The steward took his seat again. “Not too poorly.”
Phineas seized on that bit of good news and smiled. “Huzzah. Well, do you think we might raise rents the next quarter?”
Albion shook his head. “A little, perhaps. But not much.”
“Yes. We must be fair. I wouldn’t want anyone on the estate to feel the pinch.” Phineas leaned forward. “I feel myself fortunate to have you looking out for my tenants. And for me.”
“It’s my duty.”
“I hope it’s not just duty. You can’t imagine how comforting it is for me in London to know my friend is here, ensuring Burchester is as solvent as possible.”
“I’m glad. Glad to have your trust.”
Phineas settled back in his chair. “Of course you have my trust. All of it. I’ve never forgotten how you kept your mouth shut when you caught me trying to snare a pheasant on your father’s estate.”
“Yes. I fell under the Phineas Edge charm myself that day.”
“Twenty years ago when you grabbed me by the ear, who would have thought I would become an earl and you would be my steward?”
Albion raised his eyebrows. “No one?”
Phineas grinned. “Well, after all, I was twelfth in line, the son of a rather impoverished country gentleman. Didn’t my father have to borrow the price of my naval commission from your father? Certainly, it was reasonable to think my chances of being earl were little to none. And with your being a baron’s son and your cleverness with finances, I would have thought you would be in London, running your own bank by now, loaning out money at exorbitant rates to profligate scoundrels like me. I’m so lucky you prefer the country.”
Phineas couldn’t identify the expression that crossed Albion’s face for a moment. It disappeared as the man smiled. “I feel myself lucky, too, Phin.”
“So, we’ll raise the rents a little?”
“I’ll see if that’s possible.”
Phineas clapped his hands together. “Good. Now, let’s do something more pleasant. Shall we go see the tenants together?”
Albion laughed. “Yes, let’s ride out to the farms. I know that’s your favorite thing to do, to greet your adoring people.”
Yes, besides seeing Albion, it was the best bit of being in Burchester. Phineas chuckled as he stood. “It reminds me I’m an earl, even if I’m a pretty poor excuse for one.”
“Nonsense.” The steward plucked his coat from a hook on the wall.
“I just wish we could get the money right.”
“We will, Phin. We will. You needn’t worry.”
Phineas felt nothing but relief as he and Albion walked out the back of the house to the stable yards.
His financial situation had to improve. Albion was hopeful, so Phineas would be hopeful, too.
About the money.
And about Caro, too.
After all, optimism was as much a part of the Earl of Burchester’s character as his legendary charm.
PartTwo
Ten
January, 1820
Lady Caroline Haskett’s last weeks at Sudbury Manor were busy, taken up with making sure the affairs of the estate were in order.
