Chapter 17
Drew came lightly down the stairs to find Blevins at the bottom on his hands and knees industriously scrubbing the blood stains out of the Aubusson.
The butler looked up.
Drew shook his head. “Blevins, why are you doing this? Where are the maids?”
“My lord, they are all about their duties. I have a moment so I took on the task.”
“I am sorry I’ve put you to such trouble. Had I known I’d been cut I would have staunched the wound before entering.”
“I’m sure you would have, my lord. It will take some time and effort but I expect to get the stains out. It’s not nearly as bad as red wine and I’ve mastered those a time or two in the past, if you remember.”
Drew chuckled. “I should say you have, and quite well at that. Blevins, do you happen to know where I can find my wife?”
“Yes, my lord. I believe she is in the library poring over the ledgers. I took in some tea not too very long ago.”
“Thank you. Good luck, my man.” Drew ambled down the hall with purpose. Opening the door, he walked in unannounced. “Marianne, look what I’ve discovered in one of my bureau drawers.” With that he placed the quizzing glass to his eye and settled it in place.
Marianne did not look up. “Not now, Drew. I’ve got much too much to do and it’s not working out. What am I going to do with your father’s bailiff?”
Drew dropped into a chair before the desk. “Why should he be a problem? Does he not do what he is told?”
“No, and that’s . . .” Marianne, finally looked up and started. “You’ve found your quizzing glass? I would have thought it lost when you were kidnapped? And you’re going to wear it now?”
Drew flashed her a wicked grin. “I have. I did. I might. This is an old one I had put in a drawer and forgotten about. What do you think? Should I wear it and start the ton chattering again? Do you think they’ll think I’m regressing?”
“Well, it certainly looks differently on you now than it did before. I don’t know what you should do. Do you want the ton chattering about you even more than they are? It’s my understanding your name is on the lips of every man and woman in Society. Why would they need even more encouragement?”
Drew popped the glass out. “I am? In heaven’s name, why?”
Marianne shook her head in dismay. “Drew, you disappeared without even a by your leave, and then, when you return, you practically drop out of the sky and, on top of that, you are nothing, really nothing, like you were before. What would you expect?”
“I’ve been home well over a month. I expect there would be new fodder for the gossips by now.” Drew tapped his eyepiece on his leg, the habit coming back to him almost unnoticed.
“There is always new gossip. But every time you show up at an event, the talk starts anew. Especially among the ladies.”
Watching her closely, he asked, “What are they saying, Marianne?”
Marianne looked down as if she were returning to her books. “They want to know if you will toss me aside and divorce me since you’ve been gone so long and returned with a huge fortune. They hope you’ll pick one of them as your new wife.”
The room fell momentarily silent. Then in a soft voice, Drew asked, “And what do you think, Marianne? Do you think I will toss you aside and select another? Or do you think I’d like to stay where I am with my wife and my daughter?”
Without looking up, Marianne responded coolly, “That is your decision, my lord. Women are just leverage in the games of men. That is how we were married in the first place. Until you make up your mind, I will try to keep your estates together as best I can. If I can only get this bailiff to cooperate.”
Drew decided he’d continue this conversation later. It seemed Marianne did not accept she was in the position to make the final choice. Or, possibly, that she did not choose to make the decision yet. Regardless, he would continue with his plans. Tucking his unneeded quizzing glass into the pocket of his waistcoat, he rose and went around the desk to look over her shoulder at the figures she pondered.
“So, tell me, what is the problem? I should probably start to have some idea of exactly what is happening on our lands and assist you with any decisions you are struggling to make.” Placing his left hand on the desk and his right on the back of her chair, he leaned over only to be intoxicated by the scent of his wife once again.
It was roses today.
He so wanted to lift her out of her chair and take her to bed. Hell, he’d forego the bed and take her right there on the desk. Damn the ledgers and all.
Unsure of exactly how long he could control the raging need he had for her every time she was in range, once again, he would have to wait. It was not the appropriate time. Bloody hell. When would he have the appropriate time?
He girded his loins and struggled to pay attention as his wife began to speak.
“It’s Bridgeton at your family estate. I’ve sent him multiple messages on how I want him to change the crops and fields. I’ve explained how he should have the crofters plant and rotate crops and let fields lie fallow and why. He does nothing but send back notes that he does not understand or he doesn’t know why we must change or he doesn’t understand how we have to change. He has not even had the courtesy to respond to my last inquiry. It makes no matter that I’ve told him how successful your other properties have been with these changes. He refuses to cooperate. And this is your largest holding with the greatest possibility of increasing your income.” Marianne started turning pages and pointing to figures. “Look here, and here, and here. These properties have made the changes and their yields have increased. Those that started over three years ago have almost doubled their output. The newer ones are just now showing the promise of greater success.”
Drew placed his left hand over hers to stop the frantic pointing in the ledger. “Stop. I can see what you’re saying. I’ve looked at the books and have seen the incredible results you’ve had with our properties. We’ll just have to talk to Bridgeton. If he won’t cooperate, we’ll retire him or fire him and hire a new bailiff who will. Have you been out to the estate? We are talking about Saxton Park, are we not?”
Marianne swiveled in her chair as she slid her hand out from under his. “Of course, we are. No, I’ve not been out to Saxton Park. All the other bailiffs have done as I’ve asked and the Park only came under my control after your father passed on. It’s only been a few months but if we don’t make the changes now we’ll miss the increased harvest this year and be forced to wait until next year.”
Drew took both of her hands in his and pulled her up from the chair. Looking down into her eyes, seeing the worry there, the worry over his lands, his people, he couldn’t help but want to solve the problem and ease her mind. “Then we’ll go. We can leave tomorrow. We can pack today and head off first thing.”
Marianne’s jaw dropped. “What? We can’t do that.”
“Why not? There’s nothing here to keep us. Our lands are our priority. The people who work them, the crops they produce are part of our fortune. Short of the three of us and our properties and staff in town, nothing is more important than this.”
“But, Drew, what about the events we have committed to? What about Andrea? What will we do with her?”
Drew gently squeezed his wife’s hands. “We’ll take Andrea, of course. She should see our properties. Even when I have a son, she will receive some of them in her dowry. And pooh-pooh about the events. Send notes and beg off. The ton does not need us to attend it. They will go on without us. And, just think, it will give even more fodder to the gossips.”
Marianne flashed him a huge smile, then threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you, my lord. Drew. I’m sure speaking with your bailiff is just the thing we need to do. If you are there, he cannot help but do as he is told or know that he will soon be out of a job.” Releasing him, she rose on her toes to buss his cheek, then headed for the door. “I’ll tell Blevins immediately and get everything ready. We’ll leave tomorrow just as you said.”
Drew rubbed his heated cheek as he looked after her. Would that everything else could be solved so easily in their relationship.
Sitting down in the chair Marianne just vacated, still warm from the heat of her wondrous derrière, he prepared himself to review her ledgers more closely so he would be a knowledgeable ally in their confrontation with the old bailiff at the Park. If it was the man he remembered, it might just be time to give the ancient superintendent a pension and turn the reins over to a younger, more pliable man.