Page 13 of A Spinster to Heal the Duke
Charles handed his new and temporary tutor the ledger he tracked the month's income and debits with. Then, he walked him through the notes he made calculating profit and loss each month.
The boy seems so proud of what he has done so far. I hate to tell him most of his numbers appear wrong,Noah thought disappointedly.If any of this is accurate, it is amazing they only lack staff. At this rate they will lose their title and holdings before young Charles is thirty-five.
"How does it look, Grandon?" Charles asked after the Duke had turned several pages in each book.
In the politest way he could manage, Noah said, "It looks like you and I need to make the most of our time together."
Charles's smile disappeared, and he sat in utter disappointment.
Noah encouraged, "It will be all right. My father taught me well before he passed, and I will do the same for you."
"Thank you," Charles replied. "Our father passed when I was too young to learn a lot of things. Unfortunately, when I wasold enough to need to know, Grandfather was old enough to be forgetting."
Noah nodded understandingly.
"At least the Baron was here to have shown you the basics. I can fine tune the rest, and Reedley Manor shall resume its glory in no time," he replied, patting Charles on the back encouragingly.
Anne looked on as the Duke patiently walked her brother through a number of checks and balances in overseeing not only their manor but agriculture, mining, trade, and supporting the community. As she listened, she grew completely distracted from reading her book and learned a little as well.
"If you have not been receiving daily information on what is declared from your mines, your numbers are skewed greatly," the Duke stated.
His tone snobbishly implied this was something Charles should have known and clearly didn't, but it was also tempered. The Duke would clearly be exasperated one moment then seem to remind himself that Charles had not had the introduction to his position as future baron as he received from his father to prepare him for becoming a duke. When he would periodically pause and let the realization sink in, he showed Charles patience and praised all the younger man did right for essentially being self-taught.
A lot of the things I initially found wrong here can be attributed to circumstance,Noah thought.They seem to have lost theirparents young, and in the care of an elder, some things seem to have simply slipped through the cracks or been too much to manage under the circumstances.
As Charles erased and scratched through his previous work, Noah felt proud as he saw new numbers taking their place that were more in line with his assumptions.
"Very good," he commended.
"If you have seen any improvement, it is likely because you were there over his shoulder," Anne said, setting her book down.
She crossed the room to the credenza and found an embroidery project she had been working on.
"Sometimes one-to-one focus is necessary to produce a good student," Noah pointed out, not wanting Charles to be disheartened.
Then, he was shown the playful teasing in the relationship between the Drowton brother and sister.
"Yeah, I need one-to-one interaction to focus and understand, but all I've had is you which is not far from being alone," Charles said to his sister.
"I would have been no help to you though I have provided a buffet of thinking snacks over the years," she laughed. Imitatingher brother, she added, "Please, Dis, a bit of hot chocolate and any leftover cakes from this morning."
"Mother did always tell us food was meant to be eaten," Charles said with a shrug. "I can't help if I think better when I am eating."
"If you do, I haven't fed you enough," Anne replied, both of them laughing heartily.
Noah couldn't help it, but he found himself laughing, too. He had not laughed and enjoyed another's company in some time, much like he enjoyed Anne's cooking.
After some time passed, Anne said, "I believe it is time that I excuse myself to prepare a sandwich tray and pasties for us. Does that suit, Your Grace?"
Noah looked at Anne and saw she meant no ill will but referred to him that way out of polite habit.
"Yes, Miss Drowton," he replied. "That sounds delightful. We shall wrap up here and join you in the dining room presently."
She gave the two gentlemen a small curtsey and set off to the kitchen.
If I were in London, I would be in a club or tavern, declining a sandwich,he thought.
CHAPTER 5
