Page 15 of Captivating the Countess
A stack of ledgers waited on the wide desk. A tray of invoices demanded attention. Bell thought she could be comfortable here. She couldn’t even hear the slamming doors or fiddle.
She crouched down to set a fire to the kindling in the grate, but crumpled papers made her curious. She had just pried them out when Rainford entered. Since she’d been expecting him, she wasn’t startled enough to lose her balance. She smoothed out the sheet of handwriting. “It looks as if your cousin spent a great deal of effort attempting to compose a letter to you.”
“His actions speak louder than words.” Dismissing the crumpled paper, the marquess swiftly flipped through the stack of ledgers to find the one he wanted.
Bell finally understood the fallacy of believing she could fill this position. Her former employer had been female. Lydia had been a welcome presence in Bell’s office.
The Marquess of Rainford, on the other hand, was an intimidating force. Even at this hour, he was formally dressed in cravat and suit coat, his shoes polished to a high gloss.
She hurriedly stood up and wondered if she should take a seat behind the desk or wait for him to indicate that she do so.
Holding the crumpled letter, she crossed her hands in her modest skirt. “If Mr. Davis left the books in good order, that speaks to his character as well.”
Rainford thumbed through the ledger he’d chosen. “The servants’ wages appear to have been paid on time. I’ll allow you to determine if the figures are accurate. Our household expenses do not differ greatly from one year to the next. You should be able to make comparisons.”
“I’ll do that, of course, and compare to your current invoices as well. Numbers do not lie when you know how to view them.” That was comfortable ground. Rainford’s presence was not. She was entirely too aware of his tension.
He slammed down the ledger and Bell jumped.
“Davis used to handle my correspondence. How good is your hand?”
Men were so disruptivelyloud. She steadied herself to reply. “Reasonably good. I handled Lydia’s. She had far more correspondence than bookkeeping. I may not have a university education, but I have experience and the ability to learn quickly.” She stood straight and attempted to breathe without meeting the stormy gray of his eyes.
He didn’t make it easy. The room was small and cluttered. His silver-blond hair and strikingly angular features gave the appearance of a cold angel with invisible wings that occupied all the space. Bell didn’t dare light the fire because she had to stand on the hearth to keep her distance. Her skirt would go up in a blaze.
In irritation, he gestured for her to take the wooden chair behind the desk. “Your office, your chair. Sit. I’ll not trouble you with correspondence just yet. Familiarize yourself with the books, and if you have anything to report, leave it on the desk in my study.”
She skirted around him and took the seat. It had wheels. She almost rolled backward. The shock should have jarred her comatose, but she seemed to be adapting to constant surprise in his presence. Her feet didn’t quite reach the floor, so she grabbed the desk to prevent hitting the window behind her. “And if I have questions?”
“I see patients from ten to twelve and two to four today. Outside those hours, I’m usually in my study. I trust you’ll not be popping in and out regularly, or I’ll lock the door.”
She almost laughed, understanding his curtness. “I’ll make a list of questions and present them with my report on the books, along with the terms of my contract.” She knew how to be as curt and crisp as he. It might be her only defense in a family like his.
“I understand my cousin has already importuned you. The evenings are yours to do as you please. You’ll have Sundays off, if you last that long. Is there anything else?” No expression marred his angular features to reveal his opinion of his heir’s antics.
“May I have use of the library? And will the servants accept my authority if I give them orders?” Bell ignored mention of Teddy. She’d take care of that nuisance on her own.
“I’ll tell the librarian to give you a key. Our former steward preferred that orders come from me. To be frank, the constant interruptions were a bloody nuisance, excuse my language. I’ll let the Franklins know that you speak for me, within reason, of course. Ordering extravagant expenditures is relegated to my family.” His tone was desert dry.
Bell thought she detected the slightest whisper of humor, but she was nervous and refrained from judging someone she barely knew. “Thank you, my lord. I’ll expect a salary commensurate to the one you paid Davis.”
“You are female and uneducated,” he countered. “That is unheard of. Davis was family and had to support—”
“I support an entire village. If I can do the work he did, I should be paid equally.” She’d spent the night working up that argument.
He glowered. Bell thought it was more because he liked to have the upper hand. He was wealthy enough that a few pounds more or less should make little difference.
“I expect you to earn that sum, my lady. I have no obligation to pay someone who cannot perform their duties.” On that happy note, he swung around and walked out.
Bell smoothed out the anguished note her predecessor had attempted to write.
I owe you too much to allow you to make the mistake of marrying a faint-hearted miss like Araminta. She suits me better than you...
Ink and tears blotted the rest of the sentence.
After a morningof checking mending bones and administering poultices and remedies for the usual winter maladies—while listening to his patients extol the virtues of his father at his age—Rain wished for nothing more than a round in the ring or a good romping ride across the fields.
His brothers-in-law made poor sparring partners, and it had started to snow.
