Page 77 of The Enigmatic Governess of Buford Manor
“Your Grace? We have not voted on the bylaws as of yet.”
The confusion in Balfour’s face was evident but Nicholas had enough of council for the day. The desire to return to Rosecliff had overshadowed anything else on his mind. He could not be made to focus on the bylaws. Especially when he was unsure the bylaws were what his father would have wanted.
“Your Grace, this tax must be enacted sooner rather than later,” Captain Balfour urged. “The talks have been underway for months now.”
“And yet it has yet to pass,” Nicholas commented dryly. “Perhaps because someone has thought it a poor concept to further squeeze the peasants of their meager earnings.”
“If they wish to work the land, Your Grace, they can pay for the privilege!” the captain growled. “It is pence in the pockets of us who will better East Anglia.”
“It was my father who opposed this tax, was it not?” Nicholas asked, turning his attention to the door as the men began to filter back inside, murmuring amongst themselves.
“Your father had very…modern ideas,” Balfour replied slowly. “I do not need to explain how detrimental such thinking can be to a country tied to tradition.”
“There must have been good reason for my father to withhold the vote,” Nicholas insisted. “Regardless, it will not occur today. I insist we adjourn.”
“As you wish, Your Grace,” Balfour replied agreeably but Nicholas thought he caught a slight razor in the man’s tone. The duke watched as the advisor dismissed council and Nicholas rose, eyeing Peter Alderson who remained as the other men filtered from the room once more.
Peter had taken a secondary role with the arrival of Captain Balfour, stepping back as secretary to somehow becoming a glorified butler.
He hasn’t much to say in the wake of father’s passing. I would be more vocal if some stranger had stepped into my position and yet he stands about meekly, overseeing the servants.
“Shall we, Your Grace?” Nicholas turned his eyes back toward Captain Balfour and nodded, heading toward the exit. They were not far from Rosecliff, midway through the duchy at Engleshire.
“We should be home for supper,” he announced. “The duchess will be surprised.”
“I imagine Mrs. Parsons will be also.”
The statement was unwarranted and Nicholas stopped to peer at him speculatively.
“Perhaps,” he replied warily. “I have seen very little of her since accepting my title.”
“You are fond of her, are you not?” Balfour insisted, as if they were boyhood chums who shared such information.
“We are all fond of her,” he replied coolly. “Particularly the children.”
Balfour glanced back, realizing that the duke had stopped walking.
“I am happy she has moved on so well following her husband’s passing. I understand she was very near commitment before you graciously took her in.”
Nicholas’ skin prickled.
“We did not graciously take her in. She works for us and is a wonderful governess for Lord Arlington.”
“Well, I am certain that she has overcome whatever melancholy had consumed her but I daresay, I did not think she would.”
The duke was angered by Balfour’s unfettered attempt to undermine Rose.
What reason could he have for saying such a thing to me about Rose? He has had multiple opportunities to say this in the past. Why now? What has changed?
“Is that a fact?” Nicholas asked, his tone much harsher than he intended. “I did not realize you had seen her after delivering news of her husband’s death.”
An odd flash crossed over his face and Nicholas felt himself growing alarmed. How could Balfour know what became of Rose if he had not seen her in almost a year’s time?
“I have friends in Dartford,” the captain explained. “I confess, I was quite concerned for her in the wake of the news and felt the need to ensure her safety. Her disposition was quite…frail.”
Balfour continued to where the coach and Peter awaited but Nicholas continued to stand, ire charging through his veins.
There is the Balfour I know,he thought with some bitterness.He wishes for me to think poorly of Rose for purposes I have yet to discover. A governess has no bearing on his affairs…does she?
