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“Everything that a secretary normally handles. But the key point is this. I want someone that I can trust, and I do not want a man around the house every day. And it is not just about access to me, but also to the details of the true circumstances of the estate. There are far too many men who believe that a woman is incapable of anything but being a wife and mother. It is why I have systems in place to check on the Agent, both Stewards, and even my lawyer to an extent.”

“How will everyone respond to a female secretary? Will I not be ignored?”

Elizabeth smiled.

“Do you have a middle name?”

“Anne.”

“My secretary, H.A. Underwood, will be assumed to be a man. We will do nothing to disabuse those who make this false assumption.”

Harriet Underwood was not quite a kindred spirit, her soul was not as bruised as that of Elizabeth, but like all women she had been the recipient of plenty of male prejudice throughout her life. Elizabeth knew she would accept when she saw Harriet smile.

And it was a hire that was good for her in other ways. She had someone who listened to her, someone who she could talk to, have ideas and talk it back and forth without rancour. And Harriet Underwood was sufficiently clever that Elizabeth had a readymade companion for general discussions. And it quickly became clear she needed it.

“I hired you to assist me, handling much of the paperwork for me. But I think I was also in danger of becoming some sort of female hermit. Working with you every day has forced me to remember the art of conversation.”

“I understand what you mean. I had been a governess to two families, and as a result spent much of my time with younger children and then teenage young ladies. It has been good for me as well, spending time with an adult, dealing with adult responsibilities.”

She chuckled, almost to herself.

“I wondered how this situation would work. I hoped that it would, but a small part of me was worried that I would not be able to undertake the role. I was bolstered by your confidence.”

“You are an educated woman, you grew up on an estate that was of a good size. Yes, it was smaller than the Napier estate but between the two of us, we have seen most of the issues. I know I was frustrated at times before my marriage that I could not implement change, put my ideas into practice.”

“What do your Stewards think of you, and of obeying your orders?”

Elizabeth considered this question.

“Most of the time they have been supremely practical. I am the Mistress and therefore they have to obey me. They are in good paying jobs and I am asking nothing that is in any way out of the norm. But the key person is Mr. Jones.”

“You call him Mr.?”

“Oh yes. There is a loyalty to me personally not just with him but with the other three men as well. They were tossed aside, discarded as useless. I think, I do not know but I believe it to be true, they think that their lives were saved by my hiring them. And if not saved then at least they are materially in far better circumstances.”

“I can understand that but why is Mr. Jones key?”

“None of the people that I deal with will do something that jeopardises their situation. Because they know that I have Mr. Jones and his men standing behind me.”

“They feel threatened?”

“No, but they know that I am protected. Between the Trust and the scrutiny of Lawrence there is little that will get passed them. And although I am isolated out here in the country, I do not just feel safe, I am safe. They cannot bully me, try to intimidate me in any way. They know I would just order Mr. Jones to escort them off the estate. What is in their own minds is whether that is all he would do.”

This was all new to Harriet Underwood.

“He would do more?”

Elizabeth was surprisingly sanguine.

“I would never ask him to do something.”

Harriet Underwood realised that was a very careful half answer. She looked at her employer with wide eyes. Was Lady Napier that ruthless?

“Harriet, you know that I trust very few people. And the only two men that I trust are my lawyer Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Jones. I assume every other man is looking out for himself and is a threat to me.”

“A threat?”

“Yes. To my finances, to my reputation, to my physical safety. The rules of society are very selectively enforced, almost universally in favour of men over women. As a titled, young, rich widow every man is looking at me as prey. When I finish my half mourning and venture back into society, I will be asking Mr. Jones to hire more men.”