Page 9 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
Graham found it hard to reconcile Amanda’s spoilt and inconsiderate ways with how they were raised. Her ways embarrassed him, but they would be a mere inconvenience if he had an heir. As it was, Amanda or her future husband might be the ones who carried on the family line. That would not bother Graham if he thought she could be trusted with it.
A pang of loneliness hit Graham, as it often did during times like these. He felt isolated among his household. He had gone off to war not because of any great feeling of devotion to his country, but out of grief.
His wife had died giving birth to a son who had also perished. Graham could not reconcile that fact, so he chose to go to war. It seemed simple and logical at the time. Only things never are simple, and the years spent fighting had not assuaged the feeling that perhaps their deaths were somehow his fault.
His return to society had come with whispers and rumours that he would be taking a new wife. Graham was not against the idea, but it also sickened him. He strode down the hallway toward his study determined to finish his task.
There would be little time allotted for him to get work done once they set out for London. “Edward,” Graham said with pleasant surprise upon seeing his steward waiting for him in his office. “You are just the man I wanted to see.”
“I thought you might want to go over the repairs to the north property. The rains will slow things, but the men have it under control.” Edward stood up straight as a board with an unfaltering smile upon his lips.
Graham went over to his desk and dropped gracefully into his chair. “I am glad that at least one thing is going according to plan.”
“I heard there was a bit of a fuss at the door. Did your sister hire on some new staff without approval again?” Edward frowned as if he had already condemned Amanda’s motives without knowing what she had actually done yet.
Graham chuckled. “It is worse than that, and yet you have the heart of it. Do you remember the Browne family? It was before your time, but having grown up in the area you might remember the old vicar and his children.”
Edward pushed out his lips as he did when he thought. He brought a hand up to ruffle his ginger hair. “I do just about. He died of bad lungs, did he not?”
“He did,” Graham confirmed. “You helped me make arrangements for his son’s body to be brought back from Waterloo.”
Edward snapped his finger. “That is right. What does that have to do with your sister?”
Graham drew in a breath as he needed the fortitude to speak the ridiculous words. “She has hired Miss Browne, the vicar’s daughter, as her maid.”
“You do not say,” Edward said with a puzzled brow. “I take it that this does not please you. Does the girl have no experience in such things?”
Graham waved his hand dismissively. “It is not Miss Browne’s experience that bothers me, although I do not know that she has any. Miss Browne was my sister’s friend and companion when they were children. They took lessons together and were inseparable. To bestow such a low place upon her does not seem fitting.”
Edward smiled. “Ah, you are outraged on her behalf.”
“Yes, fine. Have your amusement, Edward.” Graham tapped the papers before him. “I just do not see it ending well for any involved. I fear the staff will take it as quite a slight.”
Edward grimaced and sighed. “Katrina will not be pleased. She has been rather outspoken about her soon-to-be ascension to lady’s maid.”
“In all honesty, she might still get that role. My sister is not being practical. She needs a lady’s maid who can handle the responsibilities of the position.” Graham looked down at the papers with disgust. “I fear that I shall be here until we step foot in the carriages at this rate.”
Edward assured him, “I will see if I cannot sort out the staffing issue.”
“Thank you,” Graham said with genuine gratitude. Edward had been a godsend with Graham’s absences due to the war and with the flurry of activities that constantly drew his attention upon his return. “I feel as if I am abandoning you yet again with this season nonsense.”
With a laugh, Edward walked over to Graham and put his hand on his shoulder. “Never you mind that. I do not mind doing my job, Your Lordship.”
“You have been a good friend as well. I do not pay you enough.” Graham patted Edward’s hand and the two men chuckled.
Edward agreed as he walked to the door. “You do not pay me nearly enough.”
“Remind me to up your pay then.”
Edward shook his finger at Graham. “I just might do that when I am done with these maids.”
Graham snorted with laughter and looked back down at his papers. Edward was a decade older than Graham but never ceased to amaze him with the amount of energy he seemed to possess. Hiring Edward had been one of his father’s last deeds before he became ill. It had proven a wise decision for Graham, who had needed the stability the steward provided even more since his return.
*
Charlotte sat in her room at Berwick Manor. Amanda had been as good as her word about giving Charlotte work to do. Before her lay garments that Amanda wished hemmed or mended.
It had surprised Charlotte that Amanda seemed to expect her to know how to do such things. She sat with a book open in front of her. It was a book her father had given her once upon a time so that she could have some guidance on how to do womanly work such as mending.
