Fillmore announced dinner. As they went, Gideon asked Marshall to explain crop rotation again, and Marshall cheerfully obliged.
The Tavernash pair had gone directly to the dining room as always.
Lady Tavernash narrowed her eyes at Gideon and Marshall. “You two have certainly become thick as thieves lately.”
You would know about thievery, wouldn’t you?Mia thought. “How was your day?” Mia asked the woman politely.
Lady Tavernash sniffed. “Fair. Aside from rude servants. My Felton and I spent a pleasant afternoon discussing our plans for this place.” Her son stared glumly at his food. Mia could swear she saw a flash of resentment.
The baronet’s widow went on to describe the rooms she deemed in need of total redecoration. At length. Gideon and Marshall continued to discuss the running of the estate without including Tavernash. Mia sat in the middle and nodded at the woman’s unrelenting discourse periodically.
Dinner completed, the older woman rose and glared at Mia pointedly. Mia rose as well and followed her out. When Lady Tavernash sailed on down the hall to her favorite parlor, Mia lingered behind. A thought had occurred to her over dinner.
She waited until Fillmore came out after delivering port to the gentlemen and approached him. “Do you need something Mrs. Kendrick?” he asked.
“How often do you inventory the silver?”
Fillmore bristled. “Annually, ma’am. In early December, as the duke prescribed.”
They were deep into November. “You might want to do it early this year,” she suggested.
The crusty old man glanced in the direction the lady had taken and back at Mia.No fool, this one, she thought. Stealing the silver would be crude and blatant, but given the woman’s greed, her belief that the estate owed her, and the absence of any single authority over the massive household in the duke’s absence, it felt entirely too likely.
He studied her intently. “Perhaps I will if I find a moment,” the old man said.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Gideon escorted ViscountClavering to the library, where Marshall joined them. Mia in the meanwhile had set off to escort her cousins on a tour of Woodglen. Eustace Selwyn, the puppy, attempted to insert himself into what he called with a sly wink, “gentlemen’s activity.” Gideon put him off, declaring their discussion a legal matter requiring discretion. That and a frown from his father sent him on his way.
Marshall, as prearranged, spoke first as soon as Gideon had served drinks all around. “Mrs. Kendrick tells me you are reluctant to tread on the duke’s privileges here in the shire.”
“Yes, yes, precisely. The position of magistrate in this county has long resided with the Dukes of Glenmoor as appointed by the Crown. But we seem to have a vacuum, and Euphemia reminded me of the duties and privileges due to my rank. What is it you need, gentlemen?” Clavering tented his fingers together.
“I knew we could count on you, Clavering,” Marshall said. “This business with the Carter girl had our female servants on edge, and I’m hearing the village as well. Kendrick here has the power to act on the duke’s behalf, but he isn’t a local man, and well, you can see where certain unfounded rumors hamper his ability to deal with problems.”
“Carter is fearful about the girl’s fate; he approached me at the wedding breakfast,” Gideon said.
“Foul-tempered man,” Clavering murmured.
“Indeed,” Gideon said. “One wonders if she may have simply run off. There being no one with obvious authority investigating, I decided to search.”
“Bad business either way. Young girl like that? Can come to no end of harm.” The viscount squared his shoulders with all the dignity he attached to the role of magistrate, albeit a temporary one, and studied Gideon. “Your reputation here—which I’m beginning to perceive may have been undeserved—isn’t helpful. What is this about power to act?”
Gideon and Marshall exchanged glances. He left Marshall to explain it.
“As if ‘duke in all but name’?” Clavering exclaimed. “I never heard of such a thing.”
“On behalf of the Glenmoor estate, I’m delegating you to take leadership in matters of law and public order until such time as my brother sees fit to return. If it appears this will be a long-term arrangement, we can petition the regent for a permanent appointment,” Gideon said. “Is that clear enough?”
“I understand a search was carried out. What else has been done so far?”
Gideon quickly outlined what they had learned from Mrs. Millbrook and the villagers. “My wife retraced the route from the village to the dairy with that great hound of hers. He turned up nothing. I’ve written to the magistrate in Shaftsbury. I got this back today.” He handed Clavering the pompous note informing them that no loose girls had been found on the streets and that he saw no purpose in a door-to-door inquiry. “My next step was to send the question to Standish, the physician who cared for your daughter. He has not yet replied.”
“What is it you want me to do?” Clavering asked.
Marshall spoke next. “We’d like you to make a public show of interest. Call Carter in and question him. Ask around the village. Put your authority behind it. Can you do that?”
“Easily enough,” Clavering said. “If Kendrick is at my side.”
