CHAPTER 6
HALF AN HOUR LATER, with Wang by his side, he was knocking on the steward’s door. A shy maid opened the door and, wide-eyed, ushered them into the drawing room. A few minutes later, Dunson strode in, an ingratiating smile on his lips.
“My lord, if I had known you wanted to see me, I would have called on you. No reason to trouble yourself to come to my humble abode. In fact, I was preparing to pay you a visit this morning.”
Colin studied the man. He was younger than he had expected. Not yet forty if he had to guess. He had a congenial smile that somehow didn’t ring true, and shifty eyes. He distrusted him on sight.
“I decided to come at once. I was out riding this morning and saw worrying signs of neglect around the estate.”
The congenial smile slipped, and he put on a troubled expression. “Quite, my lord. I long tried to convince your father to do some improvements, but he refused. What was I to do?”
Ah, he was going to play innocent and blame it all on the deceased. “I understand. It must then put your mind at ease to know that I’m not averse to doing improvements. But first I need to see the estate’s books.”
“Of course, my lord. I’ll bring them to you tomorrow.”
“I would like to see them now.”
The steward’s eyes widened. “Now? But you must understand, I have to gather the books, make sure they are up to date. If you would just give me...”
“Now, Mr. Dunson. In whatever condition they are. I want you to hand over the books for the last five years, at least. At this very moment.”
An unpleasant emotion flashed in the steward’s eyes, instantly concealed. But he had no option but to relinquish the books.
“What do you think of the steward?” He asked his trusted friend and mentor as they both walked back to the main house, carrying the estate’s books.
Wang considered his words. “I sensed he was concealing things. That is only my impression, though. It proves nothing.”
Maybe not, but Wang was an excellent judge of character. And his friend’s impression matched his own.
“I suspect we will find the proof in the books.”
Wang inclined his head, pensive. “What do you plan to do, then?”
“Depends. If it was all my father’s fault, I can’t blame the man. Although his behavior in the months after my father’s passing was not better. Even so, I would give him an opportunity to redeem himself. See if he can do better with better management.”
“He who blames others has a long way to go.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s an old Chinese proverb. Your steward was quick to shift the blame onto your late father, who is not here and therefore can not speak for himself. It does not speak well of his character.”
“I agree. And yet, if he tried to improve conditions, but my father wouldn’t let him, there wasn’t much he could do.”
