Morgan stiffened as he sent his brother a look. “I’m sure Roseford’s assessment of me highlights all my best qualities.”
The warmth on Brighthollow’s face faded a fraction, replaced by a slightly protective shadow. “Roseford has never expressed anything but consideration for you, Mr. Banfield. And I welcome you to my home. Please, do sit. Would you like tea or something stronger?”
Roseford shook his head as he retook his seat on the settee and Morgan settled across from him in a chair. “Banfield doesn’t need anything stronger.”
Morgan glared at him again. “So my nursemaid says. I’m fine, thank you for asking.”
“Hmm,” Brighthollow murmured, and took a place beside Robert. Now there were two sets of eyes focused on Morgan. Judging.
He didn’t like the judgment. Never had. And he’d learned over the years that the best way to thwart it was through charm. He’d honed his skills in that arena well and good.
“I’ve heard you’ve a fine prospect,” Morgan said.
Brighthollow puffed up a bit, just as Morgan had known he would. “We think it so,” he admitted. “I would say it is the most beautiful in the world, but Roseford might argue.”
Robert shrugged. “You know I can take or leave my father’s holdings. Though I’d argue Ewan has the best of all our estates. He has the benefit of a sea view. That has to be worth something.”
Morgan shifted again as the long friendship Robert and Brighthollow had shared with their club pushed him from the inner circle of the conversation. He wasn’t certain who Ewan was, but believed he was one of the dukes his brother ran with.
“I’m sure Ewan would agree,” Brighthollow chuckled. “But we are straying from the topic that has brought you here, even though Mr. Banfield opened a window to it a moment ago. I am in the market for a man of affairs. And Roseford says you might be the man for the job.”
Morgan shifted. “He tells me the same thing. I-I suppose we must determine together if that is true. Can you tell me about your expectations?”
Brighthollow’s eyebrows lifted, as if he were surprised Morgan had the wherewithal to question the offer. That didn’t bode well to his potential employer’s judgment of his sense.
“It’s a large estate, with a great many holdings and tenants to manage.” Brighthollow leaned back in the settee and folded his hands in his lap. “There are books to be kept, problems to be managed, people with questions that never seem to end.”
“It sounds like a pleasure,” Morgan muttered with a frown. God’s teeth, he’d made a very nice life out of avoiding the very kind of responsibility being thrown out before him now.
“It is, much of the time,” Brighthollow said. “I simply don’t want to sugarcoat it. This isn’t some estate that has been ignored or uncared for, so there’s no expectation that you would bring it back from the brink. However, I don’t want it to fall into disrepair or ruin. Too many lives depend upon its careful management.”
“And who was doing that duty before?” Morgan asked. “And why did they leave their post?”
To his surprise, Roseford and Brighthollow exchanged a look, and then they both began to laugh.
He tilted his head at the strange reaction. “Did I say something funny?”
“The current manager is being fired because he wants to spend more of his time making babies with his lovely wife, I think,” Robert teased.
Brighthollow inclined his head with a smile. “Though Roseford is a bit blunt about it, he does answer the question. I have been the sole manager of my properties since I took the title from my father twelve years ago. But Amelia and I have been married for three years and we are…” He smiled again. “Well, I have other priorities that don’t allow me to take care of my estate as closely. Do you feel you would be interested in taking on the challenge?”
“Of course he’ll take it,” Robert said, giving Morgan a pointed stare.
Morgan jerked at the statement, said as if he were a recalcitrant child rather than a man well past his majority. “Roseford,” he growled, unable to keep his annoyance from his tone.
Brighthollow cast a glance between the two brothers, and then he turned to Robert. “Roseford, why don’t you give me a moment alone with Mr. Banfield? Please.”
“Yes,” Morgan said, glaring at his brother. “That’s a very good idea.”
Robert opened and shut his mouth. He clearly wished to argue against the request. But then he threw up his hands. “Very well,” he muttered, pushing to his feet. “I suppose I will go observe your garden, Brighthollow.”
He walked to the door, but there he turned and speared Morgan with a glance. It spoke volumes. It saiddon’t cock this up. And Morgan bucked against the unspoken order. Robert might manage the estate that paid his bills, but he wasn’t Morgan’s father. No one had ever been that. Not really.
Once he was gone, Brighthollow got up and closed the door behind him. “So he won’t eavesdrop,” he explained with an easy smile as he retook his place on the settee.
“You know him so well,” Morgan grunted.
“I do,” Brighthollow said softly. He was silent a moment before he said, “You’re very clever.”
