“You are a good man, Pemberth. And quite on the way to making an excellent duke.”
At this, he laughed outright at her optimistic faith in him.
“You are agood man,” she scolded. And then that smile of hers cracked open the seals on his heart. “Now, you’re cold as ice. Sit by the fire and I’ll see what I can do about deciphering your brother’s handwriting.” She released him and proceeded to rub her hands together as though anticipating a great meal. “This way, you’ll be right here in case I have any questions.”
Vincent had stopped on his way home to repair a section of fence. He hadn’t realized until that moment how cold he’d become.
And as long as she might require his assistance… He lowered himself into the large wing-backed chair near the hearth, leaned back his head, and closed his eyes.
He listened as she efficiently sorted through one of the piles.
She’d told him she’d paid attention to her father’s business dealings. Something he’d failed to do. He’d been more interested in learning about soil and animals and the people who worked the land.
“I believe you are correct about agriculture. Crop yields are diminishing annually.” Vincent opened his eyes to stare at the fire. “Miller, Freddy, and Simon are open to moving toward planting more pasture and increasing the herds, but Helmsworth wants to wait.”
“Helmsworth, he is your steward, correct? And the others… They have tenant houses.” He’d introduced her to dozens of families over the past week, and yet, she remembered.
“Correct.”
“What are his reasons?” Now she was flipping through the correspondence as though she was dealing cards.
“We need funds to increase the herd sizes. I was hoping to get a loan.” The idea sounded outlandish to him as he spoke the words. Merely the fact that he would require a loan to accomplish something so simple was humiliating. And now he was telling his wife, no less.
“So we need money.” She stated the fact baldly. “Not simply to refurbish the drawing-room.”
Vincent nodded, still not looking at her.
“Very well. I’d best look hard at all of this, then. If anyone can find a source for revenue, it’s the Earl of Quimbly’s wayward daughter. Trust me.”
Vincent let out a scoffing sound.
“Pemberth.” Her voice demanded his full attention.
He turned his head to meet her serious gaze.
“If there is a possible way, I will discover it.”
8
Estate Details.
Lila had never imaginedshe could find so much satisfaction in her daily routine as a wife.
In the mornings, she and Pemberth went riding, visiting various farmers and tenants in the area, and if the weather did not permit, sometimes explored secret nooks and crannies inside the estate. They shared a nuncheon and went their separate ways for the afternoon—he attended to fences and horses and sheep and whatnot, and she continued reading through the documents that had accumulated over the past two years.
The former duke, Keenan—she had come to feel almost as though she knew him—had kept only slightly better records thanherduke.
She’d found a few interesting items and set them aside. She didn’t want to bring them to Pemberth’s attention until she was certain they actually meant something.
Aha! This was what she was looking for. A previously opened letter fromFindlay and Nottingham Imports and Exports. She opened the journal and confirmed her suspicions.
And then she realized that another note had been stuffed inside along with the statement. One that had very recognizable handwriting scrawled across it.
Her father’s. Dated 19 August 1826
Your Grace,
As per your promise, made on 1 Sept, Year of our Lord, 1825, and since payment of eight thousand pounds has not been forthcoming, I demand you follow through with said alternative promise of marriage to my eldest daughter, Lila Catherine Breton, making her Duchess of Pemberth before 31 December of this year. Failure to comply will result in damages taken by three particularly unpleasant gentlemen in my employ.
