Page 24 of A Gentleman's Reckoning
He turned and looked into her eyes, knowing he was acting recklessly. He came dangerously close to flirting, although he meant every word. “I do not mean to be familiar. It is only that I have seen the way you are with the orphans, and it is clear you possess a warm and sympathetic heart.”
A stable hand chose that minute to enter the stable leading a horse, and she returned only a quick smile before stepping to the side. “Thank you.”
When the stable hand passed by, John held out his arm to lead her back to the orphanage, where they would each have to return to their own affairs. He wished he had a reason to spend more time in her company. It was becoming the most challenging aspect of his current situation. He knew how to pursue a lady in society. One needed only to take her riding in the park—or visit her drawing room.
He quashed a bitter laugh before it erupted as he imagined what it would look like to show up in Lady Eugenia’s drawing room. How Lord Goodwin would turn apoplectic to see him there. He did not know if the earl would simply have him thrown out, or if he would attempt violence on his person for the audacity. Then again, did not the member at Blackstone’s inform him that the earl was too cowardly for such a thing?
It left John discouraged because there was no way he would be able to attempt an honest pursuit of Lady Geny. How could he? Even if she were able to make her own decisions, her father would have good reason to turn her against him, for his own presence here was a lie. Once she found out, she would cut all ties.
He glanced at her, aware that he had said nothing as they crossed the courtyard. He would not be able to persuade her to do anything at this rate. “Have you been to check on the baby—on Benjamin?”
“Mrs. Hasting said he is doing very well. I have promised to visit him and will do so afterwards.” She sent him a glance. “It isonly that I wished to speak to you first about the wall, which I considered to be an urgent matter.”
Was that true? Or had she done so to spend time with him?“I am glad you did. I will see if I can have someone come and look at the wall within a week.”
They had reached the entrance, and a line of boys filed past them. Lady Geny gave them an encouraging nod then turned back to him. “Those are the boys training up for the indoor positions, such as footman.”
“Do they have anyone teaching them arithmetic?” he asked.
She thought for a moment. “To own the truth, there has been no talk of it yet. Perhaps because we’ve had no one offer to teach them. Mr. Biggs was a very kind man, but he was not skilled with children.”
“I would be happy to train ones that show promise, if you think it would serve.” His offer had come out quickly before he had thought it through. He could only credit it to his desire to please her.
She turned to him, a gleam in her eyes. “Would you indeed? The more possibilities we have for their placement, the more likely we are to see them well situated. We can ask Mr. Dowling to provide a room for you to teach them in, similar to the training room for the footmen.”
“That would be excellent,” he replied, thinking that her look of gratitude had made his offer worthwhile.
At the same time, he hoped he hadn’t indulged in folly to have promised to teach orphans. What did he know about such a thing? And yet, it was not only Lady Geny that had prompted the offer; he knew it would please his brother that he should try. The idea brought him a sense of satisfaction he had not felt in a while.
“I may not need a room, though. I believe I might take two of them in my office, for it is large enough. Perhaps we will start with just the mornings? I can teach them some basic sums, andthen we can go over the account books together so they learn how it is used.”
She clasped her hands. “Mr. Rowles, that would be wonderful.”
Her look of pleasure warmed him, but as soon as he had spoken of balancing the accounts, it occurred to him that he might have overcommitted himself. How was he going to look for discrepancies in the account books if he had a pair of orphan boys watching his every move?
He managed a smile and bowed, his hands clasped behind his back. “I wish you a very good day, Lady Eugenia.”
“And I you.” She dipped her head and paused ever so slightly before turning away in the direction of the nursery.
John’s thoughts were full as he climbed the steps to his office. With all his heart, he wanted to pursue her. He was sure of it, but didn’t see how he was to accomplish such a thing. He entered his office, went over to where his cloak hung and pulled the letter from Gregory out of its pocket, then walked over to the window to read it.
John,
I had to learn from Murray that you spent nearly three months at the estate and have only just left it to return to London. May I draw the conclusion from this unprecedented event that you are eager to settle into your new role as landowner and have been making adjustments to that end? Well, I have good news for you. Mr. Wyndham has written to tell me that the papers are finalized and that Westerly estate is officially yours. He will, of course, reach out to you directly with the documents, but he felt it only proper to relay the news to me first.
I do not desire a reply with your thanks, heartfelt or perfunctory, as I’ve oft told you. Anne and I will have no children of our own, and there is no point in having the estate go to you or your son after I have departed this earth—not when I have no desire to care for it while I am still here. It is better all around this way, and I believe even Fatherwould have agreed. That said, although I do not desire a letter with your thanks, I do desire a letter. You are, after all, the only family left to me, and it matters not that there are no blood ties. Anne sends her love, as do I.
Yours—
Gregory
John stood staring through the window, his thoughts dull rather than overjoyed by the news. He would need to write to his brother—yes. But he would also need to come clean about his former manner of living. To begin such a letter seemed insurmountable.
He resumed his seat where the account books from the foundling asylum’s commencement lay open. He used the first portion of each day to see what he could find in the old books, then spent the second half in what was more honorably part of the position he had taken on. Unlike what he had overheard Mr. Dowling accuse him of, he did spend time each day drafting letters to Mr. Peyton who handled the finances for the asylum, placing orders, and carefully recording where the money was being sent.
From looking over the account books, he gathered that Mr. Biggs had been honest in his work. His accounts were meticulous and most added up. But some of the donations the asylum had claimed to have brought in were not showing as having been disbursed. And there were other expenses in recent months that were listed as redirection for mill works, which were likely related to the mill Sir Humphrey had spoken about. But any investment that went into that project should have been kept completely apart. These were currently his only leads into mismanagement. It would be good if he could speak to Mr. Biggs. Perhaps he might find out more.
As much as he disliked having any conversation with Mr. Dowling, he would rather ask him how to find the old stewardthan visit Mr. Peyton, who might wonder at his curiosity. It would also be faster. John stood and went to the headmaster’s office, where he was sitting at his desk, indulging in a cup of tea.
