Page 10 of A Lady's Christmas
She leans in a fraction. “I suspect you’re after something that I have, though I can’t imagine what that might be. You’ve seen the books. I’m not hiding a secret key to some buried ducal treasure, Theo.”
Joy floods his heart. She’s delightful and adorable. “Too bad, what fun it would be to go on a treasure hunt like we did once when we were children.”
A soft smile tugs at her lips and lights her eyes. “There’s little time for treasure hunts once grown. It’s a shame.”
He’d give all his money if he thought it would keep that joy in her eyes. “Do you think you might stay through the Christmas Ball? It’s my first, and I don’t want to make a mess of things.”
“I’ll make the arrangements for the ball.” She looks ahead once again.
Taking it as his cue, he urges the horse toward the Pickering house. It’s a small, neat farm with a whitewashed house with a door in the center. The barn has a gated yard and several pigs, as well as a cow staring at them as they pull to a stop.
The front door opens, and a woman in her early twenties steps out, holding her full, rounded belly. When she sees Gwen, she grins and waves. “This is a nice surprise. I’d heard you’d come for a visit, Miss Carter.” Catching sight of Theo, she makes a quick curtsy. “Your Grace.”
Gwen rushes to her and takes her hands. “You look beautiful. Not long now and you’ll be a mama.”
Mrs. Pickering beams. “Mrs. Birch, the midwife, thinks it will be another two weeks. But I’m hoping for a Christmas baby.”
Theo takes the basket out of the carriage and carries it to the door. “Miss Carter brought you a few things.”
“That’s very kind.” Mrs. Pickering invites them in and offers them tea.
Declining the invitation due to the upcoming meeting with the new steward, they say their goodbyes and continue back to Crestworth House.
Lady Chervil awaits them in the office with Mr. Dunkin. She’s sitting on one of the chairs, telling the tall, thin man about an adventure to Africa she had some years earlier. If the scene had been committed to canvas, the piece would have been called a comedy of opposites. As always, the lady is wearing a flowery dress with layers of flowing material. Today, the color is pale blue. She waves her hands as she says, “It was the greatest moment of my life to step off of that ship and onto the ancient land of Africa. So many people and so hot, I thought I might faint, but I was determined not to miss a moment of the day.”
Mr. Dunkin didn’t spare her a glance. In a dark-brown suit, he stood like a statue, staring over her shoulder. His dark hair is sparse and slicked back from his gaunt face. Lifting his long nose in the air, he gave no sign of interest in Lady Chervil’s story, despite the fact that she told it with great enthusiasm. His bony hands were crossed and the only sign that he was indeed alive was the tapping of one finger on his upper arm.
Giving Gwen a glance, Theo is happy to see her amusement matches his.
The butler, Lamb, interrupts their spying. “Your Grace, Mr. Dunkin is waiting in the study.”
With a push, Theo fully opens the door. “So I see. Thank you, Lamb. Will you see that the horse and carriage are put away? We left them at the front.”
With only the hint of a smile, Lamb bows and leaves.
Mr. Dunkin turns to the door as if coming to attention.
“Oh, good. I fear the good sir was tiring of my stories.” Mrs. Chervil laughs as she rises and goes on. “I’ll leave the three of you to it, but do call if you need me.”
Theo bows. “Thank you for your charming assistance, madam.”
Once Lady Chervil has gone and introductions are made, Gwen goes to the desk. She pulls out the leather-bound books, six volumes in all. “This top one is the accounting. I have broken the farms down by plot size and function. The house has several accounts and is separate from the working farm on this land. I do not include the banking here as it is included with the London House.”
Dunkin says nothing and stares at Gwen as if she’s a three-headed hydra.
Annoyed, Theo steps to the desk and opens another drawer. “I took the liberty of bringing the London accounts with me.”
Taking the one book from him, Dunkin says, “I shall look this over, Your Grace. I’m sure the other accounts will need to be completely revised to suit a real business mind. You can leave them on the desk.”
Dropping the heavy volumes with a loud thud on the desk, Gwen’s eyes narrow. “It seems I’ve been dismissed. Good afternoon.” She storms out.
Oblivious, Dunkin flips pages in the banking book. He nods. “This seems in order.”
Fury rises inside Theo, though even he is surprised by how angry the dismissal of Gwen’s abilities as bookkeeper has made him. His fists clench at his sides. “You may be wise to rethink the woman you just dismissed since she is the one who kept those accounts. She’s been keeping the ducal estates running for the last six years.”
Slowly Dunkin lifts his head. “The girl? Are you certain, Your Grace? Perhaps a pretty face and a fancy story is enough to make you believe such a thing is possible. I can assure you that no girl or woman could have managed an estate of this size without leaving it in disaster.”
The door is agape and there’s a sharp intake of breath.
