Bennett furrowed his brow. “Why do you suppose they want something?”
“Mr. Stanley has told me that they are complaining that I don’t fund the repairs needed in the village.” Coming around his desk, her uncle sat down and reached for the ledger. “I give those villagers enough of my money. I have paid for the clock tower and cobblestone road to be repaired. And I just put a new roof on the chapel. Is that not enough for them?”
“Father…” Bennett started.
Her uncle put his hand up, stilling his words. “I already have enough to do and I refuse to continue this conversation any longer.”
“Well, you will have to make the time,” Bennett said firmly.
“I beg your pardon?” her uncle growled.
Bennett walked closer to the desk. “How much are you giving to help the villagers?”
“Enough,” came her uncle’s response.
“Can you expand on that?” Bennett asked.
Her uncle tapped his finger on the ledger. “Why do you care so much?”
“Because we have heard the grumblings from the villagers and I even had an unfortunate altercation with one of your disgruntled tenants,” Bennett responded.
Opening the ledger, her uncle made a show of turning it towards Bennett and pointed. “That is what I just gave to support the upkeep of the village this month.”
Bennett approached the desk and studied the ledger. “That seems like a fair amount.”
“It is more than fair,” her uncle said. “Now do you see that the villagers are just complaining about their lots in life?”
Edwina was curious about one thing so she asked, “Did you reduce the funding to the village after my father died?”
“Not at first, but Mr. Stanley convinced me that I was being far too generous,” her uncle replied. “And he did warn me that the villagers would respond this way. They are truly ungrateful.”
Her uncle reached for the ledger and pulled it back towards him. “Now if you will excuse me, I have a meeting in the village.”
“With Mr. Stanley?” Bennett questioned.
“Why does it matter to you with whom I am meeting?” her uncle demanded. “Last I checked, I don’t answer to you.”
Bennett put his hands up in surrender. “My apologies, Father,” he responded, his words curt.
Picking up the ledger, her uncle placed it under his armand walked over to his wife. He kissed her cheek and said, “I shall return home for supper.”
Her aunt smiled. “I do hope so.”
After her uncle stepped out of the room, her aunt turned towards Bennett and asked, “What was that all about?”
Bennett gave her an innocent look. “Nothing. I was merely curious.”
“Since when did you take an interest in your father’s business dealings?” her aunt asked with a knowing look.
“I suppose since this will be all mine one day I should take a more vested interest in it all,” Bennett said.
Her aunt didn’t look convinced. “Very well, don’t tell me. But I always manage to root out the truth on my own,” she stated before departing from the study.
Bennett approached them and lowered his voice. “We need to see who my father is truly meeting.”
“Shall we take our horses or the carriage?” Edwina asked.
“I would prefer if you remained at the manor while Miles and I go trail after my father,” Bennett said.
