“I suppose you should.” Max knew enough from his youth that his father met with the steward at least weekly, if not more often. Indeed, the steward had typically been present at their dinner table. He tried to imagine dining with Mrs. Tallent and perhaps her children and immediately chucked the idea.
“Are you entirely certain this arrangement is acceptable?” she asked.
No.“It will be fine. You need time to learn and become acclimated. I shall be patient.”
“How magnanimous of you.” She gave him what he suspected was a fake smile. “You also need time to learn and become acclimated. I am also patient. I’ll visit Sir George’s estate and I’ll secure a new tenant. In the meantime, I’ll acquaint myself with these ledgers.” She picked up the stack and departed before he could say another word.
Or help her. He should have carried the bloody books. He also could have been more pleasant. At least he hadn’t been outright rude, like he’d been before Ada had visited.
A moment later, Mrs. Bundle came back to the study. “What did you do?” she demanded.
“Nothing.”
The housekeeper put her hands on her hips. “Mrs. Tallent said she hoped this arrangement would work, but did not appear or sound optimistic. I’ll ask again, what did you do?”
“I didn’tdoanything. Ada—Miss Treadway—apparently set this meeting and didn’t inform either of us what we were to discuss. If you want to be irritated with someone, it should be her.”
Mrs. Bundle relaxed slightly and dropped her hands to her sides. “I see. You’re angry with Miss Treadway and allowed Mrs. Tallent to feel the brunt of that. Shame on you, my lord. Here I thought you’d made good progress.”
He didn’t want to be chastised by his housekeeper today. He was in too foul a mood. “You berating me is going to ensure I makenoprogress. Mrs. Tallent will be fine. I need you to help her with the steward’s house. Give her the key.”
“I’ve just done that, and I’ll go inspect it myself first thing tomorrow. It will be some time before she moves in, I expect.”
“Thank you.” Max rubbed his hand across his brow.
Mrs. Bundle lingered. “Are you upset because Miss Treadway is gone? I can understand why you would be.”
Max said nothing. If he admitted his emotions, he’d have to deal with them. Wouldn’t he?
“It’s nearly the end of the London Season, isn’t it?” Mrs. Bundle asked. “Perhaps you should go. It’s been some time since you visited.” Having planted that seed in his brain, she slipped from his study.
Normally, he would find his housekeeper’s meddling annoying, but in this case, he didn’t hate her idea. Not the going-to-London part, but the reason for doing so—following Ada.
Which he absolutely should not do. What would he do once he found her?
He had no idea.
Anyway, following Ada seemed a rather weak reason to travel to London. He didn’t have lodgings there, and if it became known that he was in town, he’d be expected at Westminster. Plus, people would approach him and thank him for his military service. He flinched.
